By Adekola Afolabi
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Nigerian youths have been challenged to always engage in useful and productive ventures that will make them globally competitive.
The pioneer District Governor, District 404 A4, Nigeria, Lions Club International, Lion (Dr.) Kofoworola Jegede, threw the challenge at a one-day Symposium organised to commemorate the 2023 International Youth Day, held in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The theme of this year’s International Youth Day was, “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World while the Symposium centred on “Imbibing Values of Services to Humanity from Cradles: Great Asset to Nation Building”.
Lion Kofoworola Jegede explained that the programme held in conjunction with Leo District 404 A4, was to celebrate the youth and re-orientate them as the leaders of tomorrow.
The pioneer District Governor encouraged the youth to be good ambassadors and representatives of their families, generation and the country at large, while also positively project the image of the country to the entire world at all times.
She added that her project for the Lions Year which is to build Youth Empowerment Centre in Akure is aimed at properly reposition the youth to be the best they can be in life, saying “youths are the most vibrant when we talk about the internet, you are the most vibrant when we talk about the social media, and social media are the gateway to information, social media are what connect the world together, and that is why we said the world is a global village”.
The symposium well attended by youths, Leos and Lions leaders including Past Council Chair, Lion Olumuyiwa Jegede; the Immediate Past President of Akure Professionals Lions Clubs and Special Adviser to the Governor of Ondo State on Public and Inter-Governmental Relations, Dr. Bunmi Ademosu, among several others.
The Speaker of the Day, Professor Adekunle Dada of the Federal University of Technology, Akure,FUTA, emphasised the need for the youth to inculcate and imbibe the spirit of genuine service to humanity for the betterment of the society, just as he also called on parents to give their wards good upbringings to properly shape their future.
“Service to humanity is an important virtue because it allows us to understand others and feel their problems by showing kindness and humility. The aim is to promote the welfare and well-being of others irrespective of age, gender, race or religion, as well as economic status”, he said
The lecturer charged the youth to always come with innovative ideas to contribute to the development of their country.
In their separate addresses on the Theme of the celebration: GREEN SKILLS FOR YOUTH: Towards a Sustainable World, the Chairperson, Leo Programme for District 404A-4, Nigeria, Lion Emmanuel Onavwie and the Chairperson, Youth Exchange and Empowerment, Lion Emmanuel Chukwurah urged youths to continually acquire skills to green the environment that would make the world habitable.
PCC Olumuyiwa Jegede who expressed satisfaction with the turnout of youths for the programme and their desire to put to work thoughts espoused, said the Lions Clubs will not relent at periodically building the capacity of youths at re-channelling their energy, thoughts, orientation towards being progressive minded, and shun internet fraud, crimes and criminality or anything that can destroy their future.
The District Leo President, Rofiyat Kazeem lauded the initiative of the District Governor at promoting Leos and youths within the District and promised to make good use of the opportunity.
High point of the event was the dancing skills showcased by the Youths with the District Governor.