Lagos govt urges youth to avoid negative lifestyles, plan ahead

THE Lagos State Government on Monday advised youths to avoid negative lifestyles that could affect their progress and to plan their lives strategically toward a brighter future.

The Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, gave the advice at the Grand Finale of the 9th edition of the Lagos State Schools Debate Competition, organised by its Ministry of Education.

Adebule said that the youth in any nation are invaluable assets as they constitute a tremendous human potential by virtue of their number, energy, dynamism and significant contribution to national development.

“Our youth have fresh perspectives, the energy and the willingness to learn and all that is needed to unlock their potential.

“They deserve to be purposefully and effectively mobilised and their varied talents and energies appropriately harnessed and judiciously utilised to speed up community, state and national development.

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“The state government in recognition of the role of the youth to national development organised this debate to broaden students’ scope of knowledge and equip them to excel in life.

“You are the hope of our tomorrow. As a result, you need to invest your youthful energy and intellect in ventures that will enable you to be self-reliant and excel in life,” she said.

Adebule appealed to teachers to continue to assist in raising moral standards by giving serious attention to good character training in schools.

She said that the Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration would continue to invest in the education of children to enable them to acquire the necessary qualifications and skills for national development.

In her remarks, Mrs Adebunmi Adekanye, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, said the debate was part of government’s effort at improving students’ academic performance, communication skills, reading culture, public speaking and integration into the larger society.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 3,015 primary, junior and senior secondary schools — public (1668) and private (1347) — registered to participate in this year’s competition, as against 631 that registered in 2017.

NAN also reports that the competition which commenced in April was in three categories – Primary, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools.

In the primary school category, Ayetoro Primary School, Somolu, came first, Odo-Abore Primary School, Mushin, got the second position, while Onilekere Primary School, Agege emerged third.

On the other hand, Community Junior High School, Alapere, emerged winner in the junior school category, while Lagos Model Junior College, Igbonla in Epe, emerged second, and Alimosho Junior Grammar School, Ikotun, third.

In the Senior School category, Agbede Senior School, Ikorodu, came first, Vetland Senior Grammar School, Agege, was second while Oregun Senior High School followed in the third place.