It was a historic day for students of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, FUOYE, as the duo of Tijani Abdulmalik Damilare and Oke Emmanuel Omotola bagged the Royal African Young Leadership Forum, RAYLF, award.
The duo of Tijani and Oke had won the last academic contest of the RAYLF awards and were officially conferred with the award by the founder of the RAYLF and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11.
The ocassion which was well attended by eminent Nigerians held on 21st May 2022, at the Oduduwa Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife,OAU.
Damilare, who is of the Physics Department and Omotola a final year undergraduate of the Department of Theatre and Media Arts, were recognised for their laudable performances in a recent contest which put to test their grasp of the various disciplines they have been studying as undergraduates of Nigerian and other African countries’ universities.
In his speech during the awards’ ceremony, Oba Adeyeye explained that a need to amplify and uplift the change that remarkable African young folks are creating, and to stand in the gap for them as their model of leadership, is the vision behind the RAYLF.
Speaking further about the inspiration for creating the platform for the awards, he said: “Over the last six years since l ascended the Throne of my forbears, Oduduwa, it has been an astounding milestone to work with our young , dedicated and passionate Nigerians and several others from Africa who are shifting and offering our continent their narratives of excellence and compellingly serving as catalysts that are inspiring possibilities.
“It is incredible to listen to them, work with them and understand how they are re-imagining our continent’s economic viability and its competitiveness through their inventive drive and ideas.
“Incontrovertibly, Africa needs its finest and ever-dedicated young demographic that is rich in creative culture, governance and leadership, innovation and technology, enterprenurship and academic excellence. These are the five-folder pillars that are shaping and reconstructing the very next modernization and industrialization of Africa.”
Responding to the kind gesture of the RAYLF, Dr. Asogwa said: “It is very interesting that of all the universities in Nigeria that contested that two FUOYE students got the Royal African leadership Forum award. This is part of the laudable achievements of our amiable Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina. He has been a very dutiful, supportive and ever inspiring leader.”