The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Segun Dawodu has called for the engagement of the youth population in formal political mechanisms, saying that their involvement in politics would increase the fairness of political processes.
Dawodu, who stated this on Thursday at an event organised by the Ministry to mark the Year 2020 International Youth Day Celebration at the Youth Centre in Ikeja, Lagos, said that youths have the potentials of contributing to better and more sustainable policies as well as restoring trust in public institutions.
He revealed that the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, collaborated with the State Government to give representatives of youth bodies a platform to dialogue on issues of interest and empowerment.
Speaking in the same vein, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Yewande Falugba, stressed that the State Government has decided to focus more on issues affecting the youth taking into cognisance the fact that the segment of the population constitutes the greatest asset of the Nation.
Falugba extolled the vibrancy, energy, dedication and resourcefulness of the youth population, stressing that if these attributes are meaningfully explored, it would translate into a more prosperous society.
Acknowledging the efforts of the Lagos State Government on youth initiatives, the Executive Director, UNFPA, Dr. Nathaniel Kanel, affirmed that the State Government has been taking the lead through its various initiatives and intervention programmes to reach out to out-of-school young people in Nigeria.
Kanel, who was represented at the event by Dr. Esther Shomefu, said that one of the initiatives UNPFA put in place was the setting up of Youth Participatory Platform which has served as a veritable tool for harnessing the potentials of the youths.
The UNPFA Executive Director added that the platform, which has produced 36 individuals now excelling in their various endeavours, has also been used to enlighten the youths on various issues ranging from sex education to personal self-development.
The Guest Lecturer, Dr. Olajobi Abdul-Fatai, who spoke on the theme "Youth Engagement for Global Action", enjoined all participants at the programme to imbibe the virtues of volunteerism and patriotism, create time for self-development, stay focused and consistent in pursuing their dreams.
Comments