As the world marks the 2026 World Youth Skills Day on July 15, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Oyo State Chapter – which is the umbrella Body for all Youth organization ad youth focused NGOs has called on governments, development partners, private organizations, and other stakeholders to intensify investments in youth skills development as a pathway to sustainable economic growth and national development.
The State Chairman of the Council, Comrade Eniola Alex O., made the call in a statement issued in Ibadan to commemorate the annual observance, emphasizing that empowering young people with relevant skills remains one of the most effective strategies for addressing unemployment, poverty, and social inequality.
According to the NYCN Chairman, today’s rapidly evolving global economy demands that young people acquire practical, technical, entrepreneurial, and digital skills that will enable them to compete effectively and contribute meaningfully to society.
He described World Youth Skills Day as more than a symbolic celebration, noting that it serves as a reminder of the urgent need to equip youths with the knowledge, innovation, and competencies required to drive economic transformation and sustainable development.
Comrade Eniola observed that Oyo State is blessed with talented, energetic, and resourceful youths whose potential can only be fully realized through deliberate investments in education, vocational training, entrepreneurship, technology, and leadership development.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, under the chairmanship of Prince Falana Adebayo Adebowale, for its commitment to youth empowerment and capacity-building initiatives under the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde. He commended the agency for implementing programmes that continue to create opportunities for young people to acquire valuable skills, develop leadership capacity, and contribute positively to the socio-economic growth of Oyo State.
The NYCN Chairman further urged young people across the state to embrace every available opportunity for learning, capacity building, skills acquisition, and self-development, stressing that the future belongs to those who continuously improve themselves and adapt to changing realities.
He also appealed to public and private institutions to expand access to quality training programmes, mentorship initiatives, innovation hubs, and funding opportunities capable of nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs, professionals, and community leaders.
Reaffirming the commitment of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Oyo State Chapter, to promoting youth participation in governance, civic responsibility, entrepreneurship, digital innovation, and leadership development, Comrade Eniola said the Council would continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to advance the interests and aspirations of young people across the state.
“As we commemorate World Youth Skills Day, let us all renew our commitment to empowering young people with the skills they need to succeed. Every investment made in our youths today is an investment in a stronger, more prosperous, and more resilient Oyo State and Nigeria tomorrow,” he stated.
World Youth Skills Day is observed annually on July 15 to emphasize the importance of equipping young people with the skills needed for employment, decent work, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development, while encouraging governments and stakeholders to invest more in the future of the youth.
