Lagos engages 250 youths on riverine community devt

The Blue Lagos Sustainability Initiative, in collaboration with the New Generation Directorate, has hosted the Lagos Riverine Community Youth Leaders Dialogue, bringing together 250 young people representing 125 riverine and coastal communities across Lagos State to discuss community challenges, developmental priorities, and opportunities for inclusive governance and sustainable development.

The dialogue, which was held last week at the Badore Ferry Terminal, Ajah, Lagos State, was organised to strengthen engagement between young people and government stakeholders.

A statement issued over the weekend said the dialogue also offered youth leaders a strategic platform to express their concerns, highlight challenges peculiar to their communities and make recommendations for tackling developmental deficits in their respective areas.

“The engagement also reaffirmed the importance of ensuring that young people from underserved and hard-to-reach riverine communities are not excluded from governance conversations, policy development, and decisions that affect their welfare and future,” the statement read in part.

Speaking at the event, the host, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Blue Economy, emphasised the importance of engaging young people as critical stakeholders in governance, “particularly in advancing the development of Lagos State’s coastal and riverine communities.”

Emmanuel highlighted the need to establish effective communication channels between government and grassroots communities, saying, “Meaningful development requires listening to the people, understanding their needs, and incorporating their perspectives into planning and implementation.”

During the interactive session, the riverine youth leaders presented the challenges confronting their respective communities, highlighting priority needs and areas requiring government intervention.

The youth leaders highlighted several challenges, including inadequate education and healthcare, unemployment, environmental concerns, poor transportation and infrastructure, limited youth empowerment opportunities, and inadequate access to essential social services.

Their submissions reflected the realities of living in underserved and hard-to-reach settlements, where geographical barriers and limited access to essential services continue to affect residents’ quality of life and development opportunities.

Emmanuel acknowledged the concerns expressed by the participants, assuring them that their demands and recommendations would be forwarded to relevant government authorities for consideration and appropriate action.

In her goodwill message, the Director of the New Generation Directorate, Damilola James, encouraged young people across the state’s riverine and coastal communities to take an active interest in governance and participate meaningfully in the political and developmental processes shaping their future.

She emphasised that young people should not limit their involvement in governance to expressing concerns or criticising government policies but should also take advantage of available opportunities to contribute ideas, engage constructively with leaders, and participate in decision-making processes at the grassroots and state levels.

James noted that youth participation is essential to building responsive leadership and inclusive communities, stressing that young people possess the energy, creativity, innovation, and grassroots understanding required to drive meaningful development.

She further encouraged the youth leaders to remain organised, united, responsible, and committed to the progress of their respective communities.

James urged them to use platforms such as the dialogue to communicate their concerns constructively, identify practical solutions, and maintain sustained engagement with relevant government institutions and stakeholders.

She also underscored the importance of youth leadership and representation, encouraging young people to see themselves not merely as beneficiaries of government programmes but as active contributors to governance, community development, and the future of Lagos State.

Some key areas of discussion included youth empowerment, employment and livelihood opportunities, education, healthcare, environmental protection, infrastructure, community welfare, and the need to address the unique geographical and socioeconomic challenges facing riverine and coastal settlements.

Participants also stressed the importance of strengthening communication between communities and public institutions, improving access to government initiatives, and ensuring that young people in underserved settlements are adequately represented in development planning and implementation.

With 250 youths representing 125 riverine and coastal communities in attendance, the initiative sought to broaden grassroots participation and ensure that the perspectives of young people from underserved communities were incorporated into wider conversations about governance and development in Lagos State.

The Blue Lagos Sustainability Initiative (Blue Lagos) is a community-focused, non-governmental initiative established to promote inclusive governance, sustainable development, environmental protection, and improved livelihoods in the riverine and coastal communities of Lagos