Oyetola Receives Southwest City Boy Movement Directors, Commends Youth Mobilisation for National Development
Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON (middle) addressing the Directors of City Boy Movement (CBM) from the Southwest region, when they visited him in his office in Abuja on Monday.
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, on Monday received State Directors of the City Boy Movement (CBM) from the Southwest region in his office in Abuja, in a meeting that underscored the growing importance of youth engagement and grassroots mobilisation in national development and governance awareness.
The delegation was led by the Oyo State Director of the City Boy Movement, Hon. Lamiju Alao-Akala, who presented the objectives, activities, and expanding reach of the movement across the region and beyond.
The City Boy Movement is a youth-driven sociopolitical mobilisation platform established to promote civic participation, policy awareness, and support for progressive governance initiatives, particularly those associated with the reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Since its emergence, the CBM has grown into a structured network of young professionals, students, entrepreneurs, and community organisers committed to engaging Nigerian youths at the grassroots level through advocacy, public enlightenment campaigns, community outreach, and digital engagement. Its activities include town-hall interactions, policy sensitisation programmes, volunteerism, and youth empowerment initiatives aimed at strengthening democratic participation and national cohesion.
Speaking during the visit, Hon. Lamiju Alao-Akala emphasised that the movement was founded on the conviction that Nigeria’s youthful population must be actively informed, inspired, and involved in governance processes.
He noted that the CBM has been working across Southwest states to bridge the information gap between government policies and young citizens by translating national programmes into relatable, accessible messages.
According to him, the movement focuses on communicating key reforms and achievements of the current administration in areas such as economic restructuring, infrastructure development, youth opportunities, and social investment initiatives, thereby fostering informed civic consciousness among young Nigerians.
The CBM Director explained that the visit to the Minister formed part of CBM’s strategic engagement with senior government officials whose portfolios have direct impact on economic growth and employment generation.
He highlighted the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry’s central role in unlocking maritime opportunities for youth employment, entrepreneurship, and skills development, particularly in coastal trade, logistics, fisheries, marine services, and port-related industries. Hon. Alao-Akala therefore sought the support and partnership of Dr. Oyetola in strengthening CBM’s outreach efforts, especially in communicating maritime and blue economy opportunities to young Nigerians in the Southwest and across the country.
Responding, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola commended the City Boy Movement for its proactive youth mobilisation and civic engagement efforts, describing the initiative as timely and aligned with national priorities.
He observed that Nigerian youths constitute the largest demographic segment of the population and must therefore be effectively reached with accurate information about government policies, programmes, and achievements. The Minister stressed that youth inclusion in national discourse is essential for sustaining democratic stability, economic progress, and social cohesion.
Dr. Oyetola stated that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has recorded significant achievements across multiple sectors, including economic reforms, infrastructure expansion, social programmes, and institutional strengthening.
He emphasised that these milestones must be communicated clearly and consistently to Nigerians, particularly young people who are both primary beneficiaries and critical stakeholders in the country’s future. According to him, platforms such as the City Boy Movement play an important role in disseminating factual information, countering misinformation, and fostering constructive engagement between government and citizens.
The Minister further noted that the Marine and Blue Economy sector holds vast untapped potential for youth employment and enterprise development, and that the Ministry is implementing policies and initiatives designed to expand indigenous participation in maritime activities.
He assured the delegation of his readiness to support credible initiatives that promote youth empowerment, economic inclusion, and national development awareness.
The CBM Director in the delegation included Hon. Lamiju Alao-Akala (Oyo), Moyo Ogunlewe (Lagos), Kasali Oluwafemi (Ekiti) and Kayode Sowande (Osun).
