Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called on youths to harness their technological skills and innate talents as a pathway to achieving self-sustainability.
According to The PUNCH, this message was delivered through his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Sam Egube, at a National Youth Symposium held in Lagos.
The event was organized to commemorate the 60th birthday of Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, with the theme, ‘Nigeria: Guiding the Youth on the Path of Self-Reliance’.
In his speech, Sanwo-Olu underscored the importance of surrounding oneself with motivational figures and discovering one’s individual path to sustainability.
He also emphasized the power of optimism, taking advantage of opportunities, and fostering collective responsibility to drive national development.
“Youths should be the best version of themselves, utilising their gifts to benefit society and bring themselves to the limelight,” Sanwo-Olu noted. “We must be prepared for the opportunities that we see. The idea that opportunity exists is true, and we, as a people and youth of the nation, should be the best that we can be, and the gift that we have developed will bring us certainly before kings. We must be each other’s keepers and responsible partners. This is what it means to be part of a nation, a state, a community, and a family.”
Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, in his address, encouraged Nigerian youths to embrace the numerous opportunities available to them while seeking mentorship and investing in the development of essential skills for self-reliance.
He highlighted the critical role of combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills in today’s competitive job market.
“Getting the right education matters in today’s job market. It is no longer what you know but what you can do,” Hamzat remarked.
He added that there is a global demand for the demonstration of natural talent, knowledge, and skills that can positively impact society.
Hamzat also pointed out the efforts of the Lagos State government to create youth-centered initiatives, stressing the need for collaboration between the government, private sector, and young people to foster innovation and talent development.
Supporting these ideas, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, the former Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, highlighted that empowering youths towards self-reliance is vital for national economic growth, poverty alleviation, and societal stability.
According to him, guiding young Nigerians toward creating solutions is a fundamental route to national advancement.
“Our responsibility is to lay the foundation for strategic thinking, quality reforms, and cultural shifts that empower the youths to take charge of their destiny,” Fagbohun emphasized.
He also urged youths to cultivate resilience and resourcefulness beyond their reliance on external systems.
“Nigeria has a great population, and all the government needs to do is empower the youths with skills that are required in today’s world,” he concluded, reiterating the importance of youth empowerment in the context of global competitiveness.
