Lagos To Give Youths Sense Of Belonging

The Lagos State Government has flagged off this year’s International Youth Week celebration.

The celebration was instituted by the United Nations, UN, General Assembly to sensitise the public on the need to give youths a sense of belonging.

According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Social Development, Dr. Dolapo Badru, the celebration was peculiar to each country based on the recommendation of the UN that governments should use the occasion to focus on activities that would promote awareness of the world programme of action for the youths.

“Since the UN recommendation, government, families, NGOs, corporate bodies and individuals have set aside the week to draw attention to the youths’ needs, rights, obligations, interest and aspirations,” he said.

He stated that this year’s theme, Change Our World, not only expresses the level of impact young people strive to achieve, but also reflects the notion of a global community.

The special adviser added that the ministry had drawn up a week-long programme of activities to make the celebration eventful for the youths, saying that government understands the challenges of the youths and has, therefore, given priority to job creation and youth empowerment.

“It is through this empowerment programme that the government hands give the dividends of democracy to the people, especially the youths who are not only trained in vocational skills but also empowered to set up their own businesses, thereby creating wealth,” he said.

Badru disclosed that the government has planned to launch an apprenticeship scheme where youths in the state would be taught various skills that would empower them to become gainfully employed, adding that the move was based on the government’s concern over youths unemployment in the state.

According to him, the youths would be taught skills such as auto mechanic, catering, tie-and-dye as well as furniture making, through the assistance of some ministries and agencies of the government that would certify and mentor the youths to become self-reliant.

The special adviser used the occasion to plant a tree in a bid to sensitise the youths on the need to plant trees as a way to combat global warming.