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Engaging with youth for a greater Lagos

A fortnight ago Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the youngsters from across the state came together to participate in a peace conference aimed at creating a common platform to pursue resolution of conflicts. MURITALA AYINLA reports

 

For many years to come, Lagosians will not forget in hurry, the violence and massive destruction that trailed the youth-led nationwide protests against police brutality last year, that is, #EndSARS protest.

 

The wanton destruction that followed the hijacked protest is still very pronounced in the city, in spite of the ongoing rebuilding efforts. In the wake of the bloody #End- SARS protest that nearly grounded the nation, several innocent lives were lost; acts of sexual violence were reported; major correctional facilities were attacked and convicts freed; public and private properties were completely destroyed or vandalised; the sanctity of the palaces especially that of the Oba of Lagos was violated, media houses were attacked and set ablaze by the criminal elements who took the advantage of the hitherto peaceful demonstration.

 

The so-called protesters also invaded an international airport and in the process disrupted the travel plans of fellow Nigerians and visitors.

 

Police stations and properties in their premises were set on fire while scores of police officers were killed and maimed in the hijacked protests. All this in the name of the #EndSARS protest.

 

The crisis fuelled by the spread of deliberate falsehood and misinformation through the social media in particular, that the government is oblivious to the pains and plight of its citizens was a ploy to mislead the unwary within and outside Nigeria into unfair judgement and disruptive behaviour. But to broker a reconciliation with youths in the state, Governor Sanwo- Olu at a youth symposium with the theme: “Rebuilding for Greatness: Peaceful Conflict Resolution”, held at the LTV Blue Roof and organised by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, listened with rapt attention as the youths led conversation on how they could effectively channel their grievances to the authorities. Speakers after speakers from various youth organisations proffered a lasting solution to the issues that may lead to conflict.

 

They called for a need for intergenerational dialogue to proactively address the issues. Decked in the famous Boy Scouts    green shirt and light-brown pants with yellow tie to match, Sanwo-Olu, who listened to the speakers with rapt attention, described the moment as the beginning of true reconciliation. At the event, which was facilitated by the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Youth Matters, Saheed Akanbi, a sevenman discussion panel moderated by Mazi Sam Uche Anyamele, a filmmaker, set the tone for the governor’s response to various suggestions and ideas shared by the youths. Addressing hundreds of them, Sanwo-Olu said: “Today is a day of reconciliation and it is about our teeming youths.

 

This is the moment to create a common ground and take ownership of our future. We have indeed assessed what we have passed through as a people; it’s now the moment to come together and build our lives together. “This event is about aggregating all the conversations of the millions of youths that have been represented here.

 

All of us have agreed that, when we work together, we can build a resilient society we will truly be proud of. We will continue to build, engage and work with our young people. I certainly will not give up on you as partners in progress and your ability to bring about positive changes.”

 

The governor said he believed the youth must not only be granted a stakeholder status inthestate’sproject, butalsobegivenprimeseats at places where decisions are taken. He said his administration had shown example by appointing scores of young people under 40 years into the state’s Executive Council, political aides and administrators of government’s agencies. Sanwo-Olu also promised to increase the state’sinvestmentinhumancapitaldevelopment and equip the youths with requisite 21st skills that would empower them economically. He said: “I thank all the youths who participate in this forum for the valuable suggestions offered and the ideas shared. I’m taking full responsibility and ownership of all the feedback recommended for me here.

 

All the points have been taken and I will continue to rely on them in the course of governance.” On his part, Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon. Segun Dawodu, said the government recognised the youth as stakeholders in peace building and violence prevention, stressing that the governor’s physical presence at the event was an indication of Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to turn listening ears to issues faced by the youth. Represented by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Oluwagbemiga Aina, the commissioner said the aftermath of negative conflicts would never be beneficial to any society and its people. He said: “Rebuilding Lagos for greatness is a multifacetedtaskthatinvolvesconstructing aformidable identity using the power of the state to unifypeopleof commoninterestsforacommon goal. Togetherwewillrebuild, recoverandLagos will emerge stronger.

 

The aftermath of the past crisis will not determine the destiny of the state. “We can find solutions to our conflict in our unique education and value system, in our creativityandinnovation, inourhardworkandresilience. As we foster relationships with our youths, it is a charge on all of us to take responsibility for our today and uphold human dignity, equity, social justice, human rights and inclusiveness.” The keynote speaker and Deputy Vice Chancellorof theLagosStateUniversity(LASU), Prof. WahabEllias, saidthethemeof theeventconnotedaresilientcity, stressing thatconflictremained endemic and part of the society’s makeup.

 

The Professor of Sociology posited that conflict remained inherent in any society where there constant struggles among social classes usually took place. He, however, said constructive engagement and peaceful dialogue are key to settling all conflicts, irrespective of their nature. “Clashes of ideas among the social classes and cultural differences are part of the reasons why conflicts arise.

 

There is nothing bad in conflict, but a conflict that is not progressive in nature is bad and inimical to the peace in the society,” he said. The don appealed to the government to keep its promise of raising investment in human capital, which, he said, remained a key factor in preventing conflict.

 

Youths, Ellias said, are the most important resources for the government to harness. Some of the participants had the opportunity to share their thoughts. MissHalimatAkanni-Shellethankedthegovernor for giving the youth a listening ear and the privilege to rub minds with decision makers.

 

“We are ready to join hands and take action in building a Lagos that is safe and functional for all of us,” she said. A transformational leadership trainee, Miss Mary Makinde, described the governor as a progressive leader, defining progressive leadership  to be a selfless act driven towards purpose, vision and motivation. She said Sanwo-Olu was not just leading by action, but showing examples that could be emulated.

 

She said: “Despite the ugly circumstances that befell Lagos in the past year, the governor has remained focused on the situation and focused on things that matter. This is progressive leadership.”

 

Leader of National Associationof NigerianStudents(NANS) in Lagos, Comrade Rasheed Ogunsanya, described the youth as the engine room of Lagos’ resilience, thanking the governor for identifying with young people. Lagos State Chairman of the NationalYouthCouncilof Nigeria (NYCN), BilliaminuOba, presenteda14- pagesuggestionandresolution on the way forward vis-a-vis youth engagement to the governor.

 

Youth engagement: Setting the ball rolling

 

Barely a week after the governor assured of a better deal with youth in his administration, the Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu have come together under the BOS Academy to organise the first edition of the BOS Youth Cup. They described the initiative as part of efforts by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration to curb restiveness and promote sports and youth development in Lagos State.

 

The maiden edition of the BOS Youth Cup would focus on football competition for youths under 21 years across all Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) within the state.

 

The BOS Youth Cup like other youth-based strategies of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is one of the opportunities for the youths of the state to explore, achieve their potentials and come into the limelight, as well as unlocking the doors for discovering budding talents and serve as a catalyst for development of the local league and forming the pivot for recruitment into our national teams.

The competition will also empower many youths and further create business opportunities for other stakeholders with a multiplier effect on the state’s economy in line with the vision of the Sanwo-Olu led administration to actively engage the teeming youths of Lagos State for a more robust economic development.

 

Speaking at a press conference held on Sunday at Alausa, Ikeja, to kick off the football competition, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Mr. Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye, disclosed that online registration is already ongoing through a dedicated website www.bosyouthcup.com.

Adeboye, who expressed optimism that new talents would be discovered that would impact positively on not just the youths but also on the state in the long run, said the final stage of the BOS Youth Cup, would take place at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Arena, Onikan, with Governor Sanwo-Olu himself handing the trophy to the winning team.

 

Adeboye said the ‘BOS Youth Cup’, which is one of the key programmes under governor’s ‘THEMES’ developmental agenda strategically put in place ‘For a Greater Lagos’, will directly have positive impacts on individual families, the communities and the state at large.

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