The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has honoured a State House correspondent, Stephen Angbulu, with the Royal Africa Awards.
Angbulu was conferred the Royal African Medal and was inducted into the Royal Court of the Kingdom of Ife at the fourth Royal African Young Leadership Forum held at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State during the weekend.
He was among 100 outstanding young Africans from about 40 countries honoured in five award categories: governance and leadership, technology and innovation, entrepreneurship and empowerment, creative culture, and academic excellence.
The Minister of Youth, Jamila Bio Ibrahim and Minister of State for Youth, Ayodele Wisdom Olawande, were among the awardees.
Speaking on the theme: ‘African of the future: Better together,’ the Ooni of Ife said RAYLF was designed to bring together a new breed of competent and patriotic leaders for Nigeria and Africa.
He said: “We will raise a lot of people from grass to grace. The Africa Chamber of Commerce will continue to drive it.
“This is the reason why I came to the throne. We will work together with people for the betterment and great tomorrow.
“Through RAYLF, I’m unwaveringly committed to leading young people across Africa to reshape the future of the continent by harnessing their potential to address critical challenges that are bedevilling the shining light of the continent’s greatness.”
In his welcome address, the President of the Royal African Foundation, Mr. Olusola Owonikoko, said the forum recognises young Africans who, through their contributions to society, have shown that they are not only leaders of tomorrow but leaders of today.
“It is a tragedy for us to call people in their late 20s and 30s leaders of tomorrow because we are here today; we have the resources, the vision and everything, including ourselves, to drive the change that we need.
“It is time for young Africans to arise and take our place,” he said.
Owonikoko said this year’s theme highlights regional trade, a vital part of economic growth and regional integration.
He reasoned that the Africa Continental Free Trade Area provides a watershed moment for young Africans to build together, unify their markets and simplify how they interact with each other.
“Economic progress alone is not what we want. We must work together such that we can transform our economic growth to development outcomes.
“Today, we are reenergising ourselves to take on more commitments. As we build businesses and foundations tackling the challenge of poverty, lack of education and various forms of inequality, we must stay together because the Africa of the future will only be better when we work together,” Owonikoko stated.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDAN), Charles Odii, said this year’s RAYLF, which, for the first time, recognises non-Nigerians, is one of the biggest networks created to drive the continent’s economy.
Other outstanding youths awarded include the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, speaker of the 8th Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Prince Adewale Egbedun, among others.