Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has stressed the need for Nigerian youths to be more actively involved in governance by increasing their participation and exposure in politics.
The governor equally noted that he would join others as a worthy ally to prepare Nigerian youths for the future, saying: “We may not be able to prepare the future for the youth, but we can prepare the youth for the future.
“Please, don’t see this event as just an opportunity to look at the issue of leadership in this country. And, in me, Seyi Makinde, the youth have an ally and we will prepare the leaders of the next generation amongst the youth.”
Makinde made this known at the Students’ Legislative Summit organised by the speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly and chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, in conjunction with the Students’ Representative Council, University of Ibadan (UI).
At the event held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), UI, which had in attendance the minister of state for youth, Ayodele Olawande, a former Senate president , Dr. Bukola Saraki, who was represented and the speakers of Osun and Ekiti states’ Houses of Assembly, Makinde said the issue of leadership was imperative in preparing the youth for the future and governance.
He said, “I am here this afternoon to encourage the youth. If you look at the history of Nigeria, we had our independence in 1960 and six years after, in 1966, the person that became the Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, was 31 years and some months old. After him, during the Second Republic, former President Olusegun Obasanjo retired as a General at the age of 39.
“You should dream big; people have ruled this country at very tender ages. So, for you, don’t think that at 29 or 30, you are too young to rule and I am glad, because this is almost like catching them early.’’
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