Hamzat charges youths to be proactive, solve societal challenges

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat has urged youths to take proactive steps toward shaping their future by remaining focused, and developing practical solutions to societal challenges.
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Hamzat gave the advice on Thursday at the Ibile Youth Academy 2025/2026 One-Day Leadership Summit in Alausa, with the theme: “From Potential To Power: Equipping Youth For Leadership In A Changing Lagos”.

He said there is need for young people to move beyond identifying problems to becoming innovators and change agents, for the growth and development of Lagos.

“Identify problems you are passionate about solving, build teams, and take action.

“You are not a drop in the ocean; you are the pebble that starts the wave,” the deputy governor said.

He also called on the younger generation to commit to leading with integrity, building with innovation, and serving with compassion, toward unlocking the state’s potential for growth and development.

Hamzat called for a new contract between older and younger generations to build a better Lagos.

“Let us leave here today with a new contract, where the older generation commits to investing, trusting, and getting out of the way, where the younger generation commits to leading with integrity, building with innovation, and serving with compassion,” he said.

According to him, the responsibility of today’s leaders is to create an enabling environment for the leaders of tomorrow, and for the youth to rise up to the task, build on legacies they inherited, and ensure that Lagos remains the land of dreams.

He said that Lagos, with its vibrant and pulsating environment, offered immense opportunities for youths to showcase their potential and become leaders in various fields.

“Lagos is more than a megacity; it is gradually becoming a megalopolis. As such, it is a microcosm of 21st-century opportunities and challenges.

“It is a relentless engine of commerce, a sprawling hub of innovation, and home to communities facing issues from urban planning and environmental sustainability to healthcare access and civic engagement,” Hamzat said.

He stressed the importance of resilience, collaboration, and entrepreneurship, urging the youths to be innovative, entrepreneurial, and empathetic, as these qualities were essential for effective leadership.

The deputy governor said that the leadership Lagos needed in its youth was a matter of skills, mindset, and ethics.

“It is a powerful fusion of competence, character, and vision. It is rooted in ethical foundations and civic responsibility.

“The leaders we need, must understand that true power is exercised with integrity and for the common good,” he said.

Hamzat also emphasised the importance of resilience and collaboration, saying that the ”journey is never smooth”.

“Obviously, sustaining high performance requires mental strength, managing expectations, and building resilience. In Lagos, this resilience is a collective force,” he said.

The Lagos state Head of Service, Mr Olabode Agoro, said tthe summit reaffirmed the objective of government’s support for initiatives that empowered young people and aligned with the developmental aspirations of the state.

Agoro commended organisers of the academy for sustaining the initiative, which continued to nurture leadership, civic responsibility, and personal development among the young people.

He advised the youths to distinguish themselves and be good ambassadors to the state and of Nigeria.

Our correspondent reports that highpoint of the event was the special appearance of a Nigerian singer and songwriter, Oludipe David, popularly known as Spyro.

Spyro charged the youths with the responsibility of being the tools to change the world and make it a better place.

“You are not truly successful without making an impact, you must be the positive change you desire in your immediate environment,” he said.