The Ekiti State Commissioner for Youth Development, Gold Adesola Adedayo, has said that Governor Biodun Oyebanji is deserving of further recognition as the Most Youth-Friendly Governor of the Year, citing the administration’s numerous youth-focused policies and developmental strides.
In a congratulatory statement issued following the twin honours recently conferred on Oyebanji in Lagos by Vanguard Newspapers and Energy Times—Governor of the Year in Good Governance and Best Energy Governor of the Year—Adedayo praised the governor’s commitment to youth advancement and governance excellence.
Describing Oyebanji as “outstanding and exemplary” among his peers, the commissioner said the accolades further elevate Ekiti’s national recognition, adding that the governor had also been named Governor of the Year 2023 in Community Development by Daily Independent Newspaper.
He listed other accolades received by the governor, including Silverbird Television Man of the Year 2024 in Good Governance, Best Governor of the Year 2024 in Political Stability and Peace by the Nigerian Human Rights Community, and New Telegraph Newspaper’s Governor of the Year 2024 award in Good Governance and Grassroots Development.
Adedayo emphasised that the latest awards are “loud testimonies” to Oyebanji’s growing reputation as a model in politics, governance, and peacebuilding in Nigeria.
Justifying why the governor deserves additional recognition specifically in youth development, Adedayo pointed to several impactful initiatives. He noted the Youth Back to Farm Programme, which has attracted over 1,000 young farmers who are now earning millions from agriculture.
He added that over 4,000 young people had been employed as teachers and civil servants under Oyebanji’s administration, while more than 20,000 others had benefited from support to thrive in private and informal sectors, helping to combat unemployment and crime.
He further highlighted the creation of a dedicated Youth Centre, where young people engage in business, academic, and creative exchanges, alongside the ongoing construction of a multi-billion-naira indoor sports complex designed to nurture sporting talent.
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Adedayo also lauded the Adire Ekiti Hub, an initiative championed by the First Lady, which has trained over 1,000 young people in the production of Adire fabrics—an enterprise now thriving commercially.
On business development efforts, the commissioner praised the establishment of the Ekiti MSMEs Clinic and Garment Hub, where youth are equipped with vocational skills and entrepreneurial knowledge.
“All the youth groups in Ekiti, including the National Youth Council of Nigeria and the Ekiti Youth Parliament, are receiving direct support from the governor,” he added, noting that N22.5 million was recently disbursed as operational grants to 49 youth organisations.
“Rating his performance from these optics,” Adedayo concluded, “Governor Biodun Oyebanji deserves another Governor of the Year in Youth Development Award.”
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