VC urges youths not to lose hope, says a better Nigeria will evolve

Vice-chancellor, Bowen University, Iwo, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, has urged Nigerian youths not lose hope in the country, saying a better Nigeria will evolve.

He also enjoined them to put in their best for the greatness of the country.

Ogunwole spoke while presenting the awards won by the students of the institution at the fifth international model United Nations conference to the university community.

Three of its students won awards with Ajayi Samuel being the overall best delegate. He also got the award as the delegate of the Kingdom of Netherlands while the award of recognition was presented to the school as distinguished delegate at the conference, which held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

Ojo Rita Abisola got the award of the best position paper as a delegate of Hungary.

At the model United Nations, selected students from various schools represented each of the countries where they researched and talked on burning issues and topics that the world is going through. They were given the issues to discuss and give resolutions.

While emphasising that Nigeria has a better future, the VC said, “I can understand if somebody feels hopeless with what is happening in the country. But if that person is a student of history, Europe you see today and most of these big structures, you see in Europe that become monuments were actually occupied by tyrants that dealt with the people and so on. But those people didn’t run away. They stood to influence their laws, influence the people, to keep talking. Today, we have a better Europe.

“So, I believe strongly that we will have a better Nigeria. Nigeria is just passing through what will define it as a country.

So, youths should not lose hope. They just put in their best wherever they find themselves. If all of us put our best into what we are doing, then we can stand up and call a spade a spade.

Speaking on the awards, Prof. Ogunwole said, “When I first assumed duty, one of the first things I discussed with the then dean of faculty of social science was the fact that Bowen as a university can begin to host mock meetings. Those are the things that strengthened and encouraged the students in such a way that they could understand international relations.

The programme coordinator, Dr Oluwakemi Onasoga-Molake said she was overwhelmed with joy for bringing those awards to the university.

“The university got the overall best awards which is most coveted in any model United Nations conference. The essence of model UN is to simulate the proceedings of the United Nations. The feeling is that there is the need for the young people, younger generation to be involved in the business and affairs of the United Nations”, she added.