LASG INAUGURATES TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP ON YOUTH ENGAGEMENT 

Towards ensuring proper coordination and synergy in youth programmes and activities in Lagos, the State Ministry of Youth and Social Development has inaugurated a Technical Working Group on Youth Engagement.

In his keynote address at the event held today at Bungalow Hall, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende said the Technical Working Group (TWG) is established to provide technical expertise, guidance and support to the Ministry of Youth and Social Development on Youth Programmes and Activities.

He explained that the primary goal is to enhance the effectiveness and impact of youth development initiatives through informed decision-making, innovative solutions and collaborative efforts.
Urging members to put in their best, Ogunlende averred that the TWG was also aimed at consolidating the gains already recorded by the Ministry in terms of youth development while identifying the gaps to find solutions to emerging challenges through strategic collaborative efforts.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Pharm (Mrs.) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu said that the TWG was to assist the Ministry in giving youth engagement the deserved attention by infusion of best practices into all the programmes and activities being organised for the young ones in the State.

She said, “About 70% of the population of Lagos State consists of youth. This makes their engagement a matter of priority for the Ministry. In doing this better, we have decided to inaugurate the Technical Working Group to ensure not just all hands on deck but the most capable from different fields that can contribute meaningfully to the implementation of the Youth Policy and programmes. There are a whole lot of issues within this space ranging from drug abuse to restiveness among the youths that we need to tackle headlong”.

The TWG will be chaired by the Commissioner, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende; Director, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning, Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Mr. Femi Balogun as its Co-Chairman and the Permanent Secretary, Pharm (Mrs.) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu as Secretary.

The members, with a term duration of three years, were drawn from diverse fields and saddled with the responsibilities of assisting the Ministry of Youth and Social Development in the areas of technical expertise and support; policy and programmes development; capacity building; monitoring and evaluation; strategic planning; innovation and research, amongst others.