*Photo: Some members of the Lagos State Youth Parliament at the training*
To prepare tomorrow’s leaders for effective and efficient performance, Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development has organised a two-day capacity-building workshop for the Fifth Legislative Assembly of the Lagos State Youth Parliament.
In her welcome address at the programme held on Wednesday at STO Resource Centre, Alausa, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Pharm (Mrs.) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu said the workshop marks the beginning of a journey towards empowering the next generation of Youth parliamentarians and leaders who will shape the future of the state and country.
According to her, the Lagos State Youth Parliament was established as a learning structure to create a robust representation of young people, allowing them to lend their voices and express their opinions on issues through a legislative platform.
In her words: “The Parliament serves as a critical platform for young people to engage in the democratic process, develop leadership skills and contribute meaningfully to policy discussions. Your role as youth Parliamentarians is not only to represent the voices of your peers but also to act as catalysts for positive change in your communities”.
Pharm (Mrs.) Oke-Osanyintolu urged the young Parliamentarians to embrace the opportunities presented by the workshop to acquire knowledge and skills as valuable tools that would help them navigate the complexities of governance, advocacy and leadership in engaging with experienced professionals and thought leaders.
The two-day capacity-building brought together 40 members representing the 20 LGAs of Lagos State who were inaugurated in February 2024 with a tenure of two years.
The Young Parliamentarians were lectured by Mr. Kolapo Wasiu, Deputy Director, LAHA; Prince Ademola Ademola, Publicity Secretary, Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (Lagos Chapter) and Mr. Boboye Adeniji Oluwafemi, Executive Director, Pelse Consult on topics like “Introduction to Law Making and Parliamentary Process”, “Governance and Organs of Government” and “Leadership and Effective Communication Skills” to expose them to legislative processes, effective communication strategies and the principles of good governance, among others.