BY JUDE OSSAI / ENUGU
Birthdays in our lives represent another year of growth and lessons learnt as well as the opportunity to pause, reflect, and appreciate all that we are and have been going through in life.
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Strictly, birthdays go beyond cake and presents, hence scores of admirers particularly beneficiaries of the the Young African Leaders Initiatives (YALI) a pet project of former United States of America (USA) President, Barrack Obama in conjunction with Daniel Ukwu Leadership Foundation (DULF) Enugu took time last Saturday, August 19, to celebrate the USA ex-president at 62.
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The venue was the “Window on America Building”, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC), Enugu.
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Despite the fact that it was a belated celebration as Obama actually had his 62nd birthday on August 4, his admirers in Enugu fully captured the significance of a birthday as they used the opportunity to reflect, appreciate the former US number one citizen, sharing inspirational stories, talks and their connections with the high and low in and outside the shores of Nigeria which played an essential role in their lives.
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Indeed, the motivational talks at the event also served as an important reminder to the audience that people are loved and supported by those around them.
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Speaking at the event, the founder of the Daniel Ukwu Leadership Foundation (DULF) Mr Daniel Ukwu, explained that they deemed it necessary to celebrate Obama because of his interest in the future of youths which he exhibited through his project, YALI, that has been empowering youths in Africa.
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“As a Foundation, we at DULF believe that youths are truly the future leaders any where in the world, Nigeria inclusive. We at DULF are creating awareness and advocacy amongst our youths on future benefits of young African leadership initiative to themselves concerning future capacity building through the available agenda initiated by former American President Obama to inspire, encourage, motivate Africa youths to future leadership capacity building services.
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“We believe that leadership is an opportunity either in business or service delivery so that you do not waste the opportunity only to enrich yourself and your family but others who may not have opportunity to say thank you.We also believe that future leaders are identified, they are nurtured, they are equipped, they are mentored for big task of responsibility ahead,” he said.
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Ukwu said that it was because they align themselves with Obama’s initiative in remodeling the youths that they thus celebrate him for the good legacy he is bequeathing to African youths and leaders of tomorrow.
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“We also believe that good leaders must be character driven to make positive impact and leave a positive legacy like Obama through Young African Leadership Initiative called YALI who is a role model to youths in Africa in particular Nigeria.”
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Youths, he said should be good leaders driven by vision, who should build lasting businesses and build nation and community, pointing out that youths should be involved in community service through voluntary service.
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Also speaking at the colourful ceremony, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, UNEC, Professor Daniel Nwachukwu, represented by Dr. Chris Anierobi, urged youths to create impact in their environment by doing something spectacular and to imbibe the leadership qualities of Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama.
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He said that the youths were the future hope and that they should start early to imbibe the tenents of quality leadership.
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“The youths are the hope that we see for a better and future Nigeria. Youths should start now to build their way to lead tomorrow,” he encouraged.
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Highlight of the occasion was the cutting of the birthday cake specially made to commemorate Obama’s 62nd birthday. It was a joyful occasion.
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