… Targets 750 beneficiaries for Transformational Leadership Workshop
Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development has assured residents of inclusive governance that would prioritise the interest of its youth population.
The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Olusegun Dawodu, gave the assurance while speaking at a two-day Transformational Leadership Workshop for selected youth leaders in the State with the theme: “Engaging the Young for Nation Building”, held at Victoria Island LCDA, on Tuesday.
Dawodu said that the workshop will focus on building the capacity of young leaders and inspiring them to become better leaders, noting that the initiative was one of the strategies adopted by the State Government to equip the youth population with requisite skills and knowledge for relevance as potential future leaders.
He informed that the workshop would make it possible to expose the participants to its policy thrust and also harmonise its programmes with the plans of the youths to jointly position Lagos on a unified pedestal, where the interest of both the government and the youths would be actualised.
The Commissioner stated that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has engaged a good number of young people to be part of policy formulation and implementation in Lagos State, stressing that some of them are currently holding key positions under the present administration.
He cited the just concluded Ibile Youth Academy where a Lagos State Youth Ambassador emerged, alongside other Divisional Youth Ambassadors, as one of the avenues provided by the State Government to enable young people contribute positively to the growth of their immediate communities and the State as a whole.
Dawodu maintained that the youth leaders of the current generation must be determined to have a transformational outlook as well as create valuable and positive changes in the society by associating with people who have developed themselves to easily fit into leadership positions.
“The possibility of translating the massive infrastructural development in Lagos State to human development cannot be a reality without preparing the youths to become better leaders, hence, the emphasis of the State government is on grooming Lagos youths to become great future leaders” he said.
In his contribution, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Dr. Olugbenga Ayoola Aina, stated that the workshop was designed to build the capacities of the youths as the leaders of tomorrow and enable them play a part in the nation’s development.
He acknowledged the vibrancy, energy and resourcefulness among Lagos youths, saying that the engagement platform portends great fortune and prosperity for the society.
“The young people represent the potentials that must be groomed and harnessed for the overall development of the State and the country at large. The Ministry will extend the Transformational Leadership Training Workshop to all the Senatorial Districts of the State with the aim of training 750 young leaders”, Aina noted.
Similarly, the Executive Chairman, Victoria Island LCDA, Princess Rashidat Adu, urged the youths to justify the huge resources invested in them by the State Government in terms of capacity building by extending the knowledge garnered from the workshop to other youths within their sphere of influence.
The workshop, which is expected to produce Thoughtful, Articulate, Noble, Self-governing, Foresighted, Open, Respectful, Mannered, Excellent and Devoted (T.R.A.N.S.F.O.R.M.E.D) leaders, had various sessions facilitated by Mr. Biodun Kolawole, Mr. Gbenga Adewujimi, Mr. Sheriff Adekoya and Mr. Tayo Olosunde.
