The trio of Oba Kabiru Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Chief Monzor Olowosago, Publisher, Oriwu Sun and Otunba Ganiyu Abiru, former Chairman, Ikorodu-Oga Development Association (IKODASS) have led other stakeholders in Ikorodu to charge youths in Lagos State to strive towards engendering a desirable change in the country by developing themselves and engaging the government positively on issues of development in the country.
They also enjoined them to be worthy ambassadors of their culture.
These words of encouragement were given to the youths when the leadership of the youth group, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in the state, led by its State Chairman, Comrade Olalekan Biliamin Oba, paid a courtesy visit to the Ayangbure in his palace on Tuesday, July 5, 2022.
The NYCN entourage included other State Executive members and Coordinators across the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
Oba Shotobi, in his royal remarks, said that youths are the agents of developments and should use their strength to bring about positive change in Nigeria.
“Leadership of this country will continue to be like this until when we are all ready to change it.
“We know the age of Gen. Yakubu Gowon when he became the Head of State. We know the age of Obama when he too became the President of the United States of America. They were young then but God gave them the wisdom.
“Population of Nigeria during the Gowon’s era was close to 160 million and that of America when Obama became the President, was close to three hundred million. It was the youths that gave them the leverage.
“When we left school back then, we had the opportunity of getting jobs and within two weeks, I got my first vehicle. It was as if they were begging us with jobs at that time. The country was so good then but what went wrong?, the royal father queried.
While stating that youths are not being allowed to take over leadership positions, Oba Shotobi charged them to develop themselves, especially with Information Technology (IT) and prepared for leadership role.
“Youths are the ones that are developing programming that phones are making use of and selling them to IT companies. They are not working for the government but are doing researches and not relenting in the process”, Oba Shotobi said.
“Unlike before when we were in school and made use of textbooks and handouts, everything is now available on the internet”.
He also charged youths to fully participate in politics and bring about necessary changes.
“If we leave politics to some people and refuse to participate, those that we are calling nonentities that are in politics will be the ones that will be determining our affairs,” Ayangbure said.
“Professors and students have been home for how many months now, look at the people determining that. We are having problems because of the leaders that we have chosen to lead us.
“Let your agitations for development get to them and ensure that you put pressure on them and I know that one day, they would eventually listen.
“You can’t get rid of them at a go, it is a gradual process and the time is coming that you will take over. We can get there by systematically displaying our knowledge.
“The youths have so much to do. You have a lot to offer”.
He charged them to continue to develop their knowledge and work towards solving Nigeria’s problems.
While thanking the visiting youths for coming to the palace, he also charged them to make the visit often.
“I appreciate the programme that led to your visit here today. I want to be seeing more of this visit and I want you to continue putting traditional institution in your programmes.
“I bless and thank you for coming and when next that I will be seeing you, I’ll be happy to see you progressing and contributing more to the development of the country,” Oba Shotobi prayed.
Otunba Ganiyu Abiru, the Executive Secretary, Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Ltd/GTE, also speaking, commended the NYCN leadership for promoting their culture and tradition.
“I must commend you for your efforts in sustaining our culture and tradition because when I came into the palace, I saw you speaking Yoruba. It is very important that we continue to promote our language”, he said.
“This is part of what we want; cultural nationalism, because without it, we cannot develop as a nation”.
Abiru also commended the state chairman of the youth group, adding that he is dynamic and has not disappointed the massive goodwill he received going into office.
He charged the youths not to see politics as the only means of making it in life while asking them to explore other opportunities.
The IDPIL Executive Secretary also enjoined members of the NYCN to adopt someone that they respect as mentors to model their lives after.
Publisher of Oriwu Sun newspaper and Baroyin of Ikorodu Kingdom, Alhaji Monzor Olowosago also speaking, commended the youth group for their activities in community development and for always engaging the government.
He charged them to get their PVCs to make desirable changes for the country.
The Chairman of the youth group, Comrade Olalekan Oba, speaking earlier, said that their visit to the palace was part of their retreat programme in Ikorodu which was organized as part of the activities commemorating the two years anniversary of his executive council.
He said that the retreat would be a continuous one to engage members and reconnect with elders.
“We are here today because we felt that it’s very cogent to pay homage to the Kabiyesi”, State NYCN Chairman said.
“As our administration clocks two years, one of the programmes lined up is a retreat for all our 57 Local Government Coordinators and we picked Ikorodu as the venue.
“We discovered that we, the youths, have disconnected ourselves from the older generations and we came to the realisation that the only way that we can connects these two generations together and benefit from the older ones is to organise retreats frequently to engage ourselves on these realities”, Oba said.
“We have been in Ikorodu since Friday for the retreat and we were able to get facilitators to talk to us about what are required of us a youths.
“We are operating in tandem with the agenda of the Lagos State Government which is working towards achieving a Smart City State in couple of years from now and any young man not aligning with this would find himself to be blamed. This is why we will continually engaging ourselves”.
He commended Oba Shotobi for his support for youths in Ikorodu.
“Kabiyesi, personally, I am aware of all the things that you have been doing for the youths in Ikorodu Division. I am aware that there is scholarship scheme by the palace every year. Also, you may not know that some of our members benefited from the computer training opportunities that you facilitated for us”, he said.
“I am equally aware of the grants that you are giving to business owners in Ikorodu. These are some of the things that actually prompted us to make it a must to pay you homage. We know that you are a youthful Kabiyesi who has been adding values to the youth constituency.
“On this note sir, I present to you leaders of youth councils in our various communities across the state who are doing well. We don’t believe that government must do everything, rather, as youths, we are of the view that we have our own roles to play too for the development of Lagos State and we are doing our bits within the confine of the law.
“Kabiyesi sir, thank you for receiving us in your palace today. We cannot thank you enough. We will continue to be with you and work with you in ensuring that the youth constituency in Ikorodu Division is in good shape”.