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By: Manoah Kikekon
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Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, the commissioner for youth and social development, has said the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is focused on youth digital empowerment.
This was disclosed on Monday at the press briefing held in commemoration of International Youth Day, at Ministry of Youth conference room, Alausa, Ikeja Lagos.
The commissioner highlighted the critical role of digital innovation in youth development under the theme "From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.
International Youth Day, celebrated globally on the 12th of August, serves as a focal point to highlight issues affecting young people and celebrate their potential as pivotal stakeholders in today’s rapidly evolving world.
Mr. Ogunlende said "it is necessary for youth to harness digital technologies as tools for building a sustainable future." Highlighting the administration's commitment to empowering the youth of Lagos State, recognizing them as vibrant agents of change essential to the state's progress.
"In today’s knowledge-driven world, where virtually everything is based on data, the involvement of young people in digital trends is crucial for success. The Sanwo-Olu administration, aware of the significant role the youth play in today's Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous, Destructive (VUCAD) world, has intentionally integrated youth development as a core pillar in the THEMES+ Agenda during this second term." he said.
Ogunlende listed key initiatives that the Ministry of Youth and Social Development had made available to the youths. Notably, the Lagos State Upskill Program (LAG-UP), a collaboration with GFA Technologies and WEMA Bank PLC, aimed at equipping over 100,000 youths with vital digital and employability skills.
And also the registration of young people between the ages of 18-35 through Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASSRA) to ensure accurate data collection for resource allocation, as well as the Amplifier Business Clinic, which provides entrepreneurs with tools and financial assistance to scale their enterprises.
The Honourable Commissioner also commended Lagos' youth for their resilience in the face of economic challenges and urged them to continue working with the Ministry to successfully implement the THEMES+ Agenda. He emphasized that peace is a vital foundation for building a virile and prosperous nation, stressing that it is only in an atmosphere of peace that collective progress can be achieved.
As part of the 2024 International Youth Day celebrations, Mr. Ogunlende unveiled a dynamic lineup of events set to engage, inspire, and empower the youth of Lagos. The activities are as follows:
1. Monday, 12th August 2024- Press Conference
2. Monday, 19th August 2024 - Awareness Walk/Environmental Sanitation (Ikeja under bridge to the Secretariat)
3. Tuesday, 20th August 2024- Lagos State Youth Parliament 2nd Sitting (Lateef Jakande Auditorium, Lagos State House of Assembly Complex)
4. Wednesday, 21st - Friday 23rd August 2024* - Job Fair/Business Fair for Young People (Adeyemi Bero Auditorium)
5. Wednesday, 21st August 2024 - Amplifier Business Clinic for Young Entrepreneurs/Pitch Competition (STD Resource Centre)
6. Thursday, 22nd August 2024 - Youth Day Seminar on the theme "From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development" (White Stone Event Hall or Regency Hall)
7. Friday, 23rd August 2024 - Special Ju'mah Service (Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, led by Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat)
8. Saturday, 24th August 2024 - Youth Engagement Summit with Youth Development Officers, Youth Development Practitioners, NGOs, and relevant MDAs, and Inauguration of the Technical Working Group on Youth Engagement (The Bungalow Hall, GRA, Ikeja)
9. Sunday, 25th August 2024 - Thanksgiving Service (Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa)
10. Tuesday, 27th August 2024 - Grand March Past/Parade by Uniformed Voluntary Organisations for Mr. Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Presentation of Grants to Winners of the Amplifier Business Clinic Entrepreneur Pitch Competition (Campos Mini Stadium)