No fewer than 16 persons in Osun State have bagged the Award of Excellence in their various fields at the 2024 Osun Youth Ambassador Award (OYAA) organised by the Youth Reformer Initiative.
The 16 awardees were conferred with awards at the 2024 OYAA held at the Oasis Event and Conference Centre in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Sunday, December 15.
The awardees, who were honoured for their dedication and the impact made on the development of Osun State and Nigeria at large, were given award plaques and a sum of N45,000 each following donations by dignitaries in Osun State.
Some of the donors were the Chief Executive Officer of Evermark Group, Hon. Ibraheem Adekunle Luqman, who donated N25,000; and Hon. Adeniyi Ismail Oluwatosin who donated N20,000 to each awardees.
Speaking at the event, the Akire of Ikire-Ile in Osun State, Oba Abdulazeez Olatunbosun Adebamiji, commended the Youth Reformer Initiative, under the leadership of Aminat Ajibola for “championing the course of encouraging the youths to identify and embrace their individuality, potentials and passions to help them unleash their creativity and vibrancy.”
Oba Adebamiji, while emphasising nation-building, said for Nigeria to become more united, there should be a development of civil society organisations, the rise of a state capable of providing public goods across a territory, and the emergence of a shared medium of communication.
The monarch added, “At a deeper level, national identity may be deliberately constructed by moulding different ethnic groups into a nation, especially since in many countries, colonial practices of divide and rule had resulted in ethnically heterogeneous populations with diverse interest and conflicting ideas.
“Many African states, including Nigeria, are plagued by cronyism (the exclusion of all but friends); corruption which erodes trust; and tribalism (rivalry between tribes within the nation). This sometimes results in their near-disintegration, such as the attempt by Biafra to secede from Nigeria in 1970, or the continuing demand of the Somali people in the Ogaden region of Ethiopia for complete independence.
“The Rwandan genocide, as well as the recurrent problems experienced by the Sudan, can also be related to a lack of ethnic, religious, or racial cohesion within the nation. It has often proved difficult to unite states with similar ethnic but different colonial backgrounds.
“Differences in faith and language may be particularly hard to overcome in the process of nation-building. Whereas some consider many countries to be perfect examples of success in multi-ethnicity, fractures are evident in many others. These fractures have centrifugal force threading nationhood.
“The expansion of access to education is often believed to be a key driver in the process of nation-building. Informed citizens contribute better to society and show ore understanding. Therefore, government must put priority on education for the citizens.
“Besides academic content and skills impartation, public education should also teach a love of country and stubbornness in the overcoming of difficulties, an iron discipline, and love of other peoples, the spirit of adventure and constant striving for the greatest good of the society.
“The best way to build a nation is that everyone respects and appreciates others by being open to the traditions and values of all cultures. This means avoiding promoting or embracing only one culture at the expense of others.
“For instance, during the ongoing debates on tax reform in the country, it’s important to place patriotism above ethnic sentiments. Protection of national interest is key to building a stable nation.”
The event was graced by dignitaries including government officials, traditional rulers, and scholars, among others.
