Olusola Owonikoko, President of the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI), has urged young people in Nigeria to take command of their own destiny and become agents of change. He believes that the kids hold the key to the nation's destiny.
At the third annual Ambassador Walter Carrington conference, which featured a pitch competition with the topic "Innovate, Create and Sustain: Youth entrepreneurship for a better future," Owonikoko made this claim.
The goal of the symposium, which is held in observance of Global Entrepreneurship Week and marks the end of a six-month student entrepreneurship training program for tertiary institutions in Lagos, is to encourage the development of entrepreneurship among young people in Nigeria.
According to Owonikoko, the fellowship is all about investing in youth, particularly in their potential for social entrepreneurship and civic leadership.
"The majority of people in Nigeria are young, and their numbers are enormous.
In Nigeria, youth constitute the largest demographic. Since we are Nigeria's custodians and must be supported in order to be in a position to fulfill Nigeria's desires, young people must be given the tools they need to be change agents in their communities. This is true both for social and commercial reasons, he said.
Dr. Arese Carrington, a board member of the Carrington Fellowship, stated that young people are not too young to lead, but that they must be ready to take on leadership roles in the modern world and instill moral principles.
"Take charge and start leading today, because tomorrow will never come if they keep calling you the leaders of tomorrow."As you take on more leadership roles in your various entrepreneurial endeavors, keep in mind that being in charge does not automatically translate into becoming a leader. A leader is really a servant.
Because serving the people you lead is your responsibility. Being a leader doesn't require a title; true leadership can take many different forms, but one common trait is serving others' needs and improving their lot in life rather than your own. She urged, "Don't be a sayer, be a doer. Your actions and results will speak louder than your words. Actions speak louder than words."
She also urged the young people to create and work together by utilizing the global community.
Acting Charge d' Affairs of the US Mission in Nigeria, Will Stevens, gave the youth another assignment: assume responsibility for their future democracy. Without ownership, things have the potential to collapse.
In his own words: "I have a strong belief in the ability of young people and that they can solve difficulties, just as we need African answers to solve global issues. The issues that we all confront are worldwide.
Dr. Folashade Olushola, vice chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), bemoaned the high rate of youth unemployment while emphasizing that UNILAG is dedicated to transforming young people's perspectives so that they create jobs rather than looking for them.
"However, not everyone can create a job or add value, and the goal of this leadership training is to help people become leaders wherever they are," the speaker stated.