By Seyifunmi Odunuga
Insecurity has been identified as a major threat to sustainable development plans, hence there is a need for stakeholders such as religious leaders, parents and government at all levels must be responsive to their responsibilities.
Prof. Sabit Ariyo Olagoke, the founder and Grand Imam of Shafsudeen in Islam Worldwide dropped this hint recently during the 50th birthday commemorative lecture of a prominent member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Alhaji Kunle Bakare recently.
The cleric while speaking during the lecture held recently at the Dapo Aderogba Hall, NUJ stated that only visionary individuals with credible antecedents of competence, good work attitude, and timely response to working on issues can facilitate sustainable development plans before and beyond the golden age.
While welcoming the guests to the occasion, the celebrant, Alhaji Kunle Bakare disclosed that the topic of the lecture “Sustainable Development Plans, Before and Beyond the Golden Age” was carefully selected to serve as a working tool for those coming behind for them to plan for their future.
He noted that human beings must have made some mistakes in the past that may not be corrected but they must be careful to avoid making mistakes if God allows them to attain the golden age.
Prof. Olagoke, however, urged the government to use political will to create jobs and employment for the youths as well as rehabilitate the street urchins and train them in certain jobs and vocations.
He stated that sustainability lies in mentorship and role modelling ideas without default “Change of attitude through positive mindset is sacrosanct through functional education, good parenting and media effects.”
He, however, identified the following as the steps to achieve better and positive development plans, positive role modelling, socially responsible parents, careful management of the adolescent crisis to prevent poor attitudinal outbursts and that parents must not indulge in social corruption in any form for effective child-rearing.
Others include taking care of the children’s education, employment and marriage by the parents before releasing them into the world and that the children should be tutored to know that life is sacred.
Some of the dignitaries who attended the elaborate birthday bash include, chief Mrs Toyin Ajoke Adegbola, ajoke asewo, chairman of NUJ, Oyo State Council, and Comrade Demola Babalola, Mrs Oyekemi Wilson Zonal NUJ executives, journalists and veteran journalists as well as the extended families of the celebrant.
