This was a bold statement by the obviously intelligent aparachik at uber chic Art platform, ARTSPLIT. I had gone with the iconic activist Area Fada for a courtesy call on Nonso Okpala the GMD of the fast growing VFD Group. VFD Group has come from very strong beginnings, pulling in some of the most brilliant Investment banking minds to play very sure footedly in various sectors of the economy Within it’s short space of operations, they have closed on some very strategic transactions with the acquisition of significanhuman lace front wigs max white shoes intimate toys cheap nba jerseys yeezy shoes women cheap soccer jerseys philadelphia eagles jersey durex intense vibrations ring air jordan 1 element nike air max 270 women’s human hair wigs jordan max aura 4 air max 97 sale custom stitched nfl jersey air jordan 1 elementt holdings in the Premier Stock Exchange – NGX earning Nonso a seat in the Alh Kwairanga led Board which some have said is the most progressive Board in corporate Nigeria. As we enter the swanky new offices of VFD Group, located in the most elegant part of old ikoyi and just up the road from Heirs Holdings where Nonso served the ebullient Tony Elumelu before setting out on his own with brilliant minds like Bolaji Adewumi, the exquisite paintings strike our attention. Artsplit is part of the group and as explained by the hardworking Coroorate Comms man, Muyiwa Olowokporoko, curating, distributing and monetising Art using it’s virtual platform as a vehicle is what they do. We walk into Nonso’s Board Room with a flutter. Photographers everywhere capturing history as the maverick and controversial anti hero – Area Fada walks up the stairs. He is benignly shy and looking around with faux amazement at the furor his presence is generating amongst a generation who were not born when he released Nwata Misi. The Board Room is cleanically clean, with the smell of high quality leather wafting through my nostrils and the expert use of space by the interior decorator distracting me as Nonso sets the ball rolling with his thoughts about the gap that needs to be bridged bw the force of youth and the laxity of my generation. He opines that no serious business could hope for growth without youths. I have heard this before. Kunle Soname the huge entrepreneur who has over 200,000 youths in his hire had told me same thing. As he spoke, I look up at the hollow roof of the building. It’s colonial heritage hitting me with the pride of beauty and the wonderful and eclectic mix of the urbane modernisation of the building and the prestige and allure of age coming together in a sonorous homily to the talent and vision of these people. It was at that point that she dropped the statement. She was called into the meeting and looked just like them. Young, pretty and audaciously bold. Her jeans and tshrit with glasses placing her firmly in the Gen Z space complete with the fearlessness and courage that comes with the demography. After endsars, something in me died she said, and as she spoke I looked straight into her eyes and saw a steely determination that I would never have dreamt of at that age At this point, Area Fada moves in. The youths needed direction. They need to be serious to understand the purpose of leadership and the responsibilities that comes with it. He felt the youths had to be ready for some sort of guidance and direction from Members of the older generation who share thier vision for generational change as a main tool for national development. The discussion was getting deeper and I was loving it. Nonso jumped in again – the core of Area Father’s postulation is that bridge. The need to close the lacuna so that the youths would be given the rite of passage to leadership in all sectors. He closed by mentioning the eagerness of the youths to enforce leadership and generational change stating very clearly that this was already happening in some sectors with politics coming last. These where very brilliant people engaging in some very crucial but very seminal issues that continues to permeate public discourse as we begin the slow but very arduous task of rebuilding the Nation . Finally, discussions came back to the massive Carricaturist competition which is expected to attract over 2,000 young caricaturist with Area Fada as the main model and which will be arrowheaded by Artsplit. As we stood at the end of the meeting, it was clear that some sort of bridge had been forged, with Area Fada reaching out to the young lady seeking a continuance of discussions and she willingly obliging in submission to the wisdom of age. It was a swell one hour which gave me the opportunity to better understand the slow but very sure easing out of the old guard and the taking over of leadership by fresh and young legs with VFD Group as a growing testament to that very strong possibility. It was a good one. Duke of Shomolu
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