The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, has called on young people across the state to take full advantage of government programmes designed to empower them and secure their future.

Ogunlende made the appeal on Saturday during a one-day mentorship programme tagged Mentorship with HOA, organised by the Igbogbo Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) at its secretariat in Ikorodu to commemorate International Youth Day.

He expressed concern that many youths were not adequately engaging with the state’s numerous empowerment platforms due to what he described as a disconnect between the government and young people.

“It is for their benefit. It is not for me, the commissioner, nor is it for the governor. We are giving them that platform. We are giving them the opportunities, and we want them to grab them,” Ogunlende said, citing the Business Amplifier Clinic and the Building Youth Academy as examples of ongoing initiatives.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of Igbogbo Baiyeku LCDA, Hammed Aroyewun, said his experiences in leadership inspired him to adopt mentorship as the flagship programme of his administration.

“The 2025 International Youth Day reminds us that youth are not just leaders of tomorrow; they are leaders of today, catalysts of change, and partners in progress,” Aroyewun said, noting that the year’s theme, Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond, aligned with the creativity and resilience of Nigerian youths.

He stressed that with mentorship, knowledge, and opportunities, young people could drive innovation in education, technology, governance, and sustainability.

Other speakers, including the Leader of the House, Igbogbo Baiyeku LCDA, Basirat Banjoko, and council chairmen from Ikorodu, Ikoyi-Obalende, and Onigbongbo LCDAs, urged youths to remain resilient, embrace innovation, and turn setbacks into stepping stones for growth.