By Ganiyat Mumuni-Animashaun.

Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Council Development Area (LCDA),Sesan Olowa has called on youths in Senior Secondary Schools, Higher institutions and those currently serving the Nation through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to be determined and intentional in their various activities.

He made speech at the maiden edition of Mentorship platform tagged: Navigating Career Choices : Empowering Individuals to pursue purposeful paths.

Olowa stated that the need for youth development has been Identified in the community and the council has embarked on engaging the youths through mentoring Forum.

“Beyond the government providing schools ,JAMB forms, scholarships etc, there is also a need to speak to the minds of these young people,there is also a need to guide them. Everybody needs a mentor in life ,if your father isn’t your mentor then your mother probably Is your mentor and when you leave the comfort of your home you will meet people outside who will also be mentors. So the local government is more or less creating a platform where mentors and mentees can connect. “He added .

He said his vision is to have citizens that are empowered and naturally competitive.

“We want to produce people who can stand on their own anywhere in the world; this is the generation of people we aspire to have. We must always engage them, and bring them to forum where they can link up with people who can add value to their lives.
“I want young people to go to any industry within this place and get hired on the basis of merit not just because they are from Ibeju-Lekkki Local Government Area,” he said

The Council Boss, stressed that a forum will be created for mentors and mentees for smooth and accessible communication.

“The guys here today are top employers of labour in the industry and they will do good to your life, The head of Human resources of first bank is here, The Administrative controller Lekki Free zone Development Company,The Head of African Fintech Foundry. You will be able to Interact with all of them one on one”.

The Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Taxation and Revenue, Mr AbdulKabir Ogungbo commended the council boss for the initiative of bringing together great minds to enlighten the youths in Ibeju-Lekki.

He said : ” This is a platform that we’ve been clamouring for our youths so that they can have an understanding of identifying their career path and identifying somebody who they can take clue from and assist them in achieving their desired goals”.

Ogungbo noted that the mentorship program will help youths understand their civic duty towards the state and thereby promote the need for citizen to play their significant part to assist the government of the day .

He thereby urged the youths to take advantage of the avenue by reaching out to their mentors in their various fields or career .

“My advice for them is to take advantage of it and make sure they don’t miss the opportunity, get close to the mentors they’ve identified in their career ,not everyone will be in politics ,you are be in private of public then you are fine , we enjoin them to take advantage of this and not let this pass them by. ” Ogungbo advised.

Chairman Igbogbo bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Builder Olusesan Daini hailed the council boss for the innovation in the community.

He said the initiative will help re-orientate the youths and guide them in their journey in life .

“This type of program you have alot to learn, it will re-orientate you and take you back to where you don’t think you can ever belong,so I appeal to all our youth even outside ibeju lekki local government to take advantage of mentorship program like this,to read ,try to understand that Nigeria is a prosperity nation, alot of opportunities are laying they just need to tap into it , develop themselves, identify who they are before knowing what they can do”.
Daini promised to emulate the life changing initiative before leaving office as the Chairman.

“This is my 7th year as the chairman and this is his own 3rd year and this the program I will still try as much as possible to make sure that I put in place before I leave office, it is a program that will add value to the community ,it is a program that will bring our youth out of a natural enclave that they put themselves.” He pledged.

President Federation Of Epe Division Student Association (FEDSA),Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Habeeb Obadina lauded the council boss for bringing prominent personalities to them at the grassroot level.

He advised his fellow students to seize the lifetime opportunity by reaching out to their mentors and reading alot.

“We should make use of our leisure time to increase our knowledge so as to be able to be loaded which is where we would be needed in the society”.
“this program has make us understand that we need to take part in today for the betterment of tomorrow.” Obadina stressed.

Abdullahi Rukayat,A student of Lagos State University praised the council chairman saying she met with her mentor at the platform which is a dream come through for her.

“My take away here is that I’ve actually meet one and one with my mentor today and have insight with what I am going to see what I am going to gain,the challenges and obstacles am going to face in that line I have choosen”.She added.

Dignitaries Present were; Secretary to the State Governor Lagos State on Taxation and Revenue, AbdulKabir Ogungbo; Member representing Lekki Federal Constituency, Prince Bayo Balogun; Chairman Igbogbo Bayeku LCDA ,Builder Olusesan Mayokun Daini ; Group Head Human Capital Management and Development First Bank of Nigeria, Muyiwa Okulaja ; Head African Fintech Foundry an arm of Access Bank, Daniel Awe among others.