The apex youth organisation in Ekiti State, the Youth Parliament has discussed a bill for a law to establish a compulsory genotype test for all intending couples in the state before marriage.

The youth body, led by its Speaker, Tunde Olusanya, passed a vote of confidence in Governor Biodun Oyebanji and the Youth Commissioner, Gold Adesola Adedayo, for carrying out transformative policies that are impacting positively the lives of the productive population.

The youth parliamentarians took the actions during a special sitting of members held inside the Hallowed Chambers of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, on Thursday, marking the first year anniversary of the inauguration of the parliament.

Other bills presented by the parliament are a bill for a law to provide online applications and collections of certificates of state of origin in all the Local Government areas, a bill for a law to allow Ekiti State Peace Corps to serve as security personnel in all public schools in the state and a bill for a law for the inclusion of disabled youths in Ekiti State parliament, among others.

Speaking at the session, the Speaker, Olusanya, said the bill that will be transmitted to the State House of Assembly for passage, was meant to stem the rising cases of sickle cell disease in the state.

During the plenary, the Parliament presented an award of excellence to the Youth Commissioner as part of the activities marking the first anniversary of the parliament.

Prior to the special sitting, Olusanya had earlier toured some ongoing and completed youth-friendly projects across the state, where he commended Oyebanji for the establishment of the ‘Bring Youths Back to Agriculture Project’ to bolster food security for the residents.

Inspecting the Project in Ikere-Ekiti, Erifun, Oke Ako Ekiti, Iyemero Ekiti and Ayede-Gede, Olusanya, who led the parliamentarians and other youth groups’ leaders, said the project had employed over 1,000 youths.

The Speaker added that the move was part of the efforts of Governor Oyebanji to ensure food sufficiency and make Ekiti the food basket of the country.

“We appreciate the governor for providing necessary opportunities for youths to thrive in agriculture and other sectors. We will continue to support the Governor and ensure the provision of economic opportunities for youths and position them to be employers of labour.

“As you can see, several hectares of land had been cleared both in Ikere-Ekiti and Ayede-Gede. Security was on the ground, and equipment was provided to work out a strategy of bringing back the youths to agric Government had cleared the lands for them free of charge, and subsidised inputs by fifty per cent,” he said.

Speaking at the special sitting, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Gold Adesola Adedayo, said the present administration under Governor Oyebanji will continue to offer good leadership for people of the state to excel in their daily activities.

Adedayo stressed the need for the youths to continue supporting the Governor, assuring that Oyebanji will provide an enabling for them to display their talents for the benefit of the good people of the state.

He used the occasion to catalogue some of the projects undertaken by the government, the introduction of a youth data collection analysis centre, a review of Ekiti youth policy, youth, student and security engagement,

Others are the establishment of a youth resource/job centre, review of Ekiti youth policy, bursary increment for students, sponsorship of members of Ekiti youth parliament to Ghana, as well as training and empowerment of youths through Adire Ekiti production, among others. (Nigerian Tribune)