250 youths from 125 coastal, riverine communities seek action on education, healthcare, jobs, infrastructure
The Blue Lagos Sustainability Initiative, in collaboration with the New Generation Directorate, has brought together 250 young people from 125 riverine and coastal communities across Lagos State for a dialogue aimed at strengthening grassroots participation in governance and addressing developmental challenges confronting underserved communities.
The Lagos Riverine Community Youth Leaders Dialogue, held at the Badore Ferry Terminal, Ajah, Lagos State, provided a platform for youth representatives to engage government officials, present community-specific concerns and make recommendations towards improving living conditions and promoting inclusive development.
The initiative was designed to strengthen communication between young people and government stakeholders while ensuring that residents of underserved and hard-to-reach riverine communities have a voice in policy discussions and decisions affecting their welfare and future.
Speaking at the event, the host, Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Blue Economy, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, underscored the importance of engaging young people as critical partners in governance, particularly in advancing the development of the state’s coastal and riverine communities.
Emmanuel stressed the need for effective communication channels between government and grassroots communities, noting that meaningful development could only be achieved when authorities listened to the people, understood their needs and incorporated their perspectives into planning and implementation.
During the interactive session, the youth leaders presented challenges confronting their respective communities, drawing attention to the realities of living in underserved settlements where geographical barriers and inadequate access to essential services continue to undermine quality of life and development opportunities.
The issues raised included inadequate educational and healthcare facilities, unemployment, environmental concerns, transportation difficulties, poor infrastructure, limited youth empowerment opportunities and restricted access to essential social services.
The participants also called for improved access to government programmes and targeted interventions that address the peculiar needs of riverine and coastal residents.
Responding, Emmanuel acknowledged the concerns and recommendations presented by the youth leaders and assured them that their submissions would be forwarded to the appropriate government authorities for consideration and necessary action.
In her goodwill message, Princess Damilola James, APC Deputy Governorship Candidate in Lagos State and Director of the New Generation Directorate, urged young people across the state’s riverine and coastal communities to take greater interest in governance and participate actively in political and developmental processes.
She challenged the youth not to restrict their involvement in governance to expressing grievances or criticising government policies but to seize available opportunities to contribute ideas, engage constructively with leaders and participate in decision-making at the grassroots and state levels.
James noted that youth participation remained essential to responsive leadership and inclusive communities, adding that young people possessed the energy, creativity, innovation and grassroots understanding required to drive meaningful development.
She encouraged the participants to remain organised, united and committed to the progress of their communities, urging them to use platforms such as the dialogue to articulate their concerns, propose practical solutions and sustain engagement with relevant government institutions.
The APC Deputy Governorship Candidate further emphasised the importance of youth leadership and representation, urging 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 an engagement with Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, alongside other stakeholders from the New Generation Directorate.
His participation provided an opportunity for discussions on issues affecting young people in the riverine communities and possible pathways to improved service delivery, youth development and inclusive growth.
Other areas of discussion included employment and livelihood opportunities, education, healthcare, environmental protection, infrastructure and community welfare, with participants highlighting the need for interventions that take account of the unique geographical and socioeconomic challenges confronting coastal and riverine settlements.
They also stressed the importance of strengthening communication between communities and public institutions, improving access to government initiatives and ensuring adequate representation of young people from underserved settlements in development planning and implementation.
With 250 participants representing 125 riverine and coastal communities, the dialogue sought to widen grassroots participation and ensure that the perspectives of young people are reflected in broader conversations on governance and development in Lagos State.
The collaboration between Blue Lagos and the New Generation Directorate highlighted the importance of sustained engagement with young people as partners in promoting inclusive development, strengthening community participation and unlocking opportunities within the state’s blue economy.
The initiative also reinforced the need for collective commitment among government institutions, community leaders, youth organisations, civil society groups and other stakeholders to address the developmental needs of Lagos State’s riverine communities.
For the Blue Lagos Sustainability Initiative, the dialogue represents another step towards strengthening grassroots participation, promoting inclusive governance and ensuring that the concerns of underserved riverine and coastal communities receive attention in decisions shaping their future.
Through the engagement, Blue Lagos and the New Generation Directorate reaffirmed their commitment to deepening youth participation, building stronger relationships between community representatives and decision-makers, and advancing development opportunities across riverine and coastal communities in Lagos State.
Pearl Ngwama is a prominent Nigerian media professional, an advocate of Nigeria Transport Sector development and Managing Director of JustAlive Communications Ltd, publishers of JustNet News.
She is the convener of the annual Nigeria Transport Summit.
