By Shina Abubakar Osogbo

A coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations has challenged the re-elected Governor of Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke on the need to design policy that will guarantee the creation of 100,000 jobs in the next four years for the state youth population in a bid to tackle unemployment.

The groups, which focused on youth development also tasked the administration to prioritize establishment of digital training hubs and innovation centres across the three senatorial districts.

Delivering report of the group, tagged “Osun Youth Development Charter 2026-2030”, the Convener, Abdulsemih Adabanija, said the charter was developed through a participatory process involving 38 youth organizations and 50 youth leaders across the state, with response emerging from an online survey at osunyouthcharter.org.

His words, “The Governor-elect must prioritise quality and direct jobs for Osun young people, Jobs in ICT, jobs in agriculture, jobs that focus on our comparatives advantage such as tourism which the young people will be proud to do. Jobs that will give them a clear career part.

“We believe that when young people are productive and they do not waste away their productive years they can meaningful contribute to the development of the society and also contribute to the economy. This will reduce social vices and enhance discipline in our society.

“We also want the administration to use the next four years to focus the on digital economy as a critical sector that will be explore for the sake of the youth population. Today, we do not have a technology hubs backed by the state government in neighbouring state like Ekiti, Kwara, Oyo and Lagos state we’ve seen that they’ve invested massively in technology so that young people can have opportunity to get trained, to have skills, to get mentorship at these hubs.

“So, our demand will be that there must be a central technology hub in Osun state located at the state capital of Osogbo and at least one in each of the senatorial district of Osun state.

On education, the said, “the next administration must look into functional education from elementary to the tertiary level. There should be strict supervision to enhance performance. There should be incentives for our teachers, our lecturers, outstanding students should also be given scholarships and they should also be encouraged to further their studies with government funding.

“We also believe that peace and security must also be of paramount importance in the next dispensation of the administration. We have seen enough violence in different parts of Osun State. The state is known to be peaceful we want to return to that status again”.