YOUTHS have been admonished the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), International Award for Young People, Nigeria, Mr. Olawale Edun, to exert their energies positively for the development of the country.

The one-time Lagos Finance Commissioner spoke yesterday at the official presentation of the Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award to over 300 young people from 30 government schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He renewed the commitment of the International Award for Young People (Nigeria) to assist youths to discover their infinite potential by giving them access to a high-quality, non-formal education and learning experience which provide worldwide recognition for their achievement.

The board chairman encouraged the awardees to aspire and be awarded gold in the nearest future.

He said: “This programme enables the awardees to find out the role that they would play in the community by helping the community. Today we are recognizing their achievements because they have set goals and have achieved them.

“These are those at the bronze and silver level and we are here to encourage them to go unto gold under this important award scheme. Because at the end of the day, it is for themselves, it is to make our youth achieve more valuable results. The awardees have done very well and we are proud of them. I thank the volunteers, the teachers who are helping the awardees in various activities.

“To be part of this, the youths can go online and find out the closest award centre to them whether within their school or community. And it can be done with the supervision given to you online in almost any county in the world. If you move from Lagos to Abuja, you can carry on. Even from England to Nigeria you can carry on.

“It is a programme for all young people no matter their background or circumstance, once you are between the age of 14 and 24, the award is for them. I am very happy to be here. I congratulate the awardees.

“As you are practising for leadership and as you are going through training that will build your leadership skills and teamwork skills, anytime you look back we will be behind you. That is our pledge and promise to you.”

Edun noted that the Award inculcates positive life skills in young people through a set of programme sections which lead to the development of leadership skills, a sense of selfless service to the community, self-confidence, self-esteem, endurance and skills that focus on improving their commitment to education as well as their employment levels.

“He added: “The ceremony is aimed at celebrating the hard work, resilience and perseverance of these young people and is in line with ensuring that the achievements of young people participating in the Award are recognized in a way that is consistent globally.”

Deputy British High Commissioner, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, commended the awardees and urged them not to rest on their oars as the programme will help them face life’s challenges.

Represented by Mr. Jonathan Bacon, Llewellyn-Jones said: “It is great to meet some of the awardees and to hear their stories. The Duke of Edinburgh award has been going on for over 50 years. Your stories today have represented the values placed on the programme by the board.

“The programme is about skills and character. I implore you to continue with the programme and I am sure it would help equip you to face many challenges for you to achieve many goals and open up many opportunities. I congratulate all of you.”

Deputy Director, Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Secondary Education Board, Dr. Ajayi Olatunde, promised that the government would continue to support the group, while commending the youths for the achievement.

Olatunde said: “We commend you and we are saying thank you so much for establishing this award in the FCT. We pay for a greater and better partnership.”

The award operates in more than 12 states and the FCT with over 43,000 young people having participated since its launch in 2014.

The numbers, according to the award organisers, continue to grow rapidly.

They pledged to make the award available to over 100,000 young Nigerians by 2025 irrespective of their background, circumstances, or challenges. (The Nation)

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