The Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba (Dr) Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, has formally inaugurated the Yewa Youth Association (YYA) with a call on the youths not to allow politics of division and bitterness to erode their commitment to the unity and development of Yewaland.
Oba Olugbenle, who spoke to the youths drawn across Yewaland on Sunday at Ilaro, according to Omo’ba Femi Dokunmu, Media Consultant to the Paramount Ruler, said “it was important that all Yewa youths are swiftly integrated into the larger vision of a coordinated mobilization and integration of the Yewa people for sustainable development, irrespective of their town of origin or sub-ethnic group.
“Our ethnic diversity and the apparent divisions created by politics make it necessary for us to chart new path for our unity and promote only politics of development which has respect for our people as it’s foundation”.
Oba Olugbenle, Dokunmu stated said, “following the establishment of the Yewa People Development Council, (YPDC) as umbrella body for registered Pan-Yewa Associations many of which have elderly people as members, it has become expedient to bring into the Council an Association of the Youths”.
In his address, Chairman of the Yewa People Development Council, Professor Rahamon Bello, said the formation and inauguration of the Yewa Youth Association was to facilitate their registration with the YPDC as one of the member bodies to ensure that the opinion and contributions of the youths are considered in the efforts to build unity and development across Yewaland.
“In our quest for development, we cannot wait until we have a Governor of Ogun State frombYewa area before building the necessary structures and taking our fortune in our own hands”, he said.
The Interim President of the Yewa Youth Association who is also the current Chairman of the Ogun State Youth Council, Comrade Abdul-Jabar Ayelaagbe, in his speech saluted present leaders who have in the years past, as youths, contributed to achieving notable landmarks in the development of Yewaland in the area of education, commerce, industries, Paramount Rulership and Change of name from Egbado to Yewa.
He said the youths of Yewaland have taken the admission of their umbrella association into YPDC as “a challenge and opportunity to learn from our elders and veterans, get mentored and build bridges between generations for stronger community and sustainable development for Yewaland’, adding; ‘this is an opportunity which we treasure and will hold very dear to our hearts”.
Comrade Ayelaagbe said the YYA was formed to serve as training ground for quality leadership, provide opportunity for cross-fertilization of ideas, good citizenship and cooperation among Yewa Youths for peaceful co-existence and meaningful contributions to the development of
Yewaland.
Dignitaries at the inauguration who gave goodwill messages, according to Omo’ba Dokunmu include, the Onimeko of Imeko-Yewa, Oba Benjamin Olanite; the Olu of Imasayi-Yewa, Oba Lukman Kuoye; the Yeye Akeweje of Ilaro, Hon. Chief Latifat Ajayi and Ajiroba Dapo Oke.
“Others guests at the event are the Onijoun of Ijoun-Yewa, Oba Gabriel Ogunji; the Oloja of Oja-Odan, Oba Oladipo Olowobese; Chairman of the Oronna Ilaro Festival Planning Committee, Pharmacist Lekan Asuni; Iya Ewe of Ilaro, Chief Mrs Yemisi Oloyo; Representative of the Yewa
Think Tank, Mr Lateef Owodeyi and the Secretary, YPDC, Pastor Femi Akinola”, Dokunmu stated.
