The Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Media and Strategy, Hon Kayode Akinmade, says the Dapo Abiodun administration is investing in youth empowerment as a deliberate pillar of the state’s long-term security framework.
He explained that the approach is rooted in the belief that young people are not just future leaders but active defenders and drivers of community stability.
Akinmade stated this while delivering a keynote address at the NUT Secretariat, Kuto, Abeokuta, during a one-day Youth Security Summit themed Youth-Led Strategies for Community Security.
The programme was organised by the Ogun State Chapter of the Nigeria Youth Organization in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
He said the current administration recognises that young people hold the insight and energy needed to shape safer communities.
According to him, “the youth are not only the leaders of tomorrow but the defenders, innovators, and nation-shapers of today.”
He added that “their insight, creativity, and courage are essential to the safety and progress of the state,” explaining further that “when young people embrace leadership, insecurity retreats; and that communities grow stronger when they lead with purpose.”
Akinmade highlighted several initiatives of the state government designed to secure communities by empowering young people.
These include training over 21,000 youths in vocational and digital skills, expanding the Ogun State Skills Fund to reach more than 31,000 residents and graduating the first cohort of CyberSquad Digital Technicians from the Ogun TechHub.
The digital programme, he noted, is expected to scale to 10,000 young people trained by 2027.
He stressed that youth-led security is not about assigning policing roles to young people. Rather, it involves “structured avenues where the youth contribute meaningfully to securing our society through community intelligence, digital early-warning tools, civic influence, campus peacebuilding, social media awareness, neighborhood vigilance, and technology-enabled reporting systems.” These strategies, he said, “capitalize on the unique strengths of our youth — their digital fluency, social engagement, and deep insight into community trends.”
Akinmade also listed other achievements of the administration, including strengthening the Amotekun Corps through recruitment of youthful operatives and improved operational tools, anti-cultism campaigns in tertiary institutions, counselling and mentorship for at-risk youths and rehabilitation support for those affected by drug abuse or criminal vulnerability.
He added that the government has expanded youth enterprise programmes across local governments and improved lighting in targeted public spaces to discourage crime and promote safer mobility.
He noted that these efforts are intentional and designed to merge youth development with long-term community security outcomes.
“As Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, I have seen firsthand the intelligence, creativity, and resilience of Ogun youths. My office remains committed to advancing youth-led communication platforms, security awareness initiatives, and the proposed Youth Security Innovation Framework — designed to transform youth-generated ideas into real solutions for community resilience and early detection.”
Akinmade called for closer partnerships between security agencies and youth groups. “Modern security models thrive on trust, community engagement, and early information flow,” he said.
He commended the organisers, describing the summit as timely and aligned with the shared pursuit of a safer state.
“Together, we can build a state where every street is safe, every young person has opportunity, and every community stands united in hope and resilience,” he concluded.
