Former President Olusegun Obasanjo gave Nigerians, especially, residents of Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, an epic show on Saturday by riding a tricycle.
The 85-year-old was seen stopping to pick up a passenger to the amusement of residents as he charged Nigerian youths on self-employment.
Obasanjo rode from the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library through Kuto under bridge, as he demonstrated that riding in the tricycle is safe if used properly and for people to learn how to start small and grow their craft.
According to a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the onlookers expressed surprise at the former president riding the Keke, a reaction Obasanjo said was fuelled by wrongful societal classification of all Keke riders as miscreants and the tendency of young people to avoid the virtue of starting a small business.
“There is nothing wrong with young people starting small. The Keke is secure and safe when handled professionally and with discipline. In fact, you can plan your business the way you wish and earn income that you can deploy to other investments. And if you are able to get a second one, you can give that to someone else. So you become self-employed and you have also employed somebody,” the former president said after returning to the OPPL.
Obasanjo said he had remained committed to the economic empowerment of young people through initiatives that can generate employment. This is how we can increasingly address unemployment in Nigeria.
He said, “I have always had a passion for youths, empowerment and employment. When I started establishing farms, do you think I can run the farm alone?
“The people I employed on the farms some of them are as educated as PhD. There are veterinary doctors among them, Agric economists and some people that are well educated, Some of my children have PhD and is still working with me.
“The other time I checked the people that are working with us directly on our various establishments, we have over 5,000 and most of them are youths. I have always had a passion for youths because there is no substitute for employment.”
Expressing delight for riding in the tricycle personally driven by Obasanjo, the symbolic passenger, who simply identified himself as Lamidi, said the day will be immemorable in his life.
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