By Monsur Olowoopejo
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has stressed the need for youths in the country to engage in productive ventures to ensure a sustainable national development as well as boost the rebran-ding programme.

He stated this when a 12-man team from the just concluded Gulder Ultimate Search, GUS7, reality show paid him a courtesy visit in his Alausa office.

He urged them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria in all their endeavours as the country looks up to them to positively  project the image of Nigeria in the comity of Nations.

The GUS7 heroes, led by the show’s anchor, Mr. Bob-Manuel Udokwu, were received on behalf of the Governor by the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Prince Adeniyi Oyemade.

Fashola commended their intelligence and for channelling their energy into positive ventures at a time when some youths in the country are getting involved in all kinds of illicit activities.

Governor Fashola said: “All over the world you are now seen as role models and ambassadors of Africa and Nigeria in particular. You have to ensure that you keep up the good work so that others who now look up to you can emulate you.”

The Governor also identified the need for the organisers of the programme to collaborate with the state government in subsequent editions so as to ensure a wide scope and accessibility to a larger number of the people.

While addressing the winner of the contest, Oyekunle Oluwaremi,  he said: “You are now a public figure and an ambassador to the youth because they are looking up to you. Do not be a militant but be role models to the Niger Delta youths.”

He commended the organizers, saying that the programme was not just entertaining but also educative as it shows how the youths who contested struggled in the jungle, surviving through harsh conditions.

He assured that the government will always look at ways to engage the youths in productive manner to address some of the social malady in the country.

In his response, Udokwu thanked the government for the warm reception stressing that the programme has stood out as one of the best reality shows that have impacted positively in the lives of many Nigerians.