Governor Monday Okpebholo’s youth-inclusion policy in Edo State is increasingly influencing grassroots leadership, with young professionals stepping into key public offices under his SHINE Agenda.
A recent outcome of the policy is the emergence of Rt. Hon. Cephas Yakubu as Chairman of Etsako Central Local Government Area. Yakubu assumed office following the impeachment of the council’s former Executive Chairman and Vice Chairman over allegations of gross misconduct, after the completion of all constitutional procedures.
His swearing-in has been described by political observers as marking a fresh phase of youth-led governance at the local government level.
In a statement, Mr. Elias Inaede, former Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Etsako Central, said Yakubu’s emergence reflects Governor Okpebholo’s deliberate effort to expand governance opportunities for capable and principled young people.
Inaede noted that Yakubu, born on September 5, 1995, is currently the youngest local government chairman in Edo State, adding that he has shown administrative capacity and a strong commitment to grassroots development since taking office.
Yakubu is from Anegbette town in the South Uneme Clan. He attended Imiava Primary School and Anegbette Secondary School before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, in 2019.
Before entering politics, he worked with Dynamic Construction Company and later served as a hotel manager in Lagos, experiences said to have enhanced his leadership and management skills.
His political journey began at the grassroots, where he was elected Councillor representing Ward 9 and later became Leader of the Etsako Central Legislative Arm. In that role, he reportedly fostered unity and cooperation within the council.
As chairman, Yakubu has focused on unity, staff welfare, and effective service delivery, aligning his administration with the youth-empowerment agenda of the Okpebholo government.
Projects attributed to his administration include the construction of six classroom blocks, 30 open market stalls, an industrial power borehole, and the rehabilitation of the council abattoir.
In the health sector, Etsako Central Local Government recorded notable achievements in HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention, earning recognition as the best-performing local government in that category.
Inaede added that Yakubu has ensured timely payment of salaries and arrears while promoting improved security, religious tolerance, and peaceful coexistence among residents.
Observers say his leadership approach and early accomplishments have earned him increasing acceptance across the local government, strengthening claims that Governor Okpebholo’s youth-inclusion policy is producing tangible results at the grassroots level in Edo State.
