Ooni, Lagos Commissioner, others make case for youth involvement in nation building
By Adeola Ogunrinde
Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso and others have harped on importance of involving the youths in nation building, in order to make Nigeria a great nation.
Oba Ogunwusi, Omotoso and others made case for youths involvement in nation building at the 13 convocation of Caleb University, Imota, Ikorodu, Lagos on Saturday.
Omotoso who delivered the convocation lecturer, in his speech, titled: “Closing the generational gap between the old and young in Nigerian politics”, said there is an urgent need to bridge the generational gap between the old and young in the nation’s politics for improved development and progress of the country.
He identified youths as the leaders of today rather than tomorrow, urged them to brace up and shun peer pressure which could jeopardize their attainment of greatness as leaders.
The Commissioner applauded the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu’s administrations for appointing many youths in their cabinets, implored graduating students to always think out of the box for entrepreneurship engagement, rather than looking for unavailable white collar jobs.
“Let me state that the common cliché that youths are leaders of tomorrow is no longer in tune with present-day reality. The truth is that what becomes of tomorrow is determined by what happens today. So, the more everyone grasps the fact that the youth are actually the leaders of today and not tomorrow, the better for all.
“Looking at the example of the younger members of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s cabinet in Lagos State, one is bound to reaffirm that the future is now.
“Fortunately, they are yet to disappoint the people as they cover themselves in glory through trail-blazing performances.
“To further harness the peculiar talent of youth in the state, Governor Sanwo-Olu has prioritised youth empowerment in all its budgets. All the budgets of the current administration since 2019 have been carefully designed to meet the aspirations of the teeming youth by focusing on sectors with job-creating potential like agriculture, construction, technology and security,” Omotoso said.
The monarch, Oba Ogunwusi in his address applauded the university for raising the bar of education and discipline in the 21th century youths.
He urged the youths to participate actively in nation building and contribute their quota to the growth of Nigeria.
Oba Ogunwusi also used the opportunity to call on Federal Government to take urgent step in addressing suffering commuters are going through on Ikorodu/Itokin Road .
The monarch pleaded with President Tinubu led administration to rehabilitate the road in good time to complement other social services along that route.
Other dignitaries at the occasion included former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, representative of the Benue state Governor, Traditional rulers in the Ikorodu Division and the Inspector General of Police who was represented by Commissioner for Police in Lagos.
