NAOMI Oloyede recently created history when she became the youngest Nigerian ever to address the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime international conference in Vienna where she called for a better life for children all over the world.
Aged just 11, Ms Oloyede was one of the speakers at the conference called to raise awareness about drugs and crime. She used the occasion to speak about corruption, describing it as one of the main causes of crime as it denied youths of a future, forcing many of them to resort to nefarious activities.
Ms Oloyede said: “In the world, we live in, corruption and organised crime have been the order of the day. Hardly days pass by without us hearing breaking news on corruption, so what to do to fight corruption?
“As a child, I will resist the temptation of peer pressure. I will learn how to say no to wrongdoings and I will quickly exclude myself from groups planning or committing in my society and I will report to the authorities.
“We should have good government and a government that will not engage in corrupt practices. Government that will provide us with enabling environment because as children, we want to grow up in a place where there is peace, where there is power and where the rule of law is respected.
“The future of children and the youths is in the hands of our policymakers. So, I want to plead with you to join hands together to make our world a better, safe and inclusive place.”
