ONDO STATE MOBILISES MORE THAN 2,000 VOLUNTEERS AS GOVERNORS CALL FOR STRONGER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT
By Iroyin Yoruba Television
AKURE, Ondo State — October 25, 2026
Ondo State has mobilised more than 2,000 volunteers to support community initiatives in health, education and skills development, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa announced at the 2026 National Volunteer Conference in Akure.
The conference, held at the Dr Olusegun Mimiko Event Centre on October 23, brought together government representatives, development organisations, educational institutions and other stakeholders to discuss how voluntary service could contribute to community development.
Aiyedatiwa, represented by the state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Sunday Olajide, called for stronger institutional support, coordinated partnerships and sustained investment in volunteer programmes.
The announcement placed the spotlight on how organised volunteering can help communities address local needs while giving participants opportunities to develop practical skills and contribute to public services.
ONDO SEEKS STRUCTURED VOLUNTEER PROGRAMMES
Aiyedatiwa said the Ondo State Volunteer Service was established to provide an organised framework through which residents could contribute their time, knowledge, skills and resources to the state's development.
He urged schools, tertiary institutions, youth organisations, professional associations and businesses to create structured opportunities for people to volunteer.
The governor said voluntary service should produce practical results for communities rather than remain an idea discussed at public events.
The state's stated areas of focus include health, education, skills development and other community initiatives. However, the conference announcement did not provide a detailed breakdown of the more than 2,000 volunteers by programme, location or assignment.
That information would help establish where volunteers are currently serving and which communities have received support.
GOVERNORS CALL FOR NATIONAL COORDINATION
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia also called for stronger partnerships to expand volunteering opportunities.
Adeleke, represented by Osun's Director-General on Climate Change and Renewable Energy, Chinwe Obiaku, said volunteering could support development, peace and social cohesion.
Alia, represented by the Director-General of the Benue State Bureau for International Cooperation and Development, Aondoaseer Leonard-Angelo Viashima, highlighted its potential contribution to youth empowerment, skills development and community recovery.
The governors urged government institutions, businesses, civil society organisations and development partners to establish accessible opportunities for people to participate in community initiatives.
Their contributions reflected a shared emphasis on coordination, although the conference report did not announce a new binding national volunteerism policy or a specific implementation timetable.
VOLUNTEERS NEED TRAINING AND PROTECTION
Participants also stressed that volunteer programmes require proper organisation, supervision and safeguards.
Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University in Abuja, called for a coordinated national approach to harness citizens' skills towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
He said effective volunteering requires training, institutional support and measurable outcomes. He also advocated accreditation, safety guidelines and insurance to protect volunteers from exploitation.
These safeguards are important because voluntary service should not become a way to replace paid workers with unpaid labour or expose participants to avoidable risks.
A well-organised programme needs clear responsibilities, appropriate training and a way to assess whether the activities are meeting genuine community needs.
DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES HIGHLIGHT YOUTH PARTICIPATION
The National Directorate of Employment encouraged Nigerians to embrace volunteering as a way to gain practical experience and develop leadership skills.
Its Director-General, Silas Ali Agara, represented by the Director of Inspectorate, Steve-Ogundipe Olayinka, said voluntary service could complement employment and skills-development initiatives.
The United Nations Volunteers Programme also called for greater recognition, protection and investment in volunteers.
The United Nations Population Fund urged federal and state governments to formalise volunteer recognition and training and provide dedicated funding for youth-led initiatives.
The World Health Organisation highlighted the contribution of volunteers to disease surveillance, immunisation, maternal and child healthcare and responses to public health emergencies.
Its representative said more than 4,000 volunteers had supported community health across Nigeria's 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory over eight years.
That figure was presented during the conference and was not accompanied in the event report by a detailed breakdown of the volunteers' assignments or the specific outcomes achieved.
MEASURING RESULTS BEYOND PARTICIPATION NUMBERS
The conference highlighted volunteering as a potential way to connect public institutions with communities, but the number of people mobilised does not by itself establish the impact of their work.
Assessing results requires information about where volunteers are deployed, the services they provide, the communities reached and the outcomes achieved.
For Ondo State, a breakdown of the existing volunteer programme would help residents understand how the more than 2,000 volunteers are contributing to health, education and skills development.
Regular reporting could also help identify gaps, improve programme coordination and show whether support is reaching underserved communities.
The conference concluded with calls for stronger collaboration and practical recommendations to sustain voluntary service. The available announcement did not establish a new national funding commitment or confirm that a nationwide volunteerism framework had been formally adopted.
For communities, the value of the initiative will ultimately depend on whether organised volunteering delivers useful, safe and measurable support to residents.