Apapa LG Chats Pathway For Youth As Potential Leaders

By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos

In its avowed commitment to preparing the youth for leadership positions for a prosperous and sustainable development, the Apapa Local Government Council, South West Nigeria, convened a 2- day youth summit where the youths were engaged in thought provoking discuss. RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE who attended the summit brings back the report.

Youths are no doubt, an integral part of the society and serve as the pillars for sustainable development. Any nation that fails to empower its youth, does that at is peril. As the youth slogan says that, ” build the youth, build the nation”, an investment in the youth unarguably guarantees a prosperous future.

Determined to transform its youth from a stand point of observant to active participants, the Apapa Local Government Council, tagged, “The Port City”, under the dynamic and articulate leadership of the executive chairman, Hon. Idowu Adejumoke Sebanjo, convened a two- day thought provoking summit, held at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, between Monday, 15th to Tuesday, 16th September, 2025, where the youth were engaged in the rudiments of how to become useful to themselves and development of the society.

Themed, ” Youth Ownership of The Community: Exploring Potentials For Economic Development And Environmental Sustainability”, participants were lectured on how to explore the opportunities inherent in the blue economy, entrepreneurship, coalition building, job creation, job & wealth creation, green economy and agriculture access to finance.

In her opening remarks, the executive chairman, Apapa Local Government Council, Hon. Idowu Sebanjo emphasised the importance of youth in nation’s development, saying they are the driving force behind innovation, creativity and progress in the community.

” Your energy, ideas, and passion are crucial in shaping the future of Apapa. It is imperative that we empower you with the necessary skills, resources, and opportunities to take ownership of your community and contribute meaningfully to its development”, the council boss stressed.

According to Sebanjo, to unlock the potential of Apapa, her administration must focus on initiatives that promote entrepreneur, job creation and sustainable development in some key areas which she identified as skills development, entrepreneur support, infrastructural development, environmental sustainability, waste management, gree initiatives ans community development.

The council helmsmen however, implored all stakeholders, including corporate bodies, government agencies, and community leaders to support the youth in their endeavours.

” Let us work together to provide the necessary resources, guidance, and opportunities for our youth to thrive. I urge our youths to take an active role in community development, to innovate,to create, and lead.

” In conclusion, I believe that with collective effort and determination, we can build a prosperous and sustainable future for Apapa. Let us harness the potential of our youth and work towards a brighter tomorrow “, Sebanjo urges.

While interacting with the participants, Sebanjo tasked them challenge President Bola Tinubu with their innate ideas and skills by exploring the series of opportunities in his programmes and policies, pointing out that the programmes and meant to better the country.

” It is up to you to challenge President Bola Tinubu on what you can do. What the President is doing is for a better Nigeria “, the council boss posited.

She however, lamented that the youth are not benefitting from the Apapa Port which is domicile in the area, in spite the huge amount of wealth it generates.

Her words, ” We have trailers and trucks that move millions out of Apapa and yet we have youths around that have no job. Am not happy about it. I can’t sit here , buying big cars, enjoying myself and say am comfortable. The stakeholders have to be involved in empowering our youths through employment and other opportunities “.

A resource person and motivational speaker, Mrs. Remi Odunsi who spoke extempore on ” Future Ready Youth: Driving Ownership, Collaboration and Economic Empowerment in Our Communities “, challenged the participants to be creative with multiple ideas for wealth generation, stressing that one can’t create wealth out of one line of income.

” When, where you see a problem should be an opportunity to make money. Find a way to fix into a passing wealth, be solution to problems, powerlessness should not be condoned, there should be a change of mindset, convert ideas to reality and use your time on social media to search for opportunities offered by non government organizations on how to make money, the opportunities are right there”, Odunsi tasked the participants.

In her paper presentation, Odunsi noted that a future ready youth is one who honours their foundation, while boldly reaching into global opportunities.

On economic empowerment, Odunsi said the world has changed, saying that , ” Today, opportunities are not limited to oil or roadside trading. The digital economy, creative industries , recycling, logistics, fashion, food systems, and technology offer multiple avenues for young people to thrive. We must shift from survival hustling to building sustainable enterprises. The dignity of labour must be restored, and alternative income streams enhanced.”, the motivational speaker asserted.

While presenting a paper on ” Renewed Hope: President Tinubu’s Transformative Impact On Nigerian Youth”, Dr. Mike Egbayelo submitted that Tinubu’s leadership has prioritize youth development as a central strategy for economic growth, national security, and sustainable innovation from digital skills and agriculture to health care, entrepreneurship, and creative initiative, adding that it has groundbreaking initiatives across sectors.

Egbayelo, a seasoned American trained entrepreneur expert, listed some of the federal government initiatives for youth empowerment to include the Technical and Vocational Education ans Training (TVET), Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Youth Entrepreneurship Support Programme (YES-P), National Education Loan Fund (NELDUND), amongst others.

Participants also benefited from the rich wealth of experience and knowledge of a seasoned maritime expert, Dr. Ade Dosunmu, who lectured them on the avalanche of opportunities available in the maritime industry.

A former Director General of Nigeria Maritime Security Administration ( NIMASA), Dosunmu who presented a key note address titled ” Unlocking Blue Economic Opportunities for Youth Empowerment” urged the youth to take interest in maritime education and not just focusing on other courses.

According to him, the Blue Economy offers series of employment opportunities ranging from seafarer, caterers, engineers, ship captains that earns payment in foreign currency.

The guest of honour at the occasion, Hon. Mufutau Egberoungbe, a former member of the House of Representatives, applauded the local government council for the initiative.

He called on the government to rejig school curriculum to be in tune with the immediate need of the school ‘s environment.

Papers were also presented on other topical issues such as opportunities in tech and access to remote jobs for youth and employability training, wealth creation for youth, exploring the pathway of exploration of produce and talents, from banker to farmer, a story of resilience and prosperity among others.