…Organisers say exercise is a peaceful show of appreciation for senator’s scholarships, bursaries, youth empowerment programmes
Buoyed by the recent award of scholarships and bursaries to 5,312 students across Ogun State, the Youth and Students’ Wings of the Yayi Progressives Movement (YPM) have unveiled plans to mobilise 10,000 young people for a solidarity trek in support of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.
The organisers said the exercise, scheduled as a peaceful civic engagement, is intended to celebrate what they described as the senator’s consistent investment in education, youth empowerment and human capital development.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abeokuta, the Coordinator of the YPM Students’ Wing, Comrade Dotun Opaleye, said the initiative was inspired by the growing impact of Senator Adeola’s educational interventions, particularly the scholarship and bursary scheme that recently benefited 5,312 students from universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the state.
According to him, the solidarity trek is more than a political gathering, describing it as an opportunity for students to demonstrate that young people can participate responsibly in democracy while appreciating leaders whose policies directly affect their future.
“Students are the intellectual strength of every society. They are not only the leaders of tomorrow but active stakeholders in today’s democratic process. This solidarity trek is our peaceful way of appreciating purposeful leadership and encouraging more young people to participate constructively in governance,” he said.
Opaleye commended the Convener of the movement, Armstrong ‘Tope Akintunde, for creating a platform that encourages youth and student participation in governance, while also acknowledging the contributions of the Co-Convener, Hon. Odeneye; the State Coordinator, Hon. Olusegun Kaka; and other leaders of the movement for mentoring young people.
Also addressing journalists, the YPM Youth Leader, Comrade ‘Bola Awotubo, said the planned trek would bring together youths from the 26 state constituencies as a demonstration of unity and support for leadership they believe has delivered tangible benefits to young people.
He noted that beyond politics, the exercise would encourage greater youth involvement in the democratic process and promote peaceful civic engagement.
“Our message is simple: young people should not remain spectators in governance. We want them to participate responsibly, contribute ideas and support initiatives that promote development,” Awotubo said.
He described Senator Adeola’s interventions in education, infrastructure, youth empowerment and community development as reasons many young people across Ogun State have continued to identify with his leadership.
The organisers appealed to participants to conduct themselves peacefully, urging students, APC youths, artisans, market leaders and other supporters to remain orderly and law-abiding throughout the exercise.
They reaffirmed the movement’s commitment to promoting youth inclusion, quality education and responsible citizenship, expressing confidence that the solidarity trek would further inspire young people to play active roles in the development of Ogun State.
