By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

The youth constituency of Ogun State will on Thursday honour the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, and the Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, for their contributions to the development and security of the state and the country.

The awards will be presented as part of activities marking the 2026 International Youth Day celebration and the public presentation of 2,360 ward executives of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ogun State chapter.

Chairman of the NYCN, Ogun State chapter, Akolawole Shoremi, disclosed this on Wednesday at a pre-event media briefing held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta.

Shoremi said Ajayi had been selected as the ‘Ogun State Man of the Year 2025’ in recognition of his achievements as an indigene of the state and his contributions to institutional reforms within the DSS.

According to him, the reforms had strengthened the agency’s operational framework while placing greater emphasis on citizen-centred security and rebuilding public confidence in the service, particularly among young Nigerians.

He said, “the nomination of Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi as ‘Ogun State Man of the Year 2025’, is a recognition of his personality as a proud indigene of Ogun State and, more importantly, his remarkable institutional reforms at the State Security Service.

“These reforms have fundamentally transformed the operational framework of the organisation, prioritised citizen-centred security and helped to restore the confidence of young people in Nigeria in the institution.”

The youth council also named the Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, as ‘Distinguished Statesman of the Year 2025’.

Shoremi explained that the award was in recognition of Talabi’s role in the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun, particularly what he described as efforts to create an enabling environment for young people in the state.

He said, “the youth constituency has also found Mr. Tokunbo Talabi worthy of the ‘Distinguished Statesman of the Year 2025’ award for his role in advancing the ISEYA agenda of Prince Dapo Abiodun and fostering an enabling environment for the young people of Ogun State.”

The NYCN chairman said the International Youth Day celebration, scheduled for Thursday, August 27, at the June 12 Cultural Centre, would bring together more than 2,500 youths from the 20 local government areas of the state, as well as representatives of various youth-led organisations.

The event will be held under the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” which focuses on the shared aspirations of young people despite differences in their social, economic and political environments.

The theme underscores common youth priorities, including access to quality education, decent employment, dignity, inclusion and a sustainable future.

A major highlight of the celebration will be the inauguration and public presentation of the 2,360 ward executives of the National Youth Council of Nigeria across Ogun State.

Shoremi described the inauguration as a significant milestone in strengthening youth representation and participation in governance and community development across the state.

Other nominees for awards at the event include Alhaji Samsideen Adebayo, Hon. Tope Akintunde Armstrong and Mr. Oluwatobi Ajayi, among others.

The organisers said the programme is expected to provide a platform for young people across the State to discuss issues affecting their development while celebrating individuals and institutions considered to have made significant contributions to youth empowerment, governance and security.