Activating the constitutional provision, the Lagos State Chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) ably led by Engr. Adigun Ibrahim Olalekan, MNSE, has decorated the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu as its Grand Patron.
This is as it also conferred on him the Grand Commander of Youth Development’ honor.
The decoration was one of the highlights of the 2025 International Youth Day Summit organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development on Friday at the vast Blue Roof Hall, Ikeja.
Adigun, in his goodwill message at the event, commended the governor for his continued deliberate efforts in promoting youth inclusivity in his administration and his remarkable efforts on youth human-capital development.
He added that Sanwo-Olu has developed the Lagos Youth Development space to be a model for other states across the federation pledging the commitment of the youth group to remain a partner in progress.
The governor, in his remarks, appreciated the honour thumbing the Adigun-led Lagos NYCN for the effective leadership in the youth space. He went on has charged the youth to cultivate good values expected of them in the society and admonished them against wasting away their youthful years.
He described the youths as not only leaders of tomorrow but today, stressing that they must maximize their potentials, value time, cultivate the right mindset and be resilient.
He promised the youth that the state government would continue to prioritize the issues affecting them.
Meanwhile, in his welcome address, the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mr Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende, stated that the youths are needed by the state for the actualisation of the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs).
Describing the youth as the heartbeat and strength of the nation, Ogunlende stated that the theme of this year’s International Youth Day,”Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond” point to the fact that all hands must be on deck from the grassroots if the state would be able to meet the 2030 set for the actualisation of the SDGs.
On his part, the keynote speaker at the event, President, Gemstone Leadership Initiative, Mr Fela Durotoye, in his presentation on the topic “From Local Impact to Global Influence: Harnessing Youth Power Actions for the SDGs and Beyond” implored the youths to value time and be willing to accept responsibility at all times.
Durotoye described the youth as the most vibrant and unstoppable force that the state government should galvanise for growth and development.
Talking about becoming leadership, Mr Durotoye said: “for you to become a good leader you must believe in yourself, accept responsibility,commit yourself to action that will solve societal problem, be visionary, be creative and leverage technology. Making impact can begin with little good things in your locality which its influence can be felt on a global level just like Martin Luther King, Mahatma Ghandi and Nelson Mandela whose deeds in their various places had global influence.”
The highlight of the event was the symbolic presentation of an eighteen seaters bus to the Lagos State Chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) as well as grants by Governor Sanwo-Olu to Voluntary Youth Organisations and 10 winners in the Amplifier Business Clinic in which the least beneficiary went home with N1 Million and the highest being N3 million.
