The lawmaker representing Ikorodu Federal constituency at the House of Representative, Hon. Jimi Benson has urged the youths of Nigeria not be discouraged in spite of the things that are amiss in the country tasking them to rather see the opportunities in the midst of chaos and not the other way round.

The three-term legislator stated this during a Fire Side Chat with the fellows of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy on Friday as he opened up on his career in the private and public sector while sharing nuggets of wisdom on diverse leadership attributes like seizing opportunities, building relationships and leading through empathy.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Defense who flew in from the Federal Capital Territory because of the fellows advised them not to take lightly the confidence that Gov. Sanwo-olu reposes in them by putting them on platform to optimize and maximize their leadership potential and giving them a gifted young leader in the Executive Secretary, Mrs. Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade.

Benson said, “Some youths have told me that my time as a youth was easier than theirs, but they have forgotten that they have something we did not have back then which is technology and can be very advantageous. It is possible to turn chaos into opportunities, see the opportunities in the chaos.”

The lawyer turned lawmaker said, “The youths of this country and fellows of the Lateef Leadership Academy should learn to shoot at opportunities for it’s a bird that never perches. Be relentless. Be tenacious too”

The Executive Secretary of the Academy, Mrs. Ayisat Agbaje Okunade revealed that the Leadership Academy was created by the Gov. Sanwo-Olu administration to fill the leadership vacuum in the country by baking transformative leaders. She disclosed that the process of becoming a participant in the program is meritocratic and non-partisan.

One of the fellows, Mrs. Orifunke Lawal, said what thrilled her with the Fire Side Chat with the Honourable was not just his brilliance but openness as he advised them to keep growing so as to fit themselves into positions of leadership.

The three term lawmaker, after the parley with the fellows, took them round the IKD 106.9FM, which is located within the same premises with his constituency office. With Rep. Benson during the meeting are Builder Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and Mayor Muyideen Sanwoola, Director – General, iCare Foundation.