A National Youth Service Corps member in Oyo State has been conferred with a chieftaincy title by his host community for his contributions to the development of the area during his service year, BISI OLADELE reports.
At 29, and about completing his compulsory one year national service, the last thing on Adedayo Adewole’s mind was a chieftaincy title.
All he wanted was to serve his fatherland with all his strength during the service year and leave a lasting legacy with his host community as part of his contributions to the development of the area.
But his efforts in this regard in Iroko, a large community on the outskirts of Ibadan the Oyo State capital has earned him the chieftaincy title of Oluomo Iroko.
Adewole, a graduate of Medical Microbiology from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom (UK) was honoured with the title last week by the Oniroko of Iroko, Baale Olasunkanmi Abioye for building a public library provided with a borehole for Iroko as part of his community development project for his service year.
Iroko is the centre of many other smaller communities in Akinyele Local Government area of the state.
The young chief was honoured by the Oniroko, Monday, last week at the commissioning of the project. Baale Abioye surprised all the members of staff of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Commissioner for Education in the state, Professor. Solomon Olaniyonu, officials of the University of Ibadan, other corps members, teachers, World Bank officials, friends and well-wishers who gathered to witness the inauguration of the project when he announced the conferment of the title on Adewole.
The traditional ruler could not hide his joy and satisfaction with the project, describing it as one of the best things that are happening to the community during his tenure.
He disclosed that a legal battle over the throne was fought for 32 years before it was resolved, paving way for his emergence four years ago.
“Within these four years, Iroko is changing for the better. It is enjoying cooperation from the government, chiefs and other stakeholders.” The traditional ruler said.
For the unique project and for choosing Iroko for the public library among many other communities in and around Ibadan land, Baale Abioye said ‘Dayo,’ as he fondly called the corps member, deserved a chieftaincy title.
He said: “For this important project that will bring succour to the people of Iroko, I hereby confer on you the title of the Oluomo of Irokoland.”
The chairmen of Akinyele Local Government, Mr Ope Salami, emphasized Adewole’s determination to see the project completed. He said he is unlike some other Nigerian youths who run after material wealth.
The Assistant Director, Community Development Unit of the NYSC in Oyo State, Mrs Obiageli Okpalifo, said Community Development (CD) project is one of the key points in national service. She identified sponsorship as a major challenge facing CD ideas generated by corps members and called on Nigerians to support them to enable them make meaningful impacts in local communities.
She also called for inclusion of community service into the nation’s education curriculum to stimulate CD interest in youths.
The representative of the State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs Olubukola Abiodun, expressed gratitude to the Oniroko for embracing the project by providing land and supporting Adewole from the beginning to the end of the project.
Mrs Abiodun appealed to the local government authorities to continue to support the project in order that it will not be abandoned. Specifically, she requested the council to provide electricity to power the borehole and light for the library. She also urged the council to initiate programmes that will attract students and researchers to the library.
In his comment, Adewole, who is the son of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole, expressed satisfaction for accomplishing the dream of providing potable water for the community. He also instituted scholarships for indigent students from the fund realized from donors. The new chief said more initiatives were on the way.
He said he believes in giving back to the society.
According to him, he chose Iroko, believing that the community can as well produce some professors and other successful professionals in the future. He added that he chose a library project to widen up opportunities for the young ones who, if supported, could become highly successful in their education in future.
The representative of the World Bank at the event, Prof. Foluso Okumadewa, also pledged to bring more projects to the community. He disclosed that the bank was already supporting similar projects in 26 states in the country with 76 communities benefiting in Oyo State. He said Iroko community has joined the list of beneficiaries with the library and water project. He emphasized that the bank would not allow the library project to be abandoned.
Professor Olaniyonu, who represented the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, explained that the new library would add value to education and also facilitate teaching and learning in the community. He reeled out some of the achievements of the Ajimobi administration in education and commended Adewole for the project.
