Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, said Nigerian youths have several reasons to demand better life and future, noting that factors heightening such demands include their inability to live and prosper due to the existing socio-economic and political conditions, amongst others rocking the country.
The governor said this while speaking at the Lagos Youth Symposium organised by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, themed: “Rebuilding for Greatness, Peaceful Conflict Resolution,” held in Lagos.
The governor disclosed that the symposium was organised to engage over 1,500 youths drawn from various voluntary organizations, uniformed organisations, non-governmental organisations, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, among others, saying that the primary objective was to use the platform to network and learn new ways of contributing their quota to rebuilding Lagos and achieving the greater Lagos dream.
Sanwo-Olu, who recalled that the state and indeed the whole country, about this time last year, witnessed #EndSARS, a mass protests against police brutality, pointed out that the movement saw a majority of Nigeria’s youth population participating in one of the largest movements since the country’s democratic transition in 1993.
“The protest culminated into wanton destruction of government facilities and individual properties across the nation after the riot on October 20th forever known as the Black Tuesday.
“This incident sparked global outrage and hoodlums took advantage of the situation and went on a rampage looting and burning down, destroying government properties and facilities. In what seems like a calculated attack, the hoodlums ravaged the city of Lagos, leaving many parts of the state with burnt buildings, looted shops and destroyed properties worth billions of Naira. The economy of the country that was already in decline due to many factors suffered a huge setback
“Nigerian youth have many reasons to demand a better life and future especially in a country where their ability to live and prosper is challenged by existing socioeconomic and political conditions amongst other factors. The proportion of people living in poverty continues to grow especially as COVD 19 rampage continues,” the governor said.
“Nigeria’s Youth make up the majority of the country’s population which means that the youths are mostly affected by these statistics of poor people.
Sanwo-Olu, however, ascertained that despite the massive destruction of properties as a result of the protests and economic downturn occasioned by the COVID- 19 pandemics, the state was able to cope with the challenges.
“The Lagos State government being the most hit state in the nation by the effects of the End SARS protest and the devastating effects of COVID 19 pandemics on its economic and social status swung into decisive and impactful actions immediately so as to mitigate the effects on its populace.
“We embarked on rebuilding the city of Lagos gradually, not only the physical structures but the citizen’s hope was also rekindled with various palliative measures.
“Of utmost importance to us as a government are the youth population of the state who formed the bulk of the population and its working force. We had embarked on the implementation of series of Youth engagement and empowerment activities and programmes through its various MDAs notably of which are Ministries of Wealth Creation and Employment; Arts, Tourism and Culture; Science and Technology; Agriculture; Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives and other agencies.
“Some of these programmes which were initiated as part of our efforts to address issues bothering on youth development and empowerment, include the remodelling, development and equipping of four Youth Centres across the state namely– Abesan, Lafiaji, Ikorodu and Omituntun Youth Centres.
“We are also working on the renovation of Ikeja; Popo Oba, Epe; Isheri; Badagry; Sam Shonibare and Obele Oniwala Youth Centres. These facilities offer both recreational and sporting engagement as well as opportunities for skill acquisition / vocational training for youths,” the governor said.
“We have in partnership with USAID created two Youth Hubs at Lafiaji and Araromi Gbagada Youth Centers. These hubs offer leadership, livelihood and life skills to Out- of- School youth aged between 15–24 years.
“With this partnership, we hope to reach 25,000 young people during its 5-year tenure with soft skills, leadership competence, social capital and resources using an approach that enables them to reach their full potentials in a safe and youth-friendly environment,” he added.
Speaking further, Governor Sanwo-Olu said his government had also implemented mindset changing and reorientation programmes to build the capacity of young people in the state to think positively and take up their role in nation-building.
According to him, some of the programmes include the Lagos State Youth Leadership Initiatives – Ibile Youth Academy which produced Youth Ambassadors that are already making waves as change-makers in their communities, while implementing various live touching and empowering pet projects leveraging on local collaboration and resources.
“Notable among these programmes also is the Transformational Leadership Training for Young leaders which was designed to upscale the leadership capacity of over 2000 (Two Thousand) participating young leaders physically and virtually in the three senatorial districts of the state.
Governor Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the state government would, come Wednesday, October 27, 2021, organise a programme tagged: ‘Police Youth Dialogue session,” the first of its kind, which he said, would have in attendance over 1000 Police Officers and youths in the state coming together to deliberate on how to strengthen the relationship between them and create a synergy that would improve both their interaction and security situation in the state.
“In a few days, Wednesday, October 27, 2021, to be precise we will be organising the first of its kind Lagos Police Youth Dialogue session which will have in attendance over 1000 Police Officers and Youths in the State coming together to deliberate on how to strengthen the relationship between them and create a synergy that will improve both their interaction and security situation in the state,” he said.
On education and healthcare services, Governor Sanwo-Olu, who noted that his government had operated an open door policy and maintained a robust engagement serviced by effective feedback mechanism to ensure that the resident’s yearnings and aspirations were met, said the two sectors were two principal areas that topped the state’s budget expenditure, pointing out that the state had continued to increase funding to the sectors on yearly basis.
According to him, his administration has built the finest school in the state in Elemoro, Ibeju Lekki, which will be ready for commissioning next month, adding: “You will happy when you see that school.”
“Education and healthcare services are two principal things that top our budget expenditure. Year on year we have continued to increase our budget for the education and health sectors. We have built the finest school in Lagos, it is in Elemoro, Ibeju Lekki. It will be commissioned next month.
“You will happy when you see that school, it is a brand new school, we are building a brand new school with all the infrastructure provided in the schools,” the governor said.
Also speaking, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Wahab Elias, who was the guest speaker, noted that conflicts were inevitable in any society, saying it was how the conflict was managed that matters.
Elias urged the youths to always negotiate their demands with the authorities, saying engaging in conflicts that were not progressive could destroy any society.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Viral Voice Note On WhatsApp Billing False
Claim: A viral WhatsApp voice note, purportedly made by the director and CEO of WhatsApp, claims users will have to start paying for WhatsApp services.
Verdict: The viral WhatsApp voice note claim is a hoax. The content is not new and has been circulated as a broadcast message several times in the past.
#EndSARS: Nigerian youths have reasons to demand better future ― Sanwo-Olu
and then