"Prince Edward Godswill, Special Adviser on youth Affairs to the Cross River state Governor Prof. Ben Ayade made this profound assertion while speaking to University of Ibadan Students, Secondary School Students and lecturers on Monday 27th March 2017 at the Gender Mainstreaming Public Lecture Programme held at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan"
Prince Edward Godswill, 31 years old, who's also the son-in-law of Ex-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Former President Federal Republic of Nigeria spoke extensively about the topic "Gender and youth Participation: A panacea to sustainable development in Nigeria". While delivering the public lecture, he stressed the importance of youth development, such as engaging in community service responsibility, active youth Participation in governance and most importantly having a deep sense of responsibility.
He furthermore praised the laudable NYSC scheme as initiated by the former head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon who ruled the nation at a very youthful age, he categorically said that the youths are the leaders of today rather than the popular apothegm that the youths are leaders of tomorrow. In his stimulating lecture in which the audience paid rapt attention to, he stressed the importance of the youth and women in the society.
While speaking further on the role of women in the society, he emphasize that in every home, the women are the builders of the home, and as such every leader came out from a woman's womb, He asserted that women are strong and powerful, yet untapped. In his words, he said "everything I am today, came from the help of my mother". He furthermore encouraged the youths and most especially women to participate in politics and as such get ready to join the the rebuilding process of the society. He said "if the youths team up with our mothers, we'll take up the nation"
He stressed further that the Current Governor of Cross Rivers state, Prof. Ben Ayade, who's also an alumnus of University of Ibadan, 46 years old, in his political appointments created room for the youths to take up mantle of leadership in some ministries in the state.
In the concluding part of his lecture, he mentioned the importance of Social media, which is seen as a place for one to advertise him or herself rather than post pictures of yourself, make constructive criticism of the Government bad policies among others. The public lecture ended with a very engaging question and answer session.
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