These challenges are enormous in the 21st century globalized world. Perhaps, this explains why many developed countries of the world are investing huge resources in human capital development for effective long term developmental strategies. But in Nigeria, recurrent expenditures outweigh the necessary capital expenditures that would have helped catapulted the country to high economic standard. And a huge portion of governmental spending is allocated to the National Assembly. So, when I had the chance to ask the incumbent senator in Ekiti Central, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, a question, it was on what progressives like him were doing in the National Assembly to help curb the monumental waste of resources through recurrent expenditures. The setting was a symposium organized by the parliamentarians of the department of political science, Obafemi Awolowo Univeristy, O.A.U, Ile Ife in the last quarter of 2012.
The senator gave a satisfactory answer, which when analyzed critically, translated to mean that one tree cannot make a forest. Or better still, that the number of true parliamentarians in the National assembly is lower compared to those who have no moral qualification to be there.
The senator then informed the gathering of his numerous projects aimed at empowering his people and literarily giving back to his people. One of the projects, IBOLD ( Initiative of Babafemi Ojudu for Leadership Development www.ojudubabafemi.com/ibold), is designed for students of Ekiti origin in higher institutions in Nigeria.
It is an annual essay competition with lots of prizes and educational advantages. Since I am from Ekiti, I had to put in immediately. The first round was submitted online and we wrote on the topic “Nigeria’s underdevelopment and the challenges of Leadership”. We were shortlisted to 20 and invited to write the second round in Ado Ekiti. The second round was an on-the-spot assessment with no prior notice of topic. We were asked to write on the achievements and shortcomings of the incumbent administration in Ekiti. The senator was on hand to receive us in Ado and also gave us sufficient money for transportation back to our respective destinations.
The prize-giving ceremony took place on the 2nd of November in Ado Ekiti. I came second with a cash prize of three hundred and fifty thousand naira and a brand new laptop, the first got five hundred thousand naira with a laptop and the third place got one hundred and fifty thousand naira with a laptop. The fourth and fifth got new laptop each and the sixth to nineteenth got twenty thousand naira each. In addition to these, the top twenty each year automatically become students of the IBOLD Centre with opportunities for assistance in further academic pursuits and mentoring through leadership training for future responsibilities.
Beloved Nigerian youths, this is quite laudable. It is far better than those who hire us for thugs and killers. At least someone is investing in our future. Imagine if all the senators of the federal republic of Nigeria has a project akin to this. That translates to two thousand, one hundred and eighty youths being empowered annually with scholarships for further academic pursuits. That is how to invest in the youths, and any positive investment yields good results.
That is exactly what the developed countries have done. Are we doing same in Nigeria ? Any nation that intends to grow must have a blueprint of how best to empower her youths and engage them in productive activities for the overall good of the nation. No other way than through education. We have left too much for government to do in our lopsided and artificial federalism that the society has forgotten its responsibilities to itself. I salute you Senator Babafemi Ojudu, in the words of Max de Pree “Leaders should leave behind them assets and a legacy”. Posterity will judge you and we will not disappoint you. To whom much is given, there should be no quantifying what is expected.
And on the last note, if I were a Nigerian youth in another state now, I would urgently rally students and demand for initiative such as this from our senators.
Long live Senator Babafemi Ojudu !
Long live the IBOLD project !
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Eyitayo Adetunji Adeyeye,
Political science department, Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile Ife.
eyitayoadeyeye@yahoo.com
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