Be good ambassadors of your states, Sanwo-Olu tells male students
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged male students to conduct themselves as worthy ambassadors of their schools and states, noting that the opportunities offered to them should translate into
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged male students to conduct themselves as worthy ambassadors of their schools and states, noting that the opportunities offered to them should translate into a brighter and more rewarding future.
Sanwo-Olu gave the charge on the third day of the 2026 four-day residential workshop with the theme “Reorienting the boy-child to become an ambassador of societal change,” held at St. Gregory’s College for 600 boys drawn from secondary schools across the state.
The programme, he said, is a life-shaping initiative of the Office of the First Lady aimed at grooming responsible citizens and future leaders.
“I am truly proud and grateful to God that this initiative has taken a clear and purposeful path,” the governor said. “You were carefully selected from nearly 60 schools—public, private, special, faith-based, and mission schools—ensuring that no one is left behind.”
He noted that the First Lady, alongside the wife of the Deputy Governor, had ensured inclusive representation of voices across the state, describing the beneficiaries as “the lucky ones.”
“The opportunities given to you are opportunities we never had. In my growing years, I never saw a governor or commissioner in person. Some of you have been inside military aircraft, naval warships, security agencies, and police facilities, places your parents never had access to. This exposure should stay with you for life,” he said.
According to him, the initiative is designed to make participants better citizens, disciplined adults, and responsible leaders, their families, schools, and communities would be proud of.
“This is a rare four-day opportunity to understand what the future holds. You have been taught leadership, mentorship, discipline, and teamwork. Do not waste it,” he cautioned, while advising moderation in the use of social media.
“They are not telling you not to use TikTok or Snapchat, but it must not be bigger than your studies or your future,” he said.
The governor further charged the students to give a good account of themselves as ambassadors of the Lagos Boy Child Initiative, stressing the importance of deliberate training of boys.
Recalling the One-Day Governor initiative introduced during the tenure of Senator Oluremi Tinubu as First Lady, Sanwo-Olu expressed concern that all the winners in the last edition were girls.
“When they brought them to me, the one-day governor, deputy governor, and commissioners were all girls. I asked, ‘Where are my boys?’ You must assure me that next year, some of you will emerge because of the training you are receiving here,” he said.
In her welcome address, the First Lady, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, called on parents and stakeholders to provide the right support systems for boys to navigate life’s challenges.
She said the initiative was conceived to address the neglect of boys in terms of orientation, guidance, and opportunities, noting that the workshop was designed to empower them to become confident and productive members of society.
“In today’s world, our boys face peer pressure, negative societal influences, substance abuse, and emotional struggles that often go unaddressed,” she said. “It is our collective responsibility as parents, leaders, and stakeholders to support them to overcome these challenges.”
