In recognition of his many years of contributions to the advancement of the cause of young people in Nigeria, in particular and the Continent of Africa at large, sustained unblemished public service record as well as remarkable feats in nation-building, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration(FCTA), Mr.Olusade Adesola has been honoured by the Youth Partnership for Africa’s Development(YOUPAD) with the prestigious Thomas Sankara Leadership Prize for Integrity and Transparency Award.
The Secretary of YOUPAD, while conferring the award on the Permanent Secretary in his Office in Garki,Area Eleven-Abuja on Wednesday, September 8th 2022,said this Leadership Award is premised on Mr.Adesola’s zero tolerance for corruption in public service ,administrative astuteness and impeccable leadership traits.
In his words: “Our terms of reference in conferring this honour to your esteem person include; your hard work and dedication to national service, high administrative acumen and selfless leadership ideology. You are a team player and a passionate youth developer, which is evident in your all-inclusive leadership style, which has contributed immensely towards the development of your subordinates.
‘You are a team player who carries everyone along in your decision making, irrespective of tribe, religion or gender. You are a public servant with zero tolerance for corruption, nepotism or favouritism and your exemplary lifestyle which promotes the African moral values, which is worthy of emulation by the youth-including others too numerous to be mentioned in prints”.
The Youth Partnership for Africa’s Development is Pan-African Organization with headquarters in Kigali which has the broad mandate to build the youth in leadership and entrepreneurship, with the purpose of providing Africa with intellectually equipped youths to take the mantle of leadership in order to build the Africa of our collective dreams; which can only be achieved through an integrated ,prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic youth force in the international arena.
In his responds, the Permanent Secretary thanked the leadership of YOUPAD for singling him for this great honour and recognition. Adding that the award will in no doubt spur him up for greater exploits.
Adesola used the occasion to recall that when he was the Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, he facilitated the review of Youth Policy, which has been recognized and adopted as credible document.
He further revealed that he was equally instrumental to the coming onboard of the Nigeria National Youth Day, as well as playing an active role in the resolution of the internal crisis that engulfed the Nigeria Youth Council. Stressing that all these efforts were geared towards bringing the youths into national and international leadership limelight.
He also called on the youths to brace up and harness their political, economic and entrepreneurial potentials in a bid to take their rightful positions in the development of Nigeria in particular and the Africa Continent in general.
Speaking on the FCT Administration’s achievement on youth development, the Permanent Secretary intimated the leadership of YOUPAD that the Administration has over the years been engaging the youth on the areas of skill acquisition and entrepreneurial empowerment, sports development and leadership development, amongst others.
Present in the award presentation were Mandate Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat,Malam Abubakar Ibrahim,Director General of FCT FERMA, Mr.Abbas Idris, Director,Human Resource Management, Malam Bashir Muhammed, Director, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Mr.Udo Samuel Atang,Acting Director, Reform Coordination and Service Improvement, Dr.Jumai Ahmadu,Special Assistant to the Permanent Secretary, Mr.Pius Adewole and Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Youths, Comrade Isaac David.
