Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Tuesday evening attended the Western Nigerian Governors’ Forum Meeting hosted by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (Governor of Lagos State).
He was joined by his colleagues from Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti.
Photos are courtesy Dolapo Julius.
By Sodiq Yusuf
Youths of Nigeria’s Southwest Region have condemned in its entirety the spate of attacks by Fulani Herdsmen in some parts of the country.
They however recommended that efforts be geared towards ending the impending crisis while calling for the entrenchment of the anti-open grazing law in the country.
Rising from the 1st Western Nigeria Regional Youth Summit held at the WOCDIF Centre in Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun, Youths of the Southwest region also want the country to be restructured along true federalism lines.
“That the Youth of Western Nigeria condemn the incessant herdsmen attack on innocent people across the country and appeal to the federal government to act as a matter of urgency to avert massive reprisal attacks. That anti- open grazing laws be enacted throughout the country and commercially driven ranches be established.”
The summit geared towards developing a 25 year masterplan for the development of the region tagged “West 2040; Productivity, Prosperity and Peace” organized by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission also agreed on six key development visions for the region by the year 2040.
The vision are; A region less dependent on fossil fuels, A region that is a hub for tourism and agricultural competitiveness, An educated workforce, A region of technologically developed urban centers, A peaceful and secure region and one with A globally competitive Yoruba Language and culture.
The communiqué reads in part “That the youth of Western Nigeria affirm their belief in one united Nigeria based on fairness, equity and strict adherence of doctrine of federalism, separation of powers and rule of law. The need to enshrine in the Federal constitution a role for plebiscites or referendums on certain issues of public importance.”
“Youths in the region should be encouraged to participate in political governance at both the legislative and executive levels. The NOT TO YOUNG TO RUN proposal should be properly institutionalized at both federal and state elections.”
The Youths also resolved to make the critical sectors of Agriculture, Politics and Governance, Security, Agriculture, Education in the Southwest for greater prosperity while the needful will be done to make the region a step higher in creating opportunities, attracting investment and maximizing ideas across the federation.
At the end of the summit, participants agreed that the 25-year master plan as conceived by the Governments of the Western Nigeria is a step in the right direction and commended the government and people of the State of Osun as well as the DAWN Commission on convening the Regional Youth Summit.
Resolutions of the Summit are expected to be ratified by the six Governors of the Southwest at their next meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State where the next edition will hold in 2019.
THE REGIONAL YOUTH SUMMIT held at the WOCDIF Center, 9th & 10th January 2017 together to discuss the aspirations of the proposed Strategic Western Nigeria Development Roadmap, and chart out innovative initiatives for the future. The theme of the summit is PRODUCTIVITY, PROSPERITY AND PEACE.
At the end of the summit the youth gathering agreed and resolved on the following actions as imperatives for the vision of the Strategic 25 year Western Nigeria Masterplan.
VISION for 2040
A region less dependent on fossil fuels
A region that is a hub for tourism and agricultural competitiveness
An educated workforce
A region of technologically developed urban centers
A peaceful and secure region
A globally competitive Yoruba Language and culture.
IMPERATIVES
GOVERNANCE AND POLITICS
That the entire Yoruba youth insist on restructuring of the current warped federal arrangement that stifles the growth of our region.
That from history, the youth agreed that the golden era of the region was in the era of regional governments and we should revert to a system of federalism based on regionalism.
That the youth of Western Nigeria affirm their belief in one united Nigeria based on fairness, equity and strict adherence of doctrine of federalism, separation of powers and rule of law.
The need to enshrine in the Federal constitution a role for plebiscites or referendums on certain issues of public importance.
Youths in the region should be encouraged to participate in political governance at both the legislative and executive levels. The NOT TO YOUNG TO RUN proposal should be properly institutionalized at both federal and state elections.
That the Youth of Western Nigeria condemn the incessant herdsmen attack on innocent people across the country and appeal to the federal government to act as a matter of urgency to avert massive reprisal attacks.
That anti- open grazing laws be enacted throughout the country and commercially driven ranches be established.
EDUCATION
That the ultimate goal of education should essentially be to produce the quintessential Omoluabi, both in content and character. Our Education should bring enlightenment to the human mind; prepare people for the world of work; provide the platform for leadership recruitment and provide the means for character building, especially the development of the Total Man
ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT
To tackle poor entrepreneurial skills and financial illiteracy, support and policies in Business Development and Entrepreneurial skill Development; and Financial Literacy Training should be deployed in states of the region.
That Legal and Regulatory Frameworks should be put in place to harmonize and simplify the regime of taxes and levies and State governments to make public their services, procedures, cost and redress mechanism to encourage payment of taxes to lessen reliance on federal allocation.
The creative economy and informal economy (film, music, fashion, food, photography etc) should be properly structured to stimulate creativity and economic growth.
AGRICULTURE
That enablers should be put in place so the agriculture value chain be optimized for youth participation
SECURITY
That Joint actions will be pursued and sustained on security threats to guarantee the safety of lives, property and prosperity of the people of the region
At the end of the summit, all participants agreed that 25-year master plan as conceived by the Governments of the Western Nigeria is a step in the right direction and commend the government and people of the State of Osun and DAWN Commission on convening the Regional Youth Summit and look forward to the next edition in Oyo state.
To secure the future and that to articulate the shared values and aspirations of the Region in a living document and translating such to implementable actions and interventions will definitely make Western Nigeria a most preferred place to live, to work and to invest in the near future.
By Nofisat Marindoti
The much awaited Western Nigeria Regional Youth Summit hosted by the State of Osun is taking place today (Tuesday) at the WOCDIF center in Osogbo, the State capital.
The summit is hosted by The State Government of Osun on the grounds of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission.
The State Commissioner for Regional Integration, Hon. Bola Ilori while addressing journalists, had explained that the purpose of the Summit was to bring youths across the Western Region together to generate ideas that would take the region to greater heights.
“The summit is to provide platform for the youths of western region, to come together and plan the future of the region. The script will be written by them on how this region will be by 20 years and that is why we call it “West 2040”. So it is to involve the youths in the planning of how the region will be by year 2040.
“We want to build the culture of adding to the society, we want our youths to become productive and to generate ideas. We encourage our youths to come loaded with ideas because there be will official endorsement for their ideas at the Summit.”
Dignitaries at the Summit include The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo who will open it, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nobel Laureate , Prof. Wole Soyinka, Gen. Alani Akinrinade, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II among others.
Governors from Southwest states, Nigeria, Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Akintunde Ambode (Lagos), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo) and Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti) on Monday met in Abeokuta, Ogun state for Southwest Economic Governor’s Forum.
The meeting which was organised by Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), the governors reaffirmed determination of the region to rebuild Yoruba nation amid mutual collaboration from member states.
See those in attendant……………..
