(L-R): Amb. Olaleru Folorunsho, Nigeria Representative, West Africa Youth Council, Amb. Olatunde Martins and Amb. Gbenga Akinwunmi
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
An Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Youth Ambassador, Mr Olatunde Martins, says he is committed to driving youth empowerment across the African continent.
Martins, who is also the President and Executive Director of Yield Africa Foundation, made the commitment in Lagos.
He emphasised the importance of youth empowerment and regional cooperation to address challenges facing young people in West Africa.
“This includes promoting economic growth, peace, and developments through initiatives that focuses on education, skill development, supporting programmes, and digital empowerment that enhances and enables youths to access job opportunities.”
He also said that he planned to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which, he said, required partnerships and collaborations.
He said it would include building partnerships with organisations, governments and stakeholders to create opportunities for capacity building, skills development, and resource sharing.
The ambassador said he had been instrumental in uplifting the lives of more than 8000 individuals through various skills.
“These include vocational training, medical outreaches and education support programmes, implemented by Yield Africa Foundation across communities, ” he said.
Martins was also recently conferred with the Nelson Mandela Leadership Award of Excellence and Integrity by the West African Youth Council.
According to him, the award will inspire and create opportunity to contribute more to the development of African youth toward achieving the SDGs.
He said it would also encourage networking and collaborating with more African visionary leaders, dedicated to similar goals.
“The award is as a result of dedication, hard work and diligence in the area of service to humanity; also, as an advocate and relentless crusader of promoting development for African Youths, ” he said.
Martins noted that the award was not just a personal milestone but a powerful reminder of the impact being made on nation building, capacity building, youth empowerment and community transformation.
NAN reports that the ECOWAS youth ambassador is a distinguished Nigerian personality, renowned for his contribution to the advancement of sustainable development and humanitarianism.
The ambassadorship has established him as a champion of human right and his work toward achievement of the United Nation’s SDGs.