#OsunYouthAgenda#: NGO To Lift 2.5million Youth In Promotion Of Good Governance

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

A Non Governmental Organisation, Kimpact Development Initiatives (KDI), has said that it would not deter from its main objectives of ensuring promotion of good governance, economic development and youth development.

The Executive Director of the NGO, Mr Bukola Idowu, gave the assurance on Friday in Osogbo, during a one day Osun Youth Agenda, Community Organising and Policy Development training for media practitioners.

Idowu said since its inception, Kimpact has carved a niche for itself as one of the frontline Non Governmental Organizations that focuses on the promotion of youth development and strengthening of good government structures.

Speaking on the nitty-gritty of the organization’s new project , OsunYouth Agenda, the Executive Director, said the OYA Initiatives which targets about 2.5 Million youths would help galvanised them to have a voice and ensure that their voice counts in the state.

He commended the Department for International Developments (DFID) , United State Agency for International Development (USAID), and the National Democratic Initiative (NDI) for supporting the Osun Youth Agenda which according to him is aimed at building accountability relationships with advocacy targets and also focusing on priority needs of the youths.

Idowu said,” the international bodies are really playing vital role towards ensuring that the future of our youths are guaranteed and secured”.

He noted the Osun Youth Agenda which is an offshoot of the Vote Not Fight campaign, was aimed at discouraging youths from wrong doing and motivating them to imbibed good behavior.

According to him, ” We are engaging youths across the state to divert them from wrong way of life and put them on the right path. This initiative will enable the youths to demand for what is due for them from government”

“We will mobilise quality set of youths who can make great things happen, propel and drive positive change not necessarily by engaging in Aluta and confrontation.

” We succeeded in the Vote Not Fight campaign and we are convinced that this Osun Youth Agenda will be another success story”, Idowu said.

The KDI Boss further said that about 6,000 youths would embark on peaceful rally across the state in August 12 to mark the youths day celebration and to present youth agenda to the policy makers.

He noted that the organization has mobilised quality youths with less than 200 youths in each of the local government across the state.

Idowu disclosed that the youth agenda initiative is also happening in Ekiti and Kaduna States, adding that it would spread to other states across the country soon.

He added that Osun youth Agenda with a slogan ” Making Us Count, “Ero Ngba Odo Osun, Kika Wa Kun” is supported by USSAID, UKaid, and NDI

In his remarks , Mr Ben Aga , the Senior Programme Manager of NDI, who spoke on strategic communication , said the media has huge role to play in shaping the future of the youths.

Aga commended the journalists in Osun for prompting the Osun Youth Agenda and charged them to do more.

Mr Rasheed Adebiyi, a communication specialist and lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, Fountain University, Osogbo, facilitated a session on ‘Understanding Development Deporting’.

He urged journalists to be proactive and professional in the discharge of their duties ,adding that development reportorial should be of priority to them.

Adebiyi, however, urged them to always set agenda for governments at all levels through it s programme and policies which in turn would make the country great.