Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said President Bola Tinubu brought him into government in his 30s, recalling how the President gave young professionals room to debate ideas and grow.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed this while speaking at the Seyi Tinubu 41st Birthday Colloquium, held in Lagos on Monday.
In a post on X after the event, the governor said Tinubu’s decision to engage young professionals in government helped create opportunities for leadership and development.
“When HE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought me into government in my 30s, his cabinet was filled with young professionals willing to challenge ideas and push boundaries. He gave us room to debate and grow. That is how leaders are made,” he wrote.
Sanwo-Olu also urged young Nigerians to participate actively in governance, noting that decisions affecting their lives were often made at community meetings, ward meetings and budget hearings.
“To our young people, I say keep showing up. Decisions that affect your lives are made at community meetings, ward meetings and budget hearings. Get your voter card, participate and take your place in shaping the future,” he said.
The governor encouraged young people to develop their skills and pursue excellence in their chosen fields, while urging those who travel abroad to maintain connections with Nigeria and contribute to the development of their communities.
“Master a skill, whatever you choose to do. Work at it until you become so good at what you do that your ability speaks for itself,” he said.
Reflecting on Lagos State’s infrastructure development, Sanwo-Olu cited the Blue Line rail project as an example of how major projects could take years and successive administrations to complete.
“The Blue Line, first conceived in 1983, became a reality 40 years later through the efforts of successive administrations. That tells us that some of the most important things we start today may be completed by those who come after us,” he said.
He said his background as a surveyor and banker had shaped his understanding of planning and development, adding that he used the colloquium to discuss Lagos State’s progress and the work that remained.
As he prepares to leave office in the coming months, Sanwo-Olu said his administration hoped to complete projects inherited from previous administrations, initiate others that could be continued by successors and leave a solid foundation for future generations.
“As I prepare to hand over the reins in a few months, my hope is that we finish what others started, begin work that others can continue and leave behind a solid foundation for those who come after us,” he said.
The governor also called on his generation to mentor younger people, employ young talent and create opportunities for the next generation to assume leadership positions.