Lagos: 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 declaration yesterday, Thursday, June 26, in Lagos.
He emphasised the importance of youth empowerment and regional cooperation in addressing the challenges facing young people in West Africa.
“This includes promoting economic growth, peace, and developments through initiatives that focus on education, skill development, supporting programmes, and digital empowerment that enhances and enables youths to access job opportunities.”
He also stated that he planned to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which, he said, required partnerships and collaboration.
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.
Martin 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 opportunities for African youth to contribute more to the development of the continent in achieving the SDGs.
He said it would also encourage networking and collaboration 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.
Martin 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.
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 rights and his work toward achieving the United Nations’ SDGs.
