For Nigeria to take its rightful place among the comity of nations, the people should always edify and promote persons of high integrity, personal and professional achievements.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who gave the admonition in a keynote address at the 12th Convocation of the Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State, noted that through the celebration of persons of dubious sources of wealth and pedigree, Nigerians have, by default, impressed it upon the youths the acceptability of wrong role models.
AbdulRazaq, who spoke on the topic, “Role Modelling In Career And Politics : Challenges To The Nigerian Youths”, said Nigeria as a country needs to reverse the descent into the abyss of declining moral and core ethical values.
The Governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Strategy, Alhaji Saadu Salahu, said a society where respect and social prestige are accorded to wealthy individuals, irrespective of the way they made their fortune, is a disaster waiting to happen.
“In our society, the ideal values for all to live by are honesty, humility, respect for elders, institutions and authorities, discipline, courage, self-reliance, hard work and the pursuit of knowledge.
“To sustain these core values, we must edify, protect and promote the class of persons of high integrity, personal and professional achievements. These personalities naturally serve as role models whose qualities inspire our youths and their immense capacity to positively impact on our youths cannot be underestimated,” the Governor stated.
AbdulRazaq who listed some finest Nigerian role models to include the late Prof Babs Fafunwa, the late Funmilayo Ransom- Kuti, Margaret Ekpo and the late Hajiya Gambo Sawaba, pointed out that: “Most importantly, traditional moral values and complementary conducts exemplify the role models, not the wealth or the offices that they occupied. It is the aggregation of these two, to wit, character and conduct, morality and intellect that stood out the Nigerian culture and Nigerians in the global community.”
On the declining Nigerian culture, the Governor said: “The gradual decline of discipline because of factors like emphasis on wealth rather than integrity, abuse of internet sources, uncensored movies and music, among others, account for these negative developments.”
AbdulRazaq who said he’s a politician with an ambition to bring the greatest good to the greatest number of the people of Kwara State, expressed delight that: “It is on record that Kwara State is the first state that has attained 52 percent gender inclusion in political appointments in Nigeria. For instance,we have the youngest state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, as well as the Communications Commissioner.
“We are not perfect, but these modest achievements in less than four years across all sectors have been officially acknowledged by the United Nations Development Agency, UNICEF, UN Women, LEADERSHIP Newspapers, Business Day, Blueprint Newspaper, and recently Vanguard Newspapers. In all of this, we were honoured for our investments in basic education, health, gender inclusion, social safety nets for the poor, infrastructural development and prudent management of resources.”
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Fountain University, Prof.
Amidu Sanni, commended AbdulRazaq for his giant strides in the education sector.
He later presented an award to the Governor. A university don, Dr Ghali Alaaya, Special Adviser on Political Communications, Alhaji Bashiru Adigun and Special Assistant on Religion (Islam), Alhaji Ibrahim Danmaigoro, joined the Governor’s representative to receive the award.