The safety and security of lives and property have received a significant boost in Lagos State with the inauguration of the Lagos Youth Safety and Emergency Champion (LYSEC) to complement the activities of all safety and emergency-response agencies in the state.
LYSEC, an initiative of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Lagos State Chapter under the leadership of Engr. Adigun Ibrahim, was inaugurated at the Lagos Youth Talk Series 2.0 held on Wednesday at the Sam Shonibare Youth Centre, Surulere, Lagos.
The champions all of whom are young individuals drawn from the youth umbrella body’s subsisting 57 local branches and its numerous youth-based organizations from across the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAS) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state will enhance the efforts of the security agencies by serving as: “A Watchdog, an early-warning mechanism, and a first-line community network to help avert safety issues within our communities and across Lagos State at large,” according to Adigun in his welcome address.
Delivering his remarks as the keynote speaker on the event’s theme; “Street-Smart Safety: How Lagos youth can strengthen community emergency response”, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Hon. Olugbenga Oyerinde hailed the initiative highlighting that the bugrgeoing Lagos population has come with its attendant issues of which Emergency Response is one of them.
Oyerinde who was represented at the event by the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on special duties, Tobi Oladepo, emphasized that LYSEC will further solidify the many far-reaching initiatives of the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu in effectively dealing with any form of emergencies.
“The present administration of Mr Governor under the THEMES PLUS agenda has over the years implemented the comprehensive plan in place to tackle any form of Emergency in the State, mainly the technology-driven Command and Control Centre and the ever-ready emergency response agencies of the State Government. Also, the light up Lagos policy of the State has been widely successful, with many parts of the State adequately litted, thereby making movement at night convenient and the Security situation of the State enhanced,” Oyerinde said.
“The theme of this talk becomes very apt, as one of our main focus this year is to actively engage our youths and solicit for their cooperation in the form of advocacy and sensitization most especially pre and post-emergency situations and during emergency situations,” the commissioner added.
He went on to charge the champions and the teeming attendees to rise to the task of leveraging technology and social media in strengthening and advancing the course of emergency response in the State while expressing strong optimism that the newly-inaugurated Safety Champions will further advance the course of emergency response in the local community and the State at Large.
On his part, the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende also commended the initiative noting that the state government’s steady support for the activities of the youth umbrella body is a testament to its commitment to the THEMES+ agenda which youth inclusiveness is an integral part of, stressing that safety and security are everyone’s concern.
Also, the chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA, Hon. Moyosore Adebanjo, officials of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Traffic and Management Authority (LASTMA) among other agencies were on hand to deliver goodwill messages on the theme.
Another highlight of the event was the presentation of LYSEC framework to the state government officials, the security agencies, and other notable individuals by the youth umbrella body.
One of the safety champions from Isolo, Monsur Aregbe, expressed delight at being considered for the role in his community. He hailed the youth umbrella body for the initiative while promising to justify the confidence in his ability to enhance safety and emergency response.
