Tunde Oseni, a first class graduate of Political Science from the University of Ibadan, who is currently a Ph.D student and Teaching  Assistant at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, is the founder and director, Youth Focus Initiative. At an event in Lagos, he made a public presentation

of his collections entitled: “My London Poems, with My Nigerian Story.” SEYI GESINDE reports.

It was at a gathering of his family members and friends, with the presence of  students, scholars,  journalists, activists, community leaders, volunteers, politicians, artisans, intellectuals and managers of institutions and organisations, that Tunde Oseni, Nigeria’s award-winning political scientist in the United Kingdom deemed it fit to celebrate his achievements.

The venue was the Engineering Lecture Theatre of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Lagos, where Tunde made the public presentation of his book, My London Poems, with My Nigerian Story, while he also at the same event presented Youth Focus Role Model Awards to three deserving individuals.

Tunde, who said he was greatly inspired by his father to be who he is today, described his father as his number one role model and chief adviser. “My father; my father is one of the best fathers in the world,” Tunde said.

He also attributed most of his successes to three individuals, who he said had influenced him, “right from the time I was in the womb, to the period I was a kid, to the time I became an adult.”

Tunde said: “This anthology is dedicated to: One, My Granny, Mama, she took care of me and my sister, and my cousins. Each one of us who passed through mama was better for it.

“She was indeed an angel. Mama always prayed: ‘Wa se orire, wa lo si Ilu Oyinbo’ (You will be successful, you will go to the Whiteman’s Land’). Today, I am happy to report that Mama’s prayer has come to pass.

“Mama practically made me understand the values of life. Two, the late Chief Bola Ige (SAN).”

Tunde in his tribute to Bola Ige wrote: “The Cicero of Nigeria, who, through his many speeches and writings inspired me, and made me understand that there is virtue in a life of values.

We all know Bola Ige to be an enigma; a man of many parts.
The ‘Kaduna Boy’ with Esa Oke Parents.
The Man who came to the world .
And conquered the fear of Tyrants.
The leader whose type is rare.
The jurist whose judgment was fair.
The Governor.
The Orator.
The Mentor.
The Tutor.
The Coordinator.
The Motivator.
The Thinker.
The Writer.
If you grew up knowing Bola Ige,
And grew up reading him,
You would know that the vacuum of the People’s Lawyer
Will ever be felt by the People to whom he was Loyal.
Whenever I remember Chief Bola Ige,
I remember Abraham Lincoln, ‘I would not be a slave neither would I be a master.’ This expresses my idea of democracy.
Whenever I remember Chief Bola Ige,
I remember  Malcolm X, ‘The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.’
Whenever I remember Chief Bola Ige,
I remember  John F. Kennedy,  ‘Think of what you can do for your country and not what your country can do for you.’
Whenever I remember Chief Bola Ige,
I remember : Martin Luther King Jnr., ‘I have a dream.’

Whenever I remember Chief Bola Ige, I say: may his gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace.

He also decdicated the book to his late mother.  “The vacuum she left on 24 January, 1999, I am sure will never be filled,” Tunde said.

However, to these three individuals to whom this anthology is specially and specifically dedicated, Tunde said “we’ve got to take consolation in the fact that we cannot continue to lament on a situation we cannot change.”

He said the Youth Focus Initiative was established precisely in February 2001, while the  determination to motivate and inspire the youth has been well-received, even outside Nigeria

“We believe the youth can learn, grow and develop if positively and progressively well-educated, engaged and empowered,” Tunde said.

He added that, the three cardinal projects of his organisation are leadership training, personal development, and community service, which they plan to achieve through annual summer school, educational tours, conferences and seminars as well as musical, dramatic and poetic events.