We Want To Build Solution Providing Youth - LASG

 

By Kayode Olopade 

"We want to build youth who will be able to provide solution to problem wherever they find themselves thereby becoming job creators instead of seeking for white collar jobs after graduation.Every problem is an opportunity for us to look inward and bring out the creativity and innovation in us and change our environment for a better place."

Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Youth and Social Development(MYSD, Mr Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende, said this at the maiden edition of Lagos Corps Members (LACORPS) Summit 2025 held for Corps Members resident in Lagos at Assbifi Event Centre today.

Mr Ogunlende, represented by Mr Ibukun Dosunmu, Director, General Services in MYSD,said,"Over the years, the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development has implemented several programmes aimed at equipping our young people with relevant skills, strengthening their capacity to compete globally, and ensuring they become active contributors to the socioeconomic developments, policymaking and political activities of our State.The LACORPS Summit is to strengthen our various efforts by providing Corps Members with hands on training in production,agro-enterprise, digital media skills such as video editing with mobile phones and access to production tools and techniques.By empowering young people with practical knowledge,we are preparing them not just to seek job, but to create jobs and become economic drivers within their communities."

The Honourable Commissioner stated that the Summit would expose participants to emerging opportunities such as MYPROGIG - an innovative and forward looking concept that pushes the young people to think beyond traditional boundaries which will encourage them to tap into new possibilities,experiment with modern tools and embrace creativity as a pathway to economic independence.

Earlier in her welcome address the Permanent Secretary Pharm (Mrs) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu said the Corps Members Summit was not just a historic first but a celebration of possibility, creativity, and the extraordinary potential of Lagos youth.

The Permanent Secretary, represented by Mr Hameed Lukman Adeyemi,Director in Youth Department of the Ministry, said,"in line with the THEMES plus Agenda of Mr Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, that the Lagos Corps Members (LACORPS) Summit has been designed to equip the youth with the skills and competence they need to tackle the growing youth unemployment and underemployment in the State thereby preparing  Corps Members who have chosen to have career in the creative industry and agriculture."

According to Pharm (Mrs) Oke-Osanyintolu the Summit would "equip Corps Members with practical market-ready skills in creative production, agro-enterprise, digital content development and technological innovation; foster entrepreneurship and self reliance, empowering young people to turn turn ideas into viable ventures; promote collaboration and mentorship, connecting Corps Members with industry experts, innovators and thought leaders; and inspire bold thinking and problem solving, preparing participants to become contributors to national development rather than mere job seekers."

In the same vein, the National Youth Service, Corps, Lagos State Coordinator, Mrs Christiana Salmwang, represented by Assistant Director, Corps Inspection and Monitoring, Mrs Oso Grace, commended the Ministry of Youth and Social Development for the laudable initiative which she urged all participants to take full advantage of in order for them to be able to start a business after their service rather than being thrown into the group of the unemployed.

The Resource Persons Mr Segun Adaramola(from Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation,Mr Wale Thompson John (from Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment),Dr Bukola Sadiku (from Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems),Mr Ayobami Okanola (from Lagos State Empowerment Trust Fund) and Ambassador Lucky Matthew,a business coach took the participants on various topics bordering on entrepreneurship, business plan development, financial literacy and economic adaptation.