- By Chidinma Nnamdi
The Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to youth development and empowerment during a dynamic symposium and awards organised by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Mosan-Okunola Branch.
The event brought together stakeholders from government, international development agencies, and youth bodies to address critical issues such as safe migration, skill acquisition, and leadership.
Chairman of Mosan-Okunola LCDA, Princess Olabisi Adebajo, described youths as the “main orbit of any growing economy.”
Represented by the Secretary to the council, Ayo Orimolade, Adebajo highlighted the local government’s consistent support for youth-led initiatives and underscored the importance of unity and positive thinking in achieving national development.
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“Youth of our local government and Lagos State as a whole should have a positive vibe towards the fact that there’s a better tomorrow ahead. We need to come together as one body and contribute to the growth of Mosan-Okunola and Lagos State,” she said.
She explained that since the third quarter of last year, the council has organised over 15 youth-focused programmes ranging from IT and digital literacy to entrepreneurship training.
These efforts, she noted, aim to keep young minds engaged and empowered with practical skills that foster self-reliance.
Head of Programmes at the Centres for Migration and Development under GIZ—Germany’s development cooperation agency, Mrs. Sandra Vermuijten-Alonge, explained GIZ’s partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Employment and its mission to provide Nigerian youths with access to reliable information about employment and migration opportunities, both locally and abroad
She said: “We want to ensure that people know what skills are in demand and how to acquire them, whether they plan to work in Nigeria or migrate for study or employment. We’ve reached nearly 400,000 people since 2018, and our collaboration with local governments like Mosan-Okunola is critical to expanding that impact.”
Highlighting the grassroots angle, Comrade Gbolahan Badru, Coordinator of the NYCN Mosan Okunola, emphasised the importance of educating young people on safe and legal migration.
“It’s not about discouraging migration, but about doing it the right way. We don’t want our youth ending up abroad with fake documents and been locked up in jail or being sent back in disgrace. That’s why we’re educating them—so they follow due process,” he said.
Badru also revealed plans for Entropy 2.0, a follow-up to last year’s anti-drug campaign. The initiative, he said, will focus on substance abuse awareness in primary and secondary schools across the LCDA.
The Special Adviser on Special Duties to the Chairman, Afeez Yusuf, who received an award during the ceremony, credited his recognition to his efforts in driving ICT and entrepreneurial training among youth.
He said: “Since assuming office, we’ve trained over 5,000 youths in areas like digital marketing, 3D animation, and drone photography. We don’t just train and let go. We put them into internship programmes to ensure these skills are put to practical use.”
He added that more programmes are in the pipeline to further develop youths capacities and make Mosan-Okunola a hub of digitally skilled and self-reliant young people.
Awards were also presented to exceptional youth leaders and local government officials who have contributed significantly to