PHOTO CAPTION: Guest Speaker at the event, Prof. Francis Igbasan, handing over some of the Exercise Books to a beneficiary and a student of United Grammar School, Ode Irele. With them are officers of School and Ikale Youth Ambassadors

Youths have been described as vanguards of progress and positive change agents in their respective communities if their boundless energies are well harnessed and directed.

This was the submission of Prof. Francis Igbasan, former Chairman, Ondo State Teaching Service Commission, while speaking as Guest Speaker at the 4th Annual Lecture Series of Ikale Youth Ambassadors held last week at the United Grammar School, Ode Irele.

The event witnessed the giving out of over one thousand branded Exercise Books to students of the school in honour of the Patron of the group who is also a notable son of Ikaleland and Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajajsin University, Akungba Akoko, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun.

In his lecture, Prof. Igbasan identified ages 15-35 as the most active segment of youths, even as he conceded that those over the age of 35 who share the ideas of a progressive society are also considered as youths.

In his words, “youths represent a vast and often untapped resource for immediate and long term community development efforts. So, the youths constitute the major resource base for any country that want to embark on any meaningful community development programmes.

“A whole range of community development activities such as construction of bridges and culverts, schools, markets, music and drama, preservation of natural environment, vocational skill training seminars, membership empowerment and awareness raising campaigns are some of the roles performed by youths.”

He, however, cautioned that for youths to be effective agents of community development, they must adopt the concept of active participation which makes the youth a subject rather than object of development.

According to him, it also guides the youths to appreciate that success can be achieved when they participate willingly in their own affairs.

He also listed poverty, low level of awareness, illiteracy, unemployment, lack of cooperation among youths, lack of skills and opportunity as factors militating against the potentials and effectiveness of youths in their community development efforts.

Speaking earlier, the coordinator of the group, Mr. Olusola Bobola and Secretary, Dr. Gbenga Daso had charged participants to see themselves as beacons of hope and agents of transformation in their communities.

According to them, the era of absolute dependence on government is gone and youths should position themselves as drivers of the emerging change in global developmental efforts.

While giving his vote of thanks, the Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr. Seun Akindele thanked members of the group for their support and cooperation.

Several other speakers at the event called on youths to rise-up to the challenge of contributing their quota to the socio-economic development of their communities.

The event also witnessed cultural dance and display by staff and students of the College as well as members of the group and other guests.