‘Be drivers of change’, Owonikoko tasks youths

President of Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI), Olusola Owonikoko has charged youths to be empowered as a driver of change in Nigeria because the future of the country lies on the youths.

Owonikoko gave this charge at the third Ambassador Walter Carrington yearly symposium and a pitch competition with the theme ‘Innovate, Create and Sustain: Youth entrepreneurship for a better future’.

The symposium is in commemoration of the Global Entrepreneurship Week and the conclusion of the six-month-long student entrepreneurship training programme for tertiary institutions in Lagos aims to foster entrepreneurship development among Nigeria’s youth.

Owonikoko said the fellowship is all about investing in young people, especially in the civic leadership capacity and social entrepreneurship capacity of young people.

“Nigeria is predominantly young people and that number is huge. Basically, young people are the biggest take with us in Nigeria. Young people need to be empowered to be change leaders in their community, not just for social purposes, but also for business purposes, because we are the custodians of Nigeria, and we have to be invested so that we can be positioned to deliver what Nigeria wants,” he stated.

Board member, Carrington fellowship, Dr. Arese Carrington said the youths are not too young to lead noting that they must be prepared to be leaders of today and imbibe ethics and values.

“If they keep calling youths leaders of tomorrow, tomorrow will never come, take charge and begin to lead today.

“As you become the boss in your various entrepreneurship endeavours, remember being a boss does not make you a leader, a leader is not a boss but actually a servant. Because your duty is to serve the people you lead. You don’t need a title to be a leader true leadership comes in various forms, but one underlying characteristic is service to the people for their betterment and their needs and not your greed. Don’t be a sayer be a doer, actions speak louder than words, your actions and your results will speak louder than your words,” she encouraged.

She further charged the youths to take advantage of the global world to innovate and collaborate.

Acting Charge d’ Affiares, U.S. Mission in Nigeria, Will Stevens also tasked the youth to take ownership of their future democracy, nothing that without ownership, things can fall apart.
His words: “I believe so deeply in the power of the youths, I believe so deeply that they are solutions to problems as we need African solutions to global problems. The problems we all face are global.”

Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Folashade Olushola lamented the high rate of youth unemployment noting that UNILAG is committed to changing the mindset of youths of creating a job and not seeking for job.

“But everybody will not create the job and add value and this leadership training is about being a leader wherever they are,” she said.

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