The Chief Executive Officer of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited, Dr. Babatunde Adeyemo yesterday was awarded with Mandela Leadership for Excellence in Abeokuta, Ogun state.
The foremost realtor has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bridge the gap between the youths and the older generation in governance, by giving the younger generation a sense of belonging with appointments and empowerments in his government.
Dr. Adeyemo lamented that the future of the Nigerian youths is being stolen and looted steadily, hence the need for Tinubu’s government to take drastic measures to reconcile the huge margin between the young and the old Nigerians in governance.
Dr Adeyemo made it known at The Podium, Pelican Valley Estate Laderin – Abeokuta, the state capital, shortly after his investiture as ECOWAS Youth Ambassador at a ceremony that had in attendance, a renowned Neurosurgeon, Dr. Olusola Talabi, Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Bureau of Politics and Inter- Governmental Affairs, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, former federal lawmaker, Hon. Adekunle Adeyemi, Chief Olawale Olaleye among others.
The multi – award winning real estate practitioner also at the event bagged the EYC’s Nelson Mandela Leadership for Excellence and Integrity Award.
Dr Adeyemo acknowledged that the Nigerian numerous economic challenges cannot be corrected overnight, but noted that an average Nigerian youth, needs to have a sense of belonging in the scheme.
According to the award recipient, only the youths can guarantee an effective and efficient delivery of the Nigerian dream .
He added that, “Our penchant interest in youth development and upgrade, is quite evident in our company’s organisation structure, we have a 100 percent youth work force in Pelican-Valley Nigeria Ltd because we strongly believe that the youths own the future,and the future is here.
“We have launched several youths entrepreneurial development and self reliance campaigns to secondary schools in the country, in a bid to catch them young and awaken these sleeping entrepreneurial skills for future exploits.
“An average Nigerian youth have had their future being stolen and looted, hence the need for our new Government of the day to make a drastic effort to reconcile the huge margin between the young and the old Nigerians in governance.
“The aborted end SARS protest in Lagos, is a very strong expression of grievance by the Nigerian youths, that should not be overlooked by any serious nation or government. Yes, the Nigerian numerous economic challenges cannot be corrected overnight, but an average Nigerian youth, need to start to have the sense of belonging, from the appointments of the President. Only the youths can guarantee an effective and efficient delivery of the Nigerian future.
“Research has it that the current life expectancy for Nigeria in 2023 is 55.75 years, when you compare this with ages of our leaders, we will all agree that the nation needs a drastic injection of decent youths in governance.
“These youths, if properly selected, can always be used as frontline or veritable agent of bargaining powers for government, whenever revolt raises its head and also to guarantee quality and energy – filled governance,”.
He commended the West African Youth Council for bestowing on him, the Nelson Mandela leadership award and also making him an ECOWAS Youth Ambassador, assuring that he would continue to cherish it and represent the body honorably.
According to the Ambassador, the well deserved award of excellence from the highest body of the West African Youth did not come to him as a surprise, considering his passion for the youths and the Pelican Valley’s strategic investments in Nigerian youths over the years.