When AKOD Speaks, The Youths Listen

In a series of engagements across Ikeja and beyond on different issues, the Secretary to the Local Government, Comrade Akeem Olalekan Dauda (AKOD), has been contributing his own quota directly to the youths and it is worthy of note to say that when he speaks to the youths, they listen.

At the Yeye Kemi Nelson Memorial 5-Aside Football Competition held some months back, AKOD engaged the youths from different communities who participated in the competition. He encouraged them to take their football skills seriously and also horn their talents; by so doing, the sky will be their starting point. He opined that the likes of Oshimen and legendary JJ. Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, and many others started small, and today, they are household names across the globe. Out of the numerous football talents who acted upon this advice, one of them testified some days ago that his increased dedication to training is beginning to yield results, and he hope to see more improvements.

Also, at the Convocation Ceremony of Government Technical College, Agidingbi, Ikeja, AKOD, who was the Chairman of the occasion, encouraged all the valedictorian to push for more after graduation and put their innovative skills to work. He charged them not to let their parents and teachers down but to make them proud in the marketplace as the country is waiting to benefit from their wealth of innovative skills. The youths concurred and promised to heed the advice.

Moreover, at the Screening for the Employability Training organized by USAID/LSETF/MIDRAMO held at the Ikeja Sports Center, Oluwaleyimu, Ikeja, AKOD applauded the youths who came out in their large numbers and advised them to take seriously the advantages the training will offer. He admonished them to see the free training as an opportunity to upscale their value in the marketplace and also boost their profiles.

The Employability Training, which started few weeks after the first screening now have 517 selected participants out of the over 3000 applicants that were mobilised by AKOD and his team. AKOD visited them at their training centres and encouraged them to be focused, resilient and dedicated in the course of the training.

The feedback from all of these engagements have been positive and it is a sign that the youths in general, not just Ikeja youths have listening ears and they listen whenever AKOD speaks.