By Cleopatra Eki

The Chairman of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Lagos, Engineer Raphael Oyeniran, has reaffirmed the association’s commitment to youth development, leadership training, and community service at its 62nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Ikoyi, Lagos. The event had as its theme: “Bridging the Generations in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

He emphasized the association’s mission of delivering community-based programmes that develop the mind, spirit, and body of young people and the less privileged. Oyeniran urged youths to embrace continuous learning, innovation, and skills acquisition, noting that technology has transformed society and created new opportunities for growth and impact.

On insecurity, he stated that while faith-based organisations continue to advocate for peace and justice, government remains primarily responsible for protecting lives and property.

Also speaking at the event, the General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of YMCA Lagos, Mr Aduragbemi Onilude, said the association remains focused on its vision of “Empowering Young People for the African Renaissance” through vocational training, scholarships, mentorship, and community-based programmes.

According to him, YMCA provides young people with opportunities to acquire vocational and entrepreneurial skills through its Youth Training Centre in Lagos.

“We train young people in various vocational skills such as tailoring, barbing, soap making, and arts and crafts. Beyond technical skills, we focus on soft skills and leadership development that enable young people to become change-makers in their communities,” he said.

Onilude disclosed that the association recently trained and certified 30 young people as community activists after a week-long programme focused on identifying and addressing challenges in their communities. Participants have since embarked on projects including health outreaches for traders, environmental sanitation campaigns, and educational programmes for adolescent girls.

He further revealed that YMCA awarded scholarships to 31 students to support their academic pursuits and reduce financial barriers to education. The CEO noted that the anniversary celebration featured a week-long series of activities, including health awareness campaigns, visits to persons living with disabilities, children’s sports festivals, and youth development programmes.

A major highlight of the AGM was a presentation on Artificial Intelligence (AI) by guest speaker and AI advocate, Mr Omolaja Shoniran. He encouraged older generations to embrace emerging technologies while urging younger people to learn from the wisdom and experience of their elders.

Shoniran explained that AI offers significant benefits, including improved productivity, enhanced efficiency, better decision-making, stronger security systems, automation of repetitive tasks, and new career opportunities across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, media, and business. However, he cautioned that AI also presents challenges, including job displacement, misinformation, cybercrime, privacy concerns, and the potential erosion of human interaction and critical thinking if misused or over-relied upon.

He called for stronger AI literacy and responsible adoption of technology, noting that AI-powered tools such as drones, surveillance systems, and data analytics could support Nigeria’s efforts to tackle insecurity and drive economic growth. Among the scholarship beneficiaries was Arigbede Oluwademilade, a 400-level Mass Communication student, who pledged to use her communication skills to promote positive social values and advance the mission of YMCA.

Also speaking, Olotu Temitope, a 300-level Chemistry student of the University of Lagos, said he hopes to develop environmentally friendly alternatives to plastics through research into biodegradable materials derived from cassava waste, coconut husks, and paper products. The AGM also featured the presentation of certificates to participants of the YMCA Lagos Active Citizens Programme, whose community projects included health outreaches and waste disposal sensitisation campaigns at Agege Market. Members also received reports on the association’s activities and finances, including the presentation of the independent auditor’s report by Doyin Owolabi & Co.

Dignitaries at the event included Most Rev. (Prof.) Adebayo Akinde, Engr. Bewaji, Engr. Raphael Ade, and other YMCA leaders and stakeholders.

The meeting ended with a renewed commitment to investing in young people through education, leadership development, technology awareness, and community service, as YMCA Lagos continues to equip the next generation with the skills and values needed to build a stronger and more prosperous society.