How are you?

I am doing quite well as we prepare to begin the disbursement of funds to the first batch of beneficiaries under the YEAP-SAfER programme on Monday, 23 March 2026. This is one of the defining moments of our administration and I find myself reflecting on its significance and what it represents within a broader economic journey we have deliberately chosen to undertake.

For us in Oyo State, this is not just another intervention. It is a continuation of a system we are building, one that is designed to deliver sustainable economic outcomes, not temporary relief. Because over time, we have come to understand that real development does not come from isolated efforts, it comes from systems that are consistent, intentional, and capable of reproducing results at scale.

I have always maintained that economic prosperity will come when we get certain fundamentals right. We must raise and support entrepreneurs, because they are the engine of growth in any economy. We must take education seriously, because an informed population is able to make logical decisions, create value, and sustain progress. And importantly, we must be productive, as productivity remains the bridge between potential and prosperity.

The YEAP-SAfER initiative sits firmly within this trajectory supporting enterprise by providing access to finance, which is one of the barriers that young entrepreneurs face.

At a time when Nigeria is working to navigate its way out of economic difficulty, we must confront an uncomfortable reality; there is often a gap between what economic indices suggest and what people experience in their daily lives. Bridging that gap requires more than policy statements, it requires systems that translate growth into real, felt impact.

What we are doing with YEAP-SAfER is one example of how this can be done. By identifying, verifying, and supporting hundreds of young people, and by working with partners such as First City Monument Bank (FCMB and the Mastercard Foundation) to ensure scalability, we are not only addressing immediate needs, we are laying the foundation for long-term economic participation.

As we commence this disbursement, our focus remains clear. This is about building a pipeline of productive citizens, strengthening the link between opportunity and capacity, and demonstrating that with the right structure, development can be both inclusive and sustainable.