The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), has pledged to build an inclusive government that prioritises youth empowerment, political participation, sports development, digital innovation and the creative economy if elected governor.

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Oyebamiji made the promise during the Osun Youths Interactive Session held at Adolak Event Centre, Osogbo, where hundreds of young people drawn from students’ unions, professional bodies, civil society organisations, artisans, entrepreneurs, community groups and other youth-based organisations engaged him on his plans for the future of Osun State.

The interactive session, organised by the Directorate of Youths, Students and Civil Society of the Osun APC Campaign Council, provided an opportunity for participants to interrogate the APC candidate on his PROSPERITY Agenda, particularly on issues relating to education, employment, entrepreneurship, technology, governance, youth inclusion and economic development.

Addressing the gathering, Oyebamiji expressed confidence that the APC would emerge victorious in the August 15 governorship election, saying the party’s extensive consultations across all the 30 local government areas had given it a clear understanding of the expectations of the people.

He explained that the campaign had visited every part of the state during the pre-primary consultations, the inauguration of party canvassers and the ongoing statewide campaign tour, enabling the party to engage directly with residents and identify their developmental priorities.

“We shall be duly elected come August 15 because we have traversed all the 30 local government areas of Osun State in three different phases of this campaign. We have interacted with our people, listened to their concerns and developed practical solutions that will improve governance and create opportunities for everyone, especially our young people,” Oyebamiji said.

The APC governorship candidate described youths as the greatest asset of Osun State, assuring them that his administration would move beyond rhetoric by giving them meaningful roles in governance, policy implementation and decision-making.

He promised programmes that would stimulate entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, agriculture, digital economy, skills acquisition and wealth creation while creating an enabling environment for businesses capable of generating sustainable employment.

Oyebamiji also identified sports as a strategic sector with enormous economic potential, saying his administration would invest in sporting infrastructure, talent discovery and youth development.

He disclosed that he had begun consultations with stakeholders on establishing a competitive Southwest sports initiative through collaboration among governors in the region to promote sporting excellence and position Osun as a leading destination for sports development.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Directorate of Youths, Students and Civil Society, Hon. Ayodele David Asalu (Asler), described the programme as a strategic engagement designed to bridge the gap between political leadership and young people.

According to him, the gathering was not merely a political rally but an open conversation aimed at allowing youths to directly engage the APC governorship candidate on issues affecting their future.

Asalu stressed that education, employment, entrepreneurship, technology, skills development, innovation, creative economy and youth participation in governance remain critical issues requiring practical solutions.

Chairman of the Planning Committee, Kehinde Ayantunji, criticised the current administration over what he described as the neglect of sports and youth development.

He alleged that for almost four years, Osun State had lacked functional sporting facilities capable of hosting even local football competitions, while expressing concern over what he described as increasing political thuggery and the erosion of productive youth values.

Delivering the keynote presentation, Dr. Lekan Olatunji, the Lead Discussant, explained that the APC’s PROSPERITY Agenda was deliberately designed with youth inclusion as one of its major pillars.

He disclosed that young people actively participated in developing the party’s manifesto and would also be involved in implementing and evaluating government programmes under an AMBO administration.

Olatunji noted that with approximately 67 per cent of Osun State’s population below the age of 40, sustainable development could only be achieved by placing young people at the centre of governance and economic planning.

He highlighted major components of the agenda, including quality education, digital and vocational skills development, support for small and medium-scale enterprises, agriculture, sports, creative industries, talent development and youth-focused wealth creation initiatives.

He further revealed plans to activate the Osun Free Trade Zone through a Public-Private Partnership arrangement to stimulate manufacturing, fashion, technology, entertainment and creative enterprises while organising annual talent festivals to identify and nurture young innovators and entrepreneurs.

Speaking during the session, Chairman of the Osun Football Association, Mr. Sola Fanawopo, urged the incoming administration to recognise sports as a major economic sector capable of creating jobs and reducing youth unemployment.

He advocated the establishment of standard sporting facilities across the state’s nine federal constituencies to encourage grassroots talent discovery, athlete development and increased participation in local and international competitions.

Also speaking, the APC Deputy Governorship Candidate, Engr. Benjamin Adereti, assured participants that youths would occupy strategic positions in government if the party wins the election.

He promised greater investment in digital infrastructure, technology-driven governance, innovation and continuous training and retraining of the workforce to prepare young people for emerging economic opportunities.

Adereti urged youths to position themselves for leadership by acquiring relevant skills, embracing innovation and taking advantage of opportunities that would be created under an APC administration.

Chairman of the occasion, Engr. Olamilekan Badmus, called on eligible voters, particularly young people, to support Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji in the August 15 governorship election.

He expressed confidence that the APC candidate possesses the vision and capacity to deliver economic prosperity, youth empowerment, infrastructure development and sustainable growth across Osun State.

The event featured a panel discussion and an extensive question-and-answer session, during which participants engaged the APC governorship candidate on education, employment, entrepreneurship, governance, technology, sports development and youth inclusion.

The interactive session reaffirmed the commitment of the Osun APC Campaign Council’s Directorate of Youths, Students and Civil Society to creating platforms that encourage young people to participate actively in policy discussions and contribute meaningfully to the future development of Osun State.