The Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on Culture and Tourism, Hon. Akeem Ademola Ige on Saturday received an award from the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Oyo Central Senatorial district.
The award was part of the 4 days youth summit organized by the group in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development at Ilaji hotel and sports resort, Akanran, Ibadan.
Hon. Ige who was represented to receive the said award by Dr Saheed Adetunmbi Ige (P.hd), Senior Lecturer at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho said that he dedicated the said award to youth friendly and progressive Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde for engineering policies geared towards educating and empowering the youth in the State.
Hon. Ige hinted that Governor Seyi Makinde is investing so much in the youth because of his strong believe that for a country to attain greatness, is in the hands of the youth, adding that if the youth are well educated, well skilled and mentally sound, they will be able to play pivotal roles in various aspects of our national life particularly in the area of economy.
While appreciating the Nigerian Youth Parliament for the award, Hon. Ige noted that he always feels fulfilled and elated whenever he looks back and remember how he is using the opportunity he has to be government as elected or appointed to empower the youth in the State especially from Ibadan South East local government meaningfully by employing about 400 of them into government.
He added that many of them that have been spread across the 33 local governments in the state have risen to the position of Directors, Deputy Directors and senior executive officers etc. in their respective field of engagement while some are already part of the labour leaders in NULGE/NLC in the State.
Hon. Ige further hinted that as part of the plan by the government of Engr Seyi Makinde administration to engage the youth, he will soon make tourism as an avenue to create job opportunities for those that are yet to be employed.
On the spate of violence in some parts of Ibadan in recent times, Hon. Ige called on the youth not to see themselves as raw materials to be used as thugs by some failed politicians who are hell bent to discredit the government of Engr Seyi Makinde as a result of his intimidating performance and unprecedented achievements in the last two years.
Hon. Ige who is the Baameto Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland stated this while delivering the condolence message of the Aare Ona Kakanfo, Iba Gani Adams to the leaders of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in the state led by their Coordinator, Comrade Rotimi Olumo Oguntunde over the death of three of their members that were killed while during a clash with the hoodlums that are terrorising the people of Oopo yeosa, Inalende and Abebi area in Ibadan last week Friday.
Three Members of the Oodua that were killed are Akin Aluko, Quadri Omitola and Opeyemi.
Hon. Ige who condemned shedding of innocent blood that has almost become daily occurrence,said that, it is clear that some individuals are behind the unrest by sponsoring the violence with the sole aim of making the state ungovernable having felt intimidated with the outstanding performances of Governor Seyi Makinde in every aspect of sector in the State.
While urging the youth being used by this unscrupulous/failed politicians as agent of destruction to desist from such act, Hon. Ige promised that the perpetrators of this heinous crime will soon be exposed and made to face the full wrath of the law, stressing that the blood of innocent people being killed will continue to haunt them wherever they may be.
