Former President Olusegun Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo encourages young people to embrace the role of ‘leaders of today’ instead of waiting to be labeled ‘leaders of tomorrow.’
Obasanjo called on the youth to ensure they eliminate any obstacles that could hinder the display of their leadership abilities.
This message was delivered by the former head of state during a Presidential Youth Retreat with the theme “Contributing to the Green Economy,” held on Monday at the Youth Development Centre in Abeokuta.
He offered guidance to Nigerian youths, urging them to take the lead in the fight against climate change and advocate for a sustainable, environmentally friendly economy.
Obasanjo emphasized that the detrimental effects of climate change, driven by carbon dioxide emissions, including unusual weather patterns, extreme temperatures, flooding, and drought, among other issues, demand collective action to address this alarming trend.
According to him, “Climate change is a reality, though some still believe it is a myth or not real, but we have seen it in floods, droughts, and extreme weather conditions, among others.
“The scientists have helped us to understand that man has abused the balance of all that God created—the forest, the hills, valleys, and animals, among others—to the extent that there is now an imbalance.
“And it is we that caused the imbalance that will also be victims of these consequences, like the sea level rising, victims of floods, drought, extreme weather conditions, and, of course, change in climate and food insecurity, among others.”