Ojaja Villa section, the 2nd phase of the Ojaja Park and residences was on Monday flagged off in Akure , the capital of Ondo state.
The Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole Adebayo who officiated the low key ground breaking ceremony of the second phase of Ojaja phase said the idea being canvassed by the Ooni is to let everyone know it’s not only government that can be driving development, he said kings too can do it.
“Let’s us rise up to support our government by providing jobs for our youths. I see a lot of youths here, over 3000 youths are working on this project. It’s not going to be here alone. Baba Ooni is doing it everywhere, he has done it in Osogbo, Ile-Ife, Lagos and he’s planning it for Abeokuta, Ibadan but the next one is coming to Ekiti.” Ajero said
In his own remarks at the event, the Olowa of Igbara Oke, Oba Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede commended Ooni Ogunwusi for providing the project; Ojaja Park and located it in Ondo State, admitting the project will not only enhance more developments in the area but will also serve the youths as far as employment is concerned.
“We are here today to flag off Ojaja Park phase II.(The Villa Section) We are very much impressed with this development as you all attest to the fact that this project has brought a tremendous achievement to the youths here in Ojaja Park. This another phase is going to increase the development. If the phase 1 has been able to enrol about 3000 youths presently working according to Kabiyesi Ajero, the phase II will also increase the job opportunities.”
“This place is going not only to enhance development but will be able to bring a lot of socioeconomic activities to this environment and to the youths in general. Baba has been doing everything possible to promote development throughout this country. This Ojaja Park has been here and it will soon go round as it has been said to all the states in Yorubaland.” Oba Agbede said.
Speaking to journalists after the event, Ooni Ogunwusi in his usual character dedicated the Ojaja phase II which is expected to be completed before the end of this year to the Nigerian youths. He urged all traditional rulers to wake up to the new reality of 21st century when they can not always wait for government to do it all.
“I greet you the Nigerian youths, especially the youths of Akure kingdom. We are making another statement today and this statement is about providing enabling environment for Nigerian youths through employment opportunities. I can imagine, if we have multiple of this project all over the country in different local areas, it will go a long way curbing restiveness of the youths, we will have youth that we can engage easily and this project will draw the diaspora to Akure.”
“A lot of people ask me, why Akure instead of IFE, What is driving me is development anywhere not only in IFE not only in Ondo State. We are still going to everywhere in the country.”
“This is a new phase of the traditional institutions of the 21st century in Nigeria, we are no longer leaving developments to government, we are rather expected to complement the government’s efforts with this kind of development, again we are trying our own bits to make sure that every developmental strides we have in our country, traditional institution will have a saying in it. Gone are the days when we would sit in our comfort zones in our various palaces waiting for our subjects and government to come and do developments, that has to stop. Look at all these youths, how are we going to impact their lives. We are now coming out of our palaces. Ajero is here ,OLOWA is here, No more Sit-At-Home.”
The traditional rulers who were later joined by the the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi collectively pray for the first client, a US based indigene of Ondo State who made a part payment of #400m to purchase an acre of land at the Villa section of the Ojaja Park phase II.
Signed:
Otunba Moses Olafare,
Director, Media & Public Affairs,
Ooni’s Palace.
