ADDRESS DELIVERED BY MR. BABAJIDE OLUSOLA SANWO-OLU, GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE AT THE 12TH LAGOS PUBLIC RELATIONS STAKEHOLDERS CONFERENCE (LAPRSC) ON THURSDAY, 28TH AUGUST, 2025 AT MUSON CENTRE, ONIKAN, LAGOS.
Protocol,
It is an honor to stand before you today at the 12th Lagos Public Relations Stakeholders’ Conference. Let me begin by commending the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, together with Addefort Limited, for sustaining this platform over the years as a rallying point for stakeholders in public relations, governance, corporate leadership, and civil society. For twelve years, this conference has provided the space to discuss solutions, share experiences, and design pathways to move our nation forward.
The theme of this year’s conference—Policy Communication: Youth, Education, and National Development”, speaks directly to the realities we are facing as a people and to the choices we must make to secure our future. Because, at the end of the day, our economy, our politics, our security, our prosperity, rests on the shoulders of our young people and the education they receive.
When we speak of youth, education, and national development, we are really talking about creativity and innovation. Nigeria is fortunate to have one of the largest youth populations in the world, which is a great strength. However, if we fail to channel this energy effectively, do not provide the right education, or communicate policies in ways that truly engage young people, this strength can quickly become a challenge. That is why gatherings like this are so important — they bring together diverse voices and expertise to shape policies that directly impact our youth, our education system, and ultimately, our nation’s progress.
Here in Lagos, we have put these principles into practice. Our education reforms, including the EKOEXCEL initiative which is transforming primary schools, alongside our investment in digital literacy for secondary school students, are concrete policies that directly uplift our youth. But what makes these policies succeed is not just their design—it is the way we involve parents, teachers, communities, and, of course, the students themselves. We have learned that when people understand the “why” and the “how,” they give their full support.
Education today cannot remain as it was ten or twenty years ago. The world has changed—technology is reshaping everything, from how we learn to how we work. If we truly want national development, our education system must reflect this reality. We must prepare our young people for the jobs of the future, not the jobs of the past. This requires policymakers, educators, and communicators to work hand in hand.
Let me also say this: our young people are not simply waiting to be told what to do. They want to be part of the process. They want to be heard. Therefore, policy communication must also mean listening, dialogue, and creating platforms where young people can contribute ideas and shape solutions. After all, it is their future we are shaping.
The challenges ahead are real. Our youth need more opportunities, our education sector requires continuous transformation, and our national development demands innovation and resilience. But the good news is that we also have enormous potential. With the right policies—effectively communicated and faithfully implemented—we can harness our greatest asset and human capital for lasting progress.
This administration has witnessed firsthand the resilience, creativity, and brilliance of our young people. Give them the right environment, the right tools, and the right mentorship, and they will surprise the world. What they need from us is not just policy, but policy that is clearly communicated, practical, and sustained.
We will continue to listen, engage, and open doors for collaboration because governance is a partnership between leaders, institutions, and the people. When that partnership is rooted in trust and open communication, there is no limit to what we can achieve.
As we proceed with today’s discussions, I encourage all participants not to see this simply as another conference, but as a genuine opportunity to shape the future of our country. Let us leave here with renewed commitments—to communicate better, to educate better, to empower better, and ultimately, to build a nation where every young Nigerian can dream boldly and achieve greatly.
Finally, I thank the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and Addefort Limited for their consistency and dedication. For twelve years, you have kept this platform alive, and today’s theme shows that you have your finger on the pulse of our nation.
On this note, I urge everyone gathered here today—policymakers, practitioners, educators, corporate leaders, and our young people—not just to participate, but to actively contribute to the discussions. The solutions we seek will not come from government alone; they will come from the synergy among government, the private sector, institutions, and civil society. I am confident that with platforms like this, we are on the right path.
Thank you for listening.
Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu
Governor of Lagos State.
28TH AUGUST, 2025.