Former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Benedict Alabi, Chief Whip, Osun House of Assembly, Babatunde ‘Lekan Olatunji, and the former Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Empowerment in the state, Dr Bode Olaonipekun have been billed to grace the maiden edition of the yearly Bisi Akande Leadership Symposium.
The symposium organised by the Osun Club of Emerging Leaders is slated for Saturday, January 14, at the Banquet Hall of Chief Bisi Akande residence in Osun State.
Convener of the programme, David Opeyemi Oye-Oke, in a statement issued yesterday in Lagos, said the birth of the yearly symposium is to create a platform for qualitative discourse about important national issues, celebrate an exemplary leader; Chief Bisi Akande, and democratise his leadership core values, which are largely ideal to build a desirable Nigeria.
He noted that this idea of the symposium was conceived by a team of young emerging Nigerian leaders, who are passionate about seeing the birth of a new Nigeria in their generation.
Oye-Oke stated that in the midst of uncertainties and the decadence in the Nigerian political leadership, Akande stands as a beacon of hope for the coming generation of leaders in competence, capacity and most importantly, character.
His visionary leadership, which has produced an array of exemplary leaders in Nigeria and beyond is worthy of emulation,” he said.
“The symposium will provide a platform for young people to connect and engage in creating trans-generational change in Nigeria. The programme is expected to consciously remove existing barriers to emerging leaders’ political participation.
“It will foster emerging leaders’ collaborative participation and intellectual engagements with other stakeholders, wherein young people will effectively take part in regular political decision-making processes. The Bisi Akande Symposium is neither a one-off nor a short-term intervention, but a long-term engagement amongst emerging leaders to ignite a consciousness amongst the vast majority of Nigerians,” the convener said.
Oye-Oke explained that the programme will help the youth understand and redefine their roles in the community.
“It will prepare them to become responsible citizens and contributing members of their communities. It will empower participants to be actively engaged in addressing issues of concern in their schools and communities upon their return home,” he said.
