The outgoing Speaker of the Second Assembly of the Oyo State Youth Parliament, Opeyemi Israel Fawole, has identified energy poverty, unemployment and insecurity as major factors limiting the potential of young Nigerians, calling for deliberate investments in skills development, affordable housing and.economic opportunities.

 

Speaking during his valedictory address at the end of the tenure of the Second Assembly, Fawole said millions of young Nigerians were confronted with unemployment and underemployment despite their talents and entrepreneurial spirit.

 

He lamented that rising youth poverty, inadequate housing and unreliable electricity supply had continued to frustrate businesses, innovation and economic growth across the country.

 

“We are living in a time when millions of young Nigerians are confronted by unemployment and underemployment. We are witnessing rising youth poverty despite the immense talents and entrepreneurial spirit that abound among our people.

 

“We are seeing a housing crisis that places decent accommodation beyond the reach of many young professionals. We are battling energy poverty, where unreliable electricity continues to frustrate businesses, innovation and economic growth,” he said.

 

The outgoing speaker also expressed concern over the prevailing insecurity in many parts of the country, saying many young people had been forced to abandon their education, businesses and career aspirations because of the harsh socio-economic environment.

 

Describing the challenges as realities rather than statistics, he said they reflected the daily experiences of graduates searching for jobs, entrepreneurs struggling to keep businesses afloat and families battling to meet basic needs.

 

Despite the challenges, he expressed optimism that Nigeria’s youth possessed the resilience and creativity to transform the country if provided with the right opportunities.

 

According to him, the Oyo State Youth Parliament and the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development should evolve beyond ceremonial engagements to become stronger platforms for evidence-based advocacy, policy engagement and youth leadership development.

 

He urged government at all levels to create structured opportunities for young people to influence policies on education, employment, entrepreneurship, healthcare, technology, housing and climate resilience.

 

“If we are serious about reducing youth poverty, we must invest in skills and jobs. If we are serious about addressing insecurity, we must invest in opportunities and social inclusion.

 

“If we are serious about solving housing challenges, we must deliberately create pathways for affordable housing for young people. If we are serious about economic growth, we must confront energy poverty and support innovation-driven enterprises,” he said.

 

Reflecting on the achievements of the Second Assembly, the outgoing speaker said the parliament remained resilient despite financial constraints and institutional bottlenecks, adding that its members were united by a shared commitment to public service.

 

He thanked the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, for supporting youth participation in governance, and also commended Governor Seyi Makinde, the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development and other stakeholders for promoting youth inclusion.

 

He said the outgoing assembly’s legacy projects included the planned donation of 500 hospital bedspreads to selected healthcare facilities, describing it as a practical contribution to improving healthcare delivery.

 

Calling on future assemblies to build stronger partnerships with government agencies, development partners, academia and the private sector, he urged them to focus on sustainable projects capable of improving the lives of young people.

 

“The true measure of our service will not be found in our speeches, photographs or positions. It will be found in the lives we touched, the opportunities we created and the future we helped build,” he said.