Date: 2016-12-20

The Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ali Ahmad has challenged Youths in the state to de-emphasize from immediate material gains, noting that what should be paramount in their minds must be how to secure their future and be self reliant.

Ahmad gave the admonition in his remarks at a live football show he organised as parts of activities marking the Senate President's birthday, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki at his Constituency office, Sabo Line, Ilorin on Sunday.

The Speaker who also used the occasion to host Kwara's 73 first class graduates from various institutions across the country,said the era of youth depending largely on white collar job was over and enjoined other youths to emulate the scholars by being good ambassadors of the state in their various endeavours and creative minded to make self reliant.

He said as leaders of tomorrow, no government could afford to toy with the future of its youth and restated the determination of the State House of Assembly under his leadership to enact laws and formulate policies that would make youth in the state discover their potentials to enhance their well-being.

He noted that as a politician with good background that believe tenaciously in the well-being of youth, what always come to his mind is how to impart positively in them and enjoined them to explore the entrepreneurial tendency in them so as to make them self reliant in the future.

To further achieve the objective, according to him was the reason he provided solar system, generating set and 25 sets of computers with internet facilities connected to16 computers to encourage and assist graduates in his Constituency in search of jobs online and discover their innate tendencies for a better tomorrow.

The Speaker stated his belief that the gesture would go a long way in cutting their expenses on internet while searching for employment opportunities, disclosed that the office was accessible 24 hours for youth to discover their potentials.

On the Senate President's birthday, Ahmad congratulated Senator Bukola Saraki and charged other politicians in the state to assist in changing the youths mindset "so that everything they set out to do would not be for immediate monetary gain".

The Speaker who extolled the virtues of the Senate President eulogised Senator Saraki for his resolve to host the scholars, saying that it takes a good and honest leader to recognise the brightest minds as they have done the state proud. Responding, the Senate President, represented by Director, Non Governmental in Mandate Office, Alhaji Ali Olola who commended the Speaker for honouring him on the occasion of his 54th birthday celebration, noted with delight that his initiative would go along way to address youth joblessness and restiveness.

The Senate President who described youth as the bedrock of any sustainable development, charged all tier of government, corporate organizations and wealthy individuals to demonstrate more political will to address the problems bedevilling youth in the Country for a better tomorrow.

Most of the Youth who were at the centre to watch the football match, praised the Speaker for his tenacity of purpose in wanting to improve the well-being of youth in the State and urged him not to relent in bid at making youth in the State discover their innate potentials for accelerated socio economic emancipation of the State.

The occasion which witnessed large turn out of who is who in Kwara politics ,saw the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ali Ahmad presenting a giant birthday card to the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki in commemoration of his birthday.

The dignitaries included the Senator representing Kwara South, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, Hon. Ahman Bahago Patigi representing Edu/Patigi/Moro Federal Constituency, Deputy Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Mathew Okedare, House Leader, Hon. Hassan Oyeleke, the Chief Whip, Hon. Umar Gunu Mohammed. Others are Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Sulaiman Atolagbe Alege, former Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Abdulraheem Adedoyin among several party, stalwarts, stakeholders and supporters.