The Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin has advocated for more youthful inclusion in leadership positions in Nigeria.
The Speaker made this known at the maiden Adebo Ogundoyin Students Legislative Summit, organized on his behalf by the Students Representatives Council of the University of Ibadan.
The summit with the theme “Roles Of Quality Legislation In Nation Building” had in attendance, Governor Seyi Makinde, Minister of State for youths, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, lawmakers from the Southwest states, political office holders, student leaders, Soun Of Ogbomoso, other traditional rulers and Dr Timothy Golu who represented the guest speaker on the occassion, Dr Bukola Saraki.
Ogundoyin, during his remarks at the summit, said the proposal by the Students Representatives Council of the University of Ibadan and the SSA Student affairs to the Oyo State Governor, Victor Dideolu was immediately given needed attention by him because of his passion for supporting youth development.
He said: “Hence, when the idea of a students legislative summit was brought to my attention by the Students Representatives Council of the University of Ibadan and the SSA Student affairs to the Oyo State Governor (Victor Didiolomo), I immediately embraced it as channel and platform to advance my abiding belief and interest in moulding the youth and preparing them to take up the mantle of leadership in their various areas of interest in a not too distant a future.
“This Summit themed “Roles of quality legislation in nation building” is organised for members of Students Representatives Council, Students Union Governments and students of interest in higher institutions of learning across the Southwest states and Kwara, where over 65 institutions have been identified and invited.
Oduduwa News reports that the purpose of the summit was to Encourage students to critically analyze the impact of existing legislations on various aspects of the society, such as education, healthcare, and the economy.
The guest speaker, Dr Saraki represented by a senior aide to the Plateau State governor, Dr Timothy Golu, explained that the constant clamour for citizens fundamental rights, social justice and equality will be addressed if the nation prioritize implementation of laws.
The former senate president in the 8th National Assembly who said quality Legislation provides workable measures that maintain security of lives and property, promotes economic growth and support social welfare, said laws enacted would work more effectively in the realization of developing states of the federation.
In an address, minister of state for youths, Mr Ayodele Olawande said Nigerian youths have been given priority in the president Bola Tinubu’s administration with the appointment of appreciable number of youth, pledging the commitment of the younger generation to contribute meaningful to nation building
Declaring the summit opened, Oyo state governor, engineer Seyi Makinde while promising his commitment to youths involvement in governance, noted that his administration would continue to prepare the youth for the future.
On his part, chairman, southwest conference of speakers and Speaker, Ekiti State House of assembly, Mr Steven Aribasoye said for any society to be viable, there must be quality and robust legislation.
Earlier in an address, the speaker, students representatives council, University of Ibadan, Mr. Omotunde Olamide advocated proper funding of public tertiary institutions stressing that the nation cannot afford to commercialize its educational institutions.
Addressing the gathering, speaker of the Oyo state house of assembly who doubles as the chairman, conference of speakers of legislature in Nigeria, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin highlighted the importance of law making in the management of political, economic, social, legal and administrative affairs of a state or nation.
Mr Ogundoyin said quality legislation was the primary tool by which Government implement its policies and accomplish its set objectives, saying the maiden edition of the summit, would take a holistic look at the imperatives of quality legislation for national growth and development.