It was a spectacle of class last Sunday, as the former speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, alongside other dignitaries, converged in Ijebu Ode, for the 2016 edition of the annual lecture organized by the publishers of Ijebu News Xtra, the Ijebu community’s number-one news tabloid.
The lecture, according to Mr. Dayo Rufai, the publisher of the magazine, was designed as a clarion call on stakeholders for ideas on how best the nation’s present economic challenges can be handled with a view to proffering enduring solutions.
The theme of this year’s edition which took place at the Equity Resort Hotel, Ijebu Ode, was, “Ogun State: Stimulating Youths Enterpreneurship Potentials in Recessive Economy”, chaired by Engr. Femi Omotayo, the CEO of AOSORWELL, a major oil and gas servicing firm.
Bankole, while giving his speech, noted that the only way to secure the future of Nigerian youths, being the class most affected by the current economic recession, is to get involved in deciding who administers the states, local governments and other offices at all levels of governance.
“The reality of our situation is that a generation of Nigerians who should ordinarily not hold appointive or elective offices are everywhere in our system. And they are responsible for the country’s socio-economic woes. Unfortunately, quality hands who should step forward are hardly willing to do so. That is why the youths who are being negatively affected by this trend should leave their comfort zones to retake the country from the hands of misfits.” Bankole counsels.
Other prominent dignitaries who graced the event include former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Sabur Dimeji Bank, Mr Adewale Raji, the CEO of Odua Investments; Otunba Abiola Odunowo; Hon. Wale Ogunbanjo, a former member of the House of Representatives; Dr. Tokunbo Oshin, a former Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly; Barr. Bayo Osikomaiya; Comrade Femi Onanuga; Prof. David Deru; Dr. Bola Adekola, the pioneer Registrar, Fountain University, Oshogbo, Ogun local governments chairmen and many others.
While speaking on “Entrepreneurship and The Youths in a Depressed Economy”, Engr. Omotayo who affirmed that Ijebuland is a society of people who believe in hard work and merit, charges the youths to be conscious of their reputation as, “reputation matters a lot. Once you are not trusted, you cannot go very far,” adding that the youths should know they do not need a godfather to succeed but careful planning, consistency and persistence in whatever business they decide on.
-Folorunsho Hamsat
