As Nigeria gears towards the general elections in 2027, the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade has charged the teeming population of youths in Ogun State to actively get involved in politics while formally declaring his support for the gubernatorial ambition of Senator Olamilekan Adeola.

Olopade made the charge on Tuesday in Abeokuta while addressing journalists at the sidelines of a special interfaith religious prayer and declaration of support for the Senator representing Ogun West at the National Assembly, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.

Represented by his Special Adviser/Technical Adviser on Strategy and Policy Development, Abiola Odetola, Olopade described the gathering as a definitive signal of the state’s political direction.

“Olopade also aligned the engagement with the broader national vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose leadership he described as forward-thinking and deliberate in its commitment to youth inclusion, capacity development, and generational renewal. He noted that the President’s confidence in young people, reflected in both policy direction and governance approach, has continued to inspire a new wave of political consciousness and participation across the country. According to him, this ideology — anchored on competence, opportunity, and structured empowerment — represents the kind of leadership framework required to drive sustainable progress at both the national and subnational levels.”

“This is a declaration of support for, by the grace of God, the incoming Governor of Ogun State, Senator Olamilekan Adeola Yayi. What you’re seeing here is more than a prayer session. I think what you will call this is progress, a declaration of what is to come in Ogun. This is a show, a display of the confidence young people across the state have in the person that we consider our candidate already even though the process is on. Come 2027, the pendulum is switching towards Ogun West,” Olopade stated.

Charging the youth to get involved not only physically but mentally, he emphasized that young people must be at the center stage with their intellect.

He identified a gap in progression from local participation via rallies to advanced opportunities for governance and leadership at the National level, stressing that this lack of progression may deter future participation.

“If you check over the years, the average age of young people that have been within the governance system in Ogun State and juxtapose that with the number of those who have made it to the National level in governance and leadership, you will understand that there is a need for more of events like this. Where we belong, both as a political group within the APC and of course, where the youth constituency today stand is: What will happen to the future of young people today in Ogun? How do we maintain the continuity of the good things that we have enjoyed under the APC government, led by Governor Dapo Abiodun? What do we need to do from now to show that the youths are ready for Senator Olamilekan Adeola?” Olopade stressed.

The event organized by Yayi Youth Vanguard, with the theme, “Consolidating a Brighter future for Ogun Youth: Inclusiveness in Politics and Governance” had in attendance thousands of youths from the three Senatorial Districts of Ogun State.

Also speaking, the Convener of the group, Olamide Lawal, said the essence of the event is to awaken the political consciousness of young people in the state.

“If you get involved in politics, there are benefits of good governance that you will get. If you don’t get involved, you cannot blame the government. You have to be actively involved to influence any change and to influence developments into your community,” Lawal said.

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