The Lagos State Government celebrates International Youth Week Day with a call to the youth to key into the vision of a “Greater Lagos” by the present adniminstration of Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.
Addressing a group of Youth during this year’s celebration at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Segun Dawodu said the celebration provides an opportunity to celebrate the youth and to appreciate talents among the youth.
Highlighting the theme for this year’s celebration “Engaging Youths for Global Action”, the Commissioner noted that the theme for this year’s celebration indicates that engagement of youth at the Local, State and National levels enriches the country’s and multilateral institutions.
Dawodu stressed that Lagos State Government had realised that when youths are supported and strengthened, they will be able to contribute to the development of the Nation, hence the formulation and launching of the Lagos State Youth Policy which is centred around youth development as well as the facilitation of the Child Right’s Law.
The Commissioner also stated that the Ministry has inaugurated the 4th Legislative Assembly of the Lagos State Youth Parliament, 6th children Parliament as a training platforms for inclusivity and participatory Governance as well as successfully organised the 3rd edition of the IBILE Youth Academy which is designed to inculcate in the youth the flair for personal development and transformation required for a brighter future.
Mr. Dawodu seized the opportunity to appreciate private, non-Governmental and voluntary organisations for supporting the Ministry in Youth Developmental programmes.
He also thanked Lagos Youths for supporting the efforts to redefine National Youth Council of Nigeria Lagos State Chapter while rolling out his inputs in stabilizing the youth initiatives.
He acknowledged that the new executives of the National Youth Council of Nigeria Lagos State Chapter are working together to bridge the gap.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Yetunde Falugba in her remarks urged the youths to be worthy ambassadors wherever they find themselves, noting that their contributions is important in the quest to achieving a “Greater Lagos”.
She therefore urged them to participate fully in the activites that have been lined up by the Ministry in conjunction with other Organizations.
The celebration was marked with the cutting of a commemorative cake to herald the International Youth Day. Present at the event were members of the National Youth Council (Lagos State Chapter), Lagos State Youth Parliament, Lagos State Youth Ambassadors, Youth leader of the Lagos State All Progressive Congress(APC).
The International Youth Day is celebrated every 12th of August to draw the attention of Governments and other stakeholders to issues affecting young people worldwide.
Iremide Jonathan
