For decades, Nigerian youths have been told that they are the leaders of tomorrow. But Hon. Bolanle Aminat Sarumi (BASA) challenges this old narrative. She insists that youths are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they are partners of today.
In Oyo State, where over 60% of the population is made up of young people, BASA sees a reservoir of talent, energy, and creativity waiting to be harnessed. Yet, she also recognises the frustration many young people face: unemployment, underemployment, lack of opportunities, and exclusion from governance.
Through her engagements, BASA has consistently worked to break down these barriers. Her grassroots mobilisation strategies always include young people, not as cheerleaders, but as stakeholders. She believes that youths must be given real platforms to contribute — from politics to entrepreneurship, from technology to agriculture.
Her advocacy goes beyond words. Through BASA Foundation initiatives, she has supported youth skill acquisition, offered mentorship, and encouraged entrepreneurship. One of her landmark youth empowerment programmes is the Free Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Business Registration Initiative, through which hundreds of Oyo State youths have been able to legally register their businesses and the number keeps growing. By doing this, BASA is not just helping young entrepreneurs formalise their dreams, she’s building a generation of job creators rather than job seekers.
She envisions an Oyo State where government policies deliberately invest in youth innovation, where vocational centres are strengthened, and where education prepares young people not just for certificates, but for meaningful work.
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BASA often describes young people as “the oxygen of the nation.” Without them, no sustainable development is possible. This is why she calls for inclusive governance where youths sit at the decision-making table, not just on campaign grounds.
For her, investing in youths is not charity — it is strategy. It is how societies reinvent themselves and secure their future.
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By recognising youths as partners of today, BASA sends a clear message: the future of Oyo State will not be built on promises of tomorrow, but on the active partnership of its young people today.
