No fewer than 100 young people in Osun State have received training in fisheries alongside a combined ₦7.5 million in business grants, in an initiative spearheaded by Femi Oyetola, son of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola.
The beneficiaries, drawn from all 30 local government areas of the state as well as the Modakeke Area Office, underwent an intensive three-day training programme in Iragbiji, designed to equip them with practical skills in aquaculture while fostering entrepreneurship and self-reliance.
Speaking on the initiative, Femi Oyetola described the programme as the fifth in a series of youth-focused interventions he has championed across the state, noting a deliberate shift in strategy towards sustainable economic empowerment.
Represented by former Senior Special Assistant on Students’ Affairs and Social Mobilisation, Kehinde Ayantunji, he said the current effort moves beyond short-term relief to long-term wealth creation.
“In the past, we focused largely on distributing gifts and relief materials,” he said. “However, we have taken a more strategic direction. This initiative is about equipping young people with the tools, knowledge and financial backing to build businesses, create jobs and contribute meaningfully to the economy of Osun State. When you empower youths in a practical way, you are investing directly in the future.”
He added that the programme aligns with the broader economic vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that grassroots empowerment remains critical to national development.
Oyetola also expressed concern over what he described as insufficient attention to youth development within the state, arguing that proactive intervention is necessary to prevent disillusionment among young people.
“We cannot afford to leave our youths behind,” he said. “If we fail to engage and empower them now, we risk compromising the future. This is why we must continue to invest in their potential. Today, 100 youths have benefited from training and received start-up grants, but this is only the beginning. There is more to come.”
Traditional leaders in attendance welcomed the initiative, highlighting its potential to curb social vices and reduce youth restiveness. The Olororuwo of Ororuwo, Oba Kamorudeen Adeyanju, lamented the growing wave of social challenges driven by unemployment and idleness, noting that targeted empowerment programmes such as this could provide a meaningful antidote.
“This kind of intervention addresses the root causes of many social problems we are witnessing,” he said. “When young people are productively engaged and economically empowered, they are less likely to be drawn into negative activities. It is a step in the right direction.”
Similarly, the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrasheed Olabomi, represented by his Olupona, Saheed Adeleke, urged beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunity, stressing that the training and financial support should serve as a foundation for enterprise and job creation.
“You have been given a rare opportunity not just to improve your own lives, but to become employers of labour,” he said. “Use the knowledge you have acquired wisely and ensure that the funds are channelled into productive ventures that will yield lasting benefits.”
The initiative adds to growing calls for more structured youth empowerment programmes across Nigeria, particularly in sectors such as agriculture and fisheries, where opportunities for scalable enterprise remain largely untapped.