Towards ensuring the compliance of the State Youth Policy with the current socioeconomic realities, Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development has organised a two-day Stakeholders Meeting for the Review of Lagos State Youth Policy.
At Ikorodu Youth Center, Ikorodu, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Pharm (Mrs) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu in her welcome address said, “the State adopted the National Youth Policy of 2009 with a view to establish a sustainable youth agenda that would produce meaningful youth engagement as well as enhance their quality of life.
“In year 2016, the Lagos State Youth Policy which was a 5 – year plan was launched with 15-thematic areas and a well considered framework.It contained the commitments of the Government, the youth of Lagos State and the society in pursuance of youth growth and development.”
The Permanent Secretary further stated that ,”the Stakeholders’ Meeting was organised to critically assess the current youth policy by identifying the major gaps, challenges and its impact as the policy migrate from the current 15- thematic areas to the 5-pillars entrenched in the Revised National Youth Policy.”
In his remarks, Program Coordinator, Youth Alive Foundation, Mr Chamberlain Efukudoh described the step being taken by the State Government towards reviewing the document as a commendable one that should be pushed to its logical conclusion because the process has provided a feedback mechanism in the sense that it was done by critical stakeholders in the sector thereby making it not only participatory but wholistic in its approach.
On her part, Representative of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Mrs Somefun Esther, while commending the State Government, said that the review was long over due taking into cognisance the fact that the current document didn’t capture some of the present realities being faced by the youth in Lagos State and issues affecting the youth must not be toyed with if the State must make progress in all areas.
In the same vein, representative of Youth Inspired Network, Oluwatoyin Adejokun stated that the review process was one that would make room for open and constructive contributions which its overall results would help the youth in fulfilling their potentials.
Stressing the essence of the document, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (Lagos State Chapter), Mr. Lekan Biliaminu and Lagos State Youth Ambassador, Miss Zainab Aderounmu said that the product of the review would go a long way in addressing the challenges currently faced by the youths in the State.
In her presentation, the Consultant, Dr Toriola Femi Adebayo said that with the review the Lagos State Youth Policy was migrating from 15-Thematic Areas to 5 pillars (Productive Workforce and Sustainable Economic Engagement of Youth; Health and Health -Promoting Life Style; Participation, Inclusiveness and Equitable Opportunities for all Youths; Promotive and Protective Environment for Youth Development; and Partnership Building and Effective Collaboration) which would be in tandem with the National Youth Policy and wholistic in addressing the challenges of the youths in Lagos.