Int’l Youth Day2026: Falana Urges Oyo Youth to Build Skills, Take Ownership of State’s Future

The Chairman, Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, Hon. Adebowale Adebayo Falana, has urged youths in the state to dream big, acquire relevant skills and take active responsibility for shaping the future of Oyo State.

Falana made the call in his message to commemorate the 2026 International Youth Day, observed on Wednesday, August 12.

The message, made available to journalists by the Head of the Media Unit to the Chairman, Opeyemi Rasheed Socrates, urged young people to remain optimistic, purposeful and committed to personal development despite the challenges confronting them.

He said the occasion provided an opportunity to celebrate the energy, creativity and resilience of young people while reminding them of their responsibilities as active participants in societal development.

Falana said youths in Oyo State possessed the talent and capacity to contribute significantly to the economic and social development of the state, urging them to transform their potential into productive ventures and community impact.

He encouraged young people to remain focused on their aspirations, saying present difficulties should not determine their future.

According to him, young people must continuously invest in education, vocational training, digital literacy, technology, entrepreneurship and other forms of personal development to remain relevant in the changing global economy.

He particularly urged them to acquire skills that would enable them to take advantage of emerging opportunities, including those being created by artificial intelligence and other technologies.

Falana also challenged youths to turn their talents into sustainable opportunities, noting that whether as entrepreneurs, artisans, farmers, entertainers, professionals, creatives, innovators or technology enthusiasts, every young person had something valuable to contribute.

He said: “The road may not always be easy, but never give up on yourself or the future of Oyo State. Let us dream together, learn together, work together and build together.”

The chairman further called on youths to promote peace, unity and responsible citizenship, urging them to reject violence, hatred, intolerance and other divisive tendencies.

He said the strength of Oyo youths lay in their ability to work together despite differences in background, beliefs and opinions, adding that responsible young citizens had important roles to play in protecting public values and promoting development in their communities.

Falana challenged young people to move beyond asking what Oyo State could do for them and begin to consider what they could contribute to the development of the state.

He said the responsibility of building a prosperous and inclusive Oyo required the active participation of youths in entrepreneurship, innovation, agriculture, technology, public service and community development.

He assured the youths that their voices, ideas, talents and aspirations remained important to the development agenda of the state.

Falana urged them not to be discouraged by setbacks, stressing that success often required patience, resilience, continuous learning and the courage to start again after failure.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development to supporting initiatives that would equip young people with relevant skills, promote entrepreneurship and innovation, and create platforms for their meaningful participation in the development of the state.

He also called on government institutions, private organisations, development partners, community leaders and youth-focused organisations to continue investing in young people and creating an enabling environment for them to thrive.

Falana congratulated youths across Oyo State on the occasion of International Youth Day, urging them to embrace available opportunities, remain purposeful and contribute positively to the growth and prosperity of the state.