By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
A Realtor and anti – corruption Ambassador, Dr. Babatunde Adeyemo, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bridge the huge gap between the youths and old guards in governance by giving the younger generation a sense of belonging with appointments and empowerments in his government.
Dr. Adeyemo who is the CEO of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited, a foremost real estate firm in Ogun State, 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.
He recalled that the EndSARS protest that shook Lagos State and other cities in parts of the country in 2020 was a very strong expression of grievances by the Nigerian youths, advising that the message it conveyed should not be overlooked by any serious nation or government.
Adeyemo spoke on Thursday 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 ambassadorial appointment was given to him by the ECOWAS Youth Council (EYC).
The multi – award winning real estate practitioner also bagged the EYC’s Nelson Mandela Leadership for Excellence and Integrity Award at the occasion.
He 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 of things and from the appointments of the President going forward.
According to the award recipient, only the youths can guarantee an effective and efficient delivery of the Nigerian future.
The newest ECOWAS Youth Ambassador revealed that in recognition of the need to harness the potentials of Nigerian youths, Pelican Valley elected to embark on 100% youth workforce policy and launched several youth – based entrepreneurial development initiatives as well as self reliance campaigns to secondary schools in the country, in bids to catch them young and awaken their sleeping entrepreneurial skills for future exploits.
“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,” Adeyemo said.
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.
Speaking earlier on the Investiture and the Nelson Mandela Leadership for Excellence and Integrity Award bestowed on Dr. Adeyemo, the President of ECOWAS Youth Council (EYC), Amb. Emmanuel Oluwaseun William, said the honour is meant to celebrate the recipient in recognition of his “persistent hard work and resounding success in rapidly improving entrepreneurship and youth empowerment.”
William added that the body remained desirous of using Adeyemo to impact positively on over 200million African youths through formulating ideas and policies that would benefit them, also urging him to always stand for the sub-regional peace, stability, development, girl – child, youth development and empowerments as an ECOWAS Youth Ambassador.
He said they were impressed to discover that what the body had heard and read about him regarding his youth development initiatives were true as evidence in the number of young people working as Staffers in his real estate firm.
Describing Adeyemo as a man of honour and strong leadership skills, William lauded him for his accomplishments as an inspiring personality, a distinguished entrepreneur, realtor par excellence and an entrepreneur doing so well in real estate business.
In their separate goodwill messages, Hon. Adekunle Adeyemi, Perm Sec. Kehinde Onasanya and Com. Olamide Lawal, congratulated the Pelican Valley CEO for the honour, saying it was well deserved.
Hon. Adeyemi while praying that Adeyemo shall continue to receive more ‘congratulations,’ tomorrow, urged him to sustain the tempo of the conduct that has continued to bring accolades and honour to him.
The lawmaker that represented Ifo/ Ewekoro Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber between 2011 and 2015, however, expressed the optimism that Adeyemo would one day be given a national assignment in line with his area of competence and experience to address the housing needs and land matters of the nation.
Also, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya who described Adeyemo as “The new face of African youths,” urged him not to rest on his oars.
He noted that he started Pelican Valley project about 12 years ago, saying despite the daunting challenges encountered, he made success of it to the extent that the “brand has become a household name in Ogun State.”
According to him, the Pelican Valley boss is a huge lesson on perseverance, honesty, integrity and patient not only for Nigerian youths but also for the African continent.
