Sanwo-Olu, Carrington Fellows seek roles for women, youths

• They are tragic representation of politics, says Olu of Warri
• Lagos governor cancels #EndSARS peace walk

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged government at all levels to engage women and youths in governance.

He made the charge at the yearly inaugural Ambassador Walter Carrington Annual Symposium of Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI) funded by the United States (U.S.) Consulate General, Lagos, in commemoration of CYFI 10th year anniversary and launching of PVC4Her Campaign in Lagos yesterday.

Sanwo-Olu, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pension, Mrs. Olusola Ponnle, commended CYFI for its ability to transform leadership

The Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, one of the keynote speakers on the theme: “Rethinking governance for women and youth participation,” said women and youths should be well represented in politics in the country.

Also, member, CYFI Board of Trustees, Dr. Arese Carrington, in her opening address, asked the government to give youths an enabling environment to participate in politics.

She also implored the youths to find a constructive way to defend their future because greater part of the future belongs to youths.

Besides, she urged the youths not to give up no matter how daunting the challenges to keep the legacy of late Ambassador Walter Carrington.

Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, said 40 per cent of appointments in the state were for youths.

President CYFI and Executive Director, Project Enable Africa, Olusola Owonikoko, said during the 10-year- impact evaluation of the programme, fellows noted the positive impact of the fellowship on their personal and professional leadership development.

Another keynote speaker, a politician and lawyer, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo, urged the public to shift away from the mindset that it’s not possible for women to lead.

She encouraged youths to be members of a political party and dominate it.

IN another development, Sanwo-Olu has cancelled the planned peace walk aimed at building love and peace among residents.
   
The governor, in a statement, yesterday, said: “I am constrained to stand down all preparations for the Walk for Peace. I will not endanger the life of any Lagosian in my sincere search for peace. I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support the initiative received from far and near. The deluge of support is, however, indicative of one thing: our people know the strategic place of peace to our quest for development.”