Adebayo Adenrele
The Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti Alumni Association has hailed President Bola Tinubu over the appointment of its member, Ayodele Olawande as Minister of State for Youth.
Speaking with Journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, the National President of the Alumni association, Oyedokun Abiodun said the appointment was a further testament to the President’s commitment towards youth inclusion in government.
NEWSTODAYNG recalled that the President had recently announced appointment of Olawande, a community development expert and former Youth Leader in the All Progressive Congress as the Minister of State for Youth.
According to him, “Olawande’s appointment shows that President Tinubu is an incurable talent hunter. The quality of youth being brought on board suggests conscious national succession plan.
“The appointment is a well deserved reward for Tinubu’s relentless efforts in championing the cause of the youths. It is also a testament to the fact that commitment to duty, hard work and integrity pays in every calling”.
He said that Olawande’s appointment as the Minister State for Youths has been unanimously consented to by the Nigerian youths as a move that emphasizes merit over sentiment going by the thunderous applause that is associated with his nomination.
The Rector of the institution, Dr Temitope Alake, also an alumnus, said the polytechnic community felt honoured with the appointment of Olawande, who graduated from Department of Civil Engineering, describing the development as a monumental episode in the history of the institution.
Dr Alake noted that the polytechnic community was not surprised by his appointment considering his outstanding pedigree, academic profiles, leadership prowess which he started building right from the the Institution.
The Rector added that the Minister had always been highly responsible and responsive person”, adding that ” he served a notice of who he would become right from the institution”.
“It gladdens my heart that a member of the alumni association is found worthy to be appointed a Youth Minister. It is just beginning of good things to happen during my time.
“According to the testimony given by the former Head of the Civil Engineering Department, Dr Elijah Abe, selflessness is the hallmark. Anyone who is ready to lead must be ready to serve”.
He implored him to view his appointment as a patriotic duty, focused in serving his homeland selflessly and advancing the cause of the Nigerian Youths rather than self-enrichment.
The Rector equally urged the Minister to see his appointments as opportunities to display the invaluable virtues of dignity, integrity, and probity inculcated in him during his undergraduate days at the Institution.
