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Lagos canvasses youth engagement in governance

By Adetutu Salako |   15 August 2016   |   3:40 am  

Vice Chairman, Lagos chapter of the National Youth Council, Rashidat Yusuf (left); Pharm. (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf and chairman, Comrade Olayinka Oresile at the parade to mark the International Youth Day.

The Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development at the weekend began a weeklong event to commemorate the United Nations (UN) International Youth Day held across the world on Friday, August 12.

The event began on Friday with a press briefing by the Commissioner of the ministry, Pharm. (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, followed by a parade of registered uniformed voluntary organizations in Lagos. The first day was rounded off with a special Jumat Service at the Alausa Mosque.

According to the Commissioner, the weeklong activities is geared towards seeing a return of engaging activities among the youths, “bearing in mind that youth participation is crucial in a democracy, which is why the programmes are youth-centered and empowering.

“In keeping with the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we are focusing on the leading role young people can play in ensuring poverty eradication and achieving sustainable development through productive engagement of their youthful energies.

“This is being achieved by the present administration of Akinwunmi Ambode, which is establishing structures that will shift attention away from seeking ‘white collar’ jobs to self-empowerment and development through various programmes, including the N25 billion Employment Trust Fund for the SMEs in the state,” she noted.

The Lagos House of Assembly member and chairman of the committee on Youth, Adedamola Richard Kasumu, urged youths across the country to consciously participate in their civic responsibilities as a way of grooming themselves for leadership in the future as well as successfully transitioning into adulthood.

On their part, he said the state assembly would endeavor to create more opportunities to prepare the youth for the future with the inauguration of the Youth Parliament.

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