CITIZENS COMPASS— The Blue Lagos Sustainability Initiative, in collaboration with the New Generation Directorate, has hosted the Lagos Riverine Community Youth Leaders Dialogue at the Badore Ferry Terminal, Ajah, Lagos State, 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 was organised to strengthen engagement between young people and government stakeholders, providing a strategic platform for youth leaders to articulate their concerns, share community-specific challenges, and contribute recommendations towards addressing developmental gaps affecting their respective communities.
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.
Speaking at the event, the host, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, 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.
Mr Emmanuel highlighted the need to establish effective communication channels between government and grassroots communities, noting that 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. 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.
In response, Mr Emmanuel acknowledged the concerns raised by the participants and assured them that their requests and recommendations would be presented to the appropriate government authorities for consideration and necessary action.
The issues raised by the youth leaders included challenges relating to education, healthcare, employment, environmental sustainability, transportation, infrastructure, youth empowerment, and access to essential social services.
Participants also highlighted the need to improve access to government programmes and develop interventions that respond directly to the needs of riverine and coastal residents.
In her goodwill message, Princess Damilola Sonayon James, APC Deputy Governorship Candidate in Lagos State, and the Director of the New Generation Directorate 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.
Princess 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. She 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.
The APC Deputy Governorship Candidate 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.
The dialogue also featured engagement with Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende, Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, alongside other stakeholders from the New Generation Directorate. His participation provided an opportunity to engage with youth representatives on issues affecting their communities and explore pathways towards improved service delivery, youth development, and inclusive growth.
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 are incorporated into wider conversations about governance and development in Lagos State.
The collaboration between Blue Lagos and the New Generation Directorate demonstrated the value of sustained engagement with young people as partners in advancing inclusive development, strengthening community participation, and promoting opportunities within Lagos State’s blue economy.
The initiative further emphasised that the development of Lagos State’s riverine communities requires a collective commitment from government institutions, community leaders, youth organisations, civil society groups, and other relevant stakeholders.
For the Blue Lagos Sustainability Initiative, the dialogue represents another step towards strengthening grassroots participation, promoting inclusive governance, and ensuring that the voices of underserved riverine and coastal communities are heard in conversations that shape their future.
Through the engagement, Blue Lagos and the New Generation Directorate reaffirmed their commitment to encouraging youth participation, strengthening relationships between community representatives and decision-makers, and advancing development opportunities for riverine and coastal communities across Lagos State.
