Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has launched OBJ@85 Free Keke Programme which is geared towards providing economic empowerment for young people across the nation.
Obasanjo,who used the launch to mark his 85th birthday,said it was imperative for the youth to be given opportunities whilst also urging them to be more committed to shunning activities that will jeopardise sustainable nation building.
He urged Nigerian youths not to abandon the country to ‘those who are messing it up.’ He told them to hold their futures in their hands with a firm belief that ‘today is their day’ as against the famous cliché – youths are the leaders of tomorrow.
The ‘OBJ @85 Free Keke Programme’ was officially launched during the event and the tricycles (Keke) will be distributed to beneficiaries drawn from the 36 states of the federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
The tricycles were donated through the Youth Development Centre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Youth Development Centre.
Obasanjo said that despite many challenges confronting Nigeria, there are ‘opportunities galore’ and asked the younger generation to take advantage of it.
He also charged them to roll up their sleeves and make necessary contributions towards addressing challenges of the nation.
According to him, if the youth leave things to those who are messing it up and those who are saying they are the leaders of tomorrow, they will never have that tomorrow.
He said, “The first thing we want to prove is that there are opportunities galore in this country. Yes, things are not what they should be but you, as youths, individually and collectively, must make up your mind, make contributions in order to make things the way they should be.If you leave things to those who are messing it up for you and (you) are saying you are the leaders of tomorrow, you will never have that tomorrow. Today is your day.
“Then the third point is, yes, sometimes, you may get people who would help you and a times you may not even get who would help you; you must remember God has given you innate ability to be what He wants you to be and if you make up your mind on what you want to be, God will help you and He would provide those people who would help you to reach the sky which should be your limit.”
The chairperson of the Centre, Dr Bisi Kolapo, implored the youths to emulate Obasanjo’s passion and commitment in an effort to build ‘Nigeria of our dreams’.
She also warned them against corruption and greed as he said it would be difficult to fight those menaces if you’re a culprit.
She said courage, fortitude, forthrightness, respectability, knowledge, loyalty, passion and responsibility are some of the virtues expected of the youths in order to move the country forward.
Responding, two of the beneficiaries, Bashir Alimodu and Asembe Ngumimi, respectively from Borno and Benue States, applauded the centre for the donation which they said would enhance growth and development of their trades.
They also promised to make judicious use of the tricycles, just as they urged other wealthy Nigerians to take a clue from the gesture in order to lift young entrepreneurs across the country.
