Those who are familiar with pharmacist-turned politician from Alimosho Council, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf’s trajectory in politics can attest to her steady progress in her endeavours. Her uncommon passion for youth development has left no one in doubt about her tenacity of purpose towards uplifting the lives of teeming youths in Lagos State. In this interview with the Editor, FOLORUNSHO HAMSAT, Mrs. Akinbile-Yusuf speaks on her private life, her journey into politics, the ministry under her supervision, as well as her regular skills acquisition programme organized for youths in the five divisions of the state which is a testimony to her quest for better life for young persons in Lagos State, among other developmental issues. Excerpts…
Goals
The aim and objective of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development is to develop the youth and give succor to the vulnerable, the less privileged and give them hope for a better life. The major priority of the ministry is to restore the life and hope of the weak and let them know that there is life in spite of whatever challenges they might be facing. The ministry comprises of five major departments; youth, rehabilitation, child development, human resources and social welfare. The major departments that are peculiar to the ministry are youth development, child development, rescue and rehabilitation and social welfare departments.
Youth Development
In the youth department, our major task is to help develop the minds of our youth. Though there are other ministries that deal with youth development, our ministry is like a bridge that connects two other ministries. What we have been able to do specifically about the issue of the youth is to raise the youth policy document, to domesticate the national youth policy to suit the purpose of Lagos State regarding youth development. To the glory of God, we have been able to do it and we have been able to convince other line ministries based on their intervention and now we are in the process of implementation. Like the ministry of health; there is an ailment that is peculiar to the youth and we don’t find solution to it in time, it might cause the state socio-economic problems. With the ministry of Agric. too, we have some programmes that centre on the youths of the state, so we liaise with them, including the ministry of wealth creation, ministry of women affairs and poverty alleviation, ministry of tourism, arts and culture and we have the sports commission; all these ministries have something to do with the youths. These are the ministries we are working with to ensure that our youths are developed. The job of our own ministry is to tell them where to go and how to go about it. We tell the youths what the government has in stock for them and how they can benefit from government programmes. We did trainings and seminars. The one we did last, Ibile Youth Academy, which is my pet project that was graciously approved by His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. When the governor saw the contents of the programme, he was elated about it and he gave us full support. That was the maiden edition of the programme. Today, we have got a youth ambassador. We have outlined programmes and projects for him. We have the youth parliament too. The youth parliament will be having their programme on the 23rd of May, 2017 with the youths of Lagos State, those that are interested, where they will discuss about their life and the way forward. We enable the youths, we open our hearts for them that we are here to support them, we open their sights and their minds and they were convinced that government can do well with them. Many youths have come to us with their programmes and I always tell them to meet our youth ambassadors and liaise with them and I tell them that whatever they want to do with Lagos State government is automatic once they liaise with our youth ambassadors because they are the representatives of the youths of Lagos State. What we are waiting for is the Lagos at 50 programme to end. By the time we are through with the Lagos at 50 activities, we will do the public presentation of the youth ambassador where Lagosians will have the opportunity to see the youth ambassador and know why we have chosen him as ambassador for the youths. Mr Governor himself will be the one to hand him over to the public. The youths will be able to relate with him, he’ll be able to open doors for them and he will be their spokesperson. And they should be able to rally round him. We have trained a lot of youths in various skills, we have empowered so many through the ministry of wealth creation. There is this other important thing we wish to achieve. We have lots of youth centres scattered across the state which have been taken over by hoodlums. We have been able to identify those that are in strategic places and we have resolved to renovate them and ensure that they are of standard. Before the end of this year, we are going to refurbish to world class standard that of Ikeja division which is located at Abesan. And the Ikeja youth centre at Oluwaleyimu Street, we want to make it an IT centre for the youths to do researches. We will prepare other centres where they will be having vocational trainings. After that, we’ll train them in marketing and branding and whatever other trainings that they really need to get the best for themselves. Also, we have been able to identify some centres, renovated them and handed them to the youths of the state for their use.
Social Welfare
Social welfare task is huge. It is an area where we are working hard but people are really not seeing it. The first on the task is the adoption process in Lagos State. In the whole of the federation, it is only Lagos State that is implementing the Child Rights Law. The process of adoption in Lagos State is very clean and clear. We are on top of it and that is why we don’t have much of the issue of child trafficking in the state. Through the adoption process we apply, many couples are becoming parents. Before I came into office, the adoption process has been stopped. But when I came in, as a mother and someone who can feel what some families go through when they are not able to have children of their own, we looked into it. I, personally, do not believe in institutionalizing abandoned children, I believe they need family settings to grow and understand what family is all about. So, when I came in, I opened up the adoption channel and so far more than 200 children have been adopted. We do this internationally too, because many of the local families don’t like to adopt challenged kids. But internally, they don’t mind adopting challenged children because they have the medical and educational opportunities abroad. And I encouraged them and we visit them. Last year, we visited four countries because we have over 400 of our adopted children abroad. We have our children across Europe, America, Canada and London given to different families and they are doing great. When we visit them, we let them realize that wherever they are in the world, they are still Nigerians, and proudly Lagosians. The other time, I met with Kemi Adebayo. She was so excited about her new life that she was very happy to return to Nigeria to give back to this country as a footballer.
Child Development
The child development process is two-fold. We have the abused and development. When talking of child development we tend to focus on rehabilitating the abused and leave behind the real child development. It is only when children are abused that we intervene. What we have been able to do now is to ensure that we are not rehabilitating the abused but developing children so that they will not be abused. If children are well developed, they cannot be abused because they will know their rights, they will know the right and the wrong. We will be able to instill discipline and encourage them from childhood, not when they are developed and they start looking for the way out. We need to develop them from childhood so that when they grow up they will not be cultists or prostitutes. That is the area we are focusing on. We have been campaigning and the abused youths through our campaign have been responding, coming out to tell us their stories. We have different kinds of abuses; child labour is abuse, one can be abused mentally, psychologically and sexually. But the society is focusing mainly on sexual abuse, ignoring other forms of abuse. This ministry is taking charge of all forms of abuse. We have discussed with the governor about the challenge we are facing which is shelter. We need to create more shelters for the abused children because we have to make them comfortable and make them live like a king. You don’t rescue them from abuse and still camp them in a place not comfortable for them. Making them to still remember the pains they’d passed through is not the best way of rehabilitating them. Also, the issue of challenged children, we are looking into it. Many parents when they have challenged children, they lose hope on them. This ministry has taken up the campaign to parents that if you have challenged children, don’t lose hope on them because that is not the end of life. There are lots of challenged children out there doing very well. You have the blind, the lame, and those that suffer autism which seems to be the worst of all these challenges. They are many out there doing wonderfully well. We have one of them that is an actor now. So, we are telling parents that if you have challenged children, don’t lose hope on them, don’t throw them away. All they need is love and care and more time from parents. If you don’t isolate them, you will realize that they have their unique talents. Help them to develop their hidden talents, they will do well and appreciate you forever. We also have children centre at Ketu where the challenged children are trained and cared for.
Rehabilitation
We have the department of rehabilitation where we rehabilitate the beggars and other challenged persons. There are thousands of them across Lagos State and we have found out that these people continue in their way because they get patronage from privileged members of the public. We pick them up from the streets every day. The worst among these people are those that use children to beg. No day passes without us arresting up to 10 of them. The minimum is five. You pick them up today and by the same time tomorrow, you find the same people on the same spot tomorrow. Recently, we picked up about 50 of them and took them to court. Some of them were fined, some were sent to prison and some were sent to hard labour. If you are picked up for begging for the first time, there is an option of fine, but if you are arrested for more than two times, you will be sent to prison, no option of fine. Funny enough, when we moved these people to Majidun, some of them said the place is not good for them, they said it is too far. This is a place we have rehabilitated to a standard that will make it comfortable for them to stay. What we are doing presently is talking to the northern state governments on their behalf. When we interviewed some of these beggars if they would like to go back to their respective states, some of them said they were willing to go back provided there are meaningful ways for them to survive. So, Lagos State is partnering with their home governments to see how we can return them and assist them to live meaningful life. Lagos State is going to give them intervention grants to take off. We are not just going to dump them in their states. We are handing them over to their state governments.
Eligibility
The ministry takes charge of the rehabilitation of only children that are 18 years of age and below. We do not have anything to do with persons above 18 years of age. This is different from the beggars’ case. We rescue children that are 18 or below. But if you are of age, above 18 years and you think you need us to help you, you come to us. Before we accept you, we are going to conduct social investigation to know why you are where you are. That will enable us to assess you and take the right steps. It will enable to know if we are going to rehabilitate you and send you back to school or we invite your parents or members of your family to sign an undertaking with us.
Feedbacks
No one is perfect. I deal with my conscience and I’m always conscious of my name and integrity. I want to leave the rating of my performance to the people. They are the observers. It is a world where you have people with diverse views. While some people would tell you that you are doing well, others would say you have not even done anything. But my belief is that I have God to account to whatever I do in life. I will always do my best to meet the people’s expectations but God is the ultimate judge.
Rare Opportunity
This appointment, I must confess, has taken a lot away from me. But if it has taken away things from me, I have to be honest with you that it has added even a lot to my life, more that whatever it might have taken away from me. What it has added to me that I will forever be grateful to God for is being able to contribute positively to the society through this opportunity. I want to appreciate the kind gesture of His Excellency, the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, for finding me worthy for this appointment. He has touched a lot of people in positive ways and he has touched me too. He is a natural leader, a visionary leader. I have worked with a lot of people in the past, Governor Ambode is a rare breed, he is a different kind of leader who sees beyond the wall. When you are working with somebody who always gives you the challenge to do more, such a leader should be appreciated. He is a man that wants positive change in every aspect of governance. He is always after results. He takes no nonsense. He sleeps Lagos and wakes up Lagos.
Privacy
I’m a family person. I love my children so much. So, this job has really taken away that privacy stuff. Since I assumed office, I have not been able to get close to my family, my children like we used to be close in the past. But they understand my new assignment and they are supporting me. They know that I never took them for granted in the past. So, it is that past bonding that we are still enjoying today. I can’t imagine leaving my children in care of someone for one year without having the opportunity to visit them. They are two and it’s just like a half of me is somewhere else. Even my husband complains a lot now because before I got this job, we used to be everywhere together. I recall an experience I had in my first month in office. My children came home to see me and when they were going back abroad, I told Mr. Governor that I wanted to see them off to the airport. His Excellency was amused and said, ‘what do you mean, don’t you know the kind of job you have taken? Don’t you have a driver, don’t you have maids? My friend, get somebody to take them to the airport and go back to your job!’ (General laughter). In fact, I wept bitterly that day because I can’t just imagine that something will occupy me to the extent that I won’t be able to see my kids off. It wasn’t a funny experience. Besides, I’m more of a family person. Before I got this job, anywhere I was, every family member was welcomed, they would be all over me. But now, I don’t even have time to pick calls from any family member. My complete life now is about Lagos, Lagos. It used to be my family, my family.
Personality
My coming into politics is divine. By nature I love service, I love to share and I love to contribute to the society around me in my own little way. They identify me with this in my area. And I have been doing this not for any political purpose. It is natural; it’s something I find very easy to do. Not that I’m very rich but I just find it comfortable to share. This is what my people saw in me when they supported me for public service.
Lifestyle
The way I dress is determined by the occasion. But I dress to fit always. I’m a simple dresser but I wear what looks good on me. My youthful look is grace of God. The look is natural too. Strange men too often want to take advantage of my look to play games. But once I see that you are out for any funny games, I ambush you by asking for your wife and kids. By the time I’m finished with you, you’ll understand where I’m coming from. I’m happily married to the best man any woman would wish to have.
Memories
My most memorable moment was when I became a pharmacist. It is a moment I can never forget in life. It took me a long time to achieve the dream of becoming a pharmacist. It is a dream I pursued with vigour. I had nursed the dream from secondary school.
