The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has described the younger generation across Africa as the catalyst for the development of a new economic frontier for the continent.
Abiodun stated this when he received members of the Royal African Young Leadership Forum, an initiative of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi for young men and women of the African continent in Abeokuta on Thursday.
While commending Oba Ogunwusi for ushering in an evolving leadership movement for Africa, the governor said the energy and creativity of members of the forum would help reposition the continent.
He said: “I see young men and women as catalysts for building Africa into a new economic frontier.
“I believe what the Ooni of Ife has started here is not just a forum but a movement, a movement of an evolving African leadership.
He thanked the Ooni of Ife for the initiative and for “and doing it quietly”.
“I believe that with the energy, creativity, flexibility and innovative thinking that you have in this age group, you are indeed the leaders of Africa today and you need to keep reminding yourself of that.
“You have to have the drive in you, you have to have that spirit in you, you have to have that determination in you, and it starts with that kind of fellowship where you meet and mingle and share ideas, not just within your country, but different countries,” he said.
Abiodun noted that the forum’s 40-and-under age group represents between 65% and 70% of the world’s population.
Earlier, the Director of the Royal Forum, Tomisin Olawale, noted that the group in the last three years had transacted in the region of N300 billion.
He said the members of the Forum are creating a new Africa as well as driving the new economic frontier for the continent.
