The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, on Monday hosted the Campus Manager of the Youth Opportunity and Mobilisation for Africa (YOMA) Project during an advocacy visit aimed at strengthening legislative support for environmental protection and climate responsibility across tertiary institutions in the state.
The engagement, facilitated through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, focused on exploring areas where the legislature could support environmental initiatives on campuses and promote youth-led action on climate change and sustainable development.
The YOMA Project, funded by UNICEF and led by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, has so far empowered about 45,000 Ekiti students with globally recognised certifications designed to enhance their employability and prepare them for the future of work.
Beyond skills acquisition, the project is also mobilising students to take active roles in their communities by engaging residents, institutions and other stakeholders on environmental protection, climate responsibility and sustainable practices.
During the advocacy visit, areas of legislative support required to strengthen environmental protection initiatives on campuses were discussed, with emphasis on creating an enabling environment for students to champion sustainable practices within their institutions and communities.
Rt. Hon. Aribasoye welcomed the initiative and expressed commitment to supporting policies and programmes that advance environmental protection, youth participation and sustainable development across Ekiti State.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to promoting youth-led climate action and green skills development, recognising the important role of young people in building environmentally responsible, resilient and sustainable communities.
The engagement further strengthened the partnership between the legislature and youth-focused initiatives while highlighting the importance of equipping Ekiti students with relevant skills and opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the state’s development.
