Youths have a lot to contribute to Lagos GDP – Commissioner

 

The Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development has pledged to make sure that youths play an active role in the economic growth and success of Lagos State in line with the promise of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led administration to run an all-inclusive government.

The Commissioner, Pharm. (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, made the pledge at the Onikan Youth Centre, Lagos, during a lecture, organized by the Ministry in continuation of the week-long activities to commemorate the United Nations (UN) International Youth Day celebration, themed: The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production.

The Commissioner said that the future economic growth and success of the State would be better harnessed with young, dynamic and innovative workforce, stressing that the National Youth Council and other youth platforms must be encouraged to contribute actively to the process of improving Lagos GDP and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On her part, the Deputy Governor of the State, Dr. Idiat Adebule, urged the Commissioner and the Ministry to keep up the good work in social development and empowering young people of the State.

Also, wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode who was represented by Mrs. Bolanle Whenu said that the social stability and development of a community depends on the state of livelihood of young and vibrant persons either as regular job holders or self-employed individuals.

In her words, “Being gainfully employed should not be narrowed down to government employment alone as there are other ways of making income by being entrepreneurs in which the Lagos State Government has continued to create the enabling environment”.

She emphasized that, “the Employment Trust Fund of the State Government is on course to launch enterprising young persons to real entrepreneurship”.

However, she promised that the State government would continue to create opportunity for self-employment for young people, adding that it has established several agricultural schemes across the State including the ‘Agricultural Yes’ programme at Badagry and many more.

Special Adviser on Education, Olufela Bank–Olemoh in his lecture lauded the initiative of the State Government with the Ready-Set-Goal programme which prepares would-be graduates for the next stage of life after their tertiary education.

The high point of the event was the presentation of an 18-seater Hummer Bus to the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and award of recognition to some partnering NGOs who had aided the Ministry in achieving its goal of empowering the youths of the State.