Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has emphasized the need to prepare Nigerian youths for the future by increasing their participation and exposure in politics.
He made this statement at the Students’ Legislative Summit organized by the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin, in conjunction with the Students’ Representative Council, University of Ibadan. The event was held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
The summit aimed to educate students about the legislative process and its significance in shaping national development.
Makinde encouraged the youths to dream big and aim for leadership positions, citing examples of young leaders in Nigeria’s history.
He 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.”
Other speakers, including the Minister of State for Youth, Ayodele Olawande, and the President of the Senate, 8th National Assembly, Senator Bukola Saraki (represented by Dr. Golu Timothy), emphasized the importance of quality legislation in nation-building.
The event brought together leaders and youths to stimulate and produce the next set of leaders, bridging the leadership vacuum in the country.
Makinde commended Ogundoyin for the initiative, noting that as an individual, he would always support the youth to get into leadership as he did with the Oyo State House of Assembly.
He then reassured Oyo State students of his administration’s commitment to their welfare, stating that he had signed all the documents for the payment of bursary awards to them and the disbursement would take place in due course.
Earlier in his address, the convener of the programme, Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin said his focus is to support youth development through education, provision of learning opportunities, mentorship, guidance and a strong belonging with community involvement, noting that this is essential for present and future national development.
Speaking on the theme of the Summit, “Roles of quality legislation in nation building,” he explained that the objectives are to educate students about the legislative process and its significance in shaping national development and to encourage them to critically analyse the impact of existing legislations on various aspects of the society, such as education, healthcare, and the economy.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Youths, Olawande charged Nigerian youths to maximise the opportunity they have and engage actively in governance with a view to changing the narratives.
In his keynote address, the President of the Senate, 8th National Assembly, Senator Bukola Saraki, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Strategic Communication to the Plateau State Governor, Dr Golu Timothy, emphasised the roles of quality legislation in nation-building.
In their separate remarks, the Chairman of Speakers, (South-West), who is also the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Stephen Aribasoye, the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo and the Director-General, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission) noted that all sectors must have quality and strong legislature for the nation to move forward.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Speaker of the University of Ibadan Students‘ Union’s Students’ Representative Council, Rt. Honourable Olamide Omotunde, appreciated Governor Makinde for being a friendly governor and for his remarkable contributions to students union governments and students associations in the state with the recent donation of 28 buses.
