Ibile Youth Academy Will Address Leadership Deficit – Commissioner

The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende has stated that the leadership potentials inherent in today’s youths can be harnessed to tackle leadership challenges the nation is currently facing.

This was contained in the keynote address delivered by the Commissioner today at the opening ceremony of the Year 2024 Five-Day Ibile Youth Academy Divisional Training held at Onikan Youth Centre.

According to him, “The Ibile Youth Academy is a flagship initiative of the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development created to inspire and develop the next generation of leaders. It is designed to nurture leadership qualities, foster community engagement and promote volunteerism among young Lagosians.

“It is a crucial platform to equip our youths with skills, knowledge and values needed to become catalysts for positive change and take up leadership roles,” he added.

Ogunlende noted that the core of the Ibile Youth Academy is the drive to foster leadership, civic responsibility and personal growth.

“The platform instils five essential values: integrity, responsibility, self-discipline, perseverance and excellence, which are principles that define outstanding leadership and success in any endeavour,” he stated.

Similarly, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Pharm (Mrs.) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu noted that the programme was a transformative journey of capacity building, personal development and collective growth, equipping young minds to lead with innovation and integrity.

Oke-Osanyintolu maintained that the Ibile Youth Academy has become a beacon of hope for young people across Lagos State because it serves as a platform to harness their talents, instil leadership values and provide them with the tools to thrive in today’s dynamic world and position them to play their role in driving sustainable development, fostering social cohesion and building resilient communities.

The Permanent Secretary implored the participants to approach the training with an open mind and determined spirit to maximise their opportunity for growth while also embracing networking and collaboration so that they can emerge more confident, capable and prepared to take up leadership roles in various spheres of life.

Notably, this year’s Ibile Youth Academy has generated more interest among the young people in Lagos as over 3,763 applications were submitted showcasing the immense talent and ambition within the youths out of which 1,228 applicants who scaled through the rigorous selection process were invited for the physical screening held across the Five Divisions of Lagos State.

The Ibile Youth Academy Divisional Training taking place simultaneously across the five divisions where participants will be equipped with critical thinking and problem-solving skills through in-depth training, mentorship and guidance is expected to produce the top 10 participants from each Division who will proceed to the exclusive Ibile Youth Academy Residential Boot Camp from which five Divisional Ambassadors and one State Ambassador will emerge as team leaders.