Ooni Honours 100 Nigerian Youth Leaders
According to Ogunwusi, the young population remains the major catalyst in boosting the economic growth of the country and that of the African continent.
“Africa has one of the world’s youngest populations with stimulating depth of human capacity and arrays of entrepreneurial relentless spirit, new dreams, unquenchable energies and ambitions.
“The united voices of millions of young populations in Nigeria and across Africa will certainly contribute solutions through their own ingenuities that would help in painting a picture of what they want for themselves, the future generations and the continent.
“I am proud of the successes being recorded by our youths despite the challenges.
“I hereby identify with them and I pledge to assist them to record more wins with the throne of Oduduwa,” the Ooni said.
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, said Nigeria has a brighter future, especially with the immeasurable qualities possessed by Nigerian youths.
“This programme by the Ooni validates the fact that the traditional institution and other structures in the larger Nigerian system have a great role to play in creating the country of our dreams.
“If you carefully look at the class of youths being honoured here today, you will agree with me that our youths are worthy leaders.
“On our part as government, we shall continue to refocus the youth agenda as we remain committed to the provision of modern digital skills for the prosperity of our dear country through the able youths.
“We have concluded plans that will ensure that in the next two years, 1.5. million Nigerian youths would have acquired modern digital skills needed to compete with their counterparts globally in this century, ” Dare said.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Fahad AlTaffaq, said that his embassy had partnered the Nigerian government in the past on youth development and capacity building.
AlTaffaq added that more would be done in the nearest future.