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No fewer than 420 youths participated in the just concluded 2018 edition of Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), an annual leadership training organized by Rotary International, District 9110 Nigeria.
The one week-long programme with the theme: “Explore, Engage, Excel” started with the arrival of the participants at the venue- Sea School in Apapa area of Lagos state on Saturday, November 24 and ended on Sunday, December 2.
The participants which were sponsored by the various Rotary clubs in the district were trained on various vocational skills which includes fashion designing. They were also offered Physical fitness training in various ways such as man o’ war training, yoga training, dipping in water which is called “water baptism” and a 20km endurance trek to and fro Tarkwa Bay Beach.
The District Governor, Rotarian Kola Sodipo who expressed his grattitude to the Chairperson and her team for the record-breaking success and also for meeting up to his expectations, however encourage the participants to be of good behavior as they depart the training ground and also put into practice all they have been thought during their stay at the Sea School.
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The RYLA Chairperson, Past Assistant Governor Ify Ejezie, while speaking during the closing ceremony, underscored that it took passion, hard work, integrity, honesty, and above all love for her and her team to get 420 participants which is the highest number of RYLA participation in the district so far.
PAG Ejezie also noted that renowned speakers from various sectors; entertainment sector, financial sector and many others were invited to speak to the participants and enlighten them. “It was an all-round development for them and am sure that they are leaving the Sea School better than they came”, the RYLA Chairperson stated.
The Sea School Coordinator, Mr. Mustapha Oludare while addressing the participants at the closing ceremony said, “Nigerian youths should not forget that they are the future of this country. For someone to excel in life, you need to have self-control. You must also create time to access yourself and your progress in life.
“You need to be open to learn new skills, which is another way of keeping your brain open and active. Talking about creativity, you need to think outside the box”, he added.
The District Governor, Rotarian Kola Sodipo who expressed his gratitude to the RYLA Chairperson and her team for the record-breaking success and also for meeting up to his expectations, however encourage the participants to be of good behavior as they depart the training ground and also put into practice all they have been thought during their stay at the Sea School.
Other side attractions organized for the participants include cooking competition and beauty pageant. Awards and prices were also presented to the following categories among others:
- Best Cook from the cooking competition
- The Most Handsome boy- Mr RYLA
- The Most Beautiful Girl- Miss RYLA
- Best Three Students in Each Watch
- Overall Best Student.
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Soetan Ibrahim, sponsored by Rotary Club of Gbagada South, was crowned Mr RYLA 2018 while Monalisa Ejezie, sponsored by Rotary Club of Ikoyi Metropolitan, was crowned Miss RYLA 2018. Akinyemi Muhideen Akimnsanmi, one of the participants sponsored by Rotary Club of Maryland emerged Overall Best Student.