Youths in the country have been advised to improve their knowledge, skills, and competence to become the best in their respective chosen careers.
A retired Professor of Guidance and Counselling at the University of Ibadan, Prof. Ayobami Ahmed, gave the charge on Tuesday during the Youths Day programme to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria, FOMWAN, Oyo State chapter.
The theme of the programme was- ‘Security Challenges and Youth Development: Building Resilience, Responsibility and Hope’.
Prof. Ahmed urged the youths to develop and focus their lives on things that will be useful to themselves and to society at large.
”They must be able to develop themselves optimally. They must have a focus of what they want to become in life, so that they can be useful, not only to themselves but to the society to which we belong. Youths of today are leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
He further stressed the need for civic engagement.
”Majority of them are not willing to participate in volunteering services. What FOMWAN is doing is to enhance, develop, and optimize the resources that we have to develop the society. So, if they don’t key into what FOMWAN is doing, then it means we are not going to be having anything. They must be able to align with what FOMWAN is doing so that they can be responsible to society.”
On skills, the don added: “Skill development means continuous learning. What you are learning today may not be what will be useful to society tomorrow, but you must continue to adapt. Adaptability will lead to creativity and innovation. You have to keep learning so that you can be useful and be relevant to society.”
Speaking on the sub-theme, ‘From Fear to Responsibility: Practical Steps for Youth’, Professor Serifat Akorede called on parents and elders in the communities to guide youths to imbibe the fear of Allah and engage in prayers for peace to reign in the country.
She identified enhanced community dialogue, addressing root economic causes, empowerment of local policing, improved security force capacity, and modernized intelligence and technology as ways to address the root causes of insecurity.
Professor Akorede emphasized that security is the responsibility of everybody.
”All of us have a responsibility to do before, during, and after security challenges. For instance, all youths, parents, government, religious leaders, and members of the media must be ready to take actions that will bring peace at the end of it all.”
The programme had in attendance the Oyo State FOMWAN Amira, Dr. (Mrs.) Lateefat Dairo, and the Chairperson of the 40th Anniversary Planning Committee, Alhaja Surura Oyero. It brought together Muslim corps members under the Muslim Corps Members Association of Nigeria, MCAN, members of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, MSSN, youths from the FOMWAN Charity Home, and the Pure Heart Foundation, among others.
