The Minister of State for Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande, has appealed to Nigerian youths to be patient, saying “Rome was not built in a day”.
Olawande made the call at a retirement dinner of Hajiya Walida Isa, Director, Corps Mobilisation, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Friday in Abuja.
The Youth Minister praised the exemplary service of the retired NYSC Director emphasising her boldness, courage and steadfastness. He, however, highlighted the importance of diligence, factualness and contributing meaningfully
to the country regardless of one’s role.
“Well, when I was speaking, I said it clearly. I said that if there is one thing that I’ve learned from this woman during her service, things we’ve heard about her, before we know her is boldness. She is courageous and steadfast. As a youth, be focused and just know that you can contribute anything meaningful to the country, whichever quota or whichever way they put you.
”So my message for the young people is that Rome is not built in a day. It is a process and this process is what we are in now. And the process is what we are seeing with what she has done and everybody is here to celebrate her. So what are they going to know you for when you are out of one particular job you are doing? We have clearly know and feel the good work, the good actions and great things she has done.
We are satisfied and we know we are gaining a lot from her, as youths, we want to be bold, we want to be factual. We want to work diligently so that people will also say good things about us. We want all the young people she has trained in one way or the other to know that they can be better than her wherever and however they find themselves,” he said.
