The Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Oyo State, Dr Seun Fakorede, has enjoined youths to invest their time and resources to raise strong and credible generations of leadership for effective governace in the country.
Fakorede made the urge as a guest speaker at the Adedeji Alebiosu Symposium 2022 with the theme; “Politics, Leadership, Governance, at the weekend in Lagos.
Fakorede said that youths needed to constantly imbibe positive attitude that would impact decision making in the country, especially within the political sphere.
According to him, there is need for excellence in leadership and new generation of Nigerians that will help build on repositioning the country for a greater height.
The commissioner said that though the youth had always demonstrated their various competence in every aspect of the Nigerian economy for national development and growth.
He, therefore, said Nigerian youths have the capacity to drive excellence in politics, leadership and governance.
According to him, youths had been disenfranchised in the past because they were labelled “young” for certain positions but with the Not Too Young To Run Bill, it is a thing of the past
Fakorede, currently one of the youngest state commissioners in Nigeria, said his experience in office had proven to him that experience counts in politics.
“The fact that I became a commissioner at age a young age of 27 shows that Nigerian youths have the capacity to be in leadership position.
“The youth are doing well in different fields in this country and they can equally replicate that in politics.
“I urge you not to allow people discourage you in contributing your quota to national development,” he said.
Mr Dayo Alebiosu, a former lawmaker in the Federal House of Representatives, explained that the old social, political and economic ways of doing things was still relevant and with lessons for youths to learn.
Alebiosu urged the youth to pay close attention to the dynamics of politics, in their local environment and developed climes, to guide them in their contributions nation building.
He noted that culture remained people’s form of identity even with the advent of social media which had taken center stage in politics,
The former lawmaker said, “Traditions should be respected, so the youth should not be swayed by current trends on the internet.”
Also, Mr Joseph Onosolease, All progressive Congress (APC) Aspirant for House of Assembly, Somolu, urged youths going into politics to develop capacity to ensure their emotional intelligence was stable for any challenges.
He enjoined the youth to always be conscious of exhibiting positive attitude, especially toward a more stable nation.
According to him, providing scholarships, outreach, establishment of non governmental organisations, among others will reduce barriers mitigating youths’ participation in social, political and economic development
On his part, Mr Onirinwa, the Chief Executive Officer of the ACE Group of Companies, said Nigeria needed to transit to a more desirable nation, but not without the full participation of youths in governance.
Onirinwa, who spoke on ‘Transferable visionary leadership: a mirage or reality’, said that he believed transferable visionary leadership was achievable.
He noted that the level of youths’ participation in politics remained low, therefore urging them to get involved in politics to contribute their quota to governance.
According to him, they should know their leaders before giving them their mandate, while inspiring their peers through constructive engagements.
Onirinwa, founder, Omoluabi Foundation, explained that the country needed social re-engineering, while the people stop paying lip service to their ideology.
On his part,, the Convener of the Symposium, said there was the need to converge and discussions and further re-inspire the youth to believe more in Nigeria.
According to him, the event is a socio-economic-political and leadership initiative with speakers converging for a day of stimulating conversations, networking, and civic engagement.
The symposium brought together
people with diferent minds to foster, debate and analyse the state of the nation.