Osun 2026: Oyebamiji unveils sports, employment plans for youths
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, has promised to combine sports development with skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and employment programmes to expand opportunities for young people if elected governor.
Speaking at an interactive session with youths from professional associations, community unions, civil society organisations, artisans, indigenous groups, social clubs and young entrepreneurs in Osogbo, Oyebamiji said he had initiated discussions with some serving and prospective governors in the South-West on ways to jointly invest in sports development.
He said, “One of the things I like so much is sport, and sports development is going to be my priority,” explaining that individual states might not have the capacity to make adequate investments in sports but could achieve more through collaboration.
Oyebamiji disclosed that his youth agenda would also focus on entrepreneurship, skills acquisition and employment, assuring the youths that he understood their challenges and would work to address them.
He said his administration would establish skills acquisition hubs across the state, focusing on ICT, software development, renewable energy, agribusiness, vocational training and digital opportunities.
“We will institute internship, apprenticeship and job placement programmes in partnership with the private sector. We will establish a youth-focused enterprise grant to support innovative business ideas and start-ups. We will expand opportunities in sports, entertainment and the creative industry for youth engagement and employment,” he said.
Oyebamiji added that his administration would introduce temporary employment programmes in public works, traffic management and sanitation to improve public infrastructure and create safer environments.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Directorate of Youth, Students and Civil Society of the Osun APC Campaign Council, Ayodele David Asalu, said the interactive session was organised to examine how the concerns of young people were reflected in Oyebamiji’s PROSPERITY Agenda.
