Youth Inclusion: Governors Urged to Emulate Tinubu By Empowering Young People

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Citizenship and Leadership, Ms. Rinsola Abiola, has called on governors to follow the lead of President Bola Tinubu by appointing young people into positions where they can influence decisions of government. This is just as she stressed the need for principles and integrity in public service, highlighting […]

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Citizenship and Leadership, Ms. Rinsola Abiola, has called on governors to follow the lead of President Bola Tinubu by appointing young people into positions where they can influence decisions of government.

This is just as she stressed the need for principles and integrity in public service, highlighting the importance of genuine commitment to nation-building, sacrifice, values and self-development.

She made this known while speaking as a panelist at the Lagos Leadership Conference, organised by the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Lagos State.

In her remarks on the topic, “Youth in the Driver’s Seat: Fostering Leadership Capacities for Effective Governance,” she said when governors allow youths participate in governance, it will enable them to bring in innovative ideas into policy formulation and foster the spirit of inclusion.

She stated, “I would like to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing an unprecedented number of young people into key positions where we are actually able to influence decisions of government, to formulate policies and to serve in different capacities.

“We have so many young people in leadership positions and I would also like to commend the Lagos State Government for the very deliberate effort to include young people in decision-making structures. However, the Federal Government does not properly capture the reality in all of our states.”

“Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, in his address, acknowledged the fact that a number of states also have young people in key positions, but that’s not the situation in most of our states; and we’re in a situation where the young people in key positions in the Federal Government and in states like Lagos are laying a good example that I believe should encourage other leaders to prioritize youth inclusion.”

She also urged young people in positions of authority to set positive examples for others and actively support and mentor fellow young individuals, and advocated for enhanced youth inclusion within political party structures and government at all levels.