Lagos Island Connect encourages youth participation in economic growth, development

Yesirat Kazeem

Lagos Island Connect (LIC) has engaged youth participation to improve the economy by playing a significant role in entrepreneur, economic growth and development.

The maiden edition of the Lagos-Island Economic Summit organised by the Lagos State Office of Sustainable Development Goals and Investment in partnership with the Lagos Island Connect (LIC) with the theme “Sustainable Youth Engagement and Development ” which was held recently in Lagos.

A statement made by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals and Investment, Mrs Solape Hammond, explained that the summit was part of a strategy to effectively leverage extensive human and capital resources to catalyse economic growth and development in the state.

Hammond said the forum will create a platform to discuss these key issues; constraints, policy recommendations, quick wins and priority initiatives that will set an agenda for new models for deeper youth’s engagement and sustainable economies” she observed.

Panel discussions at the summit were on issues; constraints, policy recommendations, quick wins and priority initiatives that will set an agenda for new models for deeper youth’s engagement and sustainable economies.

In the keynote speech delivered by the Co-founder of Lagos Island Connect, Ms Yemisi Ransome-Kuti who described the Summit as a people-centred approach towards identifying economic, social and political challenges.

Ransome-kuti noted that Lagos Island Connect (LIC) is pioneering the idea of bringing shared prosperity to every neighbourhood in Lagos-Island by exploring potential opportunities that would accelerate economic developments.

She revealed further that Lagos Island Connect in partnership with the Lagos State Office of the Sustainable Development Goals & Investment (OSDGI) has developed and will be unveiling a first in class 2-kilometre rule at the first Lagos-Island Economic Summit 2021.

“The 2-kilometre rule is an initiative aimed at promoting the purchase of goods, services and recruitment within a 2km radius of a business enterprise operating out of Lagos Island. The idea could become dominant economic and youth development model for local governments all across the country.”

The model according to her will encourage business entities within a 2-kilometre radius of Lagos-Island to hire locally, particularly the youth and patronize businesses, especially youth businesses in the area.