“Yayi Movement Promotes Unity,” Says Segun Kaka

…Urges aggrieved APC members to work together

The State Coordinator of the Yayi Progressives Movement (YPM), formerly known as the Omoluabi Movement, Hon. Olusegun Kaka, has described the movement as a unifying force and dismissed allegations circulating on social media that the group adopted or hijacked its name from another political organisation in Ogun State.

Kaka maintained that the Yayi Progressives Movement is a broad-based political platform open to all interested stakeholders, describing it as a unifying force committed to inclusiveness and collective political participation. He added that Yayi symbolises a movement of the people, by the people, and for the people.

In a statement made available to journalists on Thursday through the Movement’s State Media Director, Oluseun Joshua, Kaka said the organisation, led by its Convener, Armstrong ‘Tope Akintunde, is well established and widely recognised across the federation as a strong movement that accommodates everyone.

He explained that the Yayi Progressives Movement was conceived as a grassroots political initiative bringing together artisans, professionals, youth organisations, community leaders, and politically conscious stakeholders dedicated to promoting sustainable development in Ogun State.

According to him, even members of opposition groups are welcome to join the movement.

“First and foremost, the Yayi Progressives Movement is a distinct grassroots political organisation with its own history, structure, and ideological foundation. We are building a movement that accommodates everyone. This is not the time for grievances; the project is bigger than unnecessary political battles within the state.”

Addressing allegations that the group hijacked its name, Kaka said extensive research was conducted before its adoption, stressing that the movement remains the only organisation officially registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under that identity.

“Although the leadership of the movement has seen online posts alleging that we adopted the name of an opposition group, due diligence was conducted with the Corporate Affairs Commission, which confirmed that no prior organisation existed under the name Yayi Progressives Movement before our registration,” – he said.

He pointed that the movement has grown rapidly across Ogun State, with a membership strength exceeding 30,000 individuals drawn from diverse communities and professional backgrounds.

“I challenge those claiming that we hijacked their name to present their CAC registration documents to the public. Our movement has been duly registered, with documentation signed by our Convener, Armstrong ‘Tope Akintunde, and myself as State Coordinator,” Kaka stated.

Kaka further clarified that the inclusion of the word “Progressives” in the group’s name reflects its ideological alignment with the All Progressives Congress (APC), distinguishing it from similarly named entities.

According to him, the movement evolved from the Dapo Abiodun Continuity Agenda (DACA), a political structure that played a role during Governor Dapo Abiodun’s 2023 re-election campaign.

“The transition to the Yayi Progressives Movement represents an expansion of the group’s political engagement ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial election, with members supporting the aspiration of Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.

“The adoption of the broader name reflects this new phase of political mobilisation and engagement.”

Kaka urged members of the public, opposition figures, and aggrieved members of the APC in the state to collaborate with the movement in pursuit of shared political goals.

“The Yayi Progressives Movement remains a people-driven platform founded on unity, inclusiveness, and progressive development. We are legally established and fundamentally organised,” – he added.

He reaffirmed the movement’s commitment to constructive political engagement and the continued development of Ogun State.

Similarly, the State Deputy Coordinator, Hon. Olanrenwaju Lookman Yakubu of the Yayi Progressives Movement, appealed to all members of the movement and opposition groups to come together and collaborate with the progressives, emphasizing that joint efforts are essential to reaching the promised land.

END

The Federal Government has disclosed that Nigeria requires an annual investment of $345 million to effectively reintegrate and equip approximately 15 million out-of-school children across the country with essential skills.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, made this known during the inaugural Federal Ministry of Education Private Sector Breakfast Convening held in Lagos on Tuesday.

According to the minister, the estimated $345 million is based on current per capita spending required to address the needs of the millions of children currently outside the formal education system. He revealed that about 25 per cent of children aged between five and 14 years are out of school nationwide, with the figure rising to 41 per cent in the North-East and North-West regions.

Alausa emphasised that although the government has made progress through the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, additional funding is necessary to support ongoing efforts in the sector.

“The challenges in the Nigerian education sector present a marked opportunity to increase access, improve quality, and enhance systems,” he stated.

He explained that education remains a central pillar of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope development agenda, which aims to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

The minister added that the government has disbursed N10.6 billion to Technical and Vocational Education and Training centres nationwide and paid N3.4 billion to trainees to address the shortage of skilled labour. He noted that the government received about 1.3 million applications for the programme, with 160,000 students matched to training centres and 72,000 currently enrolled using verifiable biometric systems.

Alausa further revealed that the Federal Government has invested over N156 billion to rehabilitate 18 medical schools and several engineering institutions across the country. He said N70 billion was spent on laboratory and technology workshop rehabilitation, while N100 billion was used to construct new hostels across 50 institutions.

He also disclosed that the government established a Student Venture Capital Grant aimed at supporting innovation among students in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Science fields, with N50 million set aside as equity-free grants for selected beneficiaries.

The minister called on private sector stakeholders to align their resources with national education priorities, stressing that collaboration is essential to tackle the country’s growing out-of-school children crisis and improve access to quality education.

The National Youth Service Corps has dismissed as false a viral report alleging that the scheme operates a “ransom clause” and exposes corps members to banditry.

The clarification follows growing concerns among families regarding the safety of corps members, particularly those posted to areas with security challenges across Nigeria.

The NYSC issued the rebuttal on Wednesday through its Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, stating that no such provision exists in the scheme’s Act, Bye-laws, or official publications.

The Management and Staff of the National Youth Service Corps have noted with serious concern the circulation of a misleading and alarmist write-up titled ‘Urgent: The NYSC Death Trap Our Graduates Are Being Sold to Bandits,’” the statement read.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the NYSC categorically states that there is no provision whatsoever for any ‘ransom clause.’ This claim is entirely fictitious and should be disregarded in its entirety,” it added.

The controversy emerged following the case involving Musa Abba, which the scheme clarified had been wrongly linked to the NYSC. The organisation explained that the individual in question had completed his national service in 2023 and was not a serving corps member at the time of the incident.

Amid rising concerns about security, the NYSC stated that it continues to collaborate with security agencies to protect corps members nationwide. It noted that corps members posted to high-risk areas are provided with protection, including military escorts, a measure implemented since 2024 in parts of the North-West and earlier in the North-East.

The scheme also revealed that orientation camps in states such as Kebbi, Kaduna, Kwara, Borno, Gombe, and Plateau have been relocated to safer locations to ensure the safety and welfare of corps members and camp officials.

According to the statement, all corps members are covered by a life insurance policy through a Memorandum of Understanding with Capital Express Assurance Limited, which extends coverage for three weeks after completion of service, in addition to enrollment under the National Health Insurance Scheme.

The NYSC reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare and safety of corps members, stressing that misinformation and fake news can create unnecessary fear and weaken public trust in national institutions.