REPORT OF THE 8th LEADERSHIP AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT FOR ALL SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN LAGOS STATE ORGANISED BY DOTHEDREAM YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

THEME: Be the Change, Be Responsible

The Annual Leadership and Youth Development Summit for all secondary schools in Lagos, a brainchild of Olumadewa Adebusuyi Olutayo, was held from 3^rd June – 5^th June, 2014. The event, which was the 8^th in the series, was organized by Do the Dream in partnership with LIFE initiative and United Nations Information Centre (UNIC).

The three-day event was kick started with a RESPONSIBILITY WALK from Toyin Street Ikeja to the Lagos State House of Assembly on 3^rd June. The Convener/Director of Programmes of Do The Dream, Mr. Olutayo Olumadewa, explained that the walk was aimed at encouraging youths to embrace the values of hard work and integrity that our founding fathers stood for, as well as adults to model excellence to the youths by signing the responsibility board as an attestation of their obligation to building a better Nigeria.

While declaring the Walk Open, Mr. Peter Oshinoiki Director/Head of Operation- DoTheDream Youth Development Initiative gave the opening speech on the reason why every youth must take responsibility. The second presentation by Mr Obafemi George, the principal partner of Life Initiative encourages every youth to be the change agent.

The groups were received on behalf of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly by Honorable Otunba Mudasiru Obasa, who commended DoTheDream Youth Development Initiative and Life Initiative for taking a giant stride towards nation building. He assured the groups of the House of Assembly’s endorsement of the initiative and appended his signature on the Responsibility board to encourage youths to shun violence, obey the laws and maintain best practices every time and everywhere they find themselves.

On the second day, the SAY NO TO BAD LYRICS campaign was unveiled at the United Nations Information Centre, Lagos. The campaign was aimed at exposing the roles that music lyrics play in affecting character building and behavior of young people positively or negatively and to advocate to the entertainment industry to promote positive lyrics to help shape or build positive images in youths. In her remarks, the Senior Information Officer of UNIC, Ms Envera Selimovic encouraged the young people present at the event especially girls not to overlook the impact that positive and negative words have on their lives. She urged them to make the best use of their time by connecting to role models that formed their world with positive words and energy. She also encouraged all present to always remember people with disabilities. Speakers at the event include Mr Deji Irawo – a TV/Radio Content expert/Director of X2D; Mr Fela Durotoye - Founder GEMSTONE Nations Builder Foundation; Ms. Bilikiss Adebisi-Abiola - co-Founder/CEO of WeCyclers; Mr. Tade Ipadeola – winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literature 2013; amongst others. They shared how they were able to use the power of positive words to make a difference in life and create a future for themselves. The students were encouraged to listen to good words and lyrics that will that will inspire value and greatness in them.

The Grand Finale was the Leadership and Youth Development Summit held on June 6, 2014 with over 900 students in attendance. While declaring the summit open, the Chairperson, the Honorable Commissioner for Education ably represented by Mrs Oluwatoyin Williams, welcomed all present and charged students to determine to be empowered to become change agents. The Special Guest of Honour at the event, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) commended the organisers of the event for dedicating their energy, time and money to such a worthy cause. He defined education as knowing one’s environment and knowing one’s society and said the government is ready to promote excursion so that more youths will be aware of their environment. He enumerated three points needed for the desired change to happen Integrity, Energy and Environment. He encouraged the students never to give up and that impossibility is an excuse for failure. He also cited how his government created an economy out of wastes which many thought was impossible. After his remarks, he appended his signature on the Responsibility Board and was presented a portrait drawn by one of DotheDream’s mentees.