A New Dawn In Ekiti —Dimeji Daniels

A new chapter was on Friday crafted into the history of Ekiti, a chapter that would forever remain indelible in the hearts of all.

For the first time since its creation and for the first time since the entity ‘Ekiti’ was formed, a politician is actually showing genuine concern for youths of the state by deciding to consciously mentor them in preparation for leadership positions.

To realise this, he came up with the iBOLD idea. iBOLD stands for Initiative of Babafemi Ojudu for Leadership Development.

The first programme initiated under the project was an essay competition tagged ‘iBOLD Annual Students’ Challenge’, a yearly competition that would see the top 20 participants picked, honoured and matriculated into the Babafemi Ojudu Leadership Development Centre.

All along during his campaign for Ekiti Central Senatorial seat, Babafemi Ojudu had always voiced his strong passion to elevate youths of the state and help in giving them their rightful position in the scheme of things, but overtime unfulfilled promises from politicians had created some sort of lethargy in people.

So when Senator Babafemi Ojudu established the iBOLD Annual Student Challenge immediately after his inaguration as Senator in June, not many gave it a chance. Even students of tertiary institutions of Ekiti extraction whom the competition was meant for were not so encouraged as they felt it was another ruse to make a political statement.

This attitude accounted for the over 1000 entries that were received ( for more should have been received). The students were not alone in this thinking. Even some politicians felt the money should have been doled out for other purposes they consider ‘more important’, but what could have been more important than the future of Ekiti and Nigeria which the youths represent?

A nation that does not invest in its youths is definitely headed for doom. Isn’t it also said that when you teach your son, you teach your son’s son. This teaching to make Ekiti youths better is what Senator Ojudu is offering them.

After a painstaking marking by the iBOLD team of experts, 20 entries were given the nod for doing justice to the topic ‘Turning Ekiti Around: A New Generation Agenda’. The top 20 participants were invited for the second phase, an on-the-spot writing to ascertain if they really wrote the first one by themselves. The topic was on the raging controversies about the oil subsidy removal: ‘Effects of Fuel Subsidy Removal’.

It was at the Abiodun Adetiloye Hall in Ado-Ekiti where the finale held on Friday that the top 5 were unveiled. The State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi (represented), his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, and other top government functionaries, including the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ganiyu Owolabi, and the Chief of Staff, Mr Yemi Adaramodu, were on hand to honour the students.

Traditional rulers like the Oluyin of Iyin, retired Chief Justice Ademola Ajakaye, Alara of Aramoko and the Alare of Are also added colour to the iBOLD Dinner/Prize Presentation Night.

Outpouring of encomiums on the initiator, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, seemed non-stop as he promised again that he would spend his remaining adult life mentoring youths. In his words

“If I spend all my resources on my biological children and not a dime on other children, those ones neglected and not well-trained will not let my children enjoy their future, and if my children do not enjoy peace, I can only imagine for myself an old age fraught with anxiety and fear. But if these youths are well-trained and given adequate attention and care, they, together with my own children, will have enough peace to realise their God-given talents, then I would have peace in my old age”.

Then the high-point of the occasion – presentation of prizes. The 6th position through the 15th position got N20,000 each as consolation prizes. These are Olowojebutu Akintayo from Are Ekiti, Ajayi Ayowale from Igogo, Apanisile Samuel from Ijero-Ekiti, Fagbeyiro Ayoola from Efon-Alaaye, Jegede Victor from Ikere-Ekiti, Ogundipe Olufunmilayo from Epe-Ekiti, Tolulope Joseph from Ado-Ekiti, Awoyemi Aduke from Oye-Ekiti and Adeoye Adeole from Ado-Ekiti.

Those who made it to the top 5 and carted away the juicest prizes were Gbadurabi Anthony from Ikole-Ekiti who just graduated with a second class upper division in Educational Management at the Ekiti State University; he got a brand new laptop.

Fourth place prize went to Aleshinloye Anthony, also a student of Ekiti State University, Department of History and International Studies, who hails from Erinmope-Ekiti; he also won a laptop. Ikere-Ekiti-born Ajisafe Oke-Stephen of the Department of Estate Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure came third place, winning N150,000 and a laptop. Ayedun Oluwaseun Taiwo picked the second spot with the whopping sum of N350,000 and a brand new laptop.

Born in Aramoko Ekiti, Ayedun is a student in the Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Port Harcourt and is currently at a university in Israel in furtherance of his medical studies.

Adeyanju Abiodun, Are Ekiti-born brilliant and best graduating student in 2011/2012 in the Department of Private Law, University of Abuja, went home with the mouth-watering first prize of N500,000 and a brand new laptop. The Chairman of his local government, Irepodun/Ifelodun, topped it with another N50,000.

Speaking on the occasion, the State Governor, represented by Chief Akin Fasae, could not hide his joy. He congratulated the winners and encouraged Senator Ojudu to continue in his strides of paying particular attention to youths.

On her part, the wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, contributed her financial token, saying she was impressed because grooming youth was also one of her passions.

In all, it was a story of success, a story of promise made and kept. An unusual story of a politician, for the first time in Ekiti history, genuinely paying attention to youths. Very soon, the second edition will kick-start, definitely unaccompanied by the indifference people felt at first, because Senator Ojudu has established himself as a politician of a kind, honest, purposeful, go-getting and youth-loving.