While delivering the lecture titled “Becoming Relevant in the World of Social Development Advocacy” at the February edition of Volunteers’ Connect, Dr. Olufolake Adelakun, an astute lecturer and a rural development specialist in the Department of Agricultural extension and Rural Development, University of Ibadan, identified ways through which social development advocacy groups and individuals can become relevant and make sustainable impacts in their various advocacy efforts.

According to her, every individual who seeks to become relevant must find a purpose in whatever they do, at every point in time; adding that a purposeless effort will amount to zero impact in the long run. Dr Adelakun stated the need to ensure continuous self-evaluation, engage in self-audit, pay careful attention to feedback from others and make adjustments where necessary. She also emphasised that self discipline, making conscious choice, loyalty and consistency, are necessary in the tool box of any social advocate in order to make meaningful impact in the current world.

In her own speech, the Executive Director of RNI, Miss Damilola Iyiola, enjoined youths to always endeavor to join online campaigns pertaining to global issues that are of interest to them, while adding that they should also be actively involved in implementing local campaigns.