Adelami Receives Modupe Afiz Ogun Foundation, Says Skills Acquisition Non-negotiable

Adelami Receives Modupe Afiz Ogun Foundation, Says Skills Acquisition Non-negotiable

The deputy governor of Ondo state, Dr. Olayide Adelami, has reiterated the importance of combining quality education with practical skills acquisition to prepare young people for the demands of the modern world.

Dr. Adelami stated this on Tuesday when he received Mrs. Modupe Afiz Ogun, Co-Founder of the Modupe Afiz Ogun Foundation, in his office in Akure.

Mrs. Afiz Ogun was in the state to deliver a keynote address at a 2026 International Youth Day event organised by the Entrepreneurs’ Forge in partnership with the Modupe Afiz Ogun Foundation.

Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Adelami said young people possessed enormous potential which could be harnessed through deliberate investments in education, skills development, mentorship and opportunities.

“Our young people possess tremendous energy, creativity and talent. With the right opportunities, mentorship and support, they can become not just beneficiaries of development, but active drivers of economic transformation,” he said.

The deputy governor commended the Modupe Afiz Ogun Foundation and the Entrepreneurs’ Forge for their collaboration and commitment to youth empowerment, noting that initiatives that equip young people with relevant skills would contribute significantly to the development of the state and the country.

He stressed that education should go beyond the acquisition of academic qualifications, adding that young people must also be equipped with practical skills that would enable them to become self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to society.

Earlier, Mrs. Afiz Ogun highlighted the importance of youth empowerment to family development and nation-building.

She noted that young people with learning and developmental disabilities were also part of families and communities and should not be left behind in empowerment initiatives.

“It is important for every youth in every family to be empowered because, as parents, what we want is for our children to be able to support one another. We want those who are less able among them to receive support from those who are more capable. All of these would not be possible without some form of empowerment,” she said.

Mrs. Afiz Ogun further emphasised the need to complement formal education with practical skills, saying such skills were essential to preparing young people for adulthood and enabling them to reach their full potential.

“Education is important, but we all know that even within the education curriculum, there are skills attached to so many subjects. At the end of the day, empowerment and skills development are extremely important for the development of our youth community,” she said.

She commended the deputy governor for supporting initiatives aimed at empowering young people and expressed optimism that such interventions would have a lasting impact.

In her opening remarks, the founder of the Entrepreneur’s Forge, Opeyemi Ameerah, expressed optimism that the partnership between the Entrepreneurs’ Forge and the Modupe Afiz Ogun Foundation, with the support of the Ondo state deputy governor, would produce positive and sustainable outcomes for young people in the state.

She said the initiative was designed to create opportunities for young people to acquire relevant skills, build confidence and contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities.

The meeting had in attendance dignitaries including the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr Adekola Falohun, other members of the Modupe Afiz Ogun Foundation and the Entrepreneur’s Forge.

John Paul Akinduro,
Spokesperson to Ondo State Deputy Governor,

August 11, 2026.