The Ogun State Government has urged youths to see themselves as partners in progress in the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration’s mission to rebuild the state.
The Special Assistant to the governor on Information, Mr. Yemisi Fadairo, gave the charge over the weekend in Abeokuta, the state capital, and said government regards the youths as vital instruments towards the success of the five cardinal programmes of the administration.
Speaking after being conferred with an award for Media Excellence by the Excel Assembly Foundation of the Department of Accountancy, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Fadairo said the youths cannot distance themselves from the government’s efforts aimed at turning around the fortunes of the state.
Fadairo said the youths were at the receiving end of the rot occasioned by the insincerity of the immediate past government and it is for this reason that government believes it should partner with them to restore the lost glory of the state in the overall interest of the people.
He said: “The five cardinal programmes, which major among others on education, employment generation, agriculture, health as well as rural development and urban renewal, cannot succeed without the input of the youths and this is why government regards them as a veritable tool in the mission to rebuild Ogun State.
“It is also for this reason that the Amosun administration pays so much attention to its unprecedented skill acquisition and youth empowerment programmes.
“The betrayal of the youths by the erstwhile regime may explain the earlier suspicion of the present government but the sincerity with which Senator Amosun is going about his mission and vision should give the youths and even the entire people cause to join hands with his government to restore the lost glory of Ogun State which, unfortunately, was gambled away by selfish leaders.
“It is regrettable that some youths allowed themselves to be used in the process of raping and milking the state dry but this government has put all that behind it and sees everyone as a stakeholder in the ongoing efforts to once again make our state a trailblazer.”