The Youth Empowerment and Solutions (YES) Initiative has officially launched its Ondo State team with a strong message that true economic empowerment for Nigerian youth must begin with a transformation of the mind. This was the central theme at the recent YES Summit held in Ondo State, where speakers emphasized that access to resources alone is not enough to change young lives without a shift in mindset.
President of the YES Initiative, Adegbenro, stressed that mental renewal is the foundation of lasting empowerment. “I have met people with resources who still remain poor. Until the mind is renewed, nothing placed in it will yield value,” he said, pointing out that many initiatives fail because they focus solely on material support without addressing the internal capacity to manage and multiply opportunities.
He noted that the YES programme is not just a lofty ambition targeting large numbers of young people, but a calculated strategy to build a generation equipped with tools, values, and competence to drive change. According to him, the goal is to prepare Nigerian youth to take charge of their future, not just through job creation but through mindset and character development.
Ondo State Commissioner-designate, Mrs. Seun Osamaye, described the summit as timely and visionary, highlighting the importance of skills development in building personal and national wealth. “Some inherit wealth; others create it. Skills are the bridge between today’s struggle and tomorrow’s prosperity,” she said, encouraging youths in the state to embrace practical skills and personal development.
The summit also featured goodwill messages from dignitaries, including the United Nations representative, Ambassador Macwilly Mgbara, who commended the leadership of the YES Initiative and expressed confidence in its impact on Nigeria’s youth. He urged young Nigerians to maximise the opportunities provided by platforms like YES, which are designed to offer not just empowerment, but transformation.
A major highlight of the event was the formal inauguration of the Ondo State YES Team. This move signals a new phase of the initiative’s nationwide outreach, focused on structured youth engagement, mentorship, and sustainable empowerment across Nigeria.
With the Ondo launch, YES continues to expand its footprint in building a new generation of Nigerian youths who are not only economically empowered but also mentally prepared to lead. The summit served as a rallying call for young people to look beyond immediate gains and invest in the mental and skills-based foundation needed for long-term success.
