The Lagos State Government has restated its commitment to build a society of resourceful youths whose potentials will drive the Greater Lagos vision.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2019 edition of IBILE Youth Academy Leadership Training held at Onikan Youth Centre, Lagos Island, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Segun Dawodu stated that the annual leadership workshop, which is simultaneously going on across the five divisions of the State, has been a symbolic avenue to inculcate in youth the virtues of citizenship, leadership and volunteerism for the development of the nation.
According to the Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Yewande Falugba, the annual IBILE leadership training has evolved to provide positive thinking among the youths of the State through strategic engagement with distinguished members of the society who have become role models to the youths.
“This leadership training platform commenced in 2017 with the aim of providing a safe place for the youth living in the State to learn through recreation and leadership activities and also to engage in programmes of generation-changing dimension that would promote a commitment to learning positive values and healthy habits”, Dawodu stated.
He explained that the IBILE Youth Academy was designed to orientate and enlighten participants on various social, economic, political and environmental issues, stressing that the programme seeks to improve the leadership abilities of youths and advance their socio-economic thinking for meaningful contribution to the State’s vision and policies.
“The leadership training is to help the participants to chart a path for progressive and prosperous adult life, thereby creating a sustainable society in Lagos State”, he emphasised.
Speaking further, the Commissioner revealed that the training will offer the best 10 participants from each of the five Divisions of Lagos the opportunity to proceed to the second phase of the programme where they will be camped for further exposure to detailed leadership principles, disclosing that the initiative since its inception in 2017 has produced an ambassadorial team which has implemented various impactful projects in communities across the State.
In his remarks, the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mr. Segun Ajayi, who represented the Permanent Secretary, said the five-day training will provide participants with a viable atmosphere to improve socially and psychologically.
While reiterating that the State Government will support the teeming youths to maximise their potentials, he implored the private sector, NGOs and other corporate institutions to partner the government in uplifting the youths.
Other training venues for the 2019 IBILE Leadership programme across the State include Ikorodu Youth Centre, Ita-Elewa; Oto-Awori Youth Centre, Badagry; Ayobo-Ipaja Youth Centre, Ikeja and Epe Grammar School, Epe.
