The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende, has urged youths to shun violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ogunlende made the call on Thursday at the Gbenu Youth Summit 2.0, with the theme, “Lead the Change, from Voice to Action,” held at Badagry City Mall, Lagos.
He commended the organisers, describing the theme as timely and impactful, saying turning voices into action would help achieve positive results in society.
He urged youths to be constructive, respectful, trustworthy and people of integrity, saying they had important roles to play in community and national development.
“Being a Youth Summit 2.0 edition, the youths of Badagry are yearning for good governance, accountability and participation in governance.
“We are here not only to participate, but to re-echo that it is important that we turn voices into action and remain good ambassadors of our society,” he said.
Ogunlende said youths were key stakeholders in Badagry’s development and urged them to demonstrate peaceful participation during the 2027 elections.
“So, we have come here to encourage and charge ourselves that we will demonstrate that our voice will indeed become an action in the upcoming elections.
“We will, through peaceful action, vote in our President, Bola Tinubu, the governorship candidate in Lagos, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, and the incoming Deputy Governor, Princess Damilola James,” he said.
He also urged youths to vote for APC candidates contesting legislative seats across Lagos State.
The commissioner advised youths to secure their Permanent Voter Cards and keep them accessible ahead of the elections.
He urged youths across Lagos and Nigeria to participate actively in the electoral process, saying they constituted a significant proportion of the country’s population.
Mr Joseph Gbenu, APC candidate for Lagos State House of Assembly, Badagry Constituency I, said backing voices with action was necessary to achieve meaningful change in society.
Gbenu said the summit was organised by Badagry youths to bring stakeholders together and discuss development, growth and continuity in the community.
He urged youths to avoid selfish actions capable of causing division or conflict, and instead promote unity for the benefit of the community.
Dr Olusegun Onilude, APC candidate for House of Representatives, Badagry, urged youths to acquire relevant skills and education to prepare themselves for future opportunities.
Onilude, a former chairman of Badagry Local Government, said leaders should help young people improve their abilities and contribute meaningfully to society.
He urged youths to support APC, saying the party’s administration had contributed to infrastructure, education and healthcare development in Badagry.
Mr Olatunde Oladunjoye, APC candidate for Badagry Constituency II, commended the youths for organising the summit and urged them to emulate good leadership.
Mr David Aladeotan, Vice Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos West, said the summit was designed to engage youths and prepare them to become solution providers.
Aladeotan urged youths to take responsibility for community and national development as the 2027 elections approached.
He said young people should focus on providing solutions rather than creating problems that could affect present and future generations.
“Therefore, it is high time that young people start to actively participate in politics for the desired positive result,” he said. (NAN)
