A youth advocate in Ogun State, Amb. Habeeb Whyte, has called for a clear implementation framework for Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola’s proposed programme to train 100,000 youths in digital skills.
Whyte, a lawyer, writer and public analyst, said the proposal could only have meaningful impact if it was backed by specific timelines, transparent selection criteria, funding arrangements and pathways to employment and entrepreneurship.
He made the call in an open letter titled, “Yayi’s Blueprint and Our Generation: The Promises Are Important, But the Questions We Ask Are Even More Important,” following his review of a publication outlining Adeola’s political record and proposed development agenda for Ogun State.
The blueprint covers areas including economic development, education, agriculture, youth empowerment, digital innovation, tourism, creative industries, infrastructure and governance.
Whyte, who is also Deputy Coordinator of the Cityboy Movement in Ogun State, BAT Lawyers Coordinator and Chairman of the Ogun Youth Assembly, said the proposed training of at least 100,000 youths in coding, design, data analysis and digital marketing required closer examination.
He said the focus should not only be on the number of beneficiaries but also on how the programme would be delivered and what would happen to participants after completing the training.
“100,000 youths is a significant proposal, but numbers alone do not constitute empowerment,” Whyte said, asking how long the programme would run, who would qualify and how beneficiaries would be selected across Ogun’s three senatorial districts.
He also urged planners to consider rural youths and other groups that could face difficulties accessing digital opportunities.
According to him, the effectiveness of the programme should ultimately be measured by the number of beneficiaries who secure jobs, establish businesses, access markets or create employment after the training.
Whyte noted that the blueprint referenced previous ICT and skills-acquisition initiatives associated with Adeola, including training in Azure Cloud Computing, Power BI, Excel, digital marketing and graphic design, as well as laptop distribution to some participants.
He called for such interventions to be developed into a broader youth economic system that links skills acquisition with employment, entrepreneurship, financing and investment.
On education, Whyte said proposals to integrate technology into classrooms and modernise curricula should be connected to the changing demands of the economy.
“A certificate should open a door, but skills should keep that door open,” he said, calling for stronger links between educational institutions, industry, technology and entrepreneurship.
He also urged policymakers to provide clearer opportunities for young people within proposed agricultural programmes, including the Ogun Farm Mechanisation Programme, irrigation, financing, extension services and market access.
Whyte said youth participation in agriculture should extend beyond conventional farming to areas such as agritech, mechanisation, processing, storage, logistics, commodity trading, packaging and export.
He similarly identified the creative economy as an area with opportunities for young people, citing music, film, fashion, Adire, photography, digital content, entertainment and cultural tourism.
The youth advocate said proposed developments around border towns and major growth corridors could also create opportunities in logistics, construction, retail, hospitality, technology and professional services.
He urged youths to position themselves as participants, entrepreneurs, professionals and investors within emerging economic sectors.
On governance, Whyte called for greater youth participation beyond election campaigns, advocating opportunities for young professionals, students, entrepreneurs, artisans, creatives, farmers and athletes to contribute to policy formulation and development planning.
He said political engagement should move from what he described as “youth mobilisation to youth participation,” with mechanisms for young people to contribute to policymaking and monitor programmes targeted at them.
Whyte also urged young people to demand measurable targets and transparent reporting from political leaders.
“If 100,000 youths will be trained, we should know how many will be trained annually,” he said. “If start-ups will receive funding, what is the funding mechanism? If incubation hubs will be established, where will they be located?”
He said youths should be able to determine what was promised, what was budgeted, what was implemented and the measurable impact of the programmes.
“Accountability is not hostility,” Whyte said. “As young people whose future is directly affected by these policies, we have a responsibility to ask informed questions and demand clear answers.”
