In a significant move to combat youth unemployment, Governor Ademola Adeleke has inducted 10,000 young individuals into the newly launched Imole Youth Corps in Osogbo, marking a key initiative in his administration’s strategy to provide job opportunities.
At a ceremony held at the Freedom Park on February 6, 2025, Governor Adeleke highlighted that the Imole Youth Corps would serve as a transitional program to offer employment opportunities to youths in various sectors including health, security, environment, and education.
“This occasion is a major highlight of my administration’s push to address youth joblessness,” the Governor said, as he addressed the 10,000 newly inducted members. “Ten thousand youths spread across the 332 political wards are engaged to provide services in the grassroots economy.”
Adeleke emphasized that the corps members would receive training to help deliver support services at the local level, while urging them to demonstrate commitment to their assigned sectors. “You are entrusted with the responsibility to work diligently in your posted areas,” he added.
The Governor also reiterated his administration’s ongoing efforts to tackle unemployment in the state, revealing that over 250,000 people have benefited from various job creation initiatives. “Our administration is focused on tackling the unemployment crisis,” he stated.
“Through small business financing, cooperative movement, and infrastructure upgrades, we’ve created significant opportunities.”
Adeleke noted that the state has committed over four billion Naira in revolving loans to small businesses, aimed at empowering grassroots entrepreneurs. “We ensure Osun money revolves within Osun state,” he remarked, highlighting the local content policy in the state’s infrastructure projects.
In addition to the Imole Youth Corps, the Governor introduced an agropreneur program, aimed at providing further job opportunities, particularly in rural areas. He expressed confidence that the initiative would create more jobs as it expands to all 30 local governments and Area Councils in the state.
The Commissioner for Youth Development, Moshood Olagunju, also spoke at the event, praising the Governor’s dedication to youth development. “Governor Adeleke has demonstrated his love and passion for youth development,” Olagunju said. He assured the public that the performance of the corps would be regularly evaluated to ensure the program’s success.