Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, on Friday, tasked Nigerian youths to make themselves relevant and be outstanding in their chosen careers.
Mimiko stated this at the National Students’ Leadership Conference, held at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).
The governor, who was represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Eniola Akinsola, said that the youth had important roles to play in the society and urged them to unite to take their rightful place.
Mimiko said it was time to come together to share ideas, refresh memories, as well as change perception of their responsibilities towards themselves, the society and the nation.
“Youths must, at every point in time, take stock and take new directions in order to make the society move forward,” he said.
The governor urged the youth to stand out whenever they found themselves in positions of leadership.
He also advised them to set goals for themselves and be the best in every position they found themselves so as to be identified for roles of authority.
Also, the guest speaker, Prof. Adebayo Ajuwape, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, decried the decadence of the Nigerian educational system and called on authorities concerned to revamp it.
He said that there was a need for holistic review of the education sector, with more attention being paid to technical education.
Ajuwape said that the vision of past leaders for the youth was to ensure that everybody, irrespective of their backgrounds, got the desired skill and knowledge with the necessary tools and equipment.
He, however, expressed concern that the some youths were not living exemplary lives due to bad influence.
Earlier, Mr Gbenga Ayenuro, the outgoing Vice President (National Affairs) of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), said that there was need for effective reawakening, re-sensitisation, refocusing and re-channeling within the body.
He urged members not to allow self aggrandisement and money-politics to destroy the association.
The programme, organised by the NANS, had the theme: “National Policies: The Roles of Nigerian Students.”