Vice PresidentYemi Osinbajo has described good character, hard work and productivity as the panacea to Nigeria’s socio-economic and political development.
He said Nigeria would have overcome some of her challenges if not being hindered by endemic corruption.
Osinbajo spoke on Tuesday at a congregation of youths that converge on Osogbo for the 2018 Southwest Regional Youth Summit.
He urged Nigerians to champion virtues of integrity as the only fundamental principle of development.
Vice President added that Nigerians must begin to look inward on the need to support government’s efforts by being productive and hardworking, noting that a nation could only achieve her aspirations if the people are productive.
Osinbajo canvassed good character among Nigerians, saying talent and potentials mean nothing if character is absent.
He said: “If we truly want our nation to grow and develop, thus everyone needs to make necessary input and the only way to achieving this is to be productive in all we do.
“We must begin to plan for the future of our nation. We must create foundation for values as it is critical to success.
“We must work on the virtues that our founding fathers developed as this is the only way to set our nation on the path of greatness.
“In whatever we do, we must emphasize Omoluabi ethos. We must champion hard work and bear at the back of our minds the need to advance our nation in whatever we do.
“Talent and potential do not mean anything if there is no character, so no matter how talented one is, without character, there is no way to make success.
“Integrity is the key to success. Every business that doesn’t emphasize integrity, always fails, thus everyone must be ready to work and make sacrifice if we truly want development.”
Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola challenged the youth to be productive for the country to overcome its economic challenges.
The governor said education could be effective for national growth if it induced productivity.
He noted that youths should see agriculture as a viable business as against the belief that it was meant for the uneducated.
He said: “We must first discover ourselves and apply our discovery to advance our nation. There is no short cut to success other than hard work and productivity.
“It’s unfortunate that we don’t produce what we consume as a nation, but we rely on rent. Though we are educated but our education lacks critical thinking.”
Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi urged youths to be hard-working.
He challenged them to see themselves as the set of people who would drive the future.
The governor said it is important to maximise the opportunity of the summit to chart a way forward for the youths in the Southwest and the nation.
Ajimobi said: “The patriotic sentiment is to forge the future of the Southwest through this all important youth summit at this time when the nation at large needs to plan for the future.
“I see the youths as the next set of people who will drive our destiny and take our race to the next level through hard work and creativity.
“It is important to maximise the opportunity of this summit to chart a way for the growth and development of the South West.
“It is by investing in the youth that we have a future and our dreams and aspirations as a people will be met.”
Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) acting Director-General Sheye Oyeleye explained that the summit was to have the inputs of the youth in the master plan of Nigeria’s development starting with the Southwest.
He urged youths in the Southwest to always conceptualise their thoughts towards how to have a better future and take the region to its pride of place.
“I think the time has come for the youth in the Southwest to come out of their shells and begin to see themselves as the cradle of development of Nigeria.
“I know that our youths are intelligent and very vibrant, but it is time for them to start taking charge and put it into action.”
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, commended the Osun State governor for appointing more youths into his cabinet.
“My governor in Osun has always set the tone for the youths to take charge of the future through the appointment of a lot of youth into his cabinet.
“Osun has always been youth-driven and I want other Southwest governors to take a cue from this.”