Youths have been advised to leverage on the opportunities provided by the digital world and governments at all level towards advancing their careers.
This was the Hallmark of discussion on Sunday when the Youth Reformers Initiative held the sixth edition of Osun Youths Ambassadors Award in Osogbo, the State capital.
Leading the discussion, the Guest lecturer, Professor Siyan Oyeweso congratulated the organization for sustaining the tempo, calling on recipients to see the recognition as calls to more service to the society.
Delivering his lecture titled “roles of youth in post COVID-19 era”, the University don said the Nigerian youth have shown capacity, ability and readiness to transform the economic of the country through innovations, creativity and ingenuity. He also blamed the ruling class for the systemic failure witnessed in several sectors of the country.
Oyeweso said, “The stronger the youths of a country, the better for the country. For a country like Nigeria with about 70% youth population, one wonders why we are where we are but why would this not be so when the future of the youth has been mortgaged for selfish gains; when the youths have been denied the benefits of good education, when our minds have been chronically infested with low morality and loss of values, when the leadership class is benefit of ideas for good governance and when the justice system has helplessly fail to bring justice to the guilty, where terrorists are referred to as bandits. Why won’t it be so when government’s plans and readiness to revive youth productivity is but a mere lip service?
According to the organizers of this event, “this programme is the 6th edition and it has always been specially and specifically organized to acknowledge the positive contributions of great, illustrious and industrious sons and daughters of Osun State who have distinguished themselves in their chosen endeavours, whose impacts and contribution to their community and fatherland has created for them a niche of excellence.”
So once again, I want to appreciate the Osun Youth Reformers Initiatives, the organizers of this program for putting this together at a time like this.
I am particularly happy that the Youths in this programme today are young professionals and entrepreneurs who have carved a niche for themselves in various walks of life. They have separated the “Young men” from the boys roaming the streets, those who are involved in illegal migrations across the Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Seas – all in search of “greener pastures in Europe, United States, among others. They are also not the “Yahoo Yahoo” group in search of instant wealth and fame.
“As the world grapples with unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, young people are demonstrating their continued resilience in their communities and localities. However, the pandemic has changed the world forever and youths must be ready to take up the challenge and develop themselves in three core areas of Agriculture, Technology and Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship,” the UNIOSUN Don said.
In his short address, the Royal Father of the day, Oba Hammed Adekunle Makama Oyelude, the Olowu of Kuta charged young persons not to be political instruments.
The Monarch said, “I want to charge all the youths here not to be instruments in the hands of politicians. Don’t turn anyone to your enemy because if politics. You can see how Rep Bamidele Salam and Ismail Omipidan greeted each other today, despite their political differences. So, all of you must see beyond politics.”
Also present at the event were lawmaker representing Ede Federal Constituency, Representative Bamidele Salam; Chief of Staff to Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Dr Charles Akinola; Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ismail Omipidan; SSA to the Governor on OMEALS and Students Matters, Fauziya Olaniyan and Kehinde Ayantuji respectively; Ace Nollywood Star, Yemi Sholade; SA Education, Jamiu Olawumi, among others.
Eighteen youth were given awards for their contributions to the society.
