Halfway into his tenure as Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende is quietly reshaping how government connects with its youngest citizens. His approach departs from the conventional and reaches into the corners of society long neglected by formal policy.
From the lecture halls of tertiary institutions to the raw rhythm of street corners, Ogunlende has taken on the challenge of speaking the language of all youth—those embedded within structured programs and those surviving outside the margins. His work has begun to blur the line between government and grassroots.
With a hands-on style, Ogunlende has focused on direct outreach—organising street engagements, local interventions, and youth-targeted forums that bring governance to eye level. These aren’t symbolic appearances; they are deliberate efforts to ensure that young people, regardless of circumstance, see the state not as an abstract authority, but as a partner in their progress.
The distinction he’s making is not in slogans but in presence. Youth aren’t just counted—they’re engaged. They’re not just acknowledged—they’re involved. The difference lies in approach: less bureaucracy, more human contact.
His vision aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ development blueprint, especially its Social Inclusion component, which prioritises involvement over tokenism. It also mirrors President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda that seeks to reframe the future of young Nigerians as something worth investing in—not merely managing.
Ogunlende’s footprint is already visible in communities where young people previously felt abandoned. The street-savvy, the job-seeking, the artistic, and the restless are no longer left to navigate life on their own. Programs are emerging that respond to real-life struggles—not just reports and statistics.
What Lagos is witnessing is not a reinvention of policy, but a reorientation of purpose. A growing belief that to build a stronger state, one must first listen to its youngest voices—not from boardrooms, but from bus stops, workshops, and markets.
As Lagos moves forward, the youth are no longer on the sidelines. They are part of the conversation, and increasingly, part of the solution.
The heart of the city beats loudest in its youth—and it appears the government has finally started listening.
From Margins to Momentum: The Youth Story in Lagos
Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende’s steady presence at youth-focused initiatives across the state signals more than duty—it reveals intent. It marks a determined effort by the Lagos State Government to step away from outdated frameworks that once kept government action at arm’s length from the everyday experiences of young people.
Now, participation isn’t symbolic. It is personal. Street by street, zone by zone, the government is not only turning up—it is standing with, listening to, and acting for a generation that has long operated outside the radar of formal policy.
Through outreach programs aimed at reconnection, rehabilitation, and renewed opportunity, the signs of progress are unmistakable. Stories once muted by hardship are now being rewritten with hope. Whether it’s an aspiring creative in Mushin or a young mechanic in Ajegunle, the message is the same: you matter, and the government sees you.
What Lagos is building is not a temporary campaign—it’s a shift in how public service reaches those who were once dismissed as too hard to engage. The result is not just improved statistics; it’s a change in spirit. A sense of shared ownership is emerging where once there was silence.
In this new direction, inclusion moves beyond rhetoric. It shows up in programs tailored for the underserved, in community dialogues that invite unfiltered feedback, and in leadership that sees young people not as problems to be managed, but as partners in progress.
This is a Lagos where hustles become businesses, where dreams no longer stall due to postcode or pedigree, and where every effort counts—because every life does.
The government, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s leadership, is sending a clear signal: the road to a stronger state passes through its youth. And with Hon. Ogunlende steering the youth portfolio, that road is no longer blocked by bureaucracy or neglect.
Lagos isn’t just on the move. It’s bringing everyone along.
And as the state continues to evolve, it is the voices from the margins that are now gaining momentum—carrying with them the energy, vision, and drive to shape a city where every young person has a seat at the table, and a stake in the future.
