Lagos Deputy Speaker Drops Powerful Message To Nigerian Youths Over Politics

The Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, has advised Nigerian youths against viewing politics as a profession, urging them instead to develop the skills and leadership capacity needed to make meaningful contributions to society.

Meranda gave the advice on Saturday during the second edition of the Mentorship Session with HOA 2.0, held at the secretariat of the Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Area in Lagos State.

The programme was hosted by the Chairman of the Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Olalekan Aroyewun, and focused on mentoring and preparing young people for leadership and civic responsibility.

According to the deputy speaker, young Nigerians should concentrate on identifying and solving societal problems rather than making the pursuit of political positions their primary ambition.

She urged youths to ask themselves what challenges they were prepared to address instead of focusing mainly on the political offices they hoped to occupy.

Meranda said, “Do not ask, ‘What position do I want?’ Ask, ‘What problem am I prepared to solve?’ Because transformational leaders are not defined by the office they occupy, but by the difference they make.”

Responding to a student who expressed an interest in becoming a politician, the deputy speaker stressed that politics should not be regarded as a conventional career path.

“Being a politician is not a profession. That is the truth. It is not a profession,” she said.

Meranda encouraged young people to acquire useful skills and prepare themselves for leadership, warning that failing to develop the capacity to participate in decision-making could leave them vulnerable to the decisions of others.

She also urged youths to embrace emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, noting that changes in the economy were creating both challenges and new opportunities for the younger generation.

The deputy speaker cautioned young Nigerians against equating public visibility or political connections with genuine leadership. She advised them to maintain their principles and avoid compromising their values in exchange for short-term opportunities.

Meranda further charged the youths to lead with purpose, serve with humility, remain curious and demonstrate courage in pursuing their goals.

She maintained that young Nigerians should not wait for the future before taking responsibility, stressing that they already have a role to play in shaping the country’s future.