Newspot Online

By Our Reporter

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has urged youths across the state to take proactive steps toward shaping their future by preparing themselves, maintaining focus, and developing practical solutions to societal challenges.

The deputy governor gave the charge, while giving his keynote address at the 2025/2026 ‘IBILE Youth Leadership Seminar,’ held on Thursday at the Adeyemi Auditorium, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, stressing the need for young people to move beyond identifying problems to becoming innovators and change agents for the growth and development of Lagos.

"My words to you today are to call you to act. Act by preparing, focusing, and seeking appropriate solutions to the challenges that you have noticed. We must unleash that dormant potential in us and birth great ideas that will define the emerging Lagos that you will inherit and live in. You must wield the power of transformative leadership. Focus on the signals and ignore the noise," he said.

Hamzat further advised the youths to recognize that their strength is amplified through collaboration, urging them to adopt a practical approach to leadership: "see a need, build a team, start small, and create a ripple."

According to him, such approach is a way to encouraging participants to unleash their dormant potential and generate transformative ideas that will define the emerging Lagos they will inherit.

Speaking on the state government initiatives, the deputy governor explained that Lagos is investing in a future driven by technology and guided by its SMART City vision, with resilience being built into all sectors, expressing optimism that young people would rise to convert development challenges into world-class innovations.

Highlighting that transforming Lagos requires collective responsibility, Hamzat emphasized that the true essence of the state would only emerge when young people rise to their roles as agents of change, describing them as the key to unlocking prosperity.

He noted that about 60 percent of Lagos State's population is youths, underscoring the demographic reality that represents both a great opportunity and a potential challenge, albeit depending on how it is harnessed, expressing the belief that leadership does not require formal permission, but rather is defined by courage, responsibility, and the willingness to take initiative.

Describing Lagos as a megalopolis and a microcosm of 21st-century opportunities and challenges, Hamzat said the state serves as a dynamic hub of commerce, innovation, and diversity, offering a unique environment for developing resilience, adaptive problem-solving, and inclusive leadership.

"I would like to tell you that the complexity and intensity of Lagos should be seen as a leadership training ground," he said, noting that the city provides the ideal ecosystem for nurturing leaders not only for the state but for the global stage.

In his goodwill message, the Head of Service (HOS), Mr. Olabode Agoro, noted that the event reaffirmed the objective of the state government’s support for initiatives that empower young people and align with the developmental aspirations of the state.

Agoro commended the organizers of the IBILE Youth Academy for sustaining this impactful initiative, which continues to nurture leadership, civic responsibility, and personal development among the young people in the state, urging that the youths to distinguish themselves and be good ambassadors to the state

Earlier in his opening remarks, the State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, stated that the 2026 cohort of the IBILE Youth Academy had set a new and unprecedented standard of excellence, having emerged through a rigorous and highly competitive selection process that reflects the highest levels of passion, performance, and progress.

The commissioner noted that since its establishment in 2017, the IBILE Youth Academy had evolved into a formidable platform for identifying, grooming, and empowering young leaders across the five divisions of Lagos State.

Ogunlende reiterated that, under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, youth development remained a core priority of the THEMES Plus Development Agenda. 

He emphasized that the present administration was firmly committed to intentional leadership development, stressing that "leadership must be nurtured deliberately, sustained institutionally, and transferred responsibly" to ensure continuity, impact, and sustainable governance.

Similarly, in her goodwill message, the former Commissioner for Youth and Social Development and Pioneer Commissioner of the IBILE Youth Academy, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, a pharmacist urged Nigerian youths, particularly those in Lagos State, to maximize the opportunities before them and prepare intentionally for the future, admonishing them to take advantage of every opportunity and strategically position themselves for growth and success. 

This was just as she emphasized that this is a critical season for personal development and self-discovery.

Her words, "This is the time to prepare yourself. This is the time to learn new skills, to work hard, and to discover your true potential. When you are adequately prepared, you will be ready to seize opportunities and make informed decisions about your future. 

"The training and exposure you have received at the IBILE Youth Academy have equipped you with valuable skills. Go out there, represent the Academy proudly, and contribute your very best to the world.