Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday, encouraged Nigerian youths to approach the future with confidence despite the nation’s current challenges, emphasizing that these obstacles will be overcome in time.
In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media, Suleiman Olanrewaju, Makinde addressed the National Youth Service Corps members during their passing-out ceremony at the Lagos State Orientation Camp.
Noting that his own daughter was among the corps members, Governor Makinde urged the youth to take full advantage of their compulsory service as an opportunity to build a strong foundation for their futures and to treat their assignments with seriousness.
He said, “Some of the youths would meet their life partners during the youth service as he did about 34 years ago, while some will form business alliances that will last into the future, hence the need to be focused and responsible.
“I want to thank the Camp officials for having me here today. It is a great opportunity for me to address the future leaders of our country.
“I did this exactly 34 years ago when some of you were not yet born. But I want to tell you that you are starting a journey that will take some of you to the peak of your ambitions. 34 years ago, I would not have thought I would become a governor in Nigeria. So, we have future governors and presidents here.
“I can only point out just two things; my own daughter is among you today. This means some of us as your leaders are also human. We also go through what you go through and we also go through what your parents go through.”
The statement continued, “When I was talking to the representative of the Lagos State Governor, I said I couldn’t believe my daughter would stay here for three weeks, because she wanted to stay for one night but it turned to three weeks.
“She told me that she enjoyed herself, though she said some people bullied her. And I told her ‘welcome to the real world where there is no protection and you have to do whatever it is that they are doing out there.”
The governor thanked the Camp officials for accommodating his daughter, and for making her feel welcome there.
“For all you corps members, I already heard the state director mention that you should not travel out of the state without permission. A lot of corps members get involved in accidents that are unnecessary, because they embark on journeys that are not really necessary.
“I also want to say that this is an opportunity for you to lay the foundation for whatever it is you want to become in the future. Don’t take this assignment lightly at all.”
Makinde also admonished them to be confident and face the future, saying the challenges the country is currently going through will also be behind it at some point.
