As the Ooni of Ife and Natural Head of the Yoruba race worldwide, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, prepares to celebrate his 50th birthday in October, he has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative to tackle the pressing issues of truancy and school dropout in Yoruba states.
The Ooni has inaugurated the Foundation for Traditional Rulers’ Intervention on Truancy Prevention, School Enrollment and Engagement, which will officially unveil its plans and programs to curb the out-of-school crisis in the six Southwest states, as well as Kogi and Kwara states.
Headed by HRM Oba (Prof.) Adekunle Adeogun-Okunoye Oyedeji II, the Eburu of Iba, Osun State, the Foundation boasts an impressive roster of traditional rulers from across the region, including the Onigogo of Igogo (Ekiti State), Larooka of Wanikkin Ife (Osun State), Olukotun of Ikotun-Ile (Kwara State), Adeboruwa of Igbogbo (Lagos State), Oloba-Uso of Oba-Uso (Ondo State), Onpetu of Ijeru (Oyo State), and the Olujumu of Ijumu (Kogi State).
In a briefing with the media, the Eburu of Iba explained that this initiative is a direct response to the Ooni’s commitment to ensuring that traditional institutions in Nigeria, particularly in Yorubaland, play a significant role in complementing the government’s efforts to address the challenges of truancy and out-of-school children.
“This organization is a creation of our father, the Ooni of Ife, in his capacity as the overall leader of all the traditional Rulers in Yorubaland. We’ve been tasked with the responsibility of implementing a program for traditional rulers’ intervention on truancy prevention, school enrollment, and engagement,” the Eburu stated.
The Foundation’s Chairman, the Eburu of Iba, further elaborated that the program is premised on the ongoing agitation of traditional rulers for a more meaningful and constitutional role in governance, as well as their persistent efforts to collaborate with the government in addressing pressing social issues, particularly those affecting the youth and girls.
Professor Michael Adeyeye, the Secretary of the Foundation, highlighted the innovative nature of the program, which aims to harness the established traditional structure to work with school systems and engage all stakeholders, from law enforcement agencies to local, state, and federal agencies, to support youth and their families in achieving school success.
The specific goals of the program include, but are not limited to, improving school engagement, preventing truancy and dropout, promoting attendance and achievement, and providing scholarship opportunities for indigent but brilliant students.
With Ooni Ogunwusi’s personal commitment of a 50 million Naira take-off grant and the anticipated support of well-meaning Yoruba sons and daughters worldwide, the Foundation is poised to make a significant impact in addressing the critical challenges of truancy and school enrollment in the region.
As the Ooni of Ife celebrates his 50th birthday, this landmark initiative stands as a testament to his visionary leadership and his unwavering dedication to the well-being and empowerment of the Yoruba people.
