Rotary Honours Exemplary Nigerian Youths

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Some youths across Nigeria who have demonstrated courage and exemplary behaviours in various facets of life have been honoured by Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA).

The group, in its 2021 recipients for the RYLA Prize of Honour, said those chosen were the most dynamic and go-ahead youths in Nigerian.

It further said the list comprises those with crowbars for spines, intuitions that almost always hold up in the face of uncertainty and hearts ready to serve Nigeria and Nigerians with every ounce of strength.

The RYLA Prize of Honour categories are Technology/Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Education, Fashion, Entertainment, Agriculture, and Selfless Community Service. (Other categories may emerge in due time.)

Thus, the recipients of the RYLA Prize of Honour are youths who are Captains of these fields of endeavour nominated by youths within the community via a dedicated digital portal.

For 2021, Opeyemi Owosho, Abimbola Oyegbami, Abodunrin Oluwaseun Buck, ‘7-star’ comedian Dee-One, Ngozi Osawe, and Ayeni Adeleke received the Prize of Honour for Digital innovation/Technology, Education, Fashion, Entertainment, entrepreneurship, and agriculture, respectively.

These honourees recognised at the RYLA 2020 held on Sunday, February 21, 2021.

With the First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs Bamidele Adiodun, in attendance, the six recipients were given credits for their accomplishments in their various fields by the District Governor Bola Oyebade and PAG Benedict Okhumale who is District RYLA 2020 chairman.

Recall that in 2019, under the chairmanship of Mr Abiodun Richard Oshinibosi in District 9110, the RYLA Prize of Honour was introduced to identify and celebrate the efforts of youths below 40 in various fields of endeavours within the communities.

RYLA is a leadership training initiative that exposes Nigerian youths between ages 14 and 30 to principles of leadership, selfless community services and good citizenship. It is sponsored by Rotarians/Rotary Clubs and facilitated by Citizenship and Leadership Centre Sea School Apapa.

Mr Oshinibosi is the Project Marshal/CEO of Abelinis Ltd and initiator of the RYLA-PoH.