I’M IN”: Ekiti Chief of Staff Endorses Major Youth Push, Vows Governor’s Full Backing
Ekiti State’s top government official has thrown the full weight of the Governor’s Office behind a landmark initiative designed to empower the state’s youth and dismantle barriers to their participation.
Chief of Staff Hon. Niyi Adebayo formally endorsed the “I’M IN” campaign on Thursday, declaring Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji’s administration fundamentally committed to the growth, development, and self-realisation of Ekiti’s next generation.
Hon. Adebayo made the decisive commitment during a meeting at his Ado-Ekiti office with the campaign’s architect, Hon. Ayo Ojo, the Technical Advisor on Youth Inclusion. He framed the very creation of Hon. Ojo’s office and his appointment as a deliberate strategy by Governor Oyebanji to ensure young citizens can “harness and attain their full potential in their various fields in life.”
The “I’M IN” campaign, confronts head-on the widespread sentiment among Ekiti’s youth that they are excluded, unheard, and undervalued. Its core mission is to forge a platform where young people feel genuinely “seen, heard,valued and supported,” enabling them to actively shape their state’s future.
Key objectives include raising awareness, strengthening inclusivity, spurring innovation, and guaranteeing fairness and opportunity for all young people, irrespective of background.
The support is structured around five key pillars:
Empowerment focuses on developing skills, guiding career paths, and crucially, connecting youth with global opportunities like scholarships, grants, and internships.
Inclusivity guarantees every young voice, regardless of origin, has a platform and Opportunity facilitates vital access to mentors and professional networks.
Engagement inspires active participation in community development, while Development ensures personal and community growth through collaborative projects and learning.
Hon. Adebayo offered strong praise for Hon. Ojo’s existing initiatives – including the “Get Active Now Ekiti Youth” (GANEY) programme, hiking clubs, the Ekiti Quest Talent Hunt, DEEPCONVO Youth hangouts, and cyber security training.
He stated categorically, “Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji is solidly behind the initiatives,”emphasizing the Youth Inclusion Office’s role in “bridging the gap between government and industry players through capacity trainings and empowerment programs.”
The Chief of Staff issued a direct appeal to Ekiti’s youth, urging them to actively engage: “Key into this initiative by visiting the Office of Youth Inclusion and other government ministries, agencies, and MDAs,” he stated, highlighting the administration’s “robust welfare packages for the youth.”
Responding to the endorsement, Technical Advisor Hon. Ayo Ojo thanked the Chief of Staff and Governor for the support. He firmly assured that his office would not “shirk in its responsibilities” to achieving the Governor’s goals for youth development and inclusion.
With the latest endorsement the “I’M IN” campaign is now positioned as a cornerstone of Ekiti State’s strategy to unlock the vast potential of its young population.
