AFRICAN University Student Parliamentarians from 54 member countries, under the aegis of African Students Union Parliament (ASUP), on Wednesday bestowed the 2017 Pan African Distinguished Leadership Award on the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela.
The Speaker of the student parliament, Rt. Hon. Kewul Abel from Côte d’Ivoire, was ably represented by his Deputy, Solomon Mensah, a student of the University of Ghana, who led a delegation of ASUP legislative officials to the Ministry of Education, Agodi Government Secretariat, Ibadan to bestow the award on the Commissioner.
Making the presentation, the Speaker said the award was in recognition of the governor’s aide commitment and contributions to effective service delivery, key support to the governor, open door policy which was brought to the front burner by Nigerian representatives at the African Students Union Parliament (ASUP) Conference held at the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra.
Hon. Kewul stressed, “African Students Union Parliament (ASUP) has taken her time to scrutinize this leader who have committed his time to serve the common good in accordance to the Pan-Africanism Ideology. At this point that the youths need to have exemplary leaders as role models, we have carefully selected your highly respected person to honour you with PAN-AFRICAN Leadership Award.
Also, he lamented that Africa, faced with the dire consequence of years of neglect of youths in its ranks, has resulted in various social vices such as conflicts, kidnappings, bombings, robberies which have assumed an alarming dimension.
In his response, at the historic ceremony, while accepting the honour, the commissioner urged the youths not to run Pan Africanism as a philosophy alone, but to evaluate the present state of development, what the future foretells for young people and to properly establish their role in Africa’s development.
The University Don, Olowofela further tasked the youths on the need to contribute to Africa’s development through sound education and technological skills, stressing that the world is open for the youths to shine, especially in the area of technological development.
“African youths can compete globally in the technological field in the new world economy. We only need better technological education and exposure to best practices, especially renewable energy. We must come together to promote development and commercialisation of indigenous technology and adaptation of imported technology for wider application. The development of Africa will be done only by Africans”, the commissioner reiterated.
He continued, ” the entire Africa is looking up to Nigeria that has all it takes to be the greatest nation in the world, and if the country gets it right, other African countries definitely will get it right. For black man to be respected, Nigeria must get it right. We must go back to the basics”.
The ex – council boss, Olowofela, however advised the youths to emulate leaders such as Obafemi Awolowo, Nkwame Nkruma, Nnamdi Azikwe and other great African nationalists, who have lived well and those who are living exemplary lives, just as he called for knowledge sharing with other continents through exchange programmes, academic conferences, and social media interactions.
Earlier, various recipients of the honor include: the President of Sudan, Umar Al-Bashir, President, Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Auta, Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba, and the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, among others.
Some of the ASUP delegates at the event include, the Majority Leader, Lanota Chakibe ( Universite de Kokodi), Director Gender, Dahunsi Nifesimi (Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo), Media Director, Okojokwu Kingsley (Benue State University, Makurdi) and Eveh Dominic ( Nigeria Coordinator, Nasarawa State University, Keffi),
