The Lagos State Government has urged its youths to use available networks in creating a more peaceful society, as this will help foster development in the state.
This appeal was made by the Lagos State Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, Mr Olusegun Dawodu at a Day Youth Dialogue on Peace and Conflict Resolution held at Folarin Coker clinic hall Alausa.
The Commissioner also stated that Gov. Babajide Sanwoolu’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda encapsulate better pact with the youths, as many windows of opportunities abound for them to leverage on and become independent with little or no stress, adding that they should channel their energies into resourceful task and learning of new skills that will make them have better footings in future.
“We felt a need to educate our youths to channel their anger to productive…rather than just go out there killing, fighting and stabbing,maiming each other or looting and stealing.
“There will always be conflicts but it doesn’t mean you take it further and be violent about it, what we are trying to engage them with is that whatever conflict they have should not end in violence. It can be peacefully resolved.
“When conflict end in violence or war, it is the youths that are sent out there to join the Army, fight war and die. It is better you find a way to resolve the conflict. He said
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mrs Yewande Falugba, who played host to all present at the event stressed the need for a paradigm shift of the youths mindset from violent manner of airing their views to well documented engagement with workable solutions to issues.
“Available Information need be harnessed for them to fare better in the society. In other climes youths lead peace building efforts, we also need to address human rights violations. Peace building community’s should also leverage on available networks to decisively address causative agents of conflict early .” She said.
The Guest Speaker, Engr. Adekunle Olayinka, the Special Adviser to Gov. Sanwo-Olu on DAWN Commission Matters, spoke on the theme: Challenges of Covid-19 the role of youths in conflict resolution and noted that there must be good plan for post Covid-19 period.
“There are evident social fractures which emanates due to Covid-19 pandemics and includes; social inequality, political exclusion, unemployment, poverty and if not well handled most times leads to conflicts.
“We must plan for extensive post conflict issues resolution support, adequate funding of strategic sectors that can drive the economy and further engender concerted promotion of systemic change.” He added.
The Senior Special Assistant on Youth Development to Governor Sanwoolu, Mr. Akanbi-Ade Saheed while speaking with newsmen noted that as a youth,he believes in constructive engagement of the powers that will be for better gains for the youths and more wins are on the way for the youths in Gov. Babajide Sanwoolu’s administration going forward.
He thereby appealed to youths not to take up violence but rather engage government with well thought out ideas and solutions, adding that it is better they tell the government how best issues confronting the youths could be tackled rather than government doing the opposite.
Comm. for Youth & Social Dev. and Perm. Secretary Ministry of Youth and Social
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