Alhaji Lukman Garu has called on leaders to listen to the voices of young people, to invest in them, and to involve them meaningfully in all decision-making that affects their lives.
The CEO, Garu Technologies (Nig.) Ltd stated this at a Global Conference organized by Ami Olohun Fans Worldwide, yesterday in Lagos.
Speaking on the topic “Dear Youth be like a Tree, let the dead leaves drop”, Alh. Lukman Garu, CEO, Garu Technologies (Nig.) Ltd said “Life they say is just another word for exploring the new and letting go of the old ones. That’s why we have to let go of the dead leaves in your yesterday which has nothing to do with your today!
New leaves, new people and new ideas and innovative will feature only on the branches where the dead old ones are rooted off. The process of letting go of that past and aligning with the future that is about to change your life for nothing less than better is the true you, a youth with a vision!”
Emphasizing on the urgency of youths involvement in leadership, Lukman said: “Today, more than half of all young people live in poverty and survive on less than N1, 000 a day. That is why youth unemployment is unacceptably high, and many young people fall victim to exploitation and violence.
I want to use this opportunity to call on leaders to listen to the voices of young people, to invest in them, and to involve them meaningfully in all decision-making that affects their lives.
The great leaders of today, the youths; Stand up for your rights and the rights of others whenever and wherever you can. Speak out for all those vulnerable, and who are not fully empowered to speak for themselves. Human rights belong to everyone.
To the youths, stay actively involved, stand up for your rights, rise and claim your rightful place in social, economic and political spaces of Nigeria. To ensure that developmental policies work for everyone, especially the use of human rights as our foundation; we must endeavor to promote and protect the human rights of all youths, especially the most vulnerable ones. The world today is now a connected global village, bringing people closer together than ever, thanks to young people like Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg”.
According the Alhaji Garu, together we can overcome our challenges if we work together and redouble our efforts to guarantee that all youths have the knowledge, skills and opportunities to reach their fullest potential.
“My brothers and sisters, your leadership is needed now more than ever. You are already leading the use of new technology to network, create and speak out for change. You are challenging traditional gender roles and paving the way for equity and equality in the 21st century, don’t abuse it but use it wisely to change the world positively.
As youths, it’s important to know that true change cannot be imposed from the outside. To be lasting, it must come from within. Through partnership and inclusive dialogue, we can agree on actions for change”.
He urged the government to play a supportive role and create a conducive environment for the empowerment and prosperity of the Nigerian youths. He also enjoined the youths to take responsibility for their action.
“The youth, the world is against you, the policy is against you, you are responsible for your own life.
To the youths, don’t wait for the government, seek to empower yourselves economically, and must avoid cutting corners, bearing in mind that quick riches do not last long. You must endeavour to do everything by the book, always staying within the ambit of the law in their entire quest.
The past is like the dead leaves, there is no use of it but it will be an extra burden. A restriction for the other live leaves to breath and more so, it destroys the beauty of the tree. So the tree doesn’t cling on to it. Once it is dead it drops it. But you have the choice whether to cling on to it and ruin your present or drop it and give way to the new life, the new leaves.
A 13 century Muslim scholar, Jalāl ad-Dīn, Al Rumi., poet, jurist, Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic whose influence transcends national borders and ethnic divisions said:
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
Success is what you say it is. Examination is not the be all and end all; you need the right qualification and skill” he concludes.
Eminent personalities such as; Aare Gani Adams, the Aare Onokakanfo of Yoruba, Dr. Joe Okei Odumakin (a celebrated human right activist)
His Royal Highness the Timi of Ede represented by Dr. Lukman Adekilekun, Alhaji Abdullah Akinbode also represented was amongst others dignitaries present at the event.
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