THEME: Strategizing on Reversing the Dominance of the Older Generation in Governance

VENUE: 4-POINTS BY SHERATON HOTEL, LAGOS

DATE: 30TH AUGUST 2014.

 

ATTENDANCE: Media Executives, Young Professionals, Journalists

SPECIAL GUESTS: Mr Sola Omole. DG NTA, Mr Martins Oloja, EDITOR The Guardian Newspaper, Olorogun Ima Niboro. M.D News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). 

 

The Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF) launched a campaign tagged ‘Nigerian Elders Please Give Young People a Chance’ geared towards kicking against a system of governance that seems to evolve into gerontocracy. 

The campaign trail had young professionals, media executives brainstorm over the unending dominance of the older generation and the inherent consequences.

             According to the Chairman NYPF, Mr. Moses Siloko Siasia, this Strategic dinner was engineered to seek the institutional support of the Media to pave way for young Nigerians to participate in the upcoming political campaigns and elections. He also stressed the need for Nigerians to re-orientate themselves and the younger generation to become proactive in their ideologies and visions for change as it was due for people to swing into action and take adequate measures to eradicate bad governance and politically-induced decay in the country.

 

“We as a generation of young people have inherited a dysfunctional, decrepit, antiquated, educational curricula system. We must ensure that we start from the primary level of education to inculcate in to young people the right values and ideas for purposeful governance as over the years we have observed that our elders have refused to give young people a chance so therefore we need to place a demand on them to give us an opportunity.”

 

Mr. Siasia stressed the need for a change in the system; Young Nigerians should desire to create change by asking the elders politely but firmly to give them a chance to take up leadership positions. 

 

The world being a global community have young people at the forefront of innovation and naturally are more physically fit to face the challenges that come with most offices. It is also important for leaders to stay up to date with the reality of globalization and keep up with new and efficient alternatives towards achieving development.

             Proffering a solution to the country’s elderly-dominated government, Mr. Siasia encouraged young Nigerians to imbibe the right values and ideas for purposeful governance, to mature in their ideas and be of the best absolute moral conduct if they must portray themselves as future leaders of this country.

 

While responding to the call on the NYPF to the DG of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Mr Sola Omole said our young people have a responsibility to prove their competence to rationally change the status quo, bringing to the table all they have skillfully and intellectually amassed to be able to take over governance in the Nation.

             He stated that countries where young people have made impact achieved such status because they fought passionately to revolutionalize their society through modern ideologies and technology. He added that the solution to problem was for young Nigerians to move passionately towards making a positive impact in society and to demonstrate the capacity for change with the proper level of maturity and level-headiness.

 

Also present at the dinner was the Editor of the Guardian Newspaper, Mr Martins Oloja who commended the NYPF for taking its campaign to the media and assured the NYPF of his organization’s support whenever deemed necessary. Mr Oloja called on the NYPF to support the process of restructuring the educational system which year-in, year-out produces half-baked graduates’ who in most cases are incapable of creating the much needed difference that the Nation needs. He stressed that the higher education system of the country had degenerated to a critically low level and the sad part was those in leadership positions together with ASUU and people chosen for to be the forefront of Academic stewardship were doing little or nothing about it.

 

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Olorogun Ima Niboro added his opinion on the state of education in the country. According to him, the system was at the edge of collapse if not treated as a matter of urgency and immediate importance. He suggested a new framework of 6years primary level, 5years secondary level, 1 year A levels and 3years in the university which will produce professionals who are capable of delivering the much needed positive effect in politics, governance, entrepreneurship and business in all sectors of the Nigerian project.

 

Other Media Executives present at the event made contributions including Mr Lekan Otufodunmi, Managing Editor Nations Newspaper who added that

 

“every little step will make a difference until the goal is achieved”.

 

The Assistant Editor of The Sun Newspaper described character as the main determining factor in leadership and stressed that Leadership can not be given to any young person in Nigeria on a platter of Gold because of our traditional way of doing things. Capable young Nigerians will have to work diligently to achieve it and see us through.

 

This Strategic dinner ended with interaction and networking between participants, light music and entertainment.

 

"AN EVENING WITH THE PRESIDENT"

LAGOS, NIGERIA.

NYPF'S EXECUTIVE RETREAT.

KOTU, THE GAMBIA.

ROUND TABLE MEETING OF YOUNG POLITICAL LEADERS

ABUJA, NIGERIA.

NYPF INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES.

NYPF INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT

LONDON, UNITED KINGDON.

NYPF SOUTH-WEST REGIONAL SUMMIT

LAGOS, NIGERIA

NYPF SOUTH-EAST REGIONAL SUMMIT

ENUGU, NIGERIA

NYPF NORTHERN REGIONAL SUMMIT

KADUNA, NIGERIA

NYPF STRATEGIC SUMMIT WITH MEDIA EXECUTIVES

LAGOS, NIGERIA.

NYPF INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT

ABUJA, NIGERIA.