President of the Oodua Youth Coalition (OYC), Ogbeni Tayo Oluyi, has urged Yoruba youth to blend cultural heritage with creativity and craftsmanship to drive sustainable development.
In a statement to mark International Youth Day 2025, themed “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond”, Oluyi stressed that true progress is achieved when “we connect our roots to our future.”
Quoting the Yoruba adage “Ìṣe l’ẹ́wà” (work is beauty), he noted that the ingenuity of Yoruba youth can turn indigenous designs into global fashion, modernise agriculture with innovative techniques, and preserve language and history through digital platforms.
“Our goal is more than achieving the Sustainable Development Goals — it is to build a self-reliant, culturally proud, and economically vibrant generation,” Oluyi said.
“We must draw from the wisdom of the past, innovate in the present, and shape a future where no skill is wasted and no tradition is forgotten.”
The OYC president called on Yoruba youth to embrace heritage, think creatively, and use their talents to solve real challenges within their communities, adding that when “culture meets creativity, progress becomes inevitable.”
