Young participants of the IBILE Youth Academy received leadership and education mentorship from the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, during an interactive fireside chat focused on personal growth, resilience, and responsible leadership.
The session, held at the Ministry’s conference room, brought together Lagos Youth Ambassadors and government officials in a conversation designed to inspire young people towards purposeful living and community impact.
Leading the delegation from the IBILE Youth Academy was the Director of Youth Development at the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mr Julius Folasayo Olukosi.
Speaking during the engagement, Dokunmu-Adegbite described education as one of the strongest tools for empowerment and societal transformation, urging participants to remain committed to academic excellence and self development.
She challenged the youths to identify problems within their communities and create meaningful solutions capable of making visible impact.
“You are as good as generals as the lieutenant that you are. Wherever you find yourself, do something that stands you out. Build yourself into people who cannot be ignored,” she told the participants.
The Permanent Secretary also urged the young ambassadors to remain authentic, resist negative peer pressure, and develop qualities such as discipline, confidence, integrity, and consistency.
According to her, leadership is not merely about titles or recognition but about service, accountability, empathy, and the ability to positively influence others.
She encouraged the participants not to be discouraged by setbacks, stressing that resilience and perseverance remain critical ingredients for success in life.
Dokunmu-Adegbite further disclosed that the Ministry is open to partnering with the youth ambassadors on community based projects to help them better understand governance and public service delivery.
The interactive session featured questions, reflections, and discussions on leadership, education, career growth, and social responsibility, with participants describing the experience as enlightening and motivating.
The IBILE Youth Academy is a leadership development platform under the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development targeted at young people between ages 15 and 24 across the five IBILE divisions of the state — Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Epe.
Under the initiative, selected youths undergo mentorship and leadership training, with top participants emerging as divisional and state youth ambassadors.
Officials from several departments within the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, including Science and Technology, Basic Education Services, Public Private Partnership on Secondary Education, and Comprehensive Schools for the Physically Challenged, were also present at the session.
