ABUJA (Ministry of Youth and Sports Dev’ Report) – The Minister of Youth & Sports Development, Solomon Dalung was presented with a Merit Award for Excellence Service by the Arewa Journalists’ Forum recently. This award was presented to him as a distinguished son of Arewa; friend of the masses and a role model for the youth.
While presenting the award to the Minister, the President of the forum, Hassan Galadima described him as one of the illustrious sons acknowledged to be following the footprint of the former Sadauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmed Bello in area of selfless service, religious tolerance and love for the common people hence the reason for choosing him as one of the worthy citizens of the zone to be honoured during the forthcoming commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the death of the late sage and statesman.
Hassan Galadima also described the Minister as a principled and committed patriot who has devoted his life to serving humanity just like Chairman Mao, Fidel Castro and Thomas Sankara who are great nationalists and revolutionists, he said he hopes that the award will spur him to do more.
In his response, Dalung expressed his appreciation for the honour, saying he was pleased to have been considered fit and worthy by a credible organisation like the Arewa Journalist Forum; he advocated for religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence because there can never be meaningful development without peace and unity.
He also enjoined Nigerians to see our diversity as a source of strength rather than weakness. He explained that God as our creator has the power to make us adherents of one religion, therefore, we should be at peace with one another and give peace a chance. He called on those youth who have turned their back against peace to have a rethink and embrace peace.
Dalung further explained that in fulfillment of the promise made to Nigerians by the change government of President Mohammadu Buhari, the first set of 200,000 recruited youths will start work as from 1st December 2016 and that those in the next phase to make up the 500,000 jobs promised, will also be engaged latest by next April .
He assured that he is resolved to use his remaining life in fighting for the common man and be devoted to the course of humanity.
