By Emmanuel Kehinde, ilorin
Nigerian youths have called on leaders in the public and private sectors to prioritise mentorship for the younger generation in whatever capacity they find themselves, as the antidote to keep them focused and fast-track Nigeria’s development.
The Technical Assistant on Investments to the Kwara State Governor, Kabir Shagaya, made the call at the inaugural Voices of Leadership (VOT) in commemoration of his 34th birthday at Banquet Hall, Ilorin.
Our Correspondent reports that the event l was attended by influential personalities from both public and private sectors who dwelt on the theme, “Responsibilities and Expectations That Come With Influence”, to mark the occasion.
The programme had three different panel sessions with a blend of top government officials and successful entrepreneurs bearing their mind on arrays of issues bordering on human management, responsibilities, and challenges in the world of work.
Young technocrats on the panels include Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin; MD/CEO, Rural Electrification Agency, Engr. Ahmed Salihijo; Commissioner for Finance Cross Rivers State, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong; .
Successful young entrepreneurs including Prince Aderemi Sijuwaje; Dr Tola Awosika; Mr Waru Obaseki; Mr Segun Adebayo; Alh. Hakeem Shagaya; Prince Bukunmi Olateru– Olagbegi; and Mr Lakunle Runsewe also made up the panelists at the summit.
VOT Summit also assembled elder statesmen,such as Royal fathers, youth and women groups, students across tertiary institutions of the state for a well-poised conversation on growth.
Speaking at VOT, Kabir said the initiative was birthed to provide a platform for influential young leaders to weigh in on worsening youth crisis, unemployment, lack of direction, saying he believed that it was the right place for youths to be inspired by visionary young leaders participating in discourse that broadened their possibilities, the vision to live a life of impact.
Panelists at the event agreed that youths wwre an important stakeholder deserving a platform to grow a d commended Shagaya for the summit they described as brilliant and timely.
Prince Aderemi Sijuwade called on youths to be prayerful and diligent in whatever capacity they served.
In his contribution, Engr. Ahmed Salihijo noted that managing relationship was vital to effective leadership and charged young people to be united and accessible in power.
Reacting to the summit the Oyo Speaker said that Shagaya had inspired him to replicate the summit in Oyo State. He said such an initiative, putting students and top leaders under the same roof for mentorship was commendable.
Meanwhile, the programme also featured a debate session between tertiary institutions in Kwara State, with the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin emerging winner with a cash prize of N500,000.
The University of Ilorin, Ilorin took the first runner up position and went away with N250,000, while the Kwara State University, Malete came third and was rewarded with N150,000, and College of Education (COED), Ilorin went away with N100,000.
Kabir, who assured that the summit would hold next year, promised to continue interfacing with the students, for the good of the nation.
