August 12, 2025, Nairobi, Kenya, Lagos, Nigeria Lion Olori Dame Ayo Yemisi Jaiyeola, Lions International Regional Chairperson for Region 1, District 404B2, Multiple District 404 Nigeria, has called for greater youth involvement in Africa’s development process as the world commemorates International Youth Day 2025 with the theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond.”
Speaking about the day’s importance, she stated that Africa’s youth are “our greatest resource” and a key factor in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN. Since over 70% of young people are between the ages of 19 and 35, she said, local administration should prioritize and focus on young people when implementing the SDGs.
“I have witnessed young people transforming obstacles into solutions through clean energy innovations, businesses, health campaigns, and community education in Lagos, Nigeria, Nairobi, Kenya, Kigali, Ghana, Burkina Faso, and a few other countries,” Dame Ayo Yemisi Jaiyeola stated.
She emphasized that everyone must understand that every local action leads to a global solution.
She claims that Lions Clubs International Nigeria has continued to mentor and train young leaders, support grassroots and youth-led projects, collaborate with young people to advance community-based SDG initiatives, and support Lions International’s current partnership with the UN through the Leo movement and various youth empowerment programs.
Olori Yemisi Jaiyeola called on decision-makers and development partners to prioritize youth in economic and development initiatives. She urged states, African governments, SDG offices, youth development ministries, local government officials, ward council members, youth development non-governmental organizations, church youth departments, and royal fathers to make investments in equipping young people with skills related to civic engagement, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Additionally, she promoted young participation in local, national, and continental decision-making.
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As co-creators of the continent’s future, Dame Jaiyeola emphasized the necessity for Africa to form cross-sector relationships with young people.
With more than 30 years of experience in widow care, Lion Ayo Jaiyeola is the missionary at God’s Wives International Foundation and a counselor to more than 45,000 widows in Nigeria. He is aware of the challenges faced by widowed and single mothers in raising fatherless and orphaned children, many of whom have found companionship on the streets.
In her capacity as chairman of the Young Women Christian Association, she urged young ladies to act appropriately and abstain from drug use and other illegal behaviors.
“Make every youth a doer with the right skills and not criminals,” Jaiyeola reaffirmed, adding that African politicians must also cease manipulating young people for their ill-advised political purposes. Africa rises when our young people do, and the entire globe is affected,” she claimed.
African teenagers were urged by Lion Ayo Jaiyeola, the charter president of the Maryland Royal Lions Club, to join a local Lions Club in order to receive quality mentoring.
She asserts that in order to serve their communities and develop their leadership skills, Lions Clubs International needs additional members, particularly young people.
With more than 1.4 million members across more than 200 countries, Lions Clubs International is the largest service organization in the world, she said. She went on to say that Lions and Leos in Lion’s Multiple District 404 give back to their communities by working on programs related to youth empowerment, education, health, and the environment, among other areas.
