Lagos deputy gov, Momoh task youths on purposeful leadership

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and the chairman of Channels Television, Mr. John Momoh, have urged youths to become responsible for the future by embracing leadership grounded in integrity, purpose, and national unity. Speaking at the 15th anniversary of TEXEM youth leadership workshop themed: ‘You are a leader; you matter’ held […]

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and the chairman of Channels Television, Mr. John Momoh, have urged youths to become responsible for the future by embracing leadership grounded in integrity, purpose, and national unity.

Speaking at the 15th anniversary of TEXEM youth leadership workshop themed: ‘You are a leader; you matter’ held in Lagos, Hamzat encouraged the young ones to rise above ethnic and religious divisions and focus on building a more inclusive and prosperous nation.

“Leadership is about people. It is about what we can do to protect and uplift the majority, regardless of class.

“We have allowed forces we cannot control to shape our lives. That must change. We must begin to see ourselves as Nigerians first,” he said.

Hamzat stressed that ethnicity, tribalism and religious differences should be maximised for advantage, expressing concerns over the ploy to use them to clog the unity of the country.

“So, relating to people as Nigerians should not be the basis of a trap for even religion. We’ve gotten to a state in our culture where we allow religion to, instead of cementing, divide us,” he said.

He described compassion as a virtue for purposeful leadership, advising that Nigerians should not allow tribalism, ethnicity and religious differences to divide the coexistence of the citizens.

“To be a leader, you must be passionate about your citizens. That’s what you see in every great nation,” he said.

The chairman of Channels TV, Mr. John Momoh, also charged the youths to be resilient and take personal responsibility of maximising their God-given talents for the betterment of the country.

“You have lions sleeping inside of you, wake up the lion within you. If I could do it, so can you. When I started Channels TV, I believed we could do it better in the future, that belief drove everything.

“You have to change the world and you have integrity, purpose and think about the country. Think that God has deposited talent and it has to be used. You can do it, please go for it, never think anything is unachievable,” he said.

He encouraged teamwork, vision, and consistency, describing them as the pathway to live victorious.

The CEO AG Mortgage Bank, Ngozi Anyogu, highlighted the role of financial discipline and social responsibility, noting the bank’s commitment to empowering women and youths.

“We have supported 500,000 women with health checks and are training 100,000 youths. Purpose is about serving God and humanity. Cultivate a savings culture, stay curious, and embrace continuous learning,” he said.

Earlier, the Chair, TEXEM UK, Dr. Alim Abubakre, said TEXEM – established 15 years ago, has helped over 4,000 executives from over 30 countries.

He stressed that this year’s edition was aimed at training young leaders to develop their dreams, potential and power to lead.

“This youth workshop is particularly dear to us. It represents a firm belief that leadership is not reserved for later-it begins now. It is in the way you think, the questions you ask, and the courage you summon in the face of challenges,” he said.