1. Presentation by
The State of Osun
on
Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme
(OYES)
at the Learning from Past Experience
for Future Opportunities in
Youth Employment
in West Africa
in Abuja
23 – 24 July , 2013
1

2. STATE OF OSUN
Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES )
Mr Governor Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola is the
motivator, the idea behind OYES and He is deeply
involved in the Operations and Activities of OYES

3. PRESENTATION OUTLINE
• Introduction, Motivations and Objectives of the
Scheme
• Organisation and Operation of the Scheme
• Deployment and Exit Programme
• Achievements so far
• Challenges
• Next Steps
3

4. Introduction and Conceptual Objectives of OYES
• Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) is a strategic youths
management for social support operation in public WORK FARE.
• It is a revolving volunteers scheme designed to eliminate the
frustrating and paralyzing effects of youth unemployment in the
State of Osun, Nigeria.
• It aims at empowering youths by equipping them with positive work
ethics and culture, thus making them employable or employers of
labour, with respect for the environment.
• It is designed to develop youths with Character , Innovation and
Competence (the CIC); infusing them with HONOUR AND
INTEGRITY IN LIFE....the virtues of an OMOLUWABI!
4

5. Rationale for OYES
• The State’s 5-year average
rate of unemployment was
12.4% during 2008 –
2010;.
• Even though this was the
4th lowest among the 36
states of Nigeria this,
percentage was
unacceptable to the
government of Ogbeni
Rauf Aregbesola in Osun!
Source: National Bureau of Statistics, Statistical News Labour
Force Statistics, No. 476 13 May 2010 5

6. 6
3
7.1
8.3
8.9
11.2
12.1
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12.5
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17.9
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21.1
21.3
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23.9
25.2
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25.5
25.9
26.1
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28.5
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30.6
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33.8
34.9
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35.6
36.5
38.7
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42.6
43.2
OSUN
KWARA
LAGOS
OYO
ABIA
EKITI
ANAMBRA
ONDO
TARABA
KOGI
SOKOTO
CROSS RIVER
AKWA IBOM
FCT
KANO
EBONYI
BAYELSA
NIGERIA
ENUGU
PLATEU
RIVERS
KEBBI
IMO
DELTA
KATSINA
BORNO
KADUNA
OGUN
ADAMAWA
JIGAWA
EDO
YOBE
NASSARAWA
GOMBE
NIGER
BAUCHI
ZAMFARA
BENUE
RATE (%)
OYES IN THE STATE OF OSUN VINDICATED
Source: National Bureau of Statistics, Statistical News Labour
Force Statistics, May 2011/12
Within two years of
OYES, The State of Osun
became the State with
the lowest rate of
unemployment in
Nigeria.

7. 7
Orientation Training
OYES
THUGGERY
TRAINED BUT
UNEMPLOYED
PROSTITUTION
CULTISM
EVOLUTION OF AN OYES CADET

8. Operational Components
Seven Deployments in their Uniforms:
1. Green Gang – For environmental beatification and greenery.
2. Sanitation Czars – For sanitation
3. Public Works Brigade – For maintenance of roads, public
buildings and infrastructure.
4. Paramedics – Emergency services and primary health support.
5. Traffic Marshall – For maintenance and sanity on our road
6. Sheriff Corps – For maintenance of communal peace and order.
7. The Teacher Corps – Volunteer Teaching in Schools
8

9. Operation of OYES
• The Scheme commenced on 20th December 2010 with
distribution of over 250,000 application forms.
• 20,000 youths were selected through a transparent
IT-driven process which ensured even participation
across the 30 Local Governments and 1 Area Office (Ife
East) of the State of Osun.
• Successful Cadets received training of Mind , Body and
Hearts in camps located across the State.
• Data of remaining applicants retained in database for
future interventions.
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10. Operation of OYES (contd. )
• Training conducted in four modules by highly qualified
trainers who had themselves gone through an intensive
Train-the-Trainer programme.
• Passing-out parade held on 5th March 2011.
• Health screening prior to deployment to mapped out
territories for community service.
• The First Anniversary on 5th May 2012.
• Batch 2012/14 was a replenishment of Batch 2011/13 to
maintain the integrity of the scheme.
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11. OYES Service Duration and Implications
BATCH 2011/13:
• Duration of service - 24 months
• Stipend - N10,000 /head
N200 Million/Month(1.25M US$)
N2.4 Billion/Year (15M US$)
• No. of Intake - 20,000
• No. Exited - 20,000+(explain)
BATCH 2013/15 - 20,000 Recruited, Trained and
Deployed.
11

12. Some OYES Deployments, Collaborations & Programmes
Deployments
a) Sanitation Czars
b) Green Gang
c) Public Works
d) Traffic Marshal
e) Paramedics
f) Sheriff Guard
g) TEACHERS CORPS
Collaboration
a. Enumeration of Agba
Osun
b. Train escort during
festival periods
c. Enumeration of
dilapidated buildings
d. Enumeration of
schools
e. Part of SAS – SWIFT
ACTION SQUAD
Exit Programmes
a. OYES-TECH
b. O’RAM
c. O’REAP YOUTH ACADEMY
d. O’FISH
e. O’TRI – CYCLE
f. ODUA FARMERS ACADEMY
g. O’TRUCK DRIVERS
h. O’RED BRICK
i. O’COCOA Pollination
12

13. Some OYES Exit Routes
TEACHING
VOCATIONAL
TRAINING
APPRENTICESHIP CO-OPERATIVES STARTER PACKS
SUBEB TEPO OAU Ram Farm OYES TECH
O’RED
BRICK
VOLUNTEER
TEACHERS IN
THE PRIMARY
AND
SECONDARY
SCHOOLS
Vocational &
Entrepreneurship training
(Local and Over Sea)
13

14. Some Achievements of OYES
• 20,000 corps selected as pioneer members in the first batch.
• Another 20,000 have been selected in the second batch with effect
from February, 2013
• Acquisition of new skills – OYES Tech (3,000 Corps) & O-REAP
(Agricultural Land Mapping) are on-going.
• A clean and hygienic environment in the State of Osun.
• Infusion of about 200 million naira per month paid to Cadets into the
local economy.
• 5,000 organised tailors under the umbrella of the Nigerian Union of
Tailors Osun State chapter and others produced over 80,000 work
uniforms.
• Resuscitation of moribund shoe factory in the State.
• Increasing interest of the business community (Banks etc.).
• Crystallisation of latent talents and acquired skills.
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15. EFFECT OF THE OYES ON THE STATE OF OSUN
1. IMPROVEMENT IN THE ENVIROMENTAL CLEANLINESS OF THE STATE
2. MAINTAINANCE OF INTER & INTRA STATE ROADS THAT MAKES THEM
SAFE
3. IMPROVEMENT IN PERSONAL HEALTH SITUATION OF THE INDIVIDUALS
4. LOW ATTENDANCE AT THE HEALTH INSTITUTIONS FROM YEAR 2012
COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS
5. AVAILABILITY OF CHEAP LABOUR
6. ENLARGING SKILLS FOR JOB OPPORTUNITY
7. REDUCTION IN UNEMPLOYMENT: 3% OF UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN
THE STATE
8. REDUCTION IN CRIME RATE
9. PLACEMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT AND EMPOWERMENT
10. EQUIPPED YOUTHS WITH POSITIVE WORK ETHICS
11. REDUCTION IN POVERTY TO THE BAREST MINIMUM
12. IMPROVED STANDARD OF LIVING OF THE YOUTHS

16. 13. IMPROVEMENT IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY: MONEY VELOCITY INCREASED
14. ATTITUDINAL CHANGE
15. ENHANCED COMMUNITY PEACE AND PROGRESS
16. DEVELOPMENT OF COMRADESHIP, ESPIRIT-DE-CORP & MORAL AMONG THE
YOUTHS OF THE STATE OF OSUN
17. ENHANCED VOCATIONAL AND ENTREPRENEURAL TRAINING
18. IMPROVED EXTERNAL EXAMINATION PERFORMNANCES
19. INCLUCATION OF POSITIVE CHANGE AMONG THE YOUTHS
20. GROOMING YOUTHS CONSCIOUSNESS FOR GLOBAL ISSUES
21. EXPOSURE TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
22. STRENGTENING THE GOVERNANCE PROCESS
23. INCREASE IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION & ENTERPRISE
24. REDUCTION IN HUNGER AND STARVATION
EFFECT OF THE OYES ON THE STATE OF OSUN

17. Some Challenges
Challenge Response
Huge logistic issues in the
management of 20,000 young people
and providing exit routes from the
program in two years
Creation of a suitable structure –
Organogram; and development of
appropriate Exit Strategies.
Sustaining a wholly Government
funded scheme without external
funding.
Interface with World Bank, local banks
and Consultants.
Managing the transition of Corps into
permanent jobs and viable
livelihoods.
Stimulate Town and Gown activity to
promote skills development and
entrepreneurship.
Targeting engagement for one(1)
million unemployed citizens within 5
years
Multiplier effect of the revolving OYES
scheme; (Batch 2 started in February
2013)
Attracting Donor/ Development funds
Further advocacy on OYES’ achievements
and policy relevance.
Absence of legislative framework for
the Scheme
Draft Bill is ready
Absence of established operational
procedures, processes and guidelines
for the activities of the scheme
Generic Public works Manual facilitated
by World Bank is nearing completion;
Learning points from international
experience have also been useful. 17

18. OAU Ram Farm – an OYES exit route
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19. O-Brick – an OYES exit route
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20. OYES: Grooming a Community of Youths who are
Conscious of Global Issues and Driving Positive Change.
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21. OYES NEXT STEP
• Strengthening the Governance Process.
• Improving Monitoring and Evaluation.
• Further Diversification of Exit Programme.
• Enhanced Vocational and Entrepreneurship
Training.
• Enlarging skills for jobs’ opportunities.
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22. 22
Questions, Comments and
Suggestions