The 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 today while giving his keynote address at the 2025/2026 ‘IBILE Youth Leadership Seminar,’ held at the Adeyemi-Bero 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.
According to him, “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.”
The Deputy Governor further advised the youths to recognise 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,’ thereby 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. He expressed optimism that young people will rise to convert development challenges into world-class innovations.
Highlighting that transforming Lagos requires collective responsibility, Hamzat emphasised that the true essence of the State will 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 per cent 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. He was of the view 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, noting that the city provides the ideal ecosystem for nurturing leaders not only for the State but for the global stage,” he stated.
In his goodwill message, the Head of Service, Mr. Olabode Agoro, noted that the event reaffirms 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 organisers of the IBILE Youth Academy for sustaining this impactful initiative, which continues to nurture leadership, civic responsibility, and personal development among our young people. He therefore advised the youths to distinguish themselves and be good ambassadors to the state
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Commissioner for the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, stated that the 2026 cohort of the IBILE Youth Academy has 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 has 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 Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, youth development remains a core priority of the THEMES Plus Development Agenda. He emphasised that the present administration is 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 remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Pharm (Mrs.) Toyin Oke-osanyintolu noted that the Ibile Youth Academy Alumni marked the beginning of a stronger and more coordinated network for sustained service that will advance grassroots impact across the five divisions of the state.
Oke-osanyintolu urged the 50 participants selected for the Residential Boot Camp to stretch their capacity, sharpen their skills and return even more empowered.
Dignitaries, present at the event including the Principal Secretary to Mr. President, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola; Permanent Secretary, Parastatal Monitoring Office, Dr. Olugbenga Aina and former Commissioners Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mr. Olusegun Dawodu and Pharm (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile, commended the presented leadership of the Ministry for sustaining the Leadership Academy initiated in 2017 which they described as a veritable platform that has produced youth leaders with integrity, character and patriotism.
About The Author
