In recognition of her visionary and innovative strides towards uplifting the burdens of the less-privileged, Oluwatosin Olowoyeye-Taiwo, Founder, Street-to-School Initiative, has been honoured with the prestigious Royal African Young Leadership Forum (RAYLF) Award by the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, KabiesiAdeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.
Themed: Africa of the Future: Better Together, the RAYLF, which the 51st Ooni of Ife stated was one of his greatest legacies on the throne, is an annual event organized by the palace of the progenitor of the Yoruba race, to celebrate the achievements of outstanding 100 trailblazing young African leaders in their communities and the larger society in various sectors of human endeavours.
In appreciation of the recognition, Olowoyeye-Taiwo expressed her heart-felt gratitude to His Royal Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, by stating that she was deeply honored and humbled to receive the RAYLF award. Your recognition inspires me to continue making a positive impact, she said.
“Thank you for profoundly acknowledging our efforts at the Street-to-School Initiative. The grassroots work is increasingly enormous and challenging, but this recognition and award encourage us to forge ahead and build a better Africa. Indeed, the future of Africa is brighter when Africans work together.”
While addressing the forum, the Ooni remarked that the human resources of Africa are greatly entrenched in the minds of the youth and that he believed that their strategic contributions to the future of the continent are inevitable, if they are to achieve Vision 2063: The Africa We Want.
He also stated that by empowering and engaging this vibrant demography, Africa would be able to drive sustainable developments and ensure a prosperous future for all. The ingenuity and resilience of Africa’s youth, he said, are key to unlocking the continent’s full potentials and achieving our shared aspirations.
“A World Bank statistics suggested that Africa’s population is set to reach 2.8 billion by 2060, with 65 per cent being young and full of potential. This demographic shift presents a unique opportunity for economic growth, driven by a generation that is already making significant strides in various fields.
“Africa is increasingly seen as the next major economic frontier. The continent’s youthful energy, innovative spirit, sophisticated cultural creativity, and unparalleled diversity make it an attractive destination for global attention and investment.”
Furthermore, he stated that for him, royalty needed to be redefined and that to the glory of God, he was doing his best to redefine royalty. “Royalty has to do with very good leadership and followership. For me, RAYLF is a very strong and formidable platform that brings young minds together to network and do great things in terms of how they can better their immediate communities and their nation as a whole.”
Read the full article here
