VAM News Update
THE Olowu of Kuta, Oba Hammed Oyelude Makama Tegbosun III, has commended the Noah Olawuwo Oderinu Foundation for organizing the colloquium, Oba Makama urged the foundation not to allow the organization to be politicized rather strive in becoming a forum where opinions that can formulate policies for Osun people would be made.
The monarch who was decorated as the grand patron of the foundation, established to sustain the charity legacy of late broadcaster’s father, at the Noah Olawuwo Oderinu Foundation’s colloquium organised by Popular radio broadcaster, Adedayo Oderinu in which was held in Osogbo, Osun state capital.
The Monarch pledged to do everything possible in supporting and ensuring that the foundation continues to achieve the purpose of which it was established.
Also, he has insisted that only monarch in the Yoruba land not picked by Ifa oracle would be misbehaving around.
The monarch who was reacting to a recent comment credited to a prominent Yoruba Oba that Ifa oracle nowadays no longer decides who becomes king made his submission known on Thursday at the maiden colloquium of Noah Olawuwo Oderinu Foundation.
Olowu of Kuta maintained that Ifa oracle remains an important tradition of the Yoruba people which all obas must respect and do everything possible to preserve.
According to the Monarch, “We are appointed as kings to promote Yoruba culture and traditions, we don’t have religious kind in Yorubaland.”
While speaking on the objectives why the Noah Olawuwo Oderinu Foundation was established, radio and television broadcaster, Dayo Oderinu said the foundation will contribute to improved access to quality education for underserved communities and people.
He further explained that the foundation would contribute to eradication of poverty and extreme hunger through human capacity development and improved access to basic healthcare for the extremely poor through extension of health insurance cover.
At the occasion, the immediate past Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola whose presentation centered on the theme of the colloquium: “Nigeria’s Democratic Evolution: The Gains and Opportunities for the Future”, said it is a thing of joy that since the return to democratic dispensation in 1999, Nigeria has made series of gains in its democratic journey.
According to him, Nigeria has made frantic efforts at strengthening and improving its electoral process, enhancing the credibility of the electoral system at every election period in the last two decades of democratic dispensation.
Represented by his former Senior Special Assistant on Students’ Affairs and Social Mobilisation, Comrade Kehinde Ayantunji, Oyetola attributed peaceful transition of power and political stability from 1999 till date; increased civil liberties and respect for the rule of law; economic growth and diversification; media freedom among others as part of the noble gains that the country had recorded since the return to democracy.
While relating same to the impacts made by his administration while serving the people of Osun, Oyetola expressed satisfaction in his ability to initiate reforms which impacted positively on the fiscal transparency and accountability in public resource management of the State.
He noted that his determination to redefine the economy of the state while in office tremendously helped to move Osun from a state on the verge of insolvency to being one of the fiscally and financially viable states of the federation.
Oyetola added that Osun came top in efficiency of public expenditure by the World Bank’s States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SFTAS) in November 2022 under his watch saying, “it was the monetary compensation for our prudent management of resources that came into state coffers shortly after we left office.”
At the colloquium, Mr Bamidele Adeleke, delivered Lecture on “Achieving Generational Paradigm Shift In Political Participation”, saying political participation has been seen as the realm of older generations—the individuals with more life experience, established careers, and a greater stake in the political landscape. From the INEC registerof 93.46m voters for the 2023 general elections, thismeans that the politicallandscapecontinues to be dominated by the minority, the combined18 –49years Age groupsaccounted for70.4m voters representing 75.4% of registered voters in Nigeria.
He further said, the generational paradigm shift in political participation is an undeniable reality that we must embrace. Young people are stepping up, demanding their voices be heard, and challenging the status quo to listen, learn, and work together across generations to build a political system that is responsive, inclusive, and reflective of the aspirations of all citizens.“Omode gbon, Agba gbonla fi da ile ife”. The cradle of the Yorubarace was built on the combined wisdoms of the younger and older generations.
Also, Chairman of the Colloquium, Professor Siyan Oyeweso also commended the Oderinu family for continuing the legacies of their father.
Oyeweso urged the youths to be ready for challenges with aim of surmounting them.
Dignitaries at the occasion include, Professor Siyan Oyewoso, Governor Adeleke’s appointees, Prince Dotun Babayemi, Representative of the Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon Wale Egbedun, Hon Tunde Olatunji among others.
