Being the text of a speech delivered on April 29th, 2021 at the Rotaract club of University of Ilorin, annual leadership submit titled "Leadership: The Door of Opportunities". Organized by the Rotaract club of university of Ilorin.

Courtesies

 I thank the organizers of this programme for inviting me to this great event and the timing could not be more auspicious. However, I am sure today’s interaction on the topic to be treated will also be valuable in creating a better understanding of critical issues with great rotaractors and other distinguished personalities present here today. Indeed, I am grateful to be invited to share my thoughts with this distinguished audience.

Dstinguished ladies and gentlemen, according to Mark Twain, there are two types of speakers: those who get nervous and those who are liars. So let me begin with a confession, despite this not being my first time of speaking in a public function, I feel rather nervous to be standing before you  today! I don’t know why Rotactors loved inviting me but I know that given the experience of the past few weeks, I am sure Rotactor Faidat would have one or two things to say about me . 

First, she sent me a wattap message asking for my picture, and it took me some days before I responded. She didn't give up. Again, she requested for my citation, for which I told her I don't have one and really I don't have, but because I want to make her job more simple, I had to get one for her. As it happen again, I was almost missing up the date but just three days ago, she sent sent me a reminder informing me that the event is actually today which I was thinking will be holding on Saturday. All the aforementioned happened not because one feels too big or proud. That isn't really the case!

The truth is that, in the last few months, hardly a week comes when I would not be invited either to speak at one event or the other, either as a keynote speaker or as a master of ceremony. Quite naturally, I have had to politely turn down many of those requests because I just cannot cope. But when I was sounded out by the Rotaract Club of University of Ilorin, about the possibility of being here today, I instantly jumped at the opportunity. 

The idea behind today's topic, I suppose was to raise the hopes and aspirations of our young guys  and ladies who are the most vulnerable group in the soceity today, that notwithstanding the circumstances of the moment, we are all prospective leaders and the time is now to get prepared for such responsibilities. I just didn’t want to come here to join the wailing wailers. I really want to inspire hope, especially among our Rotaractors

However, while I felt that it would be nice to be a motivational speaker on a day such as this, I was also mindful of the fact that I might unnecessarily be raising the hopes and expectations of a generation that has been betrayed again and again. In any case, I believe you invited me here to speak and not to preach.

I am aware that this programme is about interaction so I am not going to bore you with a long speech. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to speak briefly about the topic given to me: Leadership: The Door of Opportunities. Indeed, I am sure the topic would form the basis of my brief intervention here today.

As it is, attaining the position of leadership is an opportunity on its own, while one of the main jobs of any leader is to help create opportunities for his or her people. Opportunities to learn, to grow, and to succeed. Think about these. Opportunity activates imagination. Opportunity inspires courage, and opportunity begets opportunity.

Ditinguished Rotactors, in the fast-changing world that we live in, a most pertinent question remains: how do we ensure that our citizens, especially the Rotaractors of this generation acquire the knowledge, skills, and perspectives necessary for responding to the challenges and opportunities that abound? 

That is the challenge at the heart of my today's presentation but I am going to approach it, not as an expert in that area (which I am not) but rather as a public commentator which, fortunately, I am.

New opportunity always awaits you, as you all you need to do is to just look for it. Mind you, adversity can be a blessing. A blessing of new beginnings and new discoveries. I wonder what opportunity is waiting for you out there.

Leadership: The Door of Opportunities should spur us into action. Unfortunately, a vast majority of our youths, especially Rotactors have become too unserious or risk-averse to venture into what could take them off the poverty line. Many are still waiting for corporate jobs from the government and the private sector, especially after graduation when there are huge opportunities all around them to explore as prospective leaders. 

We must look into ways to encourage ourselves to start working with our hands while waiting for our dream jobs, if there is anything like that. The solution to the challenge of joblessness lies in skills acquisition and the readiness to seek out or create new opportunities for ourselves.

However, the get-rich-quick mentality must be dispensed with. While I urge the government to create enabling environment for our youths to take leadership responsibilities in order to showcase the values they're always capable of adding to the system. 

Meanwhile, there are examples of young men and women who seized the opportunities around them. Most of them are very close to us. However, mentioning them one after the other night take better part of our time, so that will be a story for another day.

Leadership: The Door of Opportunities is actually pointing to the fact that we have for decades failed to take our opportunities but we have come to that critical point where, as a club, the heart-cry of genuine Rotactors should be a foresight on how to become a leader that will be ready to consult, reach out, engage and create opportunities for others in the nearest future.

Distinguished Rotactors, I said from the beginning that I am neither here today to preach nor to wail. My intention is to provoke a conversation that will be robust, constructive, and thought-provoking about our future and to challenge ourselves that we cannot afford to stand still or be locked into old patterns and habits. We all know our problems, what remains is constructing a response that  helps to address them and if we don’t do that quickly, we run the risk of waiting too long and falling too far behind to catch up.

Therefore, as it is for Rotactors so it is for Rotarians. For you as Rotactors, Leadership The Door of Opportunities: means recognizing that our hopes for the future depend on the action we should start taking now so as to occupy the place where we really belong.

Leadership The Door of Opportunities means a resolve by those saddled with critical responsibilities that henceforth, they would serve with honour and integrity. Mind you, we now live a world where youths have practically been taking charge, especially in both public and private sectors.

 Leadership The Door of Opportunities means rekindling faith that our institutions are there to serve the people and produce more leaders that make the system work again for the better of all. After all, the theme of this Rotary year is apt: thus "Rotary Present Opportunity"

We are all stakeholders in the Rotary project. We are here today because we recognise that fact. We need to end abject poverty and create employment opportunities for ourselves by unlocking the huge and untapped potentials in all of us. This is because those grasses are no more greener on the other side.

However, I cannot end this presentation without calling on all our Rotactors gathered here to please close ranks and work for the growth and development of Rotaract and Rotary at large. All of us must work together irrespective of our tribal and religious differences to salvage our society

We know the problems we are facing, especially at our various clubs and if we are united, there is no problem we cannot confront and conquer. I must point out that, for instance, I fail to understand why the Rotactors in Kwara cannot work as a team to produce a District Rotaract Representive? The bitter truth however, is that we can never achieve this under a climate of mutual suspicion, except and unless you work as a team.

This, for me is about taking personal responsibility as Rotactors and prospective leaders. Whether we realize it or not, the choices we make in our little corners are as important as those made in other places and if as Rotactors we want to attain any leadership position, then we need responsible and dedicated Rotactors at practically all our clubs. What I am saying in essence is that all of us must play our parts. There is so much that we can all do as we seek to become leaders ourselves.

Dear Rotactors, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I think my job is done, but before I take my seat, let me remind us all that Leadership: The Door of Opportunities is also something we should internalize personally. It means a new hunger to make a difference and to help people who deserve help so that they, in turn can take advantage of new opportunities and contribute to a more diverse, sustainable, and equitable society. 

The message for each one of us as prospective leaders is to take whatever little space we have and begin to make a difference in our world. 

Remember: Leadership remains The Door of Opportunities!

Paper delivered byR

Rtn. Ishola Gbenga Emmanuel ANIPR