Young people in Ikorodu received a powerful call to prepare for leadership through character, competence and entrepreneurship as prominent Lagos leaders gathered for the Mentorship Session with HOA 2.0 in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA.

The event, hosted by the Executive Chairman of Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun (HOA), brought together political leaders, public servants and aspiring young leaders for conversations centred on purposeful leadership and nation-building.

The mentorship programme, themed “Leading with Purpose: Mentoring the Next Generation of Transformational Leaders,” featured inspiring messages from the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, and House of Representatives member Babajimi Benson, both of whom challenged participants to prepare for opportunities before seeking positions of power.

Opening the session, Aroyewun described the initiative as more than a gathering, calling it a deliberate investment in the future of young people and the communities they will eventually lead.

According to him, true leadership is built on three pillars, character, competence and conduct, rather than titles or positions.

“We are not merely developing infrastructure. We are developing the people who will inherit, improve and lead our communities tomorrow,” he said.

The council chairman stressed that today’s leaders have a responsibility to prepare the next generation to tackle Nigeria’s pressing challenges, including insecurity, unemployment, economic hardship and inequality.

He encouraged participants to begin leading wherever they currently find themselves.

“Leadership begins with the ability to identify a problem and do something about it,” Aroyewun told the audience.

Delivering one of the day’s standout speeches, Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda challenged young Nigerians to redefine how they view leadership.

Rather than focusing on political offices, she urged them to ask themselves what problems they are prepared to solve.

“Leadership is not merely about occupying a position. A position gives you authority, purpose gives you direction, character gives you credibility, and service gives you leadership,” she said.

One of the loudest applause moments came when Meranda addressed a student’s ambition of becoming a politician.

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

Instead, she advised young people to acquire education, professional skills and practical experience that would prepare them for meaningful participation in governance.

She also delivered a memorable warning about the importance of preparation.

She added, “If you are not on that table as a decision-maker, you might likely appear on that table as one of the menu items.”

Representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, House of Representatives member Babajimi Benson shifted the conversation from leadership theory to practical empowerment.

He encouraged participants to become entrepreneurs instead of waiting solely for employment opportunities.

Benson advised the young attendees to establish businesses and ensure they formally register them with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

The federal lawmaker pledged to support eligible young entrepreneurs with grants after completing the registration process.