Governor Seyi Makinde fulfilled his campaign pledge to appoint someone below the age of 30 as Commissioner for Youth and Sports by nominating Seun Fakorede, then 27 years old, in August 2019, shortly after assuming office. 

 

We Are Passionate About Youth Empowerment - Oyo Commissioner, Fakorede -
(right to left) Gov. Seyi Makinde with the newly elected Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Seun Fakorede

 

Fakorede, a civil engineer and alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, was sworn in on August 26, 2019, making him Nigeria's youngest commissioner in history at the time. 

 

During the swearing-in ceremony, Governor Makinde reiterated his commitment to the pledge, stating:

 

 “I promised them that whoever is going to be the commissioner of youths and sports will be below 30 years of age and I was conscious of the fact”.

 

Fakorede served continuously in this position from August 2019 through September 2023, covering the entire first term and extending into the second term. During his tenure, he oversaw youth empowerment programs, agribusiness training initiatives, sports facility upgrades including the remodeled Lekan Salami Stadium, and various athletic competitions. 

 

His appointment earned recognition as an innovative approach to youth inclusion in governance, with Fakorede subsequently winning The Future Awards Africa Prize for Governance in 2020 and being named a 2022 Politician of the Year by One Young World. 

 

The promise was not only kept but exceeded in symbolic value, establishing a template for intergenerational leadership in the state.