Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, says the state government will continue to collaborate with organisations and individuals to address drug abuse and other social vices in the state.
Sanwo-Olu said this on Sunday, during the inauguration of Ile Ayo (House of Joy) Drug Rehabilitation Facility in Alausa, Ikeja, established by the Freedom Foundation in collaboration with the Lagos State Government.
He said that the government would work with stakeholders to create a future that would put the residents of Lagos State in a better sphere.
The governor commended the founder of Freedom Foundation, Pastor (Dr.) Tony Rapu, for his commitment toward empowering youths and addressing social vices, especially , the issue of drug abuse.
He said that Ile Ayo was a real partnership that presented a platform that would not be put to waste, as it was a community-based centre that had divine involvement.
According to him, the partnership on Ile Ayo will move Lagos State and Nigeria forward.
Also speaking at the God Bless Nigeria (GBN) Independence Day Freedom Rally held at Agege Stadium on Sunday, Gov. Sanwo-Olu in his keynote address said that his administration was ready to give a better life to youths.
He said that the government would create job opportunities and work with communities across the state to make life more meaningful to the youth.
”All we are about is the spirit of collaboration; it is the spirit of togetherness and oneness.
”And that is the reason why the Lagos State Government and I personally will work with Freedom Foundation to see that they scale up all the good things they are doing to bring about community development, skills acquisition, jobs creation.
”We will be working with them and we will be identifying various spots where we need to have interventions. We need to create community-based engagement where our youths and everybody will have a sense of belonging.
“We will ensure that we work collaboratively to assist everybody that needs help and those who have issues that need to be resolved, be it drug, substance use and abuse.
”We will ensure we assist to give everybody a new hope, a new life, a new beginning so that they can become better citizens of Nigeria, better Lagosians and better individuals for their families,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The Founder of Freedom Foundation, Dr Tony Rapu commended the Gov. Sanwo-Olu-led administration for collaborating with his foundation.
Rapu said that the Operation Better Life initiative by his foundation was a partnership for transformation through rehabilitation, welfare, empowerment and skills’ acquisition to build the capacity of young men and women on the streets.
”I want to appreciate Gov. Sanwo-Olu. He is a governor who listens to people. He is a governor whose heart is for the people and above all, he is a man who wants to work for the betterment of the people,” he said.
The Chairman of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Mrs Bola Adesola, said the initiative of the Freedom Foundation in collaboration with the Lagos State Government aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda.
Adesola said that the employment trust fund would assist beneficiaries of the Ile Alayo Drug Rehabilitation Facility and other programmes of the Freedom Foundation with job opportunities and necessary skills for them to be empowered and become responsible citizens.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Segun Dawodu, said that his ministry would continue to partner Freedom Foundation and other stakeholders on the need to ensure youths had sound health and eradicate social menace in the state.
Dawodu said that the opening of the rehabilitation centre would help alleviate the malaise faced by the youth.
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