Lagos State Government today reiterated its plan to initiate and implement policies and programmes that would enhance youth development across the State.
Speaking at the presentation of certificates to verified Youth and Non Governmental Organisations at Onikan Multipurpose Youth Centre , the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Pharm. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf noted that the need to conduct verification exercise arose in order to have a data base of all registered voluntary organisations and their effectiveness.
Akinbile, added that the verification does not limit the collaboration between the Ministry and other organization that have yet to be verified and therefore urged those in that category to liaise with the Ministry on the process as the exercise would be a continuous one.
She stated that the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter as the umbrella body of all voluntary youth organisations has a predominant role to play in the area of collaboration, harmonisation and sensitization of the youth in order to move the state forward.
“The certificate presented to you today should be a stepping stone towards promoting the image of the state government in the area of youth development. As youth ambassadors it is expected of you to come up with programmes that will be beneficial to the youth in our state,” she said.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Hakeem Muri- Okunola reaffirmed that public private partnership is one of the policy thrusts of the state government, which makes it imperative for collaboration at all levels to complement the efforts of the state government in youth development activities and build a Lagos of our dream.
Okunola noted that the initiative of awarding certificate was intended to promote good working relationship with youth organisations working in tandem with the Ministry’s ministerial responsibilities.
