Ondo Mobilises 2,000 Volunteers as Governors Seek National Framework for Volunteerism
…UN agencies, NDE advocate investment in youth, skills development
Ondo State has mobilised more than 2,000 volunteers to support community development initiatives, as governors of Ondo, Osun and Benue states called for a coordinated national framework to strengthen volunteerism and accelerate sustainable development.
The governors made the call at the 2026 National Volunteer Conference held on Friday at the Dr Olusegun Mimiko Event Centre, Akure, where government representatives, United Nations agencies, educational institutions and other stakeholders emphasised the need for stronger institutional support, strategic partnerships and sustained investment in voluntary service.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, disclosed that the state had mobilised over 2,000 volunteers to support initiatives in health, education, skills development and other sectors.
Represented by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Sunday Olajide, the governor said volunteerism must be supported by deliberate policies, effective coordination, appropriate institutions and government commitment to achieve sustainable results.
“Volunteerism should not just be seen as a realm of abstract thinking, but it should be something that is practicable, something we can see, something we can feel,” he said.
Aiyedatiwa explained that the Ondo State Volunteer Service was established to provide an institutional framework through which citizens could contribute their time, talents, knowledge, skills and resources to the state’s development.
He maintained that government alone could not shoulder the responsibility of developing society, stressing the importance of collaboration among the public and private sectors, civil society organisations, development partners, traditional and religious institutions, and citizens.
“Development of any society cannot be left to government alone. It is a collective responsibility,” he said.
The governor urged schools, tertiary institutions, youth organisations, professional associations, businesses and development partners to create structured volunteering opportunities for young people to acquire practical skills, develop leadership capacity and contribute to their communities.
He said young people should see volunteerism not as a distraction from their personal ambitions but as an avenue to develop themselves while contributing to the common good.
Aiyedatiwa described the conference, organised to commemorate the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, as an opportunity to strengthen collaboration among federal and state governments, UN development partners, civil society organisations, voluntary organisations, the private sector and academic institutions.
He urged participants to develop practical recommendations for strengthening volunteerism at national, state and community levels, noting that the success of the conference should be measured by the positive changes resulting from its deliberations.
The governor also commended the Ondo State Volunteer Service and the conference’s organising committee for bringing together stakeholders committed to volunteerism and sustainable development.
Similarly, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, described volunteerism as an important instrument for national development, peace and social cohesion.
Adeleke, represented by the Director-General on Climate Change and Renewable Energy, Prof. Chinwe Obiaku, commended the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for promoting voluntary service.
He noted that volunteerism complemented government efforts to provide essential services while enabling young people to acquire practical experience, teamwork and leadership skills.
The Osun governor called on governments, businesses, educational institutions and civil society organisations to expand accessible and well-coordinated volunteering opportunities in education, healthcare, environmental protection and skills development.
He urged stakeholders to make concrete commitments to sustain voluntary service and improve the lives of people across communities.
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, also advocated stronger partnerships among governments, the United Nations, the private sector and civil society organisations to expand opportunities for young people to acquire skills, serve their communities and contribute to national development.
Alia, represented by the Director-General of the Benue State Bureau for International Cooperation and Development, Dr Aondoaseer Leonard-Angelo Viashima, said volunteerism could promote youth empowerment, skills development, job creation and human capital development.
He noted that voluntary service aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and could equip young Nigerians with practical skills, vocational knowledge and resources for community development.
According to him, volunteerism could also help communities respond to insecurity, displacement and economic recovery challenges.
The governor, however, cautioned that volunteerism must not absolve governments of their responsibilities, stressing that public authorities must remain accountable even as voluntary service extends the reach and impact of development programmes.
Speaking as the guest speaker, the Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, Prof. Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, called for a coordinated national approach to harness the skills and contributions of Nigerians towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Fawehinmi said Nigeria needed “a renewed ethic of service, solidarity, responsibility and practical citizenship”, noting that public institutions alone could not achieve the development goals.
He stressed that effective volunteerism required adequate training, coordination, supervision, institutional support and measurable outcomes, adding that voluntary contributions must address genuine community needs.
“Every contribution matters,” he said, urging stakeholders to make volunteerism a national development priority rather than a mere conference slogan.
The vice-chancellor called for stronger coordination among government institutions, civil society organisations, universities, businesses and the Nigerian National Volunteer Service.
To prevent the exploitation of volunteers, he advocated accreditation, safety guidelines, insurance and impact assessment, particularly to ensure that volunteering was not used as a substitute for paid employment.
He also called for inclusive and intergenerational volunteering that would accommodate women, persons with disabilities, rural residents, economically disadvantaged people and retirees.
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) also urged Nigerians to embrace volunteerism as a strategy for addressing unemployment, poverty and skills shortages.
The NDE Director-General, Silas Ali Agara, represented by the Director of Inspectorate, Mrs Steve-Ogundipe Olayinka, said volunteering would enable young people to gain practical experience, develop leadership skills and contribute meaningfully to community development.
Agara commended the United Nations Volunteers Programme and its partners for promoting inclusive development and the achievement of the SDGs.
He reaffirmed the NDE’s commitment to skills acquisition, entrepreneurship development and employment generation, noting that volunteerism could complement government efforts to create sustainable livelihoods.
In his welcome address, the Senior Special Assistant to the Ondo State Governor on Volunteer Services, Charles Adeolu Iwakun, said volunteerism helped build character, develop leadership and strengthen communities.
Iwakun disclosed that a volunteer summit held in the previous year attracted more than 2,000 volunteers across health, education, skills development and other sectors.
He highlighted initiatives involving legal volunteers, educational and health support, as well as the National Volunteering Service launched in 2026.
He appreciated Aiyedatiwa for sponsoring the conference and commended the United Nations and volunteers for their contributions to inclusive development.
The Country Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers Programme in Nigeria, Veronica Obiuwevbi, called for greater recognition, protection and investment in volunteerism as an instrument of national development.
She said volunteers contributed to healthcare, education, peacebuilding, humanitarian action, youth empowerment and the SDGs by connecting institutions with communities.
Obiuwevbi thanked the governors of Ondo and Bayelsa states for their support and urged stakeholders to ensure that volunteers were valued, equipped, protected and provided with opportunities to contribute to national development.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) urged federal and state governments to formalise youth volunteer recognition and training while providing dedicated budgets for youth-led initiatives.
The UNFPA Resident Representative, Muriel Mafico, represented by the Head of its South-West Sub-Office, Abbigail Msemburi, said more than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population was under the age of 25, describing young people as important agents of change.
She advocated inclusive volunteering opportunities for young women and persons with disabilities, while highlighting UNFPA’s youth participation platform for policy design, programme delivery and grassroots engagement.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) also urged governments and other stakeholders to invest in, protect and recognise volunteers to advance the goal of achieving health for all by 2030.
The WHO Country Representative, Dr Pavel Ursu, represented by the Osun State Coordinator, Dr Ojediran, disclosed that more than 4,000 volunteers had supported community health initiatives across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory over eight years.
He said volunteers played important roles in disease surveillance, immunisation, maternal and child healthcare, outbreak response and improving access to healthcare for vulnerable populations.
Ursu stressed the need to provide volunteers with adequate training, safety measures, equipment, institutional support and recognition.
At the conference, Governor Aiyedatiwa received a special recognition award for his contributions to volunteerism and community development.
Other award recipients included the Proprietress of Mummy’s Place Nursery and Primary School and Emplace College, Akure, Dr Damilola Oshin, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan.
