As part of measures to sustain the legacies of the founding fathers, leadership of the Medical and Health Workers Union, Southwest Zone, has exposed its young members to contemporary leadership skills and inovations that can enhance their careers.
The programme which was held in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, was designed by the zone to commemorate this year’s International Youth Day.
With the theme of the programme, “Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating A world For All Ages” the union hopes to build the capacity of the youths so as to enable them sustain the vision of the union.
Declaring the programme open, the National President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade Biobelemoye Joy Josiah who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Comrade Adebisi Olufemi said the programme was organised to expose the youths to contemporary ways to lead the future generations.
He said “Our union is among the few that have profound respect for youths and we have encouraged our youths to participate in local and international programmes.
“It is important to note that elders have laid a good foundation for our union, we must ensure that we develop our youths to build on this solid foundation.
Speaking on the health sector, the MHWUN national president said much still needed to be done to enable Nigerians have access to quality health care services.
He said:”If you look at the health sector it is not encouraging, our concern is the future of our young ones, if government can not fix our health system we wonder what will be the fate of our coming generations.
“We must be sincere, Federal government is not doing badly in terms of workers welfare but the unfortunate thing is the attitude of some Governors.
“We have states where Governors are owing health workers as much as six months salaries, some have not even implemented the thirty thousand minimum wage.
Dr Josiah noted that the union would soon commission a five star ultra modern specialist hospital in the country to show example to government and appropriate authorities.
In a paper presentation, a former National treasurer of the union, Comrade, Modupe Fabusuyi urged the youths to be diplomatic in their agitations.
According to her “You can not win every struggle with protest and crisis, sometimes you need to embrace dialogue.
“When leaders or politicians come for campaigns, try to make credible demands from them and do not vote out of religious or ethnic sentiments.
“Let’s be firm and make personal sacrifices for the sake of our union and nation.
Speaking on health issues, Dr Olumide Obe, the Director of Hospital Services and Training, Ministry of Health noted that the importance of youths to the success of any society could not not be overemphasized.
Dr. Obe who was represented by Abiola O. Maxwell stressed the need to give youths better sense of belonging.
In her remark, the South West Youth Co-ordinator of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, Com. Hannah Ademola Kuye called on government to implement programmes and policies that would enhance the living standard of the youths.
She said:”Let me seize this noble opportunity to reach out to Nigerian government and Non-govemmental organizions in Nigeria to look more into matters that concern the youth.
“We have to build nation that protects our youth and does not kill them, If we eliminate the young ones and yet we won’t live forever, to whom shall we leave the nation for”?
Also speaking, the Chairman NLC, Ekiti State, Comrade Olatunde Kolapo described the programme as apt as the union is building a better future for itself through the training of the youths.
Similarly, the former National President of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, Chief Idowu Faleye called for unity among members of the union.
Chief Faleye said “No union can develop under an atmosphere of rancour and crisis.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the Chairman, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria Ekiti State, Comrade Femi Ajoloko welcomed the participants to Ekiti and urged them to take advantage of the various experiences shared by the leaders and resource persons to improve on their leadership skill.
His words: “I give all glory to almighty God for granting us journey mercies from your destinations to Ekiti.
“For our youths, please don’t be over ambitious, it is over ambitioness that ruined the lives of many today, let’s be contempted with the little we have so that we can become future leaders.