• Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu says youths now account for 70% of new businesses in the state
• He disclosed that young entrepreneurs contribute an estimated N4.5 trillion annually to Lagos’ GDP
• Sanwo-Olu urged other states to adopt similar youth development frameworks and also called for a national framework to build human capital, likening it to infrastructure investment

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has revealed that young people are behind about 70 percent of newly established businesses in Lagos State, underscoring their critical role in driving economic growth in the state.

The governor made this known on Monday, April 13, during the Abuja Dialogue, an event organised by the Office of the Vice President in partnership with the Lagos State Government.

The programme, themed “Scaling Excellence: Youth Leadership as Strategic Infrastructure for National Transformation,” was held in Abuja as a lead-up to the Lagos Leadership Summit.

The gathering attracted key stakeholders across government, the private sector, and development organisations, all focused on advancing youth leadership and national development.

Speaking at the event, Sanwo-Olu emphasised the growing influence of young entrepreneurs and innovators in shaping Lagos’ economic landscape.

“The results speak for themselves. Lagos youths contribute an estimated N4.5 trillion annually to our GDP, and 70% of new businesses in Lagos are youth-founded ventures,” he said.

“These are not figures of potential; they are figures of performance. They show that when you invest in young people, they deliver,” he added.

The governor also spotlighted the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy as a strategic initiative aimed at nurturing future leaders.

According to him, the programme provides structured training, mentorship, and hands-on exposure to governance and policymaking.

He called on other states to replicate similar youth-focused development frameworks and stressed the need for stronger collaboration between federal and state governments in building human capital.

“If we can establish a national infrastructure fund for roads and bridges, then surely we can establish a national framework for building the human infrastructure that will design, manage, and sustain those roads and bridges for generations to come,” he said.

Also speaking, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Hassan Hadejia, highlighted the importance of institutional support in youth development.

“Youth development must go beyond rhetoric; it must focus on equipping young people with the capacity to navigate leadership and national complexity,” he said.

In her remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, noted that the dialogue was designed to foster stronger collaboration among stakeholders.

“We are bringing together key actors to ensure alignment in how we build and empower young leaders for national transformation,” she said.

Sanwo-Olu presents 100 official vehicles to Lagos directors to boost governance

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, presented official vehicles to Level 17 officers in the Lagos State Public Service, describing the initiative as a practical step to enhance service delivery across the state’s bureaucracy.

The governor said the beneficiaries are directors who play critical roles in ensuring that ministries, departments, and agencies deliver results efficiently.

He explained that providing official vehicles was a deliberate move to enable the officers to perform their responsibilities more effectively.