2nd February, 2016
Eromosele Ebhomele
The Ambode Youth Initiative (AYI), a youth group working for projection of the work and policies of the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, has described the governor’s focus on the youth in the state as the needed panacea to stem youth restiveness and other social vices.
In a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of the group, Comrade Abiola Hamid, the group expressed confidence in the governor’s vision for building a vibrant state where the youth are seen as asset and not problem to the society.
The group said the governor’s creation of Employment Trust Fund targeted at engaging youth in productive ventures, is a sign that young people will get occupied with what would benefit them and the society and would not have the time to go into social vices.
“There is no better way to engage young people than providing alternative to vices through engagement either by direct employment or other forms of engagement.
“Young people have energies that can be harnessed for development, and if not utilised, they have a tendency to find pleasure in activities capable of destroying their future and endangering the society,” the statement said.
AYI called on the private sector to complement efforts of Governor Ambode by scaling up their corporate social responsibilities as well as providing spaces for the youth through decent and gainful employment.
The group, which frowned at casualisation of youth by some employers, lauded several other efforts of the current administration on security, traffic control, the light up Lagos initiative, overhauling of Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, system, prompt payment of workers’ salaries, mass construction of inner roads and streets and huge investment drive among others.
It described Ambode as youth friendly as evident in the last ‘One Lagos Fiesta’ that took place across the state towards end of year 2015 while describing the Wealth Creation Ministry as another rare initiative of Ambode’s administration that would help address poor economic status of the commonman.