I makes my stomach cringe each time I think about the fact that a young person at eighteen years of age can vote but not be voted for. Can be called to bar at the age of twenty-two to interpret laws as a lawyer but can't be voted into the house of assembly of a state or the federal House of Representatives to make those same laws that he is highly qualified to interpret. I throw up in my mouth every time I remember that the immediate past sacked minister of youth development is a 60year old man. And I die a little bit inside every time I remember that the youth leader of the PDP is a sixty-five year old. Afterall, a former military president (IBB) once said that young people didn't have what it takes to lead. In a country where 60% of the population is between the ages of 18-35.
However, anytime I see a young person who holding a public office and performing above par, I get excited. I feel like that person should be celebrated as a way of encouraging more young people to not just seek public office, but perform very much above what is accepted in our otherwise insane clime. And in this piece, I will celebrating a man who I strongly believe should be seen as a "poster-boy" for young people in government and doing great.
I present to you Honourable Ayodeji Joseph. The Executive Chairman of the Apapa local government. A.K.A the Golden Council.
I first heard about Ayodeji Joseph from a friend who opposed him greatly when he was contesting. This friend of mine told me he was against Joseph's candidacy then because according to him, he was "too young" and might be "too inexperienced" this was funny because my friend was also "young man" at least by Nigerian standards. Long story short, he is one of Joseph's strongest supporters today.
I wondered why the sudden change and decided to do my investigations. And my findings left my jaws shattered. Honourable Ayodeji Joseph has transformed every sector in the entire Apapa LGA.
Health: Ayodeji Joseph's administration has within a short period been able to build and fully stock a primary health centre in each of the political wards. In the local government. This is despite the unavailability of land in the LGA, his administration do regular outreach programs in areas that yet to have primary health centers and all the health centres provide free drugs and mandatory immunization programmes. The apapa general hospital's water treatment plant renovated and two oxygen machines bought. A collaboration between NAWOCA in provision of free testing/counseling and sensitization on HIV/AIDS. His administration as successfully organized free sensitization programme for teenagers and youths. And an Anti-fake drug campaign, free hypertension and diabetes screening exercise, free eye tests, free dental care, mass deworming of all primary school pupils in the local government.
Youths and Sports:
The Ayodeji Joseph Administration has shown serious commitment for the welfare of the youths. The methodist vocational centere for instance is one of the initiatives his administration brought about. To provide vocational training for those who cannot go through the formal educational system. One of the things that endeared me to Ayodeji is his passion for sports. I learnt that just recently, he partnered with an organization to spot football talents within the local government for foreign clubs. Football teams in the local government have regularly participated in the MTN street soccer through the support of this administration. His support for the game is astonishing.
Education:
Education remains the number one priority of the chairman,within the first 100 days in he office he commissioned the Nanti primary school 6 classroom block earlier abandoned by the previous administration.
The objective of Hon. Ayodeji Joseph was to upgrade the eight primary schools to that of the private schools. Therefore, he reached out well-meaning corporate bodies to ensure that this feat was accomplished. In collaboration with Kazuma Plaza, the ladi lak primary school has been rehabilitated and reconstructed. Also, Flour mills of Nigeria took up Ijora Oloye primary school and has since sank millions of naira to reconstruct and rehabilitate it. Pupils of Nanti village (a waterside area under Apapa local governmen) now have a 40hp engine boat to ferry them to and from the liverpool estuary. Provision of school uniforms for all the pupils in the primary schools in the local government on an annual basis, yearly provison of GCE and Jamb forms for eligble students of the local government since inception of this administration. Also Ayodeji joseph- led administration started strong educational programmes meant to enhance the potentials of pupils in his constituency like the annual spelling bee competition, the first Apapa school quiz competition and the Ayodeji Quiz competition.
Ayodeji Joseph is a recipient of over 100awards. Majority is education based and a perfect example of what every young person in government should aspire to be like.
In conclusion, more young upright people need to seek elective office rather than complain or remain trapped in the private sector where though admittedly they are celebrated and utilized to public service. The likes of Ayodeji Joseph are already putting the IBBs of this world to shame. We need more of them. And we need them now!
Oladokun Adedamola writes from Apapa
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