LASG trains youths on Community Development

In a bid to ensure that the youths in Lagos State are well equipped with the skills and knowledge required for community development, the State Government has organised the Second Edition of the Transformational Leadership Training Programme.

In his welcome address at the event with the theme “Engaging Young People In Community Development” held on Tuesday at Ikeja Youth Center, the State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Olusegun Dawodu said “this training focused on building the capacity of young leaders to become better leaders and to align the policy thrust of the State Government with that of the various groups in order to propel the Greater Lagos that we aim for.”

He added, “This Transformational Leadership Training is one of the several initiatives of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu aimed at ensuring that the Youths of Lagos are not just equipped but given the necessary support that will enable them compete with their peers globally. The first edition availed youths that proved themselves exceptional and outstanding with the opportunity to be part of Lagos – Spain Youth Exchange programmes tagged “New Kind of Leadership” for further exposure and experience as certificates were presented to them upon completion of the exchange programme.”

Urging the participants to cascade what they learnt at their various areas, the Commissioner disclosed that the essence of the programme was also to expose Youth Leaders at various voluntary youth organizations to extend their leadership beyond their groups and establish themselves by taking responsibilities in Community Development Association (CDAs) in their various localities.

On her part, Permanent Secretary of State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Pharm (Mrs) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu, represented by the Director, Administration and Human Resource, Mr Adewunmi Ogunsanya said that the programme was a platform designed to train hundreds of leaders in the State in such a way that would cause a change in individuals and social systems, thereby creating valuable and positive change in the followers with the end goal of developing followers into leaders.

According to Pharm (Mrs) Oke-Osanyintolu, the State Government considered the youths who are leaders in Voluntary Youth Organisations, Non Governmental Organisations, Civil Society Organisations and Youth Organisations as assets that should be TRANSFORMED (Thoughtful, Responsible, Articulate, Noble,Self-Governing, Resilient, Open to Learning, Respectful,Well Mannered, Excellent and Devoted to Societal Development).

In his presentation, the facilitator, Mr Tunde Oyelowo took the participants on “Leadership Values and Role Models” and “Personal Leadership and Self Awareness” in which he made participants to see the attributes of a true leader as well as how to acquire values that can turn them to effective leaders in all spheres of life.

In his goodwill message, Dr Jemilade Longe, a Consultant to the Ministry on Youth Programme, said that the Transformational Leadership Training Programme was one of the initiatives of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to meaningfully engage the youths with programmes that would help them channel their energies towards positive and productive ends.

The week long leadership training programme is organised to cut across the three Senatorial Districts during which seasoned facilitators would utilise Videos, Group Work, Case Studies, Personal Reflections, Slide Presentation and Life Applications to give participants transforming learning experience.