Saraki, Natasha, others to attend Osun youth conference

…As Deji Adeleke launches entrepreneurship resource centre 

From Lateef Dada, Osogbo

The Minister of youth, Hon. Ayodele Olawande, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Hajia Bola Shagaya, Dr. Charles Odii (DG SMEDAN), and Bar Pelumi Olajengbesi, have been invited to participate in the upcoming Osun Youth Conference in Osogbo, the state capital.

Deji Adeleke, elder brother of Governor Ademola Adeleke, is expected to launch a youth entrepreneurship resource centre during the conference.

Comrade Oyewale Segun, Special Adviser to Governor Adeleke on youth mobilization and convener of the conference, announced at a press conference, yesterday, that “This edition will mark a significant milestone in our state’s commitment to youth empowerment with the launch of the Dr. Deji Adeleke Youth Entrepreneurship Resource Centre—a permanent hub for innovation, capacity building, and entrepreneurial growth in Osogbo.”

According to him, the conference, themed “The Power of Youth: Rethinking Leadership, Entrepreneurship & Digital Inclusion in Nation Building,” aims to engage participants in meaningful discussions and generate actionable ideas to tackle the real challenges faced by young people today, such as access to finance, business sustainability, leadership inclusion, and digital participation.

Segun highlighted that the two-day program will focus on entrepreneurship development and empowerment. “We are proud to announce that, in partnership with SMEDAN, BOI, and CAC, over 500 young entrepreneurs will be trained and supported with free CAC registration to formalize their businesses,” he said.

He explained that the second day will feature the main conference and an award ceremony, bringing together innovators, thought leaders, and policymakers to inspire a new generation of youth-driven leadership and impact.

“We want the youth of Osun to view this conference not just as another event, but as a movement of possibilities—a platform where voices are heard, ideas are transformed, and dreams are given direction,” Segun emphasized.

He noted that the goal is to inspire a generation of youth to focus on solutions rather than complaints, strengthen the connection between government, the private sector, and the entrepreneurial community, and position Osun State as a model of youth-driven development in Nigeria.