Saki Parapo, a foremost socio-cultural body committed to the progress and unity of Saki land, has held a Youth Day programme as part of its Annual General Meeting (AGM), creating a strategic platform for dialogue on pressing developmental issues confronting the ancient town.
The well-attended gathering brought together youth leaders, community stakeholders and members of the Saki Parapo Caretaker Committee, with discussions centred on youth participation, community development and sustainable solutions to socio-economic challenges facing Saki.
Welcoming participants to the programme, the Youth Representative on the Saki Parapo Caretaker Committee, Olafimihan Muhammad Apesauda, expressed deep appreciation to all attendees for honouring the invitation. He particularly commended other members of the caretaker committee for what he described as their fatherly and motherly commitments, noting that their cooperation and guidance had continued to strengthen youth engagement within the Saki Parapo structure. Apesauda emphasised that the Youth Day was conceived to give young people a voice and an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the development agenda of Saki.
At the dialogue session, leaders of various youth and community groups took turns to outline the challenges confronting Saki. Key issues highlighted included youth unemployment, inadequate infrastructural development, limited access to opportunities, and the need for better coordination among youth bodies. The speakers did not only identify the problems but also proposed practical solutions, ranging from stronger youth unity and advocacy to strategic engagement with government, traditional institutions and development partners.
In his remarks, Dr. Y. Y. Muslim lauded the youths for their sense of responsibility and commitment in initiating the dialogue. He described the programme as timely and visionary, urging the youths to prioritise unity and collective interest. According to him, meaningful development would only be achievable when youths are able to organise themselves, build consensus and speak with one voice on issues affecting their community.
The Chairman of the Saki Parapo Caretaker Committee, Elder Wole Oladokun, also addressed the gathering, admonishing the youths to consciously harness their strengths, talents and capacities for the advancement of Saki. He stressed that the energy, creativity and numerical strength of the youth population remain critical assets that must be channelled towards productive ventures and community development initiatives.
Similarly, the Secretary of the body, Dr. Ismail Adewoyin, urged the youths to effectively utilise the media space as a tool for development. He encouraged them to embrace both traditional and digital media platforms to project positive narratives about Saki, advocate for development and mobilise support for youth-driven initiatives, while maintaining responsible and constructive engagement.
Other organisations and bodies present at the programme spoke in unison, calling on Okere-in-Council, Saki Parapo and other relevant stakeholders to provide the necessary support for youth initiatives. They emphasised that empowering the youths through mentorship, resources and inclusion in decision-making processes would translate into broader community development.
Youth organisations represented at the programme included the Saki Youth Organisation, Saki Youth Development Council, Asabari Youth, Otun Youth, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Youth Wing, Saki Muslim Community Youth Wing, Igbimo Onisese Parapo Youth Wing, and the National Union of Saki Students (NUSS), National Headquarters, among others.
The Youth Day event concluded with a renewed commitment by participants to strengthen collaboration, promote unity and actively contribute to the socio-economic and developmental growth of Saki, reinforcing the role of youths as key stakeholders in shaping the future of the town.
