By Michael Adeyemo
The Gideon Temitope Initiative has held its 2025 Political Conference in Ibadan, issuing a strong call for increased youth involvement in Nigeria’s political landscape.
The event brought together political leaders, analysts, and youth advocates to discuss the urgent need for a new generation of Nigerians to actively participate in governance and leadership.
Speaking on the theme entitled” Dominate: Redefining Youths Through Politics,”, a member of the Osun State House of Assembly representing Obokun State Constituency, Honourable Adewumi Adeyemi, and Acting Public Relations Officer of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Oyo State, Mr. Michael Ogunsina, stressed that the future of the nation lies in the hands of young people willing to engage politically and drive transformative change.
Mr Adeyemi and Mr. Ogunsina encouraged Nigerian youths to see politics as a tool for development rather than a space reserved for the elite.
“The future of Nigeria does not belong to a distant generation, it belongs to the young people of today who are willing to get involved, challenge the status quo, and lead with purpose and vision,” they stated.
Also speaking, National Senate President of the Association of Oke Ogun Student, Mr. Yasir Adeyemo, and Food Policy Analyst, Mr. Ajibola Oladipo, challenged young Nigerians to adopt a long-term view of development and national planning.
“And, one thing I really want participants to take away is the fact that, primarily, Nigeria is asked to develop. And, for us to dominate, we need to think long term and start planning now. We need to think in decades. We need to start planning now, give it all our best as well.
Nigeria is the only country we have, and, irrespective of the sector that you work in, whether even if you’re a student and you’re aspiring, whether as an accountant or a medical practitioner or law or whatsoever it is, there’s always an intersection of governance. But it’s when all of these sectors work together and they work well, and we have well rounded professionals running these sectors that we can talk of, development. So we need to invest in ourselves, prep ourselves for the future, and start planning. The the future that we desire is is going to come out based off of how we shape it. It’s it’s all based off of how we shape it.”
According to Mr Adeyemo and Mr Oladipo, Nigeria would only achieve meaningful development when young people stop being passive observers and start engaging directly with the political system.
In his remarks, the convener of the conference, Mr. Gideon Temitope, said the initiative was born out of a deep passion for youth empowerment, national development, and increasing citizens’ involvement in politics.
Highlights of the event include Award Presentation.
Among the sponsors of the Gideon Initiative 2025 Political Conference is Esther Adesoun, Chief Executive Officer of FIFI Stitches, a Nigerian fashion designer and creative entrepreneur. Her bespoke fashion brand is renowned for its custom-made women’s wear.
Since 2015, Esther has earned a strong reputation for creating elegant, timeless, and innovative designs that inspire confidence and celebrate individuality.
Beyond her craft, she is deeply passionate about women’s empowerment through fashion. She envisions expanding training and workshop platforms where women can gain hands-on experience, learn tailoring and design skills, and build sustainable careers.
From her humble beginnings in Nigeria to establishing a presence in the UK, Esther Adesoun’s journey is one of resilience, growth, and vision.
