By Iradat Abdullateef
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has renewed calls for collective efforts to engage Nigerian youths meaningfully and take them off the streets.
Speaking at the unveiling of the Obanta Centre in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Obasanjo said youth empowerment remains central to national development and poverty reduction.
According to a statement by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, the facility established under the Olusegun Obasanjo Youth Development Centre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library features a cinema, squash and lawn tennis courts, an entrepreneurial hub, and other amenities.
“Our commitment is to get youths off the streets. As you can see, the centre provides hospitality, relaxation, and entertainment facilities where young people can learn and enjoy themselves,” Obasanjo said.
He noted that the Ijebu-Ode facility is the third of such projects he has promoted, following earlier ones in Abeokuta, aimed at providing skills, mentorship, and productive engagement for young Nigerians.
The former president also urged youths to “take advantage of opportunities within their communities to develop their God-given talents for self-reliance and national growth.”
