Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti has charged members of the state's Youth Parliament to develop strong leadership skills and uphold high ethical standards in discharging their responsibilities.
Oyebanji gave the charge on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti during a one-day leadership training for members of the Ekiti State Youth Parliament.
The Governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Oyeniyi Adebayo, described The Youth Parliament as an opportunity for youths to gain leadership experience and serve their constituents effectively.
He urged participants to make the most of the training, noting that the knowledge and skills gained would benefit them in future endeavours.
Oyebanji advised them to demonstrate honesty, integrity and fairness, while remaining honourable and responsible representatives of their constituencies, and to embrace selfless service — stressing that leadership means putting others' interests above personal interest.
He further encouraged them to be accessible, empathetic and compassionate toward the people they represented, noting that effective communication and understanding the concerns of constituents are essential to good leadership.
Oyebanji expressed hope that the programme would help build a generation of young leaders equipped with the values and skills needed to contribute meaningfully to Ekiti's development.
The governor promised that his administration would continue investing in youth development programmes to help young people in the state become self-reliant and productive citizens.
He recalled that since taking office in October 2022, his administration had invested heavily in education, agriculture, sports, and arts and culture, among other sectors in which youths had been major beneficiaries, while also providing strong platforms for them to build leadership skills.
Oyebanji noted that his keen interest in youth affairs had prompted the establishment of a full-fledged Youth Development Ministry, aimed at keeping youth-related issues at the forefront of governance in line with his administration's development agenda.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the State Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr Gold Adedayo, urged the 5th Ekiti Youth Parliament to see the training as an opportunity to sharpen their skills and expand their capacity for service delivery, adding that a youth parliamentarian's role is not just to learn but to serve as a voice for young people, bridging the gap between government and the people.
He urged them to embrace the training with open hearts and a willingness to learn, assuring them that the administration would continue supporting the Youth Parliament in its primary role of overseeing youth-related activities in the state. "I have come to you on behalf of the governor to specially thank you for the support you have extended to him, and to let you know that he needs more of your support in the quest to transform Ekiti State," he said.
In their goodwill messages, the Special Adviser/Director-General, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery, Dr John Ekundayo; former SSA to the President on National Assembly Matters, Hon. Ibrahim Olarewaju; and Technical Adviser to the Governor on Youth, Mr Ayo Ojo, appealed to youths in the state to contribute to nation-building and promote peaceful coexistence and progress.
They urged the fifth Assembly to conduct itself within the parliament in a manner reflecting discipline, respect, accountability and intellectual maturity.
The Ekiti State Youth Parliament is a legislative and developmental training institution created to strengthen youth representation in driving the state's development agenda. It mirrors the State House of Assembly, comprising 26 youths representing the state's 26 constituencies.
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