Adejare Urges Ijebu Youths to Look Beyond State Creation, Embrace Entrepreneurship

Former member of the House of Representatives and Secretary of the Ogun State APC 2027 Campaign Council, Rt. Hon. Babatunde Samuel Adejare has urged Ijebu youths to look beyond the agitation for state creation and embrace entrepreneurship, innovation, and skilled professions as pathways to economic self-reliance.

Adejare who spoke through Hon. (Barr.) Solomon Oluwaseyi Osho, a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly during the 9th Assembly and Mayegun of Isara-Remo, who delivered a lecture on his behalf at the Ijebu Youth Summit 2026, organised by the Ijebu Youth Association National Body.

Other speakers at the event include the former Commissioner for Agriculture in Ogun State, Dr Odedina & Chairman of the Occasion, Otunba Dr Kunle Hassan, the Founder of Eye Foundation Hospital amongst other dignitaries.

Speaking on the theme, “Beyond White Collar Jobs: Empowering Ijebu Youths for Entrepreneurship, Self-Reliance, and Building Consensus for the Creation of Our Dream State – Why Development Matters More Than Nomenclature,” Osho said the future of the region depended largely on its ability to create opportunities for young people.

He urged the youths to draw inspiration from the history of Ijebuland, particularly its tradition of commerce, entrepreneurship, self-reliance, and community organisation.

According to him, success should no longer be defined solely by securing salaried employment, urging young people to become entrepreneurs, innovators, skilled professionals, and job creators.

Osho said the region’s proximity to Lagos, industrial estates, agricultural resources, transportation networks, and the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport presented opportunities that could be harnessed to create jobs and attract investment.

He said, “A name can define a territory, but development defines a civilisation. Our greatest monument will not be the name of the state we create, but the lives we improve.”

On the agitation for the creation of a proposed Ijebu/Remo state, the lawmaker called for a measured approach anchored on constitutional awareness, improved governance, economic opportunities, and better living standards.

He also cautioned against allowing disagreements over the proposed state’s name, boundaries, capital, or political dominance to create divisions among the people.

Osho advocated dialogue, mutual respect, and cooperation among stakeholders, saying the ultimate objective should be to build a society where young people can establish businesses, prosper within their communities, and contribute meaningfully to development.

He said the state-creation conversation should, therefore, be approached from the perspective of what would deliver tangible benefits to the people rather than focusing solely on nomenclature.

Our correspondent reports that the summit had in attendance youths and stakeholders from Ijebuland to deliberate on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, self-reliance, development, and the proposed state-creation agenda.

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