Nigeria’s Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday said as long as corruption is left unchecked in the nation’s public life, the country will continue to wallow in myriad of problems.
Osinbajo, who spoke at maiden edition of Southwest Regional Youths Summit, urged Nigerians to embrace virtue of integrity and hard work in order for country to progress, saying lack of integrity and corruption are major hindrance against prosperous Nigeria as the country had lost many international partners due to lack of integrity and trust.
“Any nation that does not emphasis integrity will always fail. The values of integrity and hard work is necessary for the development of our nation,” the vice president said.
While imploring the youths in Nigeria to embrace the virtue of hard work, self education and value of small beginning to move to a greater level in life, the Vice President said, “You don’t have to cheat or steal to be successful in life but you must be ready to convert your challenges to opportunity.”
He also urged the youths in the region to support the 25 years development agenda for Southwest and the development of the nation as a whole.
Speaking earlier, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state, explained that the summit was important to chart a positive course for the development of the western region.
Governor Aregbesola lamented that the region could not feed itself despite availability of abundant human resources, adding that it is a challenge leaders of the region must strive to resolve.
Also, speaking Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state said that the summit was aimed at promoting and enhancing the future of Western region.
Governor Ajimobi implored the youths of the region not too give up but they should rather have a positive mental attitude towards the development of the region.
But, Bola Ilori, the Osun State Commissioner for Regional Integration, said the summit was critical to repositioning western region for the future.
Ilori said summit was also for interaction and participation of youths in the development of a 25 years master plan for the region.
BOLA BAMIGBOLA, Osogbo
