The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, has reaffirmed his commitment to youth development and governance while announcing plans to tackle the growing menace of extortion by house agents in the state.
Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin made the declaration today at a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, under the leadership of its Chairman, Prince Adebowale Adebayo Falana.
The meeting, held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Secretariat Ibadan, brought together representatives of registered youth organisations and associations across the state, under the agency for youth development.
During the interactive session, several youths raised concerns about the alarming rate of extortion by house agents in Oyo State.
They lamented the exploitative practices that have made access to housing increasingly difficult for residents.
In response, Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin announced that the Oyo State House of Assembly would come up with a committee that would draft a bill to regulate the activities of house agents and curb their excesses.
He said it was time the excessive activities of the various house agents were stopped, assuring all stakeholders that the proposed legislation would be completed and presented to Governor Seyi Makinde for assent before the end of the first quarter of the year.
“This bill will demonstrate how serious the leadership of the House is in addressing the menace of extortion by house agents. It will help protect residents from exploitation and restore sanity to the housing sector in Oyo State. The move will no doubt bring relief to residents who have long decried the unregulated practices of house agents.”
The Speaker declared.
Addressing the gathering, the Speaker emphasized his role as a representative of young people in governance, describing himself as the voice of the Youth Parliament.
He called for deliberate investment in modern skill acquisition centers that would equip youths with relevant skills to thrive in today’s competitive and challenging world.
“We should with all intent develop the youths. We should focus attention on developing skill acquisition centers that will focus on modern skill acquisition — the kind of skills that fit into today’s challenging world, especially in terms of self-sustainability,” Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin said.
He further urged youths to shun social vices such as cybercrime, popularly known as Yahoo Yahoo, ritual practices, and other destructive behaviors that undermine their future and the image of the state.
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, Hon. Adebowale Adebayo Falana lauded the Speaker Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, for his continuous support for youth-focused initiatives and progressive legislation that promotes social welfare.
He said, in Pacesetter State, the father of the youth, His Excellency Engr ‘Seyi Makinde, and the legislative arms in partnership with the agency for youth remains committed to empowering young people through advocacy, leadership development, and engagement with policymakers on issues affecting their socio-economic wellbeing.
Adebowale further reiterated that His Excellency Engr ‘Seyi Makinde has graciously approved the reconstruction of the agency’s new building where all youth organizations in the state will have their offices inclusive with beffiting hall for events and other recreational activities meant to transform the youth in the state.
Additionally, he used the medium to mention upcoming events from the agency like the Mic and Mix competition, as well as the new year 2026 concert to be staged by the popular Afrobeat singer Olamide Baddo as well as improve the State’s Creative economy
In his goodwill messages, the coordinating director of Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, Mr. Sangogade Olusumbo lauded the epoch-making maiden events to meet the youth, we’ve never had it so good like this but since the assumption of the Chairman, he has set the ball rolling, this year 2026 all programmes from the agency are intact.
Mr. Sangogade reiterated that the wishes of the chairman are to uplift all the youth bodies’ activities in achieving all-around development.
In attendance were; Hon. Adebayo Babajide Gabriel, Hon. Olorunpoto Rahaman Cephas, Hon. Owolabi Olushola, Hon. Modiu Akande Opeyemi, Hon. Sunkanmi Babalola.
Youth groups representatives were; ARSOYOC, NYCN, NYC, PROTAAN, Association of entertainment stakeholders, Oke-Ogun Youth solidarity forum, Federation of Boys and Girls, Coalition of Yoruba Youth Movement, and Agency for Youth Development
