By Moses Adeniyi
The promise of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to youths in the State is to give them more space of participation in governance, according to his administration’s openness to run inclusive government, the State’s Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Olusegun Dawodu has said.
According to him, the Governor is disposed to include more competent youths in the governance of the State as a way of preparing them for leadership position.
Dawodu made this known at an event organised by 2021/22 Lagos Youth Ambassadors to honour outstanding youths and staff of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, and the launch of “Lagos Youth Ambassadors Project Impact 2021” held at Ikeja, the State Capital.
“The door of the Ministry is always open to the youths because we have the mandate to ensure their socioeconomic needs are catered for.This is in tandem with the promise of Mr Governor, Babajide Olusola to give more space to the youths as part of his policy of inclusion. He has decided to do this as a way of catching them young for leadership position,” he said.
On her part, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Pharm (Mrs) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu said that the Ibile Youth Academy (IYA) was an initiative of the State Government aimed at preparing the youths for leadership by inculcating in them the virtues of citizenship patriotism and volunteerism.
Oke-Osanyintolu said that the 2021/22 Lagos Youth Ambassadors have become influencers among their peers in the State by organising programmes that have made their lots better.
In her speech, 2021/22 Lagos State Youth Ambassador, Miss Akannishelle Funmilayo said, “The past one year has been an opportunity for us to demonstrate what we have been taught on team work, community service, leadership and patriotism at IBILE Youth Academy. We have been been able to work together as a team to make positive impacts in our various communities.”
According to Miss Funmilayo, some of the projects which the Lagos Youth Ambassadors were able to collaboratively execute include: School Campaign Against Drug Abuse; AntiBullying and Cultism Campaign in partnership with Talk to Ronnie; Orphanage Outreach; Online Security and Awareness; Project OMOLUABI; Youth chat on Self Development on Google; Project Give a Book; Free Drug Society Campaign and Career Talk Project in different schools across the five divisions in the State.
Among the persons given awards at the ceremony were Mr Olusegun Dawodu, Pharm (Mrs) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Development, Mr Akanbi Afonja, Director of Youth, Mr Abdullateef Saka, IBILE Youth Academy Coordinator, Mrs Umar Rashidat, Outgoing Youth Ambassadors and some staff of the Ministry.
Also on Monday, the Ministry commissioned a Toilet facility renovated by Sport Potential Nigeria located in the Youth Center in Anthony, Lagos.
Handing over the project, representative of Sport Potential Nigeria, Mr Samson Nwukeye said the non-governmental organisation embarked on the project as a way of contributing to sports development at the grassroots.
Pharm (Mrs) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu commended Sport Potential Nigeria for the gesture and implored other organisations and individuals to contribute their quota towards development of sports for youths.