Speeches

Empowerment Seminar Organised By The Ambassador Club

Mar 19, 2009 - The challenges of development in modern and contemporary societies are such that require the cooperation, understanding and contributions of every member of the society, the youth inclusive. As the virile and more productive part of the larger society, youths undoubtedly occupy strategic position and do have a great role to play in bringing about development in any society. Their impact in human and social development towards ensuring growth in critical sectors of the nation’s economy cannot be over emphasized.

On the other hand, the society owes it a great deal of responsibility to provide adequately for the socio-economic welfare and well-being of its youths, to enable them function effectively in the society. It is on this note therefore, that I express my pleasure to be at this empowerment seminar titled: “Nigerian Youth in the Leadership cum Followership Equation: What Responsibility”.

Before I give my remarks on the issue for the day, I recall my address to this club during the year 2007 edition of its annual lecture. In the address, I emphasized the critical role of education, as an important tool in achieving sustainable growth and development of democracy in any society.

I also recall my emphasis that no nation can make any substantial progress if its educational system is neglected. Ignorance, illiteracy, educational backwardness will continue to be the cog in the wheel of progress towards sustainable democratic governance.

In the same vein, no society can make appreciable progress without a well focused, people centered and visionary leadership. Leadership goes beyond political governance. A leader is that person, who knows what he has been called to do and pursues that goal with passion that keeps him focused on achieving the goal.

He does not wait for the future to come; he creates the future in the NOW. Such leaders realize that they are living on a borrowed time, and thus become good managers of time and resources; translating their visions into accelerated actions to meet the expectations of those they serve”. In fact, John Maxwell, says, a leader is not just someone who makes a difference, but someone who makes the difference.

In meeting the challenges presented by their role, leaders inspire their followers and raise their expectation to heights that help them overcome obstacles and create opportunities.

Leadership is crucial and critical to development in the society. It is often said that the quality of leadership in a particular society, is to a large extent, determined by its followership. We are quick to criticize our leaders. But we never ask ourselves what kind of followers are we? In this part of the world, particularly in Nigeria, one of our major challenges has been that of leadership.

Over the years, I have observed great leaders in history in this country and in other lands, and I have been inspired by their achievements in spite of the odds that were against them. And I tell myself often that if they could do that when they did not have half of the resources we now have, the technology that we now have, then we can also make a lot of difference in our own time now. All it takes is just vision, courage and commitment. That has been the motivation, the passion, the inspiration behind what we are doing in Lagos.

As youths and students in one of the nation’s foremost Ivory towers, I urge you to inculcate the right attitudes, values, leadership skills and characters. Your education is not only expected to nurture and prepare you for future leadership position, but to make of you a responsible member of the society.

You are our tomorrow-the future leaders upon whom the future of this great nation rests. Like a popular adage, “As you lay your bed, so shall you lie on it”. The future is right before you. What you make of it today, is what it becomes tomorrow. You have been given the greatest opportunity to prepare yourself for leadership roles in future. We are waiting for you, that is why you must become not only the ambassadors of OAU but the ambassadors of great Nigeria.

Finally, I congratulate you all on this occasion, and thank you for inviting me to this seminar. I thank you all, and wish you a Brighter Rewarding Future.

Thank you and God bless.

BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA (SAN)
GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE