RismadarVoice Reporters, April 15, 2026
The Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo, has identified poor implementation of existing laws and policies as the major obstacle to youth development in Nigeria.
Ajulo made this known on Tuesday during an interview with newsmen, where he said Nigeria is not lacking in legal frameworks or policies aimed at empowering young people, but suffers from a persistent gap between policy formulation and execution.
According to him, institutional inefficiencies and weak enforcement mechanisms have limited the impact of these policies.
Ajulo noted that even where there is political will, outcomes often depend on those responsible for implementing policies, stressing that ineffective execution has left many initiatives existing only on paper.
He also pointed to systemic and ethical challenges, including personal interests and abuse of processes, as factors undermining implementation. He cited practices such as age falsification and prolonged retention in public service as examples that deny younger Nigerians employment opportunities.
The attorney general emphasised that youth development is critical to national progress, describing young people as the backbone of innovation and economic growth.
He urged greater inclusion of youths in governance, noting that despite their numerical strength, they remain underrepresented in leadership due to weak mobilisation.
On education and employability, Ajulo criticised the overemphasis on academic certificates, advocating a shift toward skills-based and entrepreneurial learning to better prepare young people for real-world challenges.
He also highlighted ongoing reforms in Ondo State’s justice sector, including the expansion of the number of judges and the automation of court processes, which he said would improve access to justice, particularly for young people.
Ajulo said that bridging the implementation gap remains key to achieving meaningful development, warning that without effective execution, policies would continue to yield limited results. Ajulo Blames Policy Implementation Gap for Youth Development Challenges
The Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo, has identified poor implementation of existing laws and policies as the major obstacle to youth development in Nigeria.
Ajulo made this known on Tuesday during an interview with newsmen, where he said Nigeria is not lacking in legal frameworks or policies aimed at empowering young people, but suffers from a persistent gap between policy formulation and execution.
According to him, institutional inefficiencies and weak enforcement mechanisms have limited the impact of these policies.
Ajulo noted that even where there is political will, outcomes often depend on those responsible for implementing policies, stressing that ineffective execution has left many initiatives existing only on paper.
He also pointed to systemic and ethical challenges, including personal interests and abuse of processes, as factors undermining implementation. He cited practices such as age falsification and prolonged retention in public service as examples that deny younger Nigerians employment opportunities.
The attorney general emphasised that youth development is critical to national progress, describing young people as the backbone of innovation and economic growth.
He urged greater inclusion of youths in governance, noting that despite their numerical strength, they remain underrepresented in leadership due to weak mobilisation.
On education and employability, Ajulo criticised the overemphasis on academic certificates, advocating a shift toward skills-based and entrepreneurial learning to better prepare young people for real-world challenges.
He also highlighted ongoing reforms in Ondo State’s justice sector, including the expansion of the number of judges and the automation of court processes, which he said would improve access to justice, particularly for young people.
Ajulo said that bridging the implementation gap remains key to achieving meaningful development, warning that without effective execution, policies would continue to yield limited results.
