Oyo Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Tuesday told a story of how he washed dead bodies for eight years as a youth to pay his tuition fees while schooling abroad.
Ajimobi said this at a South-West Youths Regional Summit in Osogbo.
The governor was urging the youth in the region to have a positive mindset toward hard work.
He said his parents only sent him $30 all through his stay abroad, adding that he had to look for a way to survive.
“I left Nigeria in 1963 to study abroad, and throughout my stay there, I was washing dead bodies to support myself to go to school.
“Whenever I got home from work, I will be weeping, remembering the number of dead bodies I washed.
“My boss at work then said I should not be afraid or fear, adding that such feeling is normal for first comers.
“He encouraged me to always see those dead bodies as iced fish.
“But against all odds, I survived and that is why I am urging youths to see hard work as the only way to success.
“I am saying this to challenge the youth of our next generation not to give up.”
On returning to Nigeria, Ajimbi worked in many multinationals, including Mobil, where he was head of marketing.
“This is our chance as youths and as Yorubas to come together to chart a successful pathway for the country,.’’ he said.
He, however, urged Yoruba leaders and governors to unite for the progress of the Yoruba race