OYES: A Transformative Success Story

Today marks a wonderful dawn, as 20,000 youths are being inducted into the State Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES). Having already taken off over 40,000 youth off the streets and empowered them through life changing skills acquisition, the state government is powering ahead with its much acclaimed, widely emulated social empowerment programme.

Skills acquisition is the foundation for the formation of Social Capital. Social Capital constitutes the bedrock for genuine empowerment as the basis for individual self-actualisation. OYES is a volunteer scheme and it is not mandatory to attach a stipend. However, the provision of a stipend is not only a motivating factor, it has had a vigorously positive multiplier effect on the economy of the state. A N200 million monthly infusion has had an invigorating effect on the purchasing power parity and trajectory of the state.

We have focused in our paper on some of the individuals such as Mofoluke Adeleke and their testimonials about the life changing, beneficial effects of the scheme. This newspaper gives great kudos to the progressive intervention of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, as well as the managerial acumen of Mr. Femi Ifaturoti, the barrister-at-law who has so well marshaled the birth and coordination of the scheme.

The invigorating Commandante of the scheme, Colonel Enibukun Oyewole (rtd) has adopted a thorough hands-on perspective which has benefited thousands of intakes. The judgment of posterity on their pioneering, socially beneficiary effort will be positive.