OSUN STATE YOUTH PARLIAMENT: INAUGURATION OF COMMITTEE

On Wednesday, November 18th, 2009, a congregation of Osun State youths paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, at his office under the auspices of the Osun State Representatives at the Nigerian Youth Parliament. The epoch event was used to inform the Executive Governor of the programmes of the Nigerian Youth Parliament and to chart a new course for the development of youths in the State.

At that occasion, one of the requests that were put before the government was the establishment of the OSUN STATE YOUTH PARLIAMENT, in which the Executive Governor agreed to and promised to implement as soon as possible. Early this month, we were informed, through a letter issued from the Ministry of Information & Youth Development and dated March 9th, 2010, that the Osun State Government has approved the establishment of the Youth Parliament. Part of the letter read thus: “I am directed to... inform you that the State Executive Council has approved the establishment of Osun State Youth Parliament. The Parliament is to, amongst others, foster national unity and provides opportunities for sharing of experiences through peer learning...”

Today, March 16th, 2010 the Committee on the proposed Youth Parliament was inaugurated at the office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information & Youth Development, Government Secretariat, Osogbo, Osun State. The eleven-member Committee is headed by Mr. Ayo Ojekale, the Director of Youth Development at the Ministry of Information & Youth Development while other members are: Alh. Yakub A. Oni (National Youth Council of Nigeria), Hon. Isiaka O. Popoola (Nigerian Youth Parliament), Mrs. O.O. Ahcle (National Youth Service Corps), Mr. Olawoyin Esho (Osun State House of Assembly), Mrs. O.A. Apoeso (Ministry of Justice), Mr. W.A. Oyebanji (Ministry of Education), Mrs. O. Alowonle (Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Development), Mr. Abiodun Ajayi (National Orientation Agency), Mrs. A.A. Ojekale (Ministry of Information & Youth Development) and a person from the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation.

As presented in his keynote address, Dr. Olumide Babatunde, the Permanent Secretary, informed the Committee Members that ”...you are saddled with the responsibilities of screening and selecting thirty-one youth from all the local governments councils in the State, including the Ife-East Area Office, Modakeke-Ife.” He continued, “...the would-be members of the State Parliament must be a citizen of Osun State between 18-30 years with a minimum of Secondary School Certificate or its equivalents, must not have been convicted of any criminal offences and must not belong to any secret cults.”