Ondo Youth Network Awards: Faduyile charges youth to focus on proactive LEADERSHIP role.
– Steve Ovirih
The National President, Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Adedayo Francis Faduyile has charged the youths of Ondo state to go beyond the rhetoric of expressing desire to become leaders without showing themselves approved and worthy of being entrusted with power. Dr. Faduyile said it was one thing to sit down comfortably and be “mouthing” youth leadership, but if the youths want the reign of government to be given to them, they really have to begin to work on how they can change the narrative to favour youthful leadership.
The Abodi born prince and Professor of Pathology and forensic medicine gave this advocacy at the gala night and presentation of awards organized by Ondo state youth network, a very strong movement of the youths of Ondo across professional discipline.
The gala night which held at Sunbeth Event Center, Sijuade had in attendance Ondo state youth who are majorly professionals and young entrepreneurs.
While encouraging the youthful gathering to up the ante of their desire to govern the state and the country, the NMA top boss noted that the youths of this country have potential which they are not mindful of, stressing that seventy Percent of the nation’s voter strength are youths and what it requires the youths to be what they want to be is to close the rank and present a United front and they will get whatever they politically desire. ” When I was vying for the NMA job, I encountered stiff opposition from the older generation of the members of my profession . That is expected; if I had given in , it would have been up to another 14 years before the chance will come to Lagos State and by that time I won’t be as youthful as I am now,” Dr. Faduyile maintained.
He counselled the youths against allowing the older generation of politicians to set them apart through the divide and rule technique , stressing that once the ranks of the youths are broken they can’t ever achieve their aim of becoming the leaders of this great country.
Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman of Ondo State Youth Network, Mr . Jonathan Obatola while appreciating the members of the organization , said he was impressed with the turn out in large numbers both at the lecture earlier held in the day and the Gala night.
Obatola said the Youth Network is a movement that hopes to harness the potential of Ondo state youths and use the medium to bargain better deals for the youths of Ondo state. He said the OSYN awardees are people whose selection was based on a high level of competence , their meritorious contribution to human capacity development and they are people who still fall within the youth category. While congratulating the awardees , he counselled that the youths of Nigeria should remember that if the older generation call the youths leaders of tomorrow, they should call themselves leaders of today , noting that the time for youth leadership is now.
The four distinguished awardees are :
Prof . Dayo Faduyile, NMA President.
Sunday Olusola Ajokotola, FRSC Corp Commander and senior aid in the Presidency.
Orioye Benedict Gbayisemoore, young entrepreneur and CEO First More Seafoods company LTD.
Rahman Adekunle Yusuf , Journalist, Broadcaster and Presenter.
On the fringe of the event, while chatting with thepolity.net, two of the awardees unanimously agreed that the time for youth leadership is now. Mr. Sunday Olusola Ajokotola appreciated the organizers of the event for being so thoughtful . He advised people to be conscious that people are watching and observing, noting that he never knew the youth movement were keeping tabs on his humble stride.
In his own view, the CEO of First More Seafoods, Mr. Orioye Gbayisemoore said he believed that the time for youth leadership is now. He said the problem with the older generation is their sit tight syndrome, stressing that our youths are endowed with age on their side, wit and wisdom and what it takes to stir positively the affairs of this great nation.
