Youth In Leadership: Osun Students Rally Support For Olajengbesi
By Kehinde Ayantunji
The National Association of Nigeria Students, Joint Campus Committee (NANS/JCC) and National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS) have canvassed supports for one of their own, Pelumi Olajengbesi, who is the founder of Itura foundation.
They unanimously endorsed Olajengbesi as the leading light among the youths, whose political zeal could be emulated by the youths for active participation in the political decision -making process.
The students noted that the legislative arm of government remains a veritable ground for youths who want to make impact in the conventional politics, adding that the onus now lies on the youths to convincingly demonstrate necessary capacity to address social and economic challenges in Nigeria.
This was contained in a press statement jointly signed by the duo of NANS JCC Chairman, Saheed Muftau and NAOSS National President, Hakeem Alake in Osogbo, the Osun State Capital and made available to journalists on Monday.
They further urged the youths to be constructive in their assessment and debate of governmental policies and make their contributions to National discourse practically issue-based.
According to the statement, “Youth in power in Nigeria is a paradigm shift that requires urgent attention of political class in Nigeria, and total change in orientation by the youths.
“Contrary to erroneous impressions in some quarters that Nigerian youths lack the capacity to steer the ship of the nation, the future of this country lies with the youths, as we have many of them who possess the requisite acumen of good governance.
“In pursuing this strategy, we have inducted the founder of Itura Foundation, Pelumi Olajengbesi to our hall of fame as a worthy ambassador of the youths in Osun for his support for several youths in leadership campaigns, students’ development and capacity building. We have no hesitation to express utmost confidence in his ability to lead and urged members of the public to rally support for him”, the statement reads.
The student body added that despite its firm tradition of being apolitical, it will be ungrateful not to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of Olajengbesi to the students’ community and youth developments in the last 6 months.
“For record purpose, in the last two months, the founder of Itura foundation has donated two buses to the student community in the state and distributed educational materials to both primary and secondary school students and supported several students leadership training and capacity building.
“Also, during the agitation for the passage of “Not Too Young To Run Bill, Olajengbesi provided leadership and presented at every fora a well elaborate and elucidated youth agenda that is capable of alleviating poverty and build economic prosperity for state of Osun and Nigeria at large”.
They however urged other prominent youths in the society to emulate the gesture of Olajengbesi by contributing to educational and youth development to secure a prosperous future for Nigeria, noting that the future of any nation largely depends on the quality of its young population.
