Osun 2026: NPA Director, Badmus Faults Adeleke Government Over Youth Engagement, Sports Development

-Seeks Support For Oyebamiji

The Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Engr. Lekan Badmus, has criticised the Osun State Government over what he described as inadequate youth engagement and lack of meaningful sports development programmes in the state.

Badmus spoke on Sunday at Baruwa Field during a football tournament organised by the Olayiwola Football Association, where he described sports as an important avenue for engaging young people, discovering talents and keeping them away from negative activities.

According to him, the state government had failed to give adequate attention to sports and youth development, saying he could not identify any major sports programme initiated by the present administration in the last three to four years.

“Sports is very, very essential as a source of engagement and as a source of carrying the youth along. The present government of Osun State has no programme for the youth. I cannot pinpoint any single sports programme that has been done in the last three or four years,” he said.

Badmus said the large turnout at the tournament demonstrated the enthusiasm of young people and residents for sporting activities when properly organised and supported.

He also noted that the participation of teams associated with different political parties showed that sports could serve as a unifying platform capable of bringing people together irrespective of political affiliations.

“And we all represent three different political parties. This speaks volumes and, I tell you, is a message for what is coming before us by August 15, 2026, when the election will actually be taking place,” Badmus said.

He argued that youth development should not be restricted to football, urging the government and other stakeholders to invest in other sporting disciplines, including boxing, to create more opportunities for young people.

The NPA executive director also highlighted what he described as his personal efforts towards youth empowerment, saying he had facilitated employment opportunities for at least 50 people who initially served as industrial training and Information Technology trainees before securing permanent positions in the Federal Government.

“As I speak today, I’ve been able to get employment for a minimum of 50 people that have been able to serve or do IT and also got permanent federal government jobs,” he said.

Badmus added that he had supported people involved in tailoring and other small-scale businesses through various empowerment initiatives, stressing that sustainable youth development required access to jobs, skills and opportunities.

Speaking on the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, Badmus said the candidate’s recent interaction with young people demonstrated his commitment to addressing issues affecting youths, particularly employment, sports, skills acquisition and business support.

He said Oyebamiji had assured young people of employment opportunities if elected governor, particularly through efforts to address manpower shortages in critical sectors such as education and healthcare.

“Our schools are there. We don’t have teachers. Hospitals are there. We don’t have the right hands to do it. We will engage the youth by employing all these people to be part of this system,” Badmus quoted Oyebamiji as saying.

Badmus also pointed to the involvement of young people in the APC, including House of Assembly candidate, Hon. Ayodeji Olaiya, and Hon. Kayode Taofeeq, as evidence of what he described as the party’s commitment to youth participation in politics and governance.

He subsequently urged Osun residents to vote for Oyebamiji in the August 15 governorship election, expressing confidence that the APC candidate would provide what he described as purposeful leadership and impactful development.

The football tournament ended with Omo Oloore FC emerging champions, while Gangaria FC finished as runners-up and Iwaloye FC placed third.