By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Honourable Dhikrullahi Stanley Olajide, popularly known as Odidiomo, has welcomed the leadership of Smart Boys Movement (SBM) Nigeria, expressing confidence in the organisation’s capacity to promote youth participation and strengthen grassroots political engagement across the district.
Odidiomo made the remarks when the movement’s delegation, led by its National Executive Director, Honourable (Rotarian) Funso Jide Adekunle fondly called Fushi, visited his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, to discuss youth involvement, community outreach and possible collaboration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
During the meeting, the SBM delegation pledged its support for Odidiomo’s senatorial ambition, promising to deploy its organisational network towards grassroots mobilisation, voter awareness and engagement with young people across Oyo South.
Welcoming the delegation, Odidiomo acknowledged the potential role of organised youth movements in connecting political candidates with communities and expanding public participation in the electoral process.
He expressed confidence that SBM’s grassroots structure could provide a platform for engaging young voters, promoting political awareness and building stronger relationships between political representatives and the electorate.
The candidate also emphasised the importance of structured community engagement in political participation, noting that organised youth networks could help communicate campaign messages and encourage eligible citizens to participate in elections.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, SBM’s Oyo State Executive Director, Comrade Ayoade Waheed Lawal, said the visit reaffirmed the movement’s commitment to deploying its organisational structure towards grassroots mobilisation and responsible democratic participation.
Lawal said the engagement was an opportunity for the movement to demonstrate its readiness to work with political stakeholders while encouraging young people to take an active interest in the democratic process.
He explained that SBM’s approach would focus on community outreach, ward-level coordination, youth engagement and voter education, adding that the movement intended to strengthen its presence across Oyo South Senatorial District.
The movement’s National Executive Director, Adekunle, also reiterated its commitment to building a disciplined youth network focused on political participation, responsible leadership and community engagement.
According to the delegation, its proposed activities would include grassroots mobilisation, public awareness campaigns and election monitoring, subject to applicable electoral laws and guidelines.
The delegation further maintained that effective youth participation should extend beyond campaign activities to include voter education, peaceful political engagement and respect for the electoral process.
Other members of the delegation were Honourable (Comrade) Olaoluwa Akinwande Akinsola, Director of Youth Mobilisation and Election Monitoring; Comrade Ayoade Waheed Lawal, Oyo State Executive Director; and Comrade Rasheed Adebayo, popularly known as Ladoja, Oyo South Senatorial Coordinator.
The meeting highlighted the growing interest of political candidates and organised youth groups in grassroots engagement as preparations for the 2027 elections continue.
Oyo South Senatorial District comprises 9 local government areas in Oyo State, making community-level engagement an important consideration for political organisations seeking to reach voters across the district.
For SBM, the engagement represents an opportunity to strengthen its relationship with political stakeholders and advance its stated objectives of youth inclusion, organised grassroots participation and responsible leadership.
The movement expressed optimism that the meeting would provide a foundation for sustained cooperation with Odidiomo’s campaign, while reiterating its commitment to grassroots development and effective political representation.
Smart Boys Movement operates under the slogan: “Smart Thinking • Smart Leadership • Smart Future.”
