Sanwo-olu, others task Lagos youths on community, national development

She made the call during the official unveiling of Lagos Community Youth Development Initiative (LCYDI), held at the Onikan Youth Centre, Lagos Island recently, which had in attendance, youths representing the various local government councils in the state.  Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the wife of the Chairman of Agege Local Government, Ramot Egunjobi, commended the initiative, noting that the youths are the leaders of tomorrow; hence their strategic roles in the development of the community and the country cannot be overemphasised.   

She noted that nations across the world rely on its youth population to effect positive change, especially in the areas of security, education, and economy through industrialisation among others. Sanwo-Olu, however, stressed that all hands must be on deck to begin to inculcate the habit of “putting our youths at the forefront and have their buy-in in decision-making, so as to take our country to greater heights.”   

The Chairman, LCYDI, Akanni Michael, said the group’s vision is to ensure youths across the state become more resourceful in their communities to attract development, instead of being used to perpetrate social vices. 

“Youths get involved in crime, touting, thuggery and other social vices, but we want to change the narrative to make them more productive. The leaders and representatives of all the community-based youths in Lagos State are here in this venue. We want to enlighten them so that they take the lessons back to their various communities to drive development,’’ he said.   

The event also featured a session with panellists, with the topic: “Youths as a catalyst for community development.”   

Former Lagos State lawmaker, Segun Olulade Eleniyan, who narrated his journey to wealth and politics by picking waste free of charge from homes in his community, challenged youths to take advantage of enormous natural resources available in the nation to become employers of labour.   

He urged the youths to become innovative as well as strive to own blue chip companies rather than struggling to work there.   

Eleniyan also charged the youths to be creative and productive, noting that the civil service had limited space because those employed by the government usually worked for 35 years leading to fewer vacancies. Also on the panel, the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Segun Dawodu, stressed the need for the youth to channel their energies positively.   

Dawodu who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Youth and Social Development, Princess Akeredolu Busola, said youths are nation builders and catalysts for change who should set long and short term goals, as well as focus on achieving set targets which government can support.