By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade has stressed the need to build systems that ensure inclusive growths that does not benefit few elite alone, but one that uplift towns, empower youths, and protect the vulnerable ones.
A release by the Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin, Bode Durojaiye, said the Paramount Ruler gave the advice at a dinner organised by the Oyo Forum in Abuja to honour him.
It quoted the Alaafin as saying that a united front is not simply a romantic idea, but strategically imperative.
According to the Monarch, “For it is only through cooperation that we can attract meaningful investments, influence national development frameworks, and protect the interests of our people wherever they may reside.
“It is time for coordinated action between our traditional institutions, our intellectuals, our technocrats, and our politicians. Let us speak with one voice on critical national issues- education, regional development, state policing, youth employment, security, and infrastructure.
“Let us invest in our local economies, support indigenous innovation, and create centres of excellence that make Oyo a beacon for others to follow.”
He said further, “In the 21st century, it is our youth who will carry our legacy forward. They are digital natives, bursting with creativity and ambition. But too many are being lost to despair, underemployment, or migration. We must not fail them.”
He pointed out that as custodians of tradition and as visionaries of the future, traditional rulers must be proactive in investing in their minds.
He added, “It is time to scale up digital literacy, entrepreneurship training, and vocational programmes that prepare them for the demands of a global economy. Let us not merely equip them to survive; let us empower them to thrive.
“Every Yoruba child, whether born in Oyo, Abuja, London, or Akure, deserves a fair shot at dignity, excellence, and relevance in this new world.
“Nigeria remains our home. And within her federation, the Yoruba people must continue to play a stabilising and visionary role. But let us be clear: no region can flourish without equity.
“We must therefore not be timid in advocating for structural reforms that ensure every part of Nigeria has equal opportunity to develop. I am glad to know that President Bola Tinubu is committed to this ideal”.
He argued that true federalism must no longer be a rhetorical expression, but a living reality.
“Resource control, fiscal autonomy, and political accountability must be demanded- and responsibly negotiated. In all these, our strength will lie not in noise or confrontation, but in unity, strategy, and clarity of purpose.
“It is with a heart full of gratitude and royal obligation that I stand before you today- not only as a traditional ruler, but as a servant of destiny. I bring greetings from the ancient throne of Oranmiyan, the seat of honour and history, from where our ancestors once charted the course of greatness for an entire civilisation.
“We gather at a critical junction in the life of our people and our nation. A time of disruption, but also of immense opportunity. A time when the world is changing at lightning speed. In this moment, it is not enough to sit back and reminisce about past glories. We must instead rise, and rise boldly, to reimagine our collective future- guided by vision, rooted in unity, and propelled by purposeful action.
“We are living in the age of the knowledge economy, where the power of ideas, information, and innovation surpasses even the might of oil and minerals.
“Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, digital transformation, and green innovation are reshaping the global economic order. In this new reality, relevance and power are no longer conferred by sheer size or natural resources, but by human capital, strategic alignment, and visionary leadership.
“The question we must ask ourselves, and indeed answer together, is this: Where are the Yoruba in this rapidly evolving world? Are we content to be mere spectators in the theatre of transformation? Or will we rise to take our rightful place- not through entitlement, but through deliberate investment, cultural synergy, and coordinated action?
“Yorubaland is blessed with an abundance of talent, heritage, intellect, and cultural capital. From the ivory towers of academia to the corridors of business and politics, Yoruba sons and daughters continue to shine. We are in every part of the world, excelling and contributing.
“Yet, within the Nigerian federation, we must humbly acknowledge that our collective influence has not always matched our potential. Fragmentation, internal rivalry, and a deficit of synergy have too often slowed our march forward.
“The days when each kingdom pursued its own narrow path, when sons of the same heritage competed for crumbs rather than building together- those days must end.
“This is why I have made it a central mission of my reign to rally our people- not just around the throne of Oyo, but around a grand vision for Yoruba renewal.
“Oyo must rise again, not in isolation, but as a unifying force and spiritual compass for Yorubaland. And in doing so, we must forge new alliances, across towns and generations, across professions and ideologies, so that we may together lay the foundations for a just, equitable and prosperous Yoruba future.”
While urging the Oyo Forum in Abuja to rise, not as a ceremonial gathering, but as a brain trust of action, innovation, and advocacy, Alaafin Owoade enjoined members to return to their spheres of influence with renewed zeal to build partnerships, support local initiatives, and open doors for others.
“Let our engineers design future-ready cities. Let our scholars rethink curriculum for a digital world. Let our entrepreneurs build companies that solve real problems. Let our cultural ambassadors preserve the dignity of our heritage while boldly engaging the world.
“Let us, together, walk in unity. Let us act with discernment. Let us resist the pull of petty divisions and instead embrace the power of shared destiny. Our ancestors weathered storms to hand us this legacy. We must now expand it.
“The road ahead will not be easy. There will be trials. There will be distractions. But we must remain focused. We must reject small-mindedness. We must walk forward- not as lone runners, but as a relay team, handing strength from one generation to the next.
“I see a future where Oyo is not just a place of history, but a citadel of innovation. I see a Yorubaland that sets the pace in education, commerce, and governance. I see a people who, through unity and vision, become once again the standard bearers of progress across the continent”, Alaafin Owoade asserted.
