Ondo, Osun, Benue govs seek national framework to strengthen volunteerism

…As Ondo mobilises 2,000 volunteers for community development

Ondo State has mobilised more than 2,000 volunteers for community development, as Governors Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo, Ademola Adeleke of Osun and Hyacinth Alia of Benue have called for a national framework to coordinate volunteerism and harness its potential for sustainable development.

The governors made the call at the 2026 National Volunteer Conference held at the Dr Olusegun Mimiko Event Centre, Akure, where government representatives, United Nations agencies, educational institutions and development partners advocated stronger institutional support, dedicated funding and structured opportunities for young people to contribute to national development.

Aiyedatiwa said volunteerism required deliberate policies, effective coordination and institutional support to ensure that voluntary service delivered measurable benefits to communities.

Represented by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Sunday Olajide, the governor said the Ondo State Volunteer Service had been established to provide a framework for citizens to contribute their skills, knowledge, time and resources to the state’s development.

He said the state had engaged more than 2,000 volunteers in health, education, skills development and other community-based initiatives, adding that development could not be left to government alone.

“Development of any society cannot be left to government alone. It is a collective responsibility,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa urged schools, tertiary institutions, youth organisations, professional associations, businesses and development partners to create structured volunteering opportunities through which young people could acquire practical skills, develop leadership capacity and contribute to their communities.

He said the conference, organised to commemorate the United Nations-declared International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, should produce practical recommendations for strengthening volunteerism at national, state and community levels.

According to him, the conference’s success should be measured by the positive changes its deliberations bring to communities.

Similarly, Adeleke called for expanded and better-coordinated volunteering opportunities in education, healthcare, environmental protection and skills development.

Represented by the Director-General on Climate Change and Renewable Energy, Prof. Chinwe Obiaku, the Osun governor said volunteerism could complement government efforts to deliver essential services while equipping young people with teamwork, leadership and practical work experience.

He urged governments, businesses, educational institutions and civil society organisations to make concrete commitments to sustaining voluntary service and improving living conditions in communities.

Alia, represented by the Director-General of the Benue State Bureau for International Cooperation and Development, Dr Aondoaseer Leonard-Angelo Viashima, advocated stronger partnerships among governments, the United Nations, the private sector and civil society organisations to expand youth participation in community development.

He said volunteerism could support skills acquisition, job creation and human capital development while helping communities respond to insecurity, displacement and economic challenges.

The governor added that volunteering aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by giving young people opportunities to develop vocational knowledge and practical skills.

He, however, cautioned that volunteerism should complement rather than replace the responsibilities of government.

The Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, Prof. Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, who delivered the keynote address, called for a coordinated national approach to mobilising Nigerians’ skills and contributions towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Fawehinmi said Nigeria needed a renewed commitment to service, solidarity and responsible citizenship, noting that public institutions alone could not achieve the development goals.

He stressed that effective volunteerism required training, supervision, institutional support and measurable outcomes, with voluntary contributions directed towards genuine community needs.

To prevent exploitation, the vice-chancellor advocated accreditation, safety guidelines, insurance and impact assessments, warning against using volunteering as a substitute for paid employment.

He also called for inclusive volunteering opportunities for women, persons with disabilities, rural residents, economically disadvantaged citizens and retirees.

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) urged Nigerians to embrace volunteerism as a means of addressing unemployment, poverty and skills gaps.

Its Director-General, Silas Ali Agara, represented by the Director of Inspectorate, Mrs Steve-Ogundipe Olayinka, said voluntary service could help young people gain practical experience, develop leadership skills and contribute to community development.

He reaffirmed the directorate’s commitment to skills acquisition, entrepreneurship development and employment generation, adding that volunteerism could complement existing government interventions to promote sustainable livelihoods.

The Country Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers Programme in Nigeria, Ms Veronica Obiuwevbi, called for greater recognition, protection and investment in volunteers, noting their contributions to healthcare, education, peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance and youth empowerment.

She urged governments and development partners to ensure volunteers were adequately equipped, protected and recognised for their work.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) called on federal and state governments to formalise youth volunteer training and recognition and provide dedicated budgets for youth-led initiatives.

The UNFPA Resident Representative, Ms Muriel Mafico, represented by the Head of its South-West Sub-Office, Ms Abbigail Msemburi, said young people, who account for more than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population under the age of 25, should be empowered to participate in policy design, programme implementation and grassroots development.

She advocated inclusive volunteering opportunities, particularly for young women and persons with disabilities.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) also urged governments and stakeholders to invest in volunteers’ training, protection and recognition to advance universal health coverage and the goal of health for all by 2030.

The WHO Country Representative, Dr Pavel Ursu, represented by the Osun State Coordinator, Dr Ojediran, said more than 4,000 volunteers had supported community health initiatives across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory over eight years.

He said volunteers contributed to disease surveillance, immunisation, maternal and child healthcare, outbreak response and access to health services for vulnerable populations.

In his welcome address, the Senior Special Assistant to the Ondo State Governor on Volunteer Services, Charles Adeolu Iwakun, said volunteerism helped build character, develop leadership and strengthen communities.

He highlighted initiatives in legal services, education and healthcare, as well as the National Volunteering Service launched in 2026.

A special recognition award was presented to Aiyedatiwa at the conference. Other recipients included the Proprietress of Mummy’s Place Nursery and Primary School and Emplace College, Akure, Dr Damilola Oshin, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan.