By Stanley Onyekwere
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration(FCTA), Mr. Olusade Adesola has bagged the Youth Partnership for Africa’s Development(YOUPAD) with the prestigious Thomas Sankara Leadership Prize for Integrity and Transparency Award.
The Award was in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of the cause of young people in Nigeria, in particular and the Continent of Africa at large, sustained unblemished public service record as well as remarkable feats in nation-building.
According to the Secretary of YOUPAD, Daniel kewul Donald, Leadership Award is premised on Adesola’s zero tolerance for corruption in public service ,administrative astuteness and impeccable leadership traits.
In his words: “Our terms of reference in conferring this honour to your esteem person include; your hard work and dedication to national service, high administrative acumen and selfless leadership ideology. You are a team player and a passionate youth developer, which is evident in your all-inclusive leadership style, which has contributed immensely towards the development of your subordinates.
‘You are a team player who carries everyone along in your decision making, irrespective of tribe, religion or gender. You are a public servant with zero tolerance for corruption, nepotism or favouritism and your exemplary lifestyle which promotes the African moral values, which is worthy of emulation by the youth-including others too numerous to be mentioned in prints”.
He adds: “YOUPAD is Pan-African Organisation with headquarters in Kigali which has the broad mandate to build the youth in leadership and entrepreneurship, with the purpose of providing Africa with intellectually equipped youth to take the mantle of leadership in order to build the Africa of our collective dreams; which can only be achieved through an integrated prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic youth force in the international arena”.
Responding, the Permanent Secretary, thanked the leadership of YOUPAD for singling him for this great honour and recognition. Adding that the award will in no doubt spur him up for greater exploits.
Adesola used the occasion to recall that when he was the Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, he facilitated the review of Youth Policy, which has been recognized and adopted as credible document.
He further revealed that he was equally instrumental to the coming onboard of the Nigeria National Youth Day, as well as playing an active role in the resolution of the internal crisis that engulfed the Nigeria Youth Council.
He stressed that all the efforts were geared towards bringing the youths into national and international leadership limelight.
He also called on the youth to brace up and harness their political, economic and entrepreneurial potentials, in a bid to take their rightful positions in the development of Nigeria in particular and the Africa Continent in general.
Speaking on the FCT Administration’s achievement on youth development, the Permanent Secretary intimated the leadership of YOUPAD that the Administration has over the years been engaging the youth on the areas of skill acquisition and entrepreneurial empowerment, sports development and leadership development, amongst others.
