Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has challenged young Nigerians to participate actively in governance, develop professional skills and prepare for leadership, stressing that building a sustainable future requires collective responsibility and continuity in development.
Sanwo-Olu gave the charge at the Seyi Tinubu 41st Birthday Colloquium in Lagos on Monday, October 12, 2026, where discussions focused on youth empowerment, leadership, enterprise and the future of Nigeria.
The governor urged young people to move beyond complaints about governance and take advantage of democratic processes to influence decisions affecting their lives. He encouraged them to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, attend community and ward meetings, participate in budget hearings and engage with public institutions.
He stressed that many decisions shaping communities are taken at the grassroots, making active participation essential to ensuring that young people’s concerns are represented in governance.
Sanwo-Olu also emphasised the importance of acquiring and mastering professional skills, urging young Nigerians to pursue excellence in their chosen fields and develop the competence needed to contribute meaningfully to society.
He advised those seeking opportunities abroad to maintain connections with their home communities and apply the knowledge and experience they acquire to local development.
Using the Lagos Blue Line rail project as an example, the governor highlighted the importance of continuity in governance, noting that the project, first conceived in 1983, became a reality decades later through the efforts of successive administrations.
He said the experience demonstrated that major development projects could extend beyond the tenure of the governments that initiated them, making long-term planning and sustained commitment necessary for meaningful progress.
Drawing on his background as a surveyor before moving into banking and politics, Sanwo-Olu said development requires a proper assessment of existing conditions, careful planning and a clear understanding of the work that remains to be done.
The governor also recalled his experience serving in government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the President gave young professionals opportunities to debate ideas, challenge established thinking and contribute to decision-making.
According to him, such an environment helps prepare emerging leaders for greater responsibilities, underscoring the need for established leaders to create opportunities for younger people to learn and grow.
Sanwo-Olu urged members of his generation to mentor young professionals without expecting immediate returns, employ emerging talents and provide opportunities for the next generation to assume leadership positions.
As his administration approaches the end of its tenure, he expressed hope that his government would complete projects inherited from previous administrations, initiate programmes that future governments could sustain and leave behind a strong foundation for continued development.
The colloquium, organised to mark the 41st birthday of Seyi Tinubu, brought together figures from government, business, technology and the creative industries to discuss leadership, youth participation and national development.
Those listed on the programme included BUA Group chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu, businessman Tony Elumelu, former African Development Bank president Akinwumi Adesina and filmmaker Funke Akindele.
The discussions highlighted the need to translate conversations about youth empowerment into practical opportunities for participation, employment, skills development and leadership, while ensuring that development initiatives remain sustainable across successive administrations.
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