Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, talks about the pains and gains of office
As the commissioner for youth and social development, what is your major concern?
I am mainly concerned with reforming street kids by training and empowering them. That way, we will have a better society.
How do you want to achieve that?
We are in the process of establishing
the Ibile Youth Academy. It is a programme that will enrich the lives of
all the youths in the five divisions in Lagos State: Ikorodu, Ikeja,
Badagry, Lagos Island and Epe divisions. We will select youths from each
of these areas who will undergo leadership and mentorship programmes.
At the end of the training, youth ambassadors will be selected from each
of the aforementioned divisions. The ambassadors will be empowered with
materials that will enable them educate other youths on the dangers of
living a volatile and purposeless life.
We will also empower other youths, so
that they can be useful to themselves, their families and the society.
They will all be trained in a way that each of them will acquire one or
more skills.
What is your ministry doing to beat the menace of area boys?
The most important thing is that we have
to discourage young children from becoming a part of this trend and
that is why we persuade parents to ensure their children are enrolled in
schools. If you cannot afford to send your child to a private school,
the government has provided several public schools that provide proper
guidance. By making sure your children are enrolled in schools, they
have no business being on the streets and they will not join a bunch of
hooligans to carry out crimes. Because we know that the government
cannot do it alone, we will groom the youth ambassadors in such a way
that they can interact effectively with these area boys and even
convince them to do something worthwhile with their lives. Also, the
ambassadors can advise government on how best assist area boys in order
to rescue them from the world of crime.
How do you intend to keep the youths busy and out of the streets?
Keeping them busy means we have to
redirect their minds and also train them. That is why the ministry is
setting up skill acquisition centers all over the state. Being a
graduate doesn’t stop you from acquiring skills that will make you
become a successful shoe designer, carpenter or even a mechanic. Instead
applying for jobs which are even hard to come by these days, why don’t
you be an employer of labour?
Are the parents or government to be blamed for the menace?
Everything begins with the family. From
there to the community and then the state. If parents had taken adequate
care of their wards when they were younger, they wouldn’t have turned
out to be area boys. Now that they are in this pathetic situation, it is
the responsibility of the government to take over and reform these
children. I believe that any problem that is generated by the people
should be solved by the government and that is why we have the family
social services unit. If there’s a problem with any family, this unit
comes in to assist the family through counselling and other means.
Sometimes, if parents cannot take care of their children, they are
advised to hand them over to the government who takes care of them. When
you are back on your feet, you can apply to have your child back.
How do you follow up on the progress of these children after they have been returned to their parents?
We take care of the children until they
are 18, which is when they are recognised as adults by Nigerian law. So
we monitor these children till they are 18. We have some of them in the
universities and they are being supported by the government. Some are
even in private schools and are doing very well. Others have acquired
skills that have helped them become employers of labour.
There’s also this argument that social workers in Nigeria cannot compare favourably with their counterparts overseas?
Social work in Nigeria might not be
where we want it to be but I know for a fact that Lagos State is the
only state in Nigeria that can boast of having social services. Even if
our level of operation is not yet similar to what obtains abroad, we
are moving and I know we will get there in a year or two.
What are some challenges social workers face?
The challenges are numerous but they are
surmountable. The first challenge is training and re-training
ourselves, so that we are appreciated by the community and we are able
to make ourselves accessible. The government is doing a lot about
materials and human resources.
Prior to becoming a
commissioner, have you worked with youths and how are you applying your
former experience to your present position?
Before I was appointed a commissioner by
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, I was a supervisory councillor for
Agricultural, Social youth and Sports development in Agbado/Oke Odo
Local Council Development Area. There, I related with a lot of youths.
Having to work with them now that I am a commissioner is not a fresh
experience. I only have more responsibilities now.
You trained as a pharmacist. How have you applied it to your current position?
When you are a student at the
university, you learn other things aside from the course you went there
to study. That way, you can fit into any environment you find yourself
in. My training as a pharmacist, has helped me deal with social work as
it relates to hospitals. I can discuss drugs with the doctors, nurses
and social workers as it relates to the people in our care.
How do you combine your duties as a commissioner with that of being a wife and mother?
I am married to the best man in the
world. He is very caring and understanding. I also have wonderful
children who love what I do and they always pray with me. With their
support, no mountain is too high.
Do you find time to relax?
My last child does not like the fact
that he does not get to see his mum as often as he would love to, so at
weekends I make sure that I spend time with them. If I really have to go
out, then we go together.
How do you like to dress?
I love to dress in a simple but nice
way. I like unique accessories and I am never too loud with my dressing.
I don’t follow fashion but I wear what suits my body. I am also
conscious of the fact that I am a married woman whenever I am getting
dressed.
What advice do you have for the youths?
The government has done very well for
its citizenry but you can’t satisfy everybody. Some people are of the
opinion that the government has not done enough. My advice to youths who
think the government has failed them is that they should not fail
themselves. They should not think of only what they can benefit from the
government, they should also think of how they can add value to
themselves and the society.
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