It only takes a casual look at Asiwaju’s groundbreaking Nationwide campaign to realize the level of Youth involvement and the degree of influence and respect he commands amongst youths over the years in the country.
A further foray into the now infamous “Renewed Hope” manifesto then reveals just how much Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu prioritizes the affairs of Nigerian Youths especially as regards sports, entertainment and Youth empowerment. Thereby underlining the need for you the across the nation to massively vote in Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in thebl dawning election.
In the words of Saheed Afolabi contained in his article on the Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s E-Library; “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not only a philanthropist or specialist in political permutation. Asiwaju singlehandedly also brought international reputation and attention to the sports industry in Nigeria through the governor’s cup which is now known as Lagos open.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu antecedents in sport can be traced back to when he was governor of Lagos State. Asiwaju made history as the first governor to stage a World-class sport tournament in Nigeria which is the Governor’s cup.
The governor’s cup is a tennis competition which is played at the Lagos lawn tennis club yearly since the year 2000″
Furthermore, The governor’s cup now named Lagos Open has attracted international tennis stars to Lagos since it became an International Tennis Federation (ITF) standard tournament.
It goes without saying that the Lagos Open which has now attained status of international repute gives opportunities to both local and foreign tennis talents to progress their career.
Now imagine what could be achieved if such initiative was initiated at the federal level and replicated across the states. Indeed the possibilities are limitless.
Similarly, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu strategic influence can not also be written off in boxing as he is part and parcel of England based Nigerian Larry Ekundayo exploit in the boxing world.
Larry Ekundayo nicknamed Larry the natural is the present European IBF Welterweight champion.
Larry Ekundayo who handsomely benefitted from Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu philanthropist gesture in sport, in an interview with The Punch in 2019 described how Asiwaju sponsored his career in boxing and how the sponsorship was influential in how he became a champion in the European Welterweight division. Ekundayo added that the sponsorship of Asiwaju in his career made him prepare well which made a lot of things easier for him and contributed to his success in boxing and also shaped his career.
Meanwhile, there’s was also the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Cup (ABAT) cup which gained prominence during the time of Governor Akinwwunmi Ambode and has kept growing since then.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu influence and achievements in sport can also be traced to his former chief of staff and now the minister of youth and sports Mr Sunday Dare who has developed sport throughout the country and has been the best minister of youth and sport in return of civil rule in the country.
Youth Empowerment
During Asiwaju’s campaign in Maiduguri, Asiwaju painstakingly commended the efforts of youths saying;
“I want to particularly recognise the efforts of our youth today. Coming out today despite this being the women’s campaign is very encouraging for us and I can assure you that Hajiya Nana Shettima and I will work together as a team,” she said.
Speaking more on youth empowerment and girl-child education as key focus areas of Tinubu/Shettima, she said: “I can assure you that youth unemployment will be on the front burner of the Tinubu/Shettima administration. Also, women empowerment and the education of the girl-child because before you can empower a woman, the woman has to have a form of education and education is very key to the growth of our women, not only in the North East but in the country as a whole.
“Because when you educate one woman, you’ve really done well for the entire household, not to speak of the entire nation.”.
Similarly, The Southwest Director of Youth Mobilisation of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Kazeem Raji, says the presidential candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed, has plans to uplift the nation’s youths and enhance their development and prosperity.
This came as a chieftain of the ruling party in Ogun State and Diaspora Coordinator for Grassroots Movement for Asiwaju Tinubu and Shettima Adekunle Ayoola, said Nigerian youths would never regret supporting the APC standard bearer and his running mate.
Raji and Ayoola said this while speaking with journalists, according to a statement.
Raji was quoted as saying, “As the presidential election is less than three months away, it is appropriate to keep on engaging the teeming Nigerian youths and of course assure them of better days ahead under Tinubu/Shettima presidency.
“Asiwaju Tinubu is quite passionate about youth development, he is one political leader that believe so much in developing the youth and you can see many young people Asiwaju discovered, supported across the country who are today doing so well in politics and governance. It’s on this basis that I am urging Nigerian youths to rally support for Tinubu/Shettima presidency because of the capabilities of its drivers to satisfy our yearnings.”
Ayoola, while also drumming support for the success of Tinubu/Shettima come next year explained that “the antecedents of our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu speaks volume of what the youth stand to gain if we all support him to be the next president of our dear country.
“Asiwaju is known for his passion for building leaders, his love for giving the youth all the necessary support and even platform not to only attain greater heights but also contribute their quota to national development, so on this note, I sincerely call on the Nigerian youths to come out in their millions next year February to make this Tinubu/ Shettima presidency happen. It will be the best decision Nigerian youths have ever made.