Lagos State is known as a place where dreams flourish, particularly for the youth, and the Ibile Youth Academy program is designed to channel this energy by providing a platform for empowering young people within the state.
Launched in 2017, the program focuses on developing leadership skills among young people aged 16 to 25 from Lagos’ five divisions: Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Epe.
The academy aims to produce well-rounded leaders capable of addressing community challenges and contributing to the state’s growth.
By promoting leadership, citizenship, and volunteerism, the Ibile Youth Academy is directly aligned with Lagos State’s THEMES Plus Agenda for youth development.
Training and selection process
The program is structured to ensure youth from all divisions have equal access to leadership opportunities. Each year, hundreds of young people undergo a rigorous selection process, culminating in a month-long training that includes sessions on health, personal development, vocational skills, and civic responsibilities.
This year, Lagos State received 3,763 applications for the 2024 Ibile Youth Academy.
Out of these, 1,228 candidates were shortlisted for physical screening across the five divisions, with only 500 set to advance to the next stage.
From this group, 50 candidates will be selected for a boot camp, where one will emerge as the State Youth Ambassador, while others will serve as Divisional Ambassadors.
Impactful initiatives led by ambassadors
Since its inception, the Ibile Youth Academy has trained hundreds of youth ambassadors, empowering them to lead community-focused projects.
In 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, ambassadors led a food drive at Ilaje, providing essential food items to over 50 families.
The following year, in partnership with Green Janitors, the ambassadors participated in the #WorldCleanupDay campaign, contributing to environmental sustainability across Lagos. In the Ikeja Division, youth ambassadors spearheaded an environmental sanitation drive at Dairy Farm Secondary School, sensitizing over 300 students about keeping their surroundings clean.
In 2022, the Lagos Division’s youth ambassadors organised an awareness campaign on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at Araromi Senior Secondary School in Orile, where they educated students about the 17 global goals. The initiative also included a tree-planting exercise to promote afforestation.
Recognized by leaders and partners
In 2023, the ambassadors visited the Lagos State Governor, where Idris Saheed, a pioneer ambassador from Lagos Island, commended the state government’s consistent support of the program.
“I give kudos to the State Government for being consistent with this great initiative & also equipping young Lagosians with the right leadership skills for leadership roles,” he wrote on his official X page.
That same year, ambassadors were hosted by UNICEF’s Lagos office to discuss youth-related issues such as education, healthcare, and employment. The engagement is seen as a significant step toward fostering collaboration between local and international bodies focused on youth development.
Looking ahead: The 2024 Ibile Youth Academy
The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende, recently announced the schedule for the 2024 Ibile Youth Academy, which will begin with a five-day divisional leadership training from October 28 to November 1.
This will be followed by a leadership seminar with the Governor on November 8.
The academy continues to be a driving force for youth leadership in Lagos, with its mission to shape a generation of capable, responsible, and visionary leaders firmly in place.
AUTHOR: Abdul Anjolaoluwa Rahmat.