By Peter Dansu
The Lagos State Government has unveiled sweeping achievements in youth empowerment, child protection and social welfare delivery as part of activities marking the seventh anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
At the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, disclosed that the ministry had recorded major operational milestones aimed at protecting vulnerable residents and creating sustainable opportunities for Lagos youths.
Ogunlende said one of the ministry’s biggest achievements was the introduction of a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure and Training Manual for social workers in partnership with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme and International IDEA.
According to him, the framework was designed to establish uniform standards for child protection, rehabilitation services, counselling, documentation, monitoring and inter-agency collaboration across all local government areas in Lagos State.
“The SOPs provide clear guidelines and standardized processes for case management, child protection, rehabilitation services, counselling, referral systems, documentation, monitoring, and inter-agency collaboration,” Ogunlende stated.
He explained that the training manual would strengthen the capacity of social welfare officers to handle modern social challenges while improving accountability and professionalism within the sector.
The commissioner also revealed that the ministry handled 1,437 reported cases involving child trafficking, abandonment, abuse and severe neglect through its Child Protection Unit.
He said the state government responded with 5,708 emergency interventions, including rescue operations carried out with the Nigeria Police Force, psychological counselling and placement of affected children into approved foster care systems.
Out of the reported cases, Ogunlende said 520 had already been successfully resolved through different legal and social intervention pathways.
He noted that viral social media reports have increasingly become useful tools for identifying and rescuing abused children, citing recent interventions involving locked-up siblings and a special-needs child allegedly subjected to exploitation.
The commissioner warned that the Lagos State Government would continue to enforce a zero-tolerance policy against child abuse and neglect.
Beyond child protection, Ogunlende disclosed that the ministry’s Medical Social Services Unit handled 9,659 medical welfare cases within the last year, offering support to indigent residents who could not afford treatment.
According to him, the government approved N3.99 million for medications, surgeries, dialysis, laboratory investigations and other medical consumables for vulnerable patients.
“No vulnerable resident should be denied access to critical healthcare because of poverty, abandonment, trauma, or social circumstances,” he said.
The commissioner further stated that a joint intervention with the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency provided voluntary HIV testing and counselling services to 27,582 residents.
He added that the state’s Employee Wellness Centre also managed about 900 mental health-related cases involving anxiety, depression and workplace stress among public servants.
Speaking on inclusiveness, Ogunlende reaffirmed the commitment of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs to ensuring equal access to infrastructure, education and digital opportunities for persons living with disabilities under Governor Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda.
The commissioner said the ministry was also investing heavily in digital skills and youth development programmes that have already helped several Lagos youths secure remote international technology jobs.
He stressed that the government would continue to deepen partnerships with private organisations and stakeholders to expand youth-focused and community-based development initiatives across the state.
“As we continue to engage stakeholders and the public, we remain focused on creating more opportunities for growth, innovation, and sustainable development for the youth of Lagos State,” Ogunlende said.
“Together, we will continue to build a brighter future that encourages active participation, leadership, and positive social transformation.”
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