Lagos Committed To Empowering Youths With Skills For Leadership Position, Assures Sanwo-Olu

Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor has said that his administration is committed to cultivating a generation of youth who are empowered, skilled, and ready to lead their communities.

He made this known while speaking at a one-day leadership seminar organised by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Ikeja.

The event also witnessed the unveiling of 50 youths who qualified for the Ibile Youth Leadership Academy Training Camp selected from the 500 participants that cut across the Ikeja, Badagry; Ikorodu; Lagos Island and Epe divisions of the state.

The Governor who was represented by Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, his Deputy, said that the state government places strong emphasis on youth as a central pillar of her development agenda.

“From the outset, we have prioritised creating a supportive environment for youth engagement, capacity building, and representation in government.

This includes appointing young leaders to key roles in the Lagos State Government, demonstrating our commitment to giving our youth a platform to develop and exercise their leadership abilities while contributing meaningfully to the progress of our State and nation,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu pointed out that the establishment of the Ibile Youth Academy reflects his administration’s shared vision of building a prosperous future by investing in young people, and that since its inception in 2017, the academy has played a pivotal role in nurturing young leaders across Lagos State.

He noted that the programme is designed to instil core values that are essential for outstanding leadership, including patriotism, volunteerism, discipline, integrity, resilience, collaboration, communication, and innovation, stating that these values are crucial for any well-rounded leader as it will empower them to excel in diverse fields, whether in their communities or on the global stage.

Speaking further he said that the nation requires youths who possess a keen sense of integrity and honour to build the Country we all envisage.

Mobolaji Ogunlende, the Commissioner for Youth & Social Development in his welcome address said that the participants have been equipped with the right mindset, and tools to address both local and global challenges which are capable of building the future everyone envisioned.

The Commissioner stated that the theme of the event, “The Future We Want; the Youths We Need” captures the essence, mission, and aspirations that the Ministry holds for the future of the state and country.

Ogunlende said that the youths have fully embraced a transformative journey that has not only equipped them with valuable skills but has also deepened their understanding of leadership and communal community responsibility.

He added that all the 500 youths who participated in the programme were chosen on merit and personal recognition.

Oludare Akinlaja, the Managing Partner, Oludare Akinlaja Research and Development Co, earlier in his presentation, themed, “Leadership and Social Change” emphasised the need for Nigerian youths to have a re-orientation of leadership by not focusing on the pecks but considering leadership as a service to whatever gathering they find themselves.

He stressed that Nigerian youths should change their perception of leadership, by seeing it as a call for service rather than personal gains in various settings.

According to him, “Leadership is about the strive to re-sharpen one’s environment, an urge to redefine the society”.