Sanwo-Olu’s aide to unveil AI-powered youth development platform in Lagos
Alabi Opeyemi, Senior Special Assistant on Youth Mobilization to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is set to unveil an artificial intelligence-powered platform designed to connect young people with jobs, scholarships, training, mentorship and other opportunities.
The platform, YouthDesk.ai, is scheduled to be unveiled in September 2026, in Lagos.
According to a statement it’s Director of Media and Publicity, Hon. Bode Olabisi, the platform is designed to address challenges faced by young people in accessing reliable information, relevant skills and available opportunities.
One of its key features is AI Padi, an artificial intelligence-powered assistant that provides personalised guidance to users and helps them navigate available resources and opportunities. It also includes an Opportunity Hub, where users can access information on scholarships, jobs, internships, training programmes, grants, fellowships and other youth-focused opportunities.
Opeyemi said the initiative was inspired by Sanwo-Olu’s interest in youth development, empowerment and innovation. He said the platform was conceived to use technology to expand access to opportunities, particularly for young people at the grassroots.
“YouthDesk.ai goes beyond being just another digital application; it is conceived as an opportunity infrastructure and ecosystem that brings young people, opportunities and institutions together on a single platform.”
It is also expected to facilitate collaboration between young people and grassroots youth leaders, private-sector organisations, government agencies, non-governmental organisations and development partners.
Such partnerships, according to the organisers, would focus on areas including employment, entrepreneurship, training, mentorship, scholarships and capacity building. The initiative is being introduced at a time when artificial intelligence and other digital technologies are increasingly being applied to education, employment and entrepreneurship.
Opeyemi said the platform would seek to help young Nigerians access information, skills and connections needed to participate in the digital economy. “With artificial intelligence increasingly transforming education, employment and entrepreneurship globally, YouthDesk.ai seeks to ensure that young Nigerians are not left behind, but are equipped with the information, skills, connections and opportunities needed to participate meaningfully in the emerging digital economy,” he added.
The unveiling event is expected to bring together youth leaders and representatives of government agencies, private-sector organisations, NGOs and other stakeholders to examine possible areas of collaboration around the platform.
