Exclusive: Olasupo Abideen Makes Another Bold Statement

In a country like Nigeria where gerontocracy is the order of the day, it makes it difficult for the ascendancy of the younger generation to lead the nation.

In view of this, it takes a young, purposeful, and vibrant youth leader like Mr. Olasupo Abideen to challenge the status quo in order to emancipate members of his generation to take the front seat in the process of governance through his flagship campaign tagged 'Not-Too-Young-To-Run.'

Olasupo's campaign coincides with current global phenomenon of leadership which has seen the emergence of young leaders of powerful nations such as France, Canada, etcetera.

In this exclusive interview with one of our correspondents, Osuji Chima Francis, Mr. Olasupo shares his thoughts on the philosophy behind his laudable youth-based campaign in preparation for a rally billed to hold Tuesday 16th May, 2017. Enjoy!
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UCJ: Can we meet you, sir?

OLASUPO: My name is OLASUPO Abideen Opeyemi, also known as Google Ambassador. I'm the Executive Director of Brain Builders International; a not-for-profit organisation with thematic areas on Good governance, Education,  youth empowerment, accountability, civic responsibilities, FOIA and SDGs advocacy .

UCJ: What's your philosophy of life?

OLASUPO: I believe that we should all make little impacts in lives. Help one person and expect nothing in return.

UCJ: What's the whole concept behind the not-too-young-to-run initiative?

OLASUPO: The idea is that our democracy is grown and we need to consolidate it. The youth constitutes the largest age group in Nigeria. How come they are not eligible? We want to build leaders from young and give more leadership opportunities to more people.

UCJ: What inspired you to lead such campaign?

OLASUPO: I have the privilege of leading a team of passionate young people. I have also organised many youth oriented programs. I just feel it is responsibility for me to leverage on my platform and experiences to gather other people with similar thoughts.

UCJ: Do you have sponsors for the campaign?

OLASUPO: YIAGA for structural support.

UCJ: What's going to be the itinerary of your proposed rally coming up this week?

OLASUPO: From anywhere in Kwara State, board a cab going to Ilorin. Alight at CHALLENGE bus stop, take a taxi to UNITY, alight at GTBANK junction along New Yidi Road. From Gtbank junction, take a bike going to New Yidi Road roundabout.

UCJ: What message do you have for the young generation of Nigerians?

OLASUPO: It is our time. The only time our country had high hopes, our independence leaders were at the forefront of nation building. If we can bring young people back to the forefront, we can build a sustainable country. We need unity and a strong sense of purpose.

Interviewer: Osuji Chima Francis

UCJ, UNILORIN.