…Says Governor’s passion for youth development inspired initiative

…To partner grassroots youth leaders, private sector, government agencies, NGOs, others

Senior Special Assistant on Youth Mobilization to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Alabi Opeyemi is set to unveil an artificial intelligence-powered youth development platform YouthDesk.ai designed to connect young people with opportunities, skills, guidance, mentorship, resources and institutional support.

The platform, which is billed as an opportunity infrastructure built around young people, is designed to provide access to opportunities, guidance, skills development, support and measurable youth outcomes.

According to a statement by the Director, Media and Publicity, YouthDesk.ai, Hon. Bode Olabisi, the official unveiling is scheduled for September 3, 2026, at Worksphere by Eridan, Oluwalogbon House, Plot A, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

YouthDesk.ai brings together a range of technology-driven features aimed at addressing challenges young people face in discovering opportunities, accessing reliable information and developing relevant skills.

Among its key features is AI Padi, an artificial intelligence-powered assistant designed to provide young people with personalised guidance and help them navigate available resources and opportunities.

The platform also provides access to learning and skills-development resources to enable young people to improve their knowledge, develop relevant competencies and better position themselves for education, employment, entrepreneurship and other opportunities.

Another major component is the Opportunity Hub, through which users can discover scholarships, jobs, internships, training programmes, grants, fellowships and other youth-focused opportunities in one accessible digital environment.

Beyond individual users, YouthDesk.ai is being positioned as a collaborative platform connecting young people with grassroots youth leaders, private-sector organisations, government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), development partners and other relevant stakeholders.

Founded by Opeyemi, the initiative seeks to leverage artificial intelligence and digital technology to make credible information, resources and opportunities more accessible to young people, particularly those at the grassroots who may otherwise have limited access to such opportunities.

Speaking ahead of the unveiling, Opeyemi said the passion and commitment of Governor Sanwo-Olu towards youth development, empowerment and innovation inspired him to explore technology-driven solutions capable of expanding opportunities for young people.

According to him, YouthDesk.ai goes beyond being just another digital application; it is conceived as an opportunity infrastructure and ecosystem that brings young people, opportunities and institutions together on a single platform.

The platform is also designed to strengthen collaboration with grassroots youth leaders who understand the needs and aspirations of young people within their respective communities.

Through these partnerships, YouthDesk.ai aims to extend its reach to young people at the community level and ensure that opportunities are not limited by location, background or access to information.

In addition, partnerships with the private sector, government agencies, NGOs and development organisations are expected to create pathways for employment, entrepreneurship, training, mentorship, scholarships, capacity building and other empowerment initiatives.

The unveiling will formally introduce YouthDesk.ai to the public, demonstrate its features and capabilities, and provide an avenue for youth leaders, government representatives, private-sector organisations, NGOs and other stakeholders to explore strategic areas of partnership and collaboration.

“With artificial intelligence increasingly transforming education, employment and entrepreneurship globally, YouthDesk.ai seeks to ensure that young Nigerians are not left behind, but are equipped with the information, skills, connections and opportunities needed to participate meaningfully in the emerging digital economy,” he added.