Governor Ambode, Commissioner, VON Staff Others Get NYC Awards

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, Commissioner of Home Affairs, Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef and the Bureau Chief of Voice of Nigeria, South-West office, Mr Yinka Salaam have received varying categories of Award of Excellence from the National Youth Council of Nigeria.

The awards were given at the commemoration of the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development/South West Youth Merit Award 2017 at Ostra Hotel, Lagos.

While Governor Ambode got the:Outstanding Governor on Good Governance, Dr AbdulLateef got the Outstanding Commissioner on Peace, Reconciliation and Conflict Management, and Mr Salaam received the Outstanding Youth Friendly Media Personality Award in recognition of his numerous youth empowerment and invaluable contribution to youth developments in Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode commended the youths in Lagos State and the South West for their focus and enterprising spirit, saying without the peace loving and hardworking youths, the progress being made in Lagos would have been impossible.

“As youths, you now have history in your hands and that is why I am in support of Not-Too-Young-To-Rule initiative. No doubt, our youths are capable of leading the nation in every capacity, but it is important for the youth to profile every sector of the society and ask himself or herself: ‘where do I best fit to serve’?

“In establishing a family, you must ask yourself,’ what kind of family do I want to establish and what kind of products (children) will come out of the family – the veritable human laboratory from where man is taught and nurtured.

Dr AbdulLateef who represented the Governor urged the youths to go beyond teaching and nurturing, given to them by the parents, teachers and the society, with a view to developing and equipping themselves with relevant skills and abilities to be useful to themselves and the society at large.

The Guest Speaker who spoke on the theme: Understanding the Concept of Volunteerism as a Panacea to National Development, Dr Oluremi Olaleye described volunteers as first responder in times of crisis and urged the youths to take advantage of volunteerism to enhance their career path and increase their individual and collective capacities.

“It is estimated that about 140 million volunteers exist across the world. And If they were to assemble in a place, they will constitute the 9th most populous nation in the world. This signposts their significance.

“Volunteerism therefore gives opportunity to interface with the opinion leaders and the policy makers. It imbues in them self confidence, build social capital, confers internal and eternal reward, gives self fulfillment and social recognition,” he said.

The Chief Host, Mr Saliu Adekunle, Vice President, National Youth Council of Nigeria, South-West urged the youths to adopt voluuteerism as a way of life to make like meaning for the underprivileged and people experiencing deprivations even as he appreciated the awardees for assisting the cause of the youths.

Dignitaries who received awards at the occasion include, Dr Oluremi Olaleye of the Lagos State Polytechnic who bagged the Most Supportive Lecturer on Youth Development and Good Initiatives, and Imam Abdullah Shua’ib of Jaiz Bank got the Outstanding Religious Leader on Economic Growth and Development (Muslim)

Others include Mr Tajudeen Adebanjo of the Nation newspaper who who received Media Friendly Award for himself and his medium and the Students Union President of the Micheal Otedola College of Education, Epe, Miss Hidayah Nasirudeen who received the Outstanding Student Union President Award of the Year.