Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has called for stronger collaboration between government and religious institutions to promote youth empowerment, capacity building and sustainable economic development.
Hamzat made the call at the launch of a ₦2 billion Endowment Fund and Charity Initiative established by the Lagos Metropolitan Council of the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM), Nigeria, in Lagos.
The Deputy Governor said partnerships among government, faith-based organisations and other stakeholders had become increasingly important in building resilient communities capable of responding to economic and social challenges.
He noted that Nigeria needed structures that could help citizens withstand economic shocks, particularly through investments in education, scholarships and skills development for young people.
“There will definitely be shocks around the world. What happens in other countries of the world may affect us. Therefore, we have to protect ourselves to help build the nation, especially by empowering the young people through scholarships and skills,” Hamzat said.
The Deputy Governor also urged Nigerian youths to become more actively involved in politics and governance, stressing that leadership should not be viewed as a responsibility reserved solely for the future.
“We keep telling the young ones that they are leaders of tomorrow. I believe they are tired of hearing that. It is time the youths started participating and engaging actively in politics to enable them to contribute their quota to building the country,” he emphasised.
Hamzat commended KSM for establishing the ₦2 billion endowment fund, describing the initiative as a significant step towards providing sustainable support for vulnerable Nigerians.
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The fund is designed to create a permanent financial base for the organisation’s humanitarian activities. Under the arrangement, the capital will be invested while only returns generated from the investment will be used to finance charity programmes.
Its intervention areas include healthcare, educational support, scholarships, skills acquisition, assistance to widows and orphans, legal aid, prison apostolate and support for victims of crime and violence.
Speaking on behalf of the Catholic Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, the Metro Chaplain, Very Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ayeni, praised the initiative and pledged support for its implementation.
“Contributing to this initiative is an investment in humanity,” Ayeni said, urging members and other stakeholders to support programmes capable of making a lasting impact on people’s lives.
The leadership of KSM, including the Supreme Knight, Sir Steve Adehi; Deputy Supreme Knight, Sir Dan Egwu; and Metropolitan Grand Knight of the Lagos Metropolitan Council, Sir Nosa Ehigiator, said the endowment was created to provide a sustainable means of financing the organisation’s expanding charitable responsibilities.
Ehigiator explained that KSM could no longer rely indefinitely on members’ contributions and periodic levies to meet growing humanitarian demands, particularly amid prevailing economic challenges.
He noted that the organisation’s earlier “Feed the Hungry” intervention had evolved into the broader “Helping Hands” programme in response to increasing requests for assistance.
According to him, the endowment will reduce dependence on repeated fundraising efforts while providing a long-term financial foundation for KSM’s charitable mission.
The programme, themed “Investing Today, Sustaining the Mission, Empowering Generations,” featured a Holy Mass and the formal unveiling of the endowment initiative.
