From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The Minister of State for Environment and Ecological Management, Dr Iziaq Kunle Salako, has said that the Tinubu administration will give priority attention to various environmental and ecological issues in the country.
The minister added that his Ministry will work in tandem with the FG’s policy on environment to tackle environmental issues such as flood, erosion and other degradations.
Salako spoke at the 2023 Ayetoro-Yewa Day in Ayetoro, Yewa North Local government area of Ogun state, at the weekend.
Speaking further at the event which was also used as a civic reception and honour for him, Salako, who hails from Ayetoro-Yewa, however, said that the infrastructural and human capital development of President Tinubu’s administration, which according to him is holistic, will move the country to the next level.
He called on the Nigerian youths to shun any act capable of destroying the unity and peace of the country, rather they should commit themselves to working for the success of the nation.
He equally charged them to be more committed to serving the country before demanding from it.
Salako emphasised that, for Nigerians, particularly the youths to benefit from Nigeria, they must serve the country before demanding anything in return.
He insisted that the youths must engage in nation building by serving the country diligently and passionately anywhere they find themselves, stressing “it is only when the youths serve Nigeria that the country can serve them in return”.
He added: “If you serve your land, your land will serve you. It is like a farmer, if you do not till the land, if you do not plant, there is no way you can harvest anything.
“What we are celebrating today is a testimony that if you serve your land, your land will serve you. Everywhere I go, I always take it as a responsibility to serve my land and I’m happy today that my land is serving me.
“My admonition, particularly to the younger ones, let us believe in serving our land first, let us serve Nigeria first, before we demand of Nigeria, let us serve Ogun State first, before we demand of Ogun state, let us serve Ogun West first, before we demand of Ogun West, let us serve Ayetoro first, before we demand of Ayetoro.
“I have no doubt in my mind and I want to assure you that if you serve your land, your land will serve you”.
The event was attended by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal; the Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, a member of the House of Representatives representing Egbado North/Imeko-Afon Federal Constituency, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka; the Alaye of Ayetoro, Oba Azeez Adelakun, among others.
The occasion witnessed the launch of N500million endowment funds for the development of Aiyetoro town.