The Ogun State government and other key stakeholders have been urged to scale up support for youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and programmes targeted at persons with disabilities. The call was made on Wednesday in Abeokuta during events commemorating the 2026 International Youth Day.

This year's global observance carried the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspiration,” with the sub-theme focused on empowering youths, women, and persons with disabilities through entrepreneurship, innovation, and inclusive economic opportunities. International Youth Day is observed annually on August 12 to highlight youth development issues and position young people as active drivers of societal change.

Speaking at the gathering, the Chief Executive Officer of Edfrica, Dr. Odumusi Emmanuel, emphasized the necessity of robust collaboration between the government, private sector organizations, and development partners. He stated that persons with disabilities must be actively integrated into all developmental initiatives, noting that development remains incomplete without them.

Emmanuel acknowledged that while government policies and funding structures exist, poor implementation and inadequate backing often restrict their reach. He also encouraged young Nigerians to remain resilient and focused despite current economic hurdles, advising them to commit to personal development and self-investment.

Representing the participants, a civil servant, Temitope Ajao, alongside Grace Animasaun, commended the organizers of the programme. They appealed to the Ogun State government to increase its focus on persons with disabilities by ensuring their inclusion in official policies and governance programmes.

The participants further stressed the importance of properly enforcing existing disability laws to safeguard the rights and improve the welfare of vulnerable groups, particularly women, thereby enabling them to contribute meaningfully to their communities.