Celebrating a Pacesetter @ 60.

I, on behalf of young people across Lagos Central Senatorial District celebrate a Pacesetter, Mentor, Transformational Leader, and Father; Hon. Olusegun Dawodu, Former Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, and Baba Ewe of Lagos on this occassion of his Diamond Jubilee anniversary.

Hon. Segun Dawodu is indeed a Pacesetter, who was first appointed as Commission for Youth, Sports and Social Development in the cabinet of then; Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu between, 1999 to 2023. Under his stewardship several Youth Centers in Lagos State were constructed, likewise orphanage homes, including the conception and ground breaking ceremony of the now popular Teslim Balogun Stadium.

No wonder he was invited yet again, to join the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu between 2019 to 2023 as Commissioner for Youth and Social Development in galvanising and ushering the Youth of Lagos onto the Greater Lagos journey.

As Commissioner Hon. Segun Dawodu completely transformed the scope of Youth Development in Lagos State. Some of his remarkable strides include;

– Unification of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter after over a decade of factionalisation, and co-opting the Youth Council into governance of the state.

– Endorsement and support for emergence of a first female Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament from Lagos.

– He ensured for the first time the Lagos State APC Youth Leader is a young person under 35, who had risen through the various Youth structures in the state.

– He ensured that several young persons across the state were representated in various boards, particularly those of the Lagos State Sports Commission.

– Expansion and standardisation of various youth programs in the ministry, including the IBILE Youth Academy, Transformational Leadership program, Police Youth Dialogue and many more.

– Hon. Segun Dawodu for the first time in Lagos facilitated the trip of several Youth across Lagos on a Leadership training to Spain fully funded by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

– Hon. Dawodu completely transformed the scope of Youth Development, and bridge the trust gap between the government and young people in Lagos State.

At 60, we grateful for your remarkable contributions to the development of our dear state, for the lives you have touched, and generation inspired.

We celebrate you, and wish your fruitful years ahead.

Happy Birthday Baba Ewe.

Abdulmumin Edidi
Representative, Lagos Central Senatorial District
Nigerian Youth Parliament