A colloquium on youth involvement in politics, held on Monday in Osogbo, became the highlight of activities marking the 40th birthday celebration of philanthropist and political rising figure, Chief Peter Taiwo Ogundeji (Apata).
The event, themed “Youth Involvement in Politics: A Panacea for Development,” gathered political leaders, community figures, politicians and young Nigerians for a conversation on leadership, inclusion and nation building.
Speaking at the event, Ogundeji said the colloquium was his way of contributing to discussion on national development while inspiring young people to step forward and participate in politics.
He narrated his journey from humble beginnings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to entrepreneurship and humanitarian service, stressing that youth must stop waiting for permission to lead.
He said young people must “start by taking actions, by organizing, by registering, by contesting, and by standing in the right side, so that we can actually take charge for our elders, our leaders, we can as well build the nation together.”
Ogundeji added that the digital age has given youths enormous advantages, “We are the leaders of tomorrow and today, not tomorrow any longer, the sky can only be our starting point,” he said.
He urged APC members ahead of the party’s primaries to unite behind whoever emerges. “Irrespective of anyone that our party actually represented as a gubernatorial candidate, I want to urge all the other candidates that they should all come together and support such a person,” Ogundeji said.
Also addressing the gathering, the current chairman of the APC in Osun West Senatorial District, Hon. Oluremi Akintola Omolaoye, emphasized the importance of education, calling on young people to acquire necessary knowledge Nd skills while aspiring for political leadership. According to him, youths must be academically fortified before seeking political office.
“My good advice to the youth of Nigeria, before they join politics, I will advise that they acquire necessary education, I’m advising that every youth should get educated to first degree level, by the time you are a graduate, they will know wherever you go, that yes, you are an independent person that cannot be unnecessary influenced,” Omolaoye said,
Elder statesman, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun described the celebrant as a young man who has taken the right first steps by grounding his political ambition in humanitarian service.
He said, “I think he is a young man who is having an interest in politics, and I think he has started well because he has a foundation, and I believe the whole purpose of politics is service, and that is what he has started with a foundation.”
Oyedokun urged elders to show good conduct that would guide new entrants like Ogundeji.
Speaking on the selection of candidates, he explained that elders will evaluate aspirants carefully. “They have to single out individuals, study them, hear from them, assess their skills, and elders will come up suddenly with a good choice.”
In his remarks, Senator Mudasiru Hussein, an APC governorship aspirant, described the celebrant as “one of my best, young, very brilliant, articulate” associates, praying for his continued progress.
He said all gubernatorial hopefuls in the APC are qualified and the party remains disciplined in its process.
“Everybody, all thirteen of us are qualified to be governor candidate, until on the thirteenth, when we have result, then we support whoever is qualified,” he said.
Hussein dismissed talks of internal divisions, insisting that “everybody of us, we are qualified to be governor of this state,our qualification depends on how our members voted massively.”
The colloquium also featured a book launch tied to the theme of the event. Participants described the gathering as timely, emphasising the need to integrate young people into key decision-making positions.
Ogundeji, who runs the APATA Cares Foundation, said sustainable development will only be achieved when youths take responsibility for shaping Nigeria’s future.
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