The Youths in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State have called for increased investment in job creation, improved infrastructure and greater involvement in governance beyond election periods.
The demands were made on Friday during the Strategic Ijebu North Youth Retreat and Engagement convened by the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Prince Farouk Adenugba, ahead of the forthcoming elections.
The interactive forum brought together youths, political leaders and other stakeholders to discuss challenges affecting the area and explore ways of strengthening youth participation in governance.
Among the key demands raised by participants were the establishment of industries to create employment opportunities, technical and vocational training centres for skills acquisition, improved educational facilities, rehabilitation of dilapidated roads, restoration of local government autonomy, and urgent intervention to address flooding in the area.
The youths also advocated for constituency offices where residents could formally channel complaints and called on political leaders to sustain engagement with young people beyond election seasons.
Responding to the concerns, Adenugba assured participants that the recommendations from the retreat would be documented and forwarded to relevant government agencies for consideration.
He explained that the gathering was designed to create a platform for dialogue rather than political campaigning.
"This was not a campaign. It was an opportunity to compare notes, identify the pain points affecting the youths and society, and also share some of the initiatives, programmes and projects the government is implementing," he said.
Adenugba disclosed that the state government had approved the construction of the road linking the Permanent Site of Olabisi Onabanjo University to Ijebu-Igbo, adding that work on the project would commence immediately with a six-month completion target.
He stressed that regular engagement between government and citizens was essential for strengthening democracy, promoting accountability and ensuring inclusive governance.
Also speaking, party leader Otunba Deji Kalejaiye described the initiative as a positive step, noting that more than 2,000 youths attended the retreat and had the opportunity to freely express their concerns while political leaders responded to their questions.
He said sustained interaction between leaders and the people would deepen democratic governance and strengthen public confidence in government.
An elderly participant also urged young people to play active roles in community development, stressing that nation-building requires the collective efforts of both leaders and citizens.
The retreat ended with a renewed commitment to sustain dialogue between government officials and the youth to ensure that their aspirations are reflected in public policies and development programmes.