Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Segun Dawodu has inaugurated a Transition Committee for the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Lagos State Branch and enjoined leaders of the Council to reflect a spirit of altruism, brotherliness and patriotism.
Describing these attributes as a true hallmark of what the State represents, Dawodu charged members of the transition committee to discharge their duties and responsibilities with uttermost sincerity without bias or favour to any party.
The Commissioner, who addressed a Press Conference after the inauguration of the seven-man committee in his office at Alausa, Ikeja, said that it was expedient for the council, being the umbrella body for all youth organisations in the State, to lay good examples by organising programmes and activities for the benefit of the youths in order to achieve a Greater Lagos and a virile youth organisation.
Dawodu underscored the need for a self-appraisal of the current state of the council and the development of strategies that would improve their relevance within the context of modern realities.
While commending the council for reaching a compromise after years of lingering disagreement within the leaders of the NYCN in the State, the Commissioner said the choice of following the path of dialogue in resolving their differences for the common good shows the level of maturity of leaders of the council.
He used the event to canvass support for the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda, saying that the six pillars of Traffic Management and Transportation; Health and Environment; Education and Technology; Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy; Entertainment and Tourism; as well as Security and Governance must always reflect in the programmes that would be instituted by the council for the benefits of youth across the State.
According to him, the Ministry had concluded plans to develop a comprehensive drug programme aimed at eradicating the rampant drug abuse problem among youths in the society, promising that the programme would be all-encompassing.
“There is a lot that needs to be done in the area of youth development; a myriad of challenges are confronting the youths but for us as a government, we will not give up and we will not abandon the youth”, the Commissioner assured.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Yewande Falugba urged the leadership of the council to ensure that peace reigned supreme among the various stakeholders and youth organisations in the State.
This, she said, would go a long way in the promotion of public-private partnership in youth development and the establishment of a robust relationship among the members of the various youth organisations and the State government.
Members of the inaugurated committee are Kayode Odunuga, Ismail Odulana, Gbadebo Taofik, Olayinka Oresile, Ogunsola Gbenga, Otunba Adebisi Kodus and R.L. Lawal.
