By
BASHEER LUQMAN OLAREWAJU-UNIQUE
In the past, governance is hardly being checkmated by people outside the close range to the corridor of power. Most watchdogs are from the strongest of opposing parties; no one would surface to criticize the Government from which he can obtain first hand information.
Indeed, there lived and still living the great critics of government; from journalists to civil society activists, and to even species who prefer incognito appearances. Certainly, criticism has a way to make or mar both the sender and recipient of a message. It all boils down to how the spectators viewed it.
We live in impatient times, but both the government and the opposition would benefit from letting things run their natural course. Impatience for change is natural in politics as in life. There are ill-woven dynamics in our today's politics; government want quick action, oppositions try to bring governments down quickly, while the media operate on a 24-hour news cycle with every minute devoted to news search. Society at large has become attuned to immediate gratification.
Today, June 13, 2020 makes it six (6) month since the Hon. Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mrs. Joana Kolo took the oath of allegiance before the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Since then, there have been obvious eagerness and antsy from the youth and the citizens in general on what would be the achievements of the youngest Commissioner appointed so far in the history of Kwara State, ditto Nigeria.
Thanks to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for giving absolute support and motivation to forge ahead on bringing innovations and creative ideas on the table to foster the ameliorating process in the firmament of Youth and Sports Development across the corners and crevices of the state.
It takes one to stay under a tree to know what the wind does to the tree. Likewise, it is he who witnessed a war and returned that can give a proper account of events on the battle ground. Unarguably, in terms of leadership and governance, nobody understands it more than its bearer. When you are outside, you think and feel you know it all.
It is pertinent to highlight some of her landmark achievements in both Sports and Youth Development;
✓Payment of 4 months outstanding salaries of Kwara Football Academy workers (KFA) (July, October, December, 2016 and April 2019).
✓250 Youth Officers/Leaders across the 16 Local Government Areas participated in the Capacity Building Workshop.
✓Youth holiday camping for the 180 selected secondary school prefects across the 16 local government areas at the Yikpata Youth Camp.
✓Initiating an ingenious public private partnership in the area of youth development by partaking in the enlightenment on Sexual Harassment program with about 1000 Participants hosted at Stella Obasanjo Hall.
✓Release of funds for 3-day sponsorship of Nigerian Youth Parliament (3 members) representing Kwara State to attend the Young African Parliament Summit in Ghana.
✓Renovation of Hostels and Camp Clinic at the Yikpata Youth Camp.
✓Facilitating the participation of 5 participants at the Capacity Building on Sustainable livelihood, skill acquisition in vocational, agricultural and entrepreneurship development program for the vulnerable and unemployed youth organised by the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development.
✓Renovation and Upgrading of Adewole Baseball and Softball Park.
✓Resuscitating the Kwara State Sports Festival after more than a decade in the doldrum which was engrossed with excitement as contingents from across its 16 local governments participate in at least 26 games.
✓Training of 500 NYSC corps members as peer educator counsellors at the Yikpata Youth Camp.
This task requires focus, patience, sacrifice, tact, speed, and constant supplication to God Almighty for guidance on every step of the way. Being eager to see results cannot be completely waived but it must be structured on the giving credence to unalloyed concentration to the duty.
Patience is now out of favour. Yet there is a good case for some, though it is hard for a commentator to make one without seeming to be partisan towards a particular leader or party. Nevertheless my recommendation is for a dose of patience all around at the moment.
Joana Kolo is human like everyone else, her days in office would be remembered not on the span of time she spent but the unmatched innovations, development and pathbreaking achievements constellated during her time.
Slow and steady they say, wins the race. Kolo is not stagnant, she has recorded some laudable feats in the sports clime so she will make inimitable achievements across the board.
Kolo would not promise increased youth based development projects in the same way from the past to avert the sorry remarks as the grand promises a man makes when wooing a woman. After he gets what he wants, all promises made on bended knees are forgotten.
Kolo's foresight on youth development is not dangling carrots in front of a sick donkey. The sick donkey does not need a carrot, it needs to be taken to the hospital and receive adequate treatment.
BASHEER LUQMAN OLAREWAJU-UNIQUE,
Media and Strategy Assistant to the Honourable Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Kwara State.
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