Hon. Ramata Agberemi Dabo (RAD), Senior Special Assistant to the Oyo State Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters and Director of Women Mobilization for Makinde for President/Adekanmbi for Governor 2027, has commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his sustained investment in youth development and empowerment over the last seven years.
RAD gave the commendation in her goodwill message at the 2026 International Youth Day celebration organised by the Oyo State Bureau of ICT and Digital Innovations, with the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspiration.” The event, which featured the Hackathon 2026 Youth Presentation, was held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan.
She described the initiative as a laudable demonstration of the administration’s commitment to equipping young people with relevant digital skills, knowledge and opportunities to prepare them for the future.
According to RAD, the deliberate attention given to youth development under Governor Makinde has created platforms through which young people can acquire skills, showcase their talents, develop innovative ideas and contribute meaningfully to the development of Oyo State.
She urged the participating youths and interns to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the state government, stressing that digital skills and innovation could serve as powerful tools for personal development, entrepreneurship and societal transformation.
RAD also encouraged the youths to remain resilient, disciplined and committed to continuous learning, noting that the knowledge acquired through programmes such as Hackathon 2026 should be translated into practical solutions to address challenges within and outside the State Secretariat.
The Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde, had earlier charged youths to remain resilient, innovative and committed to personal development as part of efforts to contribute meaningfully to the development of the state and the country at large.
Professor Babatunde gave the charge at the event, emphasising the importance of personal commitment, continuous self-development and goal setting. He urged the young participants to take responsibility for their growth by setting clear and achievable targets and remaining committed to attaining them.
He noted that opportunities for learning and development would only produce meaningful results when matched with discipline, determination and a commitment to continuous improvement.
The SSG urged the interns to see the Hackathon and digital skills acquired during the programme as opportunities to build their capacity and contribute meaningfully to the development of Oyo State and society.
The interns, who are under the supervision of the Management Information Centre (MIC), Governor’s Office, Oyo State, were drawn from different backgrounds and given the opportunity to demonstrate the digital skills acquired during their internship.
Speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on ICT and E-Governance, Mr. Bayo Akande, said the interns were expected to identify gaps and challenges within the State Secretariat during their engagement.
Akande expressed optimism that the innovations presented at the Hackathon would provide solutions to some of the identified challenges, while also having the potential to address problems beyond the Secretariat and contribute to the overall development of Oyo State.
He announced gifts for the first, second and third-place winners in recognition of their outstanding innovative projects.
The Director of Youth Mobilization, Hon. Kazeem Bolarinwa, tasked the youth to take advantage of available opportunities to acquire knowledge, develop innovative ideas and contribute positively to society.
Bolarinwa further noted that Hackathon 2026 provided a platform for the interns to demonstrate the practical application of their digital skills through innovative projects, reflecting the programme’s objective of transforming youth capacity development into practical solutions capable of contributing to the development of Oyo State and beyond.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of ICT and Digital Innovations, Engr. Abisola Adabanija, described the occasion as a special one, noting that it coincided with the celebration of International Youth Day.
She said the programme had provided the interns with opportunities to acquire practical knowledge and develop skills that could be applied to real-life challenges.
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