Ibeju Lekki kickstarts a program aimed at empowering young people in their career journeys.

Over 800 enthusiastic youths from across Lagos gathered for the inaugural edition of the Mentors Platform.

The program features prominent figures offering guidance and inspiration on charting fulfilling career paths.

Seasoned professionals like Daniel Awe (head of African Fintech founders) and Adebanjo Otukomaya (Lekki Free Trade Zone Admin Officer) shared their expertise alongside government representatives like Honorable Adebayo Balogun (House of Representatives member for Ibeju Lekki).

Ibeju Lekki's chairman, Mr. Abdullahi Sesan Olowa, envisions the Mentors Platform as a springboard for global success.

He emphasizes the importance of equipping young people with the skills and guidance they need to thrive anywhere in the world.

This initiative reflects a commitment to connecting this generation with valuable mentors who can offer life and career advice.

Olowa's vision is for Ibeju Lekki to become a hub for a competitive and empowered youth population.

The Mentors Platform serves as a significant step towards achieving this goal.

He said, “I mean citizens that are empowered, i mean citizens who are naturally competitive. People that can stand their own anywhere in the World.

“This is the generation of the people that we aspire to have so every now and then, we must engage with them, speak to them and try and bring them to forum where they can link up with people who can bring serious values to their life. I think that’s where the inspiration is drawn from.

“In life when you’re focused on achieving a certain goal, you are going to employ so many strategies. We are building a foundation in Ibeju Lekki, we are building a consensus, we are telling people that we are the local government of destination and of course we need to have a youthful population that is competitive.

“We want to build youths who can stand on their own anywhere in the World. If you leave the shores of Nigeria and go to the US or Europe.


“This revolution started about three years ago when we decided, we where going to invest in people and this was what informed our policy direction when we went to partner with a foremost university to build the capacity of our young ones, we are now talking to them. We are bringing our undergraduates from the university to tell them that you can start moulding your life right from when you are in school.

“Don’t let anyone deceive you that you can make it in Nigeria today, I am bold enough to let you know that they are deceiving you. What alot of people lack is the discipline to succeed, and the ability to remain focus to their goal. Once you have this, you will definitely achieve great things.”
 
On his part, Member House of Representatives, Representing Ibeju Lekki, Hon Bayo Balogun advised the youths to take advantage of the Mentors Platform to build their future.

He charged the youths to take their career choices seriously and start mapping out their future.

By Raheemah Salahudeen