2027: Volunteer Youth Network Throws Weight Behind Makinde, Adekanmbi At Kazeem Bolarinwa’s Office

The atmosphere was filled with excitement, energy, and renewed political enthusiasm today as Hon. Kazeem Bolarinwa, Director-General, Youth Mobilisation, had the honour of receiving members of the Volunteer Youth Network in his office.

The youth network came in their numbers, united by a common purpose and driven by their passion for the future of Oyo State. Their visit was an opportunity to formally declare their unwavering support and commitment to Governor Seyi Makinde and Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi ahead of the 2027 presidential and gubernatorial elections.

With their presence, enthusiasm, and determination, the Volunteer Youth Network demonstrated that young people remain an important force in grassroots mobilisation and political engagement. They expressed their readiness to take the message of their principals to communities across the state and to mobilise more young people toward the 2027 elections.

The delegation also reaffirmed its commitment to building a stronger and wider youth network capable of reaching the grassroots, engaging young people, encouraging participation, and creating a formidable platform for collective action.

Receiving the group, Hon. Kazeem Bolarinwa appreciated the members of the Volunteer Youth Network for their confidence, solidarity, and commitment. He acknowledged the important role young people play in shaping the political future of Oyo State and encouraged them to remain united, organised, peaceful, and focused.

The visit further underscored the growing momentum around youth mobilisation as preparations for 2027 continue. From the grassroots to the wider communities, young people are increasingly positioning themselves to participate actively in the political process and contribute their voices, energy, and organisational strength.

For the Volunteer Youth Network, the message was clear: the commitment is strong, the energy is high, and the mobilisation continues.

As Hon. Kazeem Bolarinwa continues to drive youth mobilisation across the state, the support and engagement of youth groups such as the Volunteer Youth Network further reinforce the importance of building an inclusive and energetic youth movement ahead of 2027.

Egbeda Youth Leaders Send Strong 2027 Signal at DG Youth Mobilisation’s Office, Back Adekanmbi, Makinde

The political momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections continues to gather steam as youth leaders from Egbeda Local Government and various wards across the area paid a strategic visit to the Director-General of Youth Mobilisation, where they declared their support for the political aspirations of Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi and Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde.

The visit, which brought together grassroots youth leaders and key stakeholders, was marked by solidarity, political engagement, and a strong expression of confidence in the leadership direction being promoted ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking during the engagement, the youth leaders emphasised the importance of youth participation in politics and governance, stressing that young people must remain actively involved in decisions that shape the future of their communities and the state.

Their declaration of support for Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi and Governor Seyi Makinde was presented as a commitment to mobilising young people at the grassroots and strengthening political participation across the wards of Egbeda Local Government.

The gathering also provided an opportunity for the youth leaders to interact with the DG Youth Mobilisation and discuss the importance of effective grassroots mobilisation. They expressed their readiness to take the message of unity, participation, and political engagement to their respective wards and communities.

For the youth leaders, the road to 2027 is not merely about political slogans but about building a strong grassroots structure capable of connecting with the people at the community level.

The visit further demonstrated the growing importance of youth mobilisation in the political landscape, particularly as young people continue to play a significant role in shaping electoral conversations and determining political outcomes.

With the 2027 elections drawing closer, political stakeholders are expected to intensify engagements across the various local governments and wards. The Egbeda youth leaders' visit adds another layer to the ongoing mobilisation efforts and highlights the significance of grassroots support in any political campaign.

As the political journey continues, the youth leaders reaffirmed their willingness to work collectively and contribute to the mobilisation efforts for Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi and Governor Seyi Makinde, while encouraging other young people across Egbeda to participate actively and peacefully in the democratic process.

Egbeda Youth Leaders. One Voice. One Movement. One Direction for 2027.

Arsenal open Osimhen talks with Galatasaray

Arsenal have reportedly opened talks with Galatasaray over the possibility of signing Victor Osimhen before the summer transfer window ends.

This was disclosed on Thursday by Matt Law, Football News Correspondent with the UK website, The Telegraph.

“Victor Osimhen’s availability has been raised between Arsenal and Galatasaray amid discussions regarding the Turkish club’s interest in Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri,” Law disclosed.

“Galatasaray have made a £38.4m offer for Martinelli and indicated an interest in Nwaneri, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Marseille, amid wide-ranging talks with Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta.

“Those discussions are believed to have included the possible scenario of Osimhen moving to Arsenal, although it is unclear if that was raised by Berta or whether the striker was essentially offered to the Premier League champions.”

Arsenal have, meanwhile, held a long-standing interest in Osimhen, as far back as when the Nigerian international won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup with the Golden Eaglets in 2015.

It is on record that the Gunners’ legendary manager, Arsene Wenger, was highly interested in the 27-year-old but Osimhen eventually joined Wolfsburg.

Osimhen confirmed that Wenger spoke with him directly following the Under-17 tournament to pitch a move to Arsenal.

“I spoke with Arsene Wenger, and he wanted me to come to Arsenal, but it was not the best option at the time,” the striker said.

The forward also attracted attention from top European clubs like Barcelona, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, and Juventus.

Osimhen turned down the offer because he wanted immediate first-team football as soon as he turned 18, rather than joining a massive club where regular minutes weren’t guaranteed.

He opted to sign for Wolfsburg instead, believing Germany offered a better environment to invest in his game and improve physically at that stage of his career.

Having developed and won a lot of trophies with clubs such as Sporting Charleroi of Belgium, Lille of France, Napoli of Italy and Galatasaray of Turkey, Arsenal now believe that Osimhen will be an upgrade on the pair of strikers, Victor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus.

Osun election: Sensitive materials arrive CBN in Osogbo

Sensitive election materials for Saturdays Osun State governorship election

Sensitive materials for Saturday’s Osun State governorship election have arrived at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Osogbo ahead of their distribution to the various local government areas.

The materials arrived at the CBN premises at about 8:30pm on Thursday under the supervision of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies.

Buses were seen waiting outside the premises to convey the materials to designated locations ahead of the election.

As of the time of filing this report, officials were offloading the sensitive materials from the vehicles.

The materials are expected to be distributed to the various local government areas ahead of Saturday’s poll.

YOUTHS ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF EVERY THRIVING COMMUNITY — BIMBO ADEKANMBI

As we celebrate International Youth Day, I extend my warm greetings and heartfelt appreciation to the young people of Oyo State and beyond.

The strength of any community can be measured by the opportunities it creates for its young people. Our youths bring energy, creativity, innovation, courage and fresh ideas that can transform communities and drive meaningful development.

From the young entrepreneur building a business, to the student pursuing knowledge, the farmer producing food, the artisan mastering a trade, the creative telling our stories and the volunteer serving the community — our young people are already contributing in countless ways.

We must recognize that youth development is community development. When we invest in education, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, technology, sports and employment opportunities, we are building a stronger and more prosperous society.

Our young people deserve more than encouragement. They deserve opportunities, inclusion, mentorship and platforms to turn their talents into impact. Their voices must be heard, their ideas respected and their contributions valued.

As we mark this important day, let us renew our commitment to building communities where every young person has the opportunity to learn, work, create, lead and succeed.

To all the incredible youths of Oyo State: your dreams matter, your ideas matter, your contributions matter, and your future matters.

Happy International Youth Day!

Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi

APM Governorship Candidate