A pro-democracy advocate and right activist, Comrade James Adeyemi, has expressed satisfaction over the way Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is fulfilling his electioneering promises for the youth, saying, “he has not deviated from his assured commitment to the development of the youth in the state.”
Adeyemi, who is the Convener of the Black Youth Vanguard (BYV), in a media chat weekend in Ikorodu, Lagos State, said, close observation of Sanwo-Olu’s administration vis a vis commitment to the affairs and welfare of the youth has exposed him as an administrator, whose words could be taken to the bank, saying, “there has never been a state programme, where the youth would not be given adequate consideration.”
Citing instances, the youth leader mentioned the 2020 independence anniversary where 60 youth were mentored on leadership virtues, saying, “that is a testimony that Sanwo-Olu means well for the future of the youth as the leader of tomorrow.”
Speaking further, Adeyemi added that the governor’s love for the youth also became manifest in his 2021 Budget speech where he said, “there would be increment in its financial commitment to youth mentoring, mental health support, and substance abuse rehabilitation,” pointing out that, Sanwo-Olu has been proving all along as an administrator that gives premium to the worth of the youth in nation building for assured future of the state in particular and the whole country in general.
The activist gave kudos to the governor for implementing the youth programmes as stated in the budget speech where he promised that,“the government will be investing heavily in the development of human capital, with special focus on youth employment and provision of social safety for young people,” admitting that the promised focus on raising human capital, creating jobs and strengthening security for businesses to flourish, is being implemented to the letter.
He appreciated the impact the gubernatorial interaction with the young boys and girls would have on their psyche as they grow to become good leaders like the governor, saying, there is no doubting the fact that, it must have engraved in their mind, and the mind of others watching the event on the screen, the value of righteousness in all human endeavours.
In addition, Adeyemi said, “the governor appears not relenting on the issue of the youth as he has also proposed another initiative tagged ‘Youth Academy for Leadership Training’ which he described as a welcome idea, enthusing that, that training also has the potential to ensure building of the young ones to become credible future leaders would make the society great.
He recalled the recently organised Youth Academy Leadership Training tagged ‘Ibile Y2019,’ where the focus was majorly on the development of the youth to be well equipped for leadership challenges in the nearest future, expressing the delight that, “by and large, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has convinced the citizenry that he means well for the future and that it was not a mistake giving him the mandate in 2019 to be the state governor.”
“In fact, Sanwo-Olu has started laying a solid foundation for a society of resourceful youths whose potentials will drive the Greater Lagos vision in the near future,” Adeyemi submitted, adding that, the desired aim of inculcating in the youth, the virtues of citizenship, leadership and volunteerism for the development of the nation is being achieved.
He therefore urged the youth to imbibe all the virtues taught them in the various engagements to make them great leaders of tomorrow, insisting that, “only with that shall the good intention of Governor Sanwo-Olu be reciprocated adequately.”
