 |
| The Ooni of Ife, Oba
Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II. |
By Dorcas Elusogbon |
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has
called for the replacement of the Big Brother Naija show with better show that
will boost the strength of Nigerians youths.
Ooni Ogunwusi, made the call when he played host to
scores of Nigerian youths from all parts of the country under the aegis of the
National Youth Council of Nigeria in Ile-Ife, in his palace on, Wednesday.
Among other things, the Ooni criticised the
prominent Big Brother Naija reality show, which he said had been
misrepresenting the goodness and integrity of the Nigerian youths.
The monarch described the youths as the country’s
untapped immeasurable wealth and resources.
The royal father, who stressed the need for
participation of more youths in leadership, lamented that the youths have
misplaced their priorities and must redress it as a matter of urgent public
importance.
“Nigerian youths are fond of accusing and abusing
our leaders, stop abusing them; contribute your own quota. Let’s wear our
thinking caps and begin to act like the real future leaders that we are.
“In the last general election, the total number of
vote cast was around 27 million while over 170 million people voted during the
2019 Big Brother Naija reality show.
“This is a practical reality of who Nigerian youths
are and where our priorities lie as Nigerians.
“The funny side in all of these is that we still go
to bed, have a good sleep and wake up with the hope to meet a Nigeria we didn’t
create. Nigerian Youths! Nigerian Youths!! Nigerian Youths!!!
“Unfortunately, every time I talk about this kind of
attitude, everyone just laugh and move on. What kind of nation are we building?
“When people say this country, or what kind of
country is this, they are indirectly saying these people – it is the people
that make a country; so what kind of Nigerian youths are we?” Ooni asked.
Speaking further, the monarch offered a suggestion
for a reality show, which will project the country’s values, cultures and
traditions.
He urged leaders of the National Youth Council of
Nigeria to work out plans on the show, which will be called, “The Big Nigeria
Reality Show”.
“The proposed show will be structured in a way that
young professionals, talented individuals and others across several field of
endeavour will be showcased and helped to reach their peak.
“This would help the participants and also help
viewers to have access to people that can be seen as role models,” Ooni added.
Earlier in his address, the Minister of Youth and
Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, who was represented by Dr. Mariam
Abdullahi, a Director in the Ministry, explained that the youths have major
roles to play in the country’s development.
According to him, the digital literacy and skills
acquisition, entrepreneurship, employability and leadership initiative of the
Ministry are ongoing and all geared towards the development of our youths.
“As government, we will keep ensuring that we equip
our youths towards prosperity,” the minister assured.
Representing Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun at the
event, the state’s Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr. Yemi Lawal,
explained that the youths have a lot to learn from the elders towards reaching
their goals.
“As much as we youths are important, let us be
humble enough to learn from our elders because they were once like us.
Humility, persistence and patience is the key and we must be upright in our
dealings,” he said.
In his address, the President of the National Youth
Council of Nigeria, Mr. Sara-Igbe Sukubo, thanked the Ooni for what he
described as an unthinkable warm reception for the youths.
“Your Imperial Youthfulness as you told us to
address you, we are indeed happy and proud to have you as a father and mentor.
“We have heard your kind words of wisdom and I want
to assure you on behalf of the teeming Nigerian youths that we will put them
into action.
“Fellow Nigerian youths, as we reflect on youth
engagement for global action today, let us realize that a new era of
opportunities and responsibilities is now upon us.
“Today’s youths are now being called upon to rise as
practical stakeholders in governance and development. Let us rise to this
challenge,” Sukubo said.
Meanwhile, the youths at the occasion announced Ooni
Ogunwusi as the ”Royal Father of Nigerian Youths”, in recognition and
appreciation of his immeasurable commitment towards youth development in the
country.
Similarly, the founder of Elizabeth Jack-Rch Aid
Foundation, who is equally the matron of the National Youth Council of Nigeria,
Mrs. Elizabeth Jack-Rich was given an award for her role and stance as a mentor
to the Nigerian youths.
Mrs. Jack-Rich had earlier expressed the readiness
of her foundation to sponsor the reality show proposed by the Ooni.
She admonished youths to ignore all forms of
distraction and negative peer pressure on their way to success.(NAN)
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