Activities to mark the 25th coronation anniversary of the The Ojomu of Ajiran land in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Oba Tijani Adetunji Akinloye began on Monday. The celebration will last for two weeks.
At a pre-anniversary press conference held at his palace, the royal father admonished traditional rulers to play active roles in improving their communities as it is part of the responsibilities entrusted on them by their position.
Describing his 25 years on the throne as years of success, progress and peaceful co-existence, he called on his fellow monarchs to be dedicated to their responsibilities in order to engender the desired progress.
He said: “Our people have entrusted in us the responsibility to continuously seek ways of improving our communities. I believe if everyone can approach their responsibilities with dedication, our communities will reflect more values and progress, and to drive these values education and guidance should take a prime position”.
The monarch, who was crowned as king on October 23, 1993 said for the past 25 years he has devoted every day of his life “to the service of my people, my community and humanity…and providing service has been a virtue I hold dearly even before I became Oba”.
He stated that after his coronation, he picked education, health care and infrastructure as three major sectors to focus on and “I have pursued these goals with vigour.
“With unflinching support and co-operation from the Oba Ojomu-in-Council, highly progressive indigenes, residents and corporate bodies especially, the Lagos State government, Ajiran land has been transformed into a bustling and thriving commercial and residential area blessed with serene aquatic splendour”.
He said his reign has witnessed phenomenal growth with the population rising from 2,000 to 200,000 in January this year. The population, he said, comprises many ethnic groups that co-exist peacefully.
The Oba, who began life as a teacher and rose to the post of principal and subsequently Executive Secretary Eti-Osa Local Government Education Authority before he was installed as Ojomu of Ajiran land said some of the fall outs of the progress recorded in Ajiran land in the past 25 years are challenges of high population and unemployment.
And having identified that lack of employable skills among the youth was responsible for unemployment, and as Vice-President for Africa of the Organisation for Research of World Peace (ORWP), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), he facilitated the establishment of a skills acquisition centre called ‘ORWP Millennium Village’ in his domain.
“The centre began training youths in textiles, paint manufacturing, computer IT, general agriculture, carpentry, furniture and others from October, 2003 and by this year, the centre had trained over 3,000 students.
“Most of the graduates of the centre are now employed by corporate organisations in the Lekki Peninsular axis and beyond while some have become employers of labour,” the Oba said.
On health, he said: “In 2014, we inaugurated Ajiran Community Health Insurance programme known as Ajiran Community Mutual Health Association and our people access quality health care at the clinic.”
The high point of the two-week celebration is the award of plaques and prizes to the best students from SS2 to SS3 in some selected public and private schools in Eti-Osa.
“Also career guidance and counselling will be organised for students.
“The objective is to motivate them to aim for higher academic laurels and goals in life…I appeal to the youth to tread cautiously in their quest for easy money,” he said.