Yemi Osinbajo, the vice president, has pleaded with today's young to learn from history's mistakes rather than imitating them or endangering their futures.
Osinbajo was welcomed to Liberia by President George Weah, his vice president, and a number of Liberian organisations. Before he delivered the keynote address at a youth conference in Monrovia, they offered him customary recognitions and trophies.
In a statement, Mr Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, stated that President Weah welcomed Osinbajo to Liberia and thanked him for his day's visit. President Weah was the first to greet Osinbajo upon his arrival in Liberia.
Dr Jewel Howard-Taylor, the vice president of Liberia, attended a youth conference as the special guest of honour to commemorate her 60th birthday.
At a youth forum titled "Conversation with the Vice President and Young People," Dr. Howard-Taylor complimented her Nigerian counterpart, praising him as a modest and selfless leader who gives young people hope for a better Africa.
Dr Howard-Taylor praised Osinbajo, calling him “the most humble politician in Africa,” adding that aspiring leaders across the continent should get tremendous inspiration from Osinbajo’s modesty and dedication to public service.
Nearly 400 young Liberians attended the event in which the Vice President was awarded a Distinguished Service to Humanity medal for his outstanding contributions to the progress of Nigeria, Liberia, West Africa, and the rest of the African continent.
Mr Benjamin Sanvee, the event organiser and a young activist, presented the Vice President with a plaque and stated the honour was given in recognition of “all your service, everything that you have done and will continue to do.”
Earlier in the chat with young Liberians, Vice President Osinbajo fielded questions and discussed the importance of drawing lessons from one’s past.
He said, “Every sensible person learns from history rather than from experience because if you wait to learn from experience, you will suffer. What you are supposed to do with history and your past is to learn from it and never let it repeat itself.
“One of the most important things for young people is that you must always remember that your history is not your destiny; it is just part of your story. Your destiny is what you have decided, where you are going, and you will get there as long as you don’t allow the tyrant and oppressor of history to hold you back.”
There were many young people in the hall, and the vice president encouraged them to take advantage of the potential presented by modern technologies to further their own educational and economic development.