Aiyedatiwa deploys 2,000 volunteers for community development

File: Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has disclosed that more than 2,000 volunteers have been deployed across the state to support community development.

The governor said the volunteers would support initiatives in health, education, skills development and other areas of community development.

Aiyedatiwa spoke at the 2026 National Volunteer Conference held in Akure, the state capital, where government representatives, the United Nations, educational institutions and other stakeholders advocated a structured approach to voluntary service.

Represented by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Sunday Olajide, the governor called for stronger institutional support, coordinated partnerships and sustained investment in volunteerism as a strategy for national development.

Aiyedatiwa said, “More than 2,000 volunteers have been mobilised in Ondo State to support health, education, skills development and other community initiatives.

“Volunteerism should not just be seen as a realm of abstract thinking, but it should be something that is practicable, something we can see, something we can feel. It must be backed by deliberate policies, effective coordination, appropriate institutions and government support to deliver sustainable results.”

He explained that the Ondo State Volunteer Service was established to provide an institutional framework for citizens to contribute their time, talents, knowledge, skills and resources to the state’s development.

“Development of any society cannot be left to government alone. It is a collective responsibility,” he said, stressing the need for collaboration among government, the private sector, civil society organisations, development partners, traditional and religious institutions, and citizens.

“We must therefore encourage our young people to see volunteerism not as a distraction from their aspirations but as an opportunity to develop themselves while contributing to the common good,” he said.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, represented by the Director-General on Climate Change and Renewable Energy, Prof. Chinwe Obiaku, described volunteerism as vital to national development, peace and social cohesion.

He urged stakeholders to make concrete commitments to sustain volunteerism and improve lives across communities.

Similarly, Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, called for stronger partnerships among governments, the United Nations, the private sector and civil society to expand opportunities for young people to acquire skills, serve their communities and contribute to national development.

Represented by the Director-General of the Benue State Bureau for International Cooperation and Development, Dr Aondoaseer Leonard-Angelo Viashima, the governor said volunteerism supported youth empowerment, skills development, job creation and human capital development.

The National Directorate of Employment also urged Nigerians to embrace volunteerism to address unemployment, poverty and skills deficits.

Its Director-General, Silas Agara, represented by the Director of Inspectorate, Mrs Olayinka Steve-Ogundipe, said volunteering would enable young people to gain practical experience, develop leadership skills and contribute to community development.