Gbaja, Saraki to speak at intergenerational dialogue June 19

Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, and Bukola Saraki, former senate president, are some of the speakers expected at an intergenerational dialogue scheduled to hold June 19, 2021.

The dialogue, with the theme “The vision Nigeria needs” marks the public presentation of “The Urgency of Now; Why Nigeria needs a Vision of Prosperity and Liberty,” a book by Seun Awogbenle.

In a statement on Sunday, Awogbenle said Simon Kolawole, founder and chief executive officer of Cable Newspaper Limited, Peterside Dakuku, a former director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), are also expected to be part of the dialogue.

Other speakers include Akin Oyebode, Ekiti state commissioner of finance, Bankole Wellington, better known as Banky W, Sally Suleiman, and Chalya Shagaya.

The event which is expected to start by 10:00am will be anchored by Sulaiman Aledeh, a communications strategist.

Disclosing the theme of the dialogue, Awogbenle said the idea of the intergenerational dialogue is consistent with his argument in his book, that while vision is the purview of young people, there is a need for cooperation across generation and demography to identify common solution to our challenges and build consensus.

“Beyond the need for intergenerational cooperation as an important requisite for visioning, I also think that this is a very sobering and challenging time for our country,” he said.

“There is a need for all of us to come together across ages, to demonstrate that for all our differences, we are all in this together, as men and women, young and old. We must show the world that we can pull back from the brink and put our country back on the path of progress.

“This time affords all of us an important opportunity to tap into the strength, inventiveness, and dynamism of young people, and leverage the depth and experience of the old order as the foundation for reimagining Nigeria.

“Above all, this is a time for truth telling and frank conversations. It is not a time for recrimination, blame game or name calling, we must rally ourselves to pull together through this time.”

Awogbenle added that he is confident that the dialogue will offer an opportunity for not just introspection but also offer ideas on the way forward for Nigeria at this critical time.

Anyone willing to attend the event are encouraged to register using the zoom link—https://bit.ly/3ckbH0x