Date: 2017-06-27

In continuation of the activities marking the 50th anniversary of Kwara State, three females were yesterday presented with cash rewards for emerging winner and runners up respectively in the video contest organized by Mike Omotosho Foundation.

The selfie video with maximum of 50 seconds, conveyed the contestants dreams and aspirations for Kwara in the next 50 years and uploaded on instagram, tagged @ Mikeomotosho with the #mydreamkwara.

Over 1000 entries were received on the instagram upload, which opened on June 1st, 2017 and closed midnight of June 14th, 2017.

While Oyediran Opeyemi Nafisat, a serving corps member came as overall winner with N100,000 cash, Mahmoud Ayomide Sherifat, a 400Level Student of Business Administration and Entrepreneural of Kwara State University, Malete emerged first runner up with N50,000 reward and Anifowose Titilope became second runner up with N20,000 cash.

The trio received the cash reward yesterday at the ceremony held at the Secretariat of Mike Omotosho Foundation, via Fate Road, Ilorin.

The winner, Oyediran Nafisat stated that her dream for Kwara was unity, peace devoid of religious sentiment.

She disclosed that she came about the contest on Instagram and facebook on the foundation's social media link.

"I dream of a Kwara where unity and peace exist, where there will not be religious sentiment, a Kwara where all ethnic groups come together, no discrimination between Hausa, Yoruba, Baruba and Nupe, a Kwara where there will be corruption free, a Kwara where true definition of democracy will be practiced, a Kwara where we can sleep peacefully without the fear of being attacked and a Kwara where the workers can be paid their salaries at the right time and then a Kwara where everybody will unite together and the real definition of democracy is being practiced", she said.

The first runner up, Mahmoud Ayomide Sherifat, said her own dream for the state was a total farewell to poverty through the development of creativity and entrepreneural spirit of the young generation.

She noted further that her dream also revolved around a state where leaders are democratic and diplomatic by making interest of the masses paramount.

"I dream of a government where there is total farewell to poverty through the development of creativity and entrepreneural spirit of the young generation with the creation of employment opportunity and with the production of quality of local products without the import of inferior foreign goods.

"I dream of a Kwara where the leaders are democratic and diplomatic and have the interest of the masses at heart. I dream of a Kwara where there is equality before the law, I dream of a peaceful Kwara, a rising Kwara, a developed Kwara and a better Kwara for you and I", Sherifat said.

Addressing Journalists after the presentation of cash prizes, one of the Programme Coordinators at Mike Omotosho Foundation, Mr Shittu Kamaldeen, said the essence of the instagram video contest was to bring youths together to be part of good governance in the state.

He said the youths are endowed with creativity and innovations to effect the needed change in the country, saying it was high time government at all levels give them a chance to contribute their ideas.

"Mostly, youths have so much believe that they have been neglected; they have not been taking up so much importance in terms of good governance in the state. So, we are trying to bring a reason why the youths have to come together and ensure a good governance. If you see population in Kwara, mostly the youths have high percentage of it", Kamaldeen said.