By Kazeem Awojoodu, Ibadan

Hon. Shina Peller has said youths has a vital role to play in achieving a new Nigeria.

Naijanewshub.com.ng reports that a member of House of Representatives, representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency of Oyo State, Hon. Shina Peller has called on Nigerian youths to always ensure that they participate in nation building.

Hon. Peller and other speakers at the 3-days Annual Leadership Conference 4.0 organised by Leo District 404B2, Nigeria of Lions Club International maintained that youths are critical in the building of new Nigeria through their civic responsibility.

Hon Shina Peller who addressed the participants alongside the Assistant Chief Planning Officer, Lagos Civil Service, Mr Femi Lamina; Leo District President 404B2, Nigeria, Leo Damilola Aladesuyi as keynote speakers at the conference theme: “Leadership Optimization” that commenced on Friday and ended on Sunday at one popular event center in Ogbomoso, stressed that until the government at all level creates enabling environment for young people, the country is going now where.

He maintained that 2023 is an opportunity for young people to understand and realise the value and the power in youthfulness, which they should allow it to filter away.

According to him, “We need a new Nigeria and the youths of this country are very critical in achieving this, basically because of their strengths. Youths are tends to have more innovative capacity and ability to think outside the box, and that is what Nigeria needs now.

“Until the government create enabling environment for young people, the country is going nowhere, they are critical to the development of this country.

“2023 is an opportunity for the youths to understand the value and power of their youthfulness, and understand that Nigeria needs a new system, which they should strive towards achieving it.

“They have such power to determine the leadership of this country considering the statistics from INEC that about 80 percent of youths are in voters register. They should identify the criteria of leader they want choose on capacity, ability and have the interest of the masses as against religious sentiment, political parties or ethnicity”.

Also speaking on “Optimizing Leadership Capacity for Human Development”, Femi Lamina advised the youths not to be used by politicians for their selfish interests.

He maintained that youths are now waking up to take the lead in the next general elections considering their involvement in electioneering build up to 2023 elections.

According to him, “Now that the youths are waking up, that they are taking the lead, something important is about to happen to Nigeria. Youths are the centre of the coming elections, they should put themselves in the leadership role”.

Speaking in same vein, Leo Programme Chairperson and President, District 404B2, Nigeria, Lion Blessing Umebali and Leo Damilola Aladesuyi respectively said, the leadership conference is meant to prepare members in particular and Nigeria youths in general for leadership roles in combating myriad of challenges facing the country.

According to Umebali, “I know and believe that the speakers and facilitators will inspire you Leos for a greater height and spurning you all to be better individuals that will add values to our nation.

“We can only pray for more wisdom and grace for fresh ideas to keep impacting many more youths in our society for a positive society result. It is in-line with this that our dear Leo District 404B2 Nigeria always embark on this leadership programme, so, to build human capacity development that will naturally add value to the development of the nation building”.