Faduyile Challenges Ondo South Youths to Turn Local Problems into Business Opportunities
By Kuye Babatunde
Senator Professor Francis Adedayo Faduyile has challenged young people in Ondo South to turn local challenges into business opportunities, create jobs and drive economic growth rather than depend solely on government support.
He made the call in his keynote address at the Ondo South Youth Development and Entrepreneurship Summit held in Okitipupa on Saturday, October 17, 2026. The address, themed “Empowering Young Minds for Leadership, Innovation, and Economic Prosperity,” was delivered on his behalf by Dr Akin Akintan.
Faduyile identified agriculture, fisheries, maritime development, bitumen and other natural resources, as well as coastal tourism, as sectors with significant economic potential in Ondo South. He stressed, however, that natural resources alone could not guarantee prosperity without the creativity, skills and initiative needed to harness them.
“Our greatest resource is the creativity, courage and capacity of our young people,” he stated in the address.
The senator urged young people to identify problems within their communities and develop practical solutions that could generate income and create employment. He cited affordable cold-storage facilities to reduce fish spoilage in Ilaje fishing communities, improved cassava and gari processing, safer water transportation and the use of digital tools to improve marketing and customer service as potential areas for innovation.
He also challenged aspiring entrepreneurs to abandon the notion that starting a business requires huge capital, encouraging them to begin with available resources, test their ideas and improve their products or services through customer feedback.
He also called for stronger collaboration among government, educational institutions, community leaders and the private sector to promote youth entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
Faduyile commended the organisers for the summit and urged participants to apply the knowledge gained to create businesses, generate employment and improve livelihoods across Ondo South.
He expressed optimism that the initiative would inspire innovative, resourceful and self-reliant youths capable of turning local challenges into opportunities for economic growth.
