Itesiwaju Forum Celebrates First Anniversary in Grandstyle, as Oyo Commissioner, Dr Opabode, Others Receive Awards

By Bukola Hameed

Atiba town hall, Oyo was agog today as an association of like-minded professionals, Itesiwaju Forum, held her first anniversary in grandstyle.

The Annual Itesiwaju Development Summit with the theme “Leveraging Our Mutual Potentials for Collective Development and Shared Prosperity”, was an eye-opener in all ramifications.

The guest lecturer, Professor Rauf M. O. of the department of Agricultural Economics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso listed Nigeria’s blessings in terms of both natural and human resources, and that if properly harnessed, would put Nigeria in an enviable position in the commity of nations.

Professor Rauf in his lecture posited that by leveraging our potential for collective development, we must identify our capabilities, and improve on them through studying, training and practice – codenamed Kàwé, Kósé, Sisé.

He equally advocated for improved government intervention which includes proper funding, human capital development and creation of enabling environment for the youth. These, according to the University Don, would help eradicate generational and absolute poverty.

“Identify your potential which is in what you do amazingly with little effort. A country whose Human Capital Development is killed hardly has a future. Lets start in a small way. Committees on harnessing our potential for collective benefits, income generation and execution of developmental projects must be birthed”.

Earlier in his welcome speech, Dr Daud Yahyah established that government alone cannot do everything for the citizenry. Individuals as entities or groups must come up to support or team up with government in every aspect to attain a better society for all. “This is what Itesiwaju Forum has been doing”, he concluded.

Highlights of the programme included awards of excellence conferred on eminent and illustrious Oyo personalities who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields, and left indelible imprint in the society.

The awardees are: Professor Musibau Tunji Babatunde, Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning – Exemplary Leadership Award, Hon. Prince Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi – Distinguished Leadership Award, Dr (Mrs) Sekinat Kola Aderoju – Inspirational Woman Achiever Award, Dr Musibau Agboola Opabode – Distinguished Achiever Award, Dr AbdulLateef Ayinla Adeniran – Distinguished Service Award, and Hon. Saheed Adeyemi Arowosaye (AROSAD), the executive chairman, Oyo East Local Government – Distinguished Leadership Award.

Dignitaries at the occasion included Mr Ibikunle Waheed Abiodun, Prince Adeola Afolabi, Dr Ayo Sanda Ladigbolu, Atiba DPO, CSP Musiliu Olasunkanmi ably represented by ASP Wasiu Akinwale, and Olatunji A., the Commandant, Agro-Rangers Special Force of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, among others.

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