Politician, soldier, farmer
and born again Christian Chief Olusegun Obasanjohas inspirational words to
share with the young panellists featuring in MTV Base Meets Olusegun Obasanjo
with MTN.
MTV Base Meets Olusegun Obasanjo with MTN premieres on MTV
Base (DStv Channel 322) on Wednesday 22 August 2012 and terrestrial stations
across the continent, including STV (Nigeria), Spectrum TV (Cameroon), Viasat
(Ghana), Rwanda TV (Rwanda), Swazi TV (Swaziland), Muvi TV (Zambia) and NTV
(Uganda).
Asked his advice on how young people can find their niche in
the world, Chief Obasanjo says, “You must make up your mind what you want out
of life. That thing that you have
chosen, you must never give up. Whatever
your hands and your head find to do: do it with all your might!”
A career soldier, Obasanjo became Nigeria military head of
state between 1976 and 1979. He handed
over to a democratically elected regime of AlhajiShehuShagariin 1979, thus
becoming the first military ruler to willingly hand over power at a time when
military rule was still in fashion in Africa.After spending over three years in
prison for his alleged part in planning a phantom coup against the then
military junta, Obasanjo ran for the presidency of Nigeria in 1999 as the
candidate for The People’s Democratic Party - and won. He served two terms as
president of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, leaving office in 2007.In retirement,
Chief Obasanjo keeps himself busy with a flourishing farming business and still
finds time to act as an UN envoy, and play an active part in the African
Leadership Forum, the not-for-profit organisation designed to help improve the
quality of leadership in Africa while at the same time helping to train the
next generation of leaders for the continent.
Chief Obasanjo met with MTV Base VJ Vanessa Mdee and a group
of ambitious and passionate young people at his home in Abeokuta in Ogun State,
Nigeria in June 2012 as part of the MTV Base Meets…with MTN mentorship and
youth empowerment initiative, which connects thought leaders and influencers
with young people.
Chief Obasanjo also speaks about his support for the
democratic process, saying, “There's no better form of government. Democracy has…its problems, [but] it's still
the form of government that allows for participation by the people,
consultation, dialogue - even protests....
It's the form of government that makes you to be able to call your own
leaders to order. Now, positive protest
is part and parcel of democracy and when I say positive what I mean as much as
possible non-violent…It should be the responsibility of all us to make
democracy strong: to deepen it and weld it into this country. Because we have no alternative - that is why
I always cry against those things that will militate against democracy.”
““You must make up your mind what you want out of life. That thing that you have chosen, you must
never give up. Whatever your hands and
your head find to do: do it with all your might!” Chief Obasanjo concludes.
Other topics to be covered by Chief Obasanjo include the
value of education, pivotal moments in his life, the joy he found during his
time in prison (where he grew maize for all the inmates), and his love of
dancing and music – particularly Bob Marley!
Among the seven young people who had the opportunity to meet
and interview Chief Obasanjo were Rwandan law graduate and baking entrepreneur
Sandrine Kabzanguka (25), 26-year old business graduate and actress Kocabelle
Gueminifrom Cameroon, Nigerian oil industry engineer and entertainer Daniel
Effiong (28), Nigerian HR manager Ibilola Fabunmi (27), Nigerian internet
entrepreneur Michael Ugwu (31), South African schoolgirl and would-be doctor
Omolemo Matloga (15) and Liberian high school graduateand wannabe model Sasha
Baker (18).
First initiated in 2011, MTV Base Meets…withMTN connects
African youth with the thought leaders, opinion formers, decision makers and
role models who shape their world. Further influencers still to feature in the
current series include Togolese international footballer Emmanuel Adebayor(29
August) and South African politician and activist Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (5
September).
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