The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, has told Nigerian youths to be agents of positive change to drive national development.

Adebule gave the advice when the Lagos State Council of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Youth Association of Nigeria paid a courtesy visit to her office in Lagos on Friday.

According to her, being change agents will also foster positive transformations in individuals, communities and the nation at large.

Adebule said there was need to secure the future of the country by ensuring that youths were empowered and properly guided to take up leadership roles.

“The world is changing and we are faced with the task of managing change and helping others adapt to change, especially the youths who are the future of this nation.

“In this time of transition, our youths will need unique qualities in order to be successful in life and be ready to take up leadership positions in future.

“As we look to what qualities we want to develop in the youth, we must look at ourselves as adults, parents and government and ask, are we modeling the qualities we want to encourage in them?

“As a government, we will endeavor to guide the youths as they change and grow into adults for them to become productive, responsible and contributory citizens,’’ she said.

Adebule commended the group for their activities and contributions to the development of the state.
She urged them to be guided by the doctrines of the holy Quran in all their dealings to grow morally.

The Chairman of the association Mr Jamiu Shoyode, who led the delegation, said that the visit was to find out how they could contribute to the development of the state.

“We are willing to contribute our quota as a group to the pace at which Lagos State is growing and developing so that we can be part of the success story.

“The idle youth, often with informal education, are a source of crime and other ills in the society; this is why we are setting up the Education and Enterprise Development Centre.

“It will be a youth resource centre where youths will be trained to utilise their skills and talents in art, design, fashion, metalwork, woodwork, weaving, among others.

“They will be trained to also develop products and services, with which they can earn a living,’’ he said.
Shoyode told the State Government to intensify efforts in youth empowerment.