Lagos youths need to be better leaders to propel development –Govt

The Lagos State Government has organised the second edition of the Transformational Leadership Training Programme.

The Commissioner, Youth and Social Development, Olusegun Dawodu, the programme was designed to ensure that youths in Lagos State are well equipped with the skills and knowledge required for community development.

At the event tagged, ‘Engaging Young People In Community Development’, held at the Ikeja Youth Center, Dawodu said, “This training focused on building the capacity of young leaders to become better leaders and to align the policy thrust of the state government with that of the various groups in order to propel the the greater Lagos that we aim for.

“This training is one of the several initiatives of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu aimed at ensuring that the youth of Lagos are equipped with skills and given the necessary support that will enable them compete with their peers globally.The first edition availed youths that proved themselves exceptional and outstanding the opportunity to be part of Lagos – Spain Youth Exchange programmes tagged “New Kind of Leadership” for further exposure and experience as certificates were presented to them upon completion of the exchange programme.”

The commisoner urgef the participants to cascade what they learnt at their various areas, adding that the essence of the programme was also to expose youth leaders at various voluntary youth organisations to extend their leadership beyond their groups and establish themselves by taking responsibilities in Community Development Association in their various localities.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mrs Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu, represented by the Director, Administration and Human Resource,Mr Adewunmi Ogunsanya, said the programme was a platform to train hundreds of leaders in the state in order to cause a change in individuals and social systems, thereby creating valuable and positive change in the followers with the end goal of developing followers into leaders.

Oke-Osanyintolu sais, “The state government considers youths who are leaders in Voluntary Youth Organisations, NGOs, CSOs and as assets that should be TRANSFORMED (Thoughtful, Responsible, Articulate, Noble,Self-Governing, Resilient, Open to Learning, Respectful,Well Mannered, Excellent and Devoted to Societal Development).”

The facilitator, Mr Tunde Oyelowo, made the participants to see the attributes of a true leader as well as how to acquire values that would turn them to effective leaders in all spheres of life.

In his goodwill message, Dr Jemilade Longe, a Consultant to the Ministry on Youth Programme, said the training would help youths channel their energies towards positive and productive ends.

A statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Olabisi Ademola, explained that the week long leadership training “is organised to cut across the three senatorial districts during which seasoned facilitators would utilize videos, group work, case studies, personal reflections, slide presentation and life applications to give participants transforming learning experience.”