ActionAid, in partnership with Inspired Youth Network, has launched a youth hub in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Council of Lagos State, to provide young people with opportunities for skills development, mentorship, digital learning and civic engagement.

The facility, located behind the Ifako-Ijaiye Customary Court, was commissioned by the Chairman, Ifako-Ijaiye Local Council, Akanbi Usman Hamzat represented by the Vice Chairman, Oluwatoyin Akerele.

The youth hub is designed as a dedicated space where young people can connect, learn, collaborate and develop initiatives capable of contributing to positive changes in their communities.

Speaking at the commissioning, Hamzat said the local council provided the space for the project to encourage young people to take their future seriously.

He said the council has consistently supported initiatives capable of improving the livelihood and prospects of young people, urging beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the hub.

The Governance Specialist at ActionAid, Vivian Efem-Bassey, said the hub would enable young people to understand their constitutional rights, identify government institutions responsible for addressing their needs and engage relevant authorities on issues affecting them.

Efem-Bassey disclosed that the project was funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), adding that ActionAid invested in the facility and handed it over to beneficiaries for sustainable use.

She hoped that other local councils across the country would replicate the initiative to provide similar opportunities for young people.

The Programme Advisor, Strategic Partnership Agreement II, ActionAid, Blessing Ifemenam, said the project encountered several challenges before its completion, but commended the cooperation and support received from the council leadership.

She described the facility as a platform where young people could acquire knowledge, develop skills and organise activities around issues affecting their communities.

Also, the Programmes Manager, Inspired Youth Network, Oluwatoyin Adejokun, said Ifako-Ijaiye was selected after the organisation identified young people in the area as well-coordinated, committed and passionate about issues affecting their communities.

She said the hub would provide an avenue for young people to deliberate on issues including climate change and engage relevant stakeholders.

Adejokun disclosed that the facility was powered by an inverter system capable of providing up to 15 hours of electricity.

Coordinator, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Ifako-Ijaiye Branch, Oluwaseun Ayomase, described the initiative as a dream come true for young people in the area.

Ayomase commended ActionAid and Inspired Youth Network for the partnership, saying the facility would expose young people to developments and opportunities at the global level. He assured that the youth council would remain committed to maintaining and sustaining the hub.

Similarly, Chairman, National Youth Council, Lagos State Chapter, Adigun Ibrahim Olalekan, said the state-of-the-art facility would help young people integrate into the emerging Artificial Intelligence ecosystem, acquire relevant knowledge and broaden their horizons.