She gave the advice at the International Youth Empowerment Summit (IYES) 2017, with the theme: “My Decision My Future”, at the Federal University of Lokoja (FUL) on Saturday.
Esseyin, who is also an Entrepreneur and a Mentor, counseled the youths to be serious, focused and acquire entrepreneurial skills in addition to their career disciplines, stressing that their decision could always affect their future.
“My inspiration to search for knowledge was second to none, and as a woman, that feminist part of my life often shown when at home, although culture place some limitations but I never looked down on myself.
“Government can not do it all, we must encourage our youths to key into most of the opportunities available from both state and federal government,” she said.
Esseyin noted that 52% of the population are made up of youths, who should be able to take responsibility for their future through determination and focus, saying, “the inherent factor is the youth themselves”.
She, therefore, appealed to the organizers of IYES, to make the program a quarterly one in other to reachout to a good number of youths out there on how to build their future.
Another speaker, Dr Ebune Ojochide, a trained Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja, urged the youths to strive to be the best in their choices of careers and explore their best abilities and talents in their chosen field.
Ebune appealed to parents never to force their children into chosing any career for the purpose of their own desire or personal interest, adding that parents should guide their wards on careers that would bring the best out of them.
Hon. Edward Onoja, the Chief of Staff to Kogi Governor, who was the guest of honour, urged the youths to key into the numerous empowerment and agricultural programmes of the State Government to better their lots.
Mr Afolabi Olufemi, the convener, IYES, in a handshake with Hon. Edward Onoja, chief of staff to Kogi State Governor
He said that a bill was already before the State House of Assembly, sponsored by the State Government to establish an agency that would solely take care of programmes for youth empowerment, skills acquisition, loans/grants and entrepreneurs.
He urged the youths not to allow failure to deprive them from achieving their future goals in life, stressing that “failure is a propeller for success”.
Earlier, Mr Afolabi Olufemi, the Convener of IYES, said the summit was to educate and reorientate the mindset of the present generation, who grew up in a society that was heavily corrupted and had witnessed the doctrine of recycling of past, disrespectful, hateful, tribal and highly sentimental leaders.
Guest Speakers at International Youth Empowerment Summit (IYES) 2017
Afolabi added that the youths were short of role models and creditable mentors except those that promoted exploitation, an indolent generation, passionate about religious practices yet embraced with consummate fervor (all that negate the religious tenets).
He said that the upcoming generation should do a critical assessment, multitask, and learn creative ability to deliver services; and lay a better foundation for a viable future that would improve the wellbeing of the nation.
“It is time to take responsibility for the future because the future will not be inherited; it will be earned by our collective decisions.
“We have come to a point where we need to look inward and ask our self just one critical question: ‘Am I playing my role in shaping the destiny of this nation?
Cross Section of youth participants at the International Youth Empowerment Summit (IYES) 2017
“It is time to stop complaining and do something; our brain is still fresh. As you ask questions, go further by seeking answers; then, be the answer. As you talk about the challenges, go further by seeking solutions; to be the solution.
“I admonish each and everyone of you seated here today to look ahead, make and take a measureable decision, and ask yourself: what quotas do I desire to contribute to the growth of our state and country ten years from now?
“You too can join the legion of great minds that inspite all odds, you still have to go ahead and add value to humanity.
“We must transcend from merely existing and become actively involve in the building process. It’s time to start living. Let your life be a contribution to humanity and not a contamination”.
“In our usual tradition of IYES, we have a culture of exploring and addressing cogent life’s issues through the experiential knowledge of our guest’s speakers. I advice that you make good use of this interactive summit,” the convener advised.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other speakers at the summit were: Dr Ahmed Attah, Special Adviser on Health to Kogi Governor; Mr Tunde Olaoye, a Writer/Director/Producer and Digital Film Editor; and Mr Joewealth Osaghele, the Managing Director of The MediaSmith.
