The newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has shared his plans for the Oyo Kingdom, stressing the importance of youth empowerment, development of infrastructure, and the promotion of Yoruba culture and language.
Oba Owoade ascended the throne on Saturday, following the passing of his predecessor, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi. His ascension marks the beginning of a new chapter for the ancient kingdom of Oyo. In a detailed interview published by the Nigerian Tribune, the monarch outlined the key areas he would focus on during his reign.
One of his top priorities is addressing the high rate of youth unemployment in the region. “Of immediate concern is the need to get our teeming youths gainfully employed and take them off the street. They are our today and our future. They need skills and jobs,” Oba Owoade stated.
To tackle this, he revealed plans to introduce vocational training programs aimed at equipping young people with practical skills. He emphasized self-employment and the growing importance of digital skills, including cybersecurity, to help youths become self-sufficient. He further noted, “These people would be trained well and would not need to travel abroad but would be able to work from the corner of their rooms and make a living.”
In addition to youth empowerment, the new Alaafin emphasized the need to enhance public infrastructure in Oyo and its surrounding areas. “I will work closely with the government on the need to improve the condition of public facilities, amenities and infrastructure such as roads and schools,” he said. His vision for Oyo includes the modernization of essential public services and amenities, which he believes are crucial to the well-being of his people.
Oba Owoade also noted his plans to unite the Yoruba monarchs and work towards preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people. “I will be strengthening this aspect of our civilisation… and I hope to be taking our culture and tradition to the next level in terms of maintenance and promotion,” he said.
Language preservation is another area he intends to focus on. The monarch, who sees himself as the custodian of Yoruba culture, stressed that the Yoruba language would play a central role in his efforts. “As the custodian of Yoruba culture, our language would be one of our major priorities and we will work hard to promote it along with other aspects of our culture and tradition,” he added.
On the health front, Oba Owoade revealed plans to establish a community health center aimed at providing free medical services, particularly to the less privileged, including widows and widowers. He also shared that hospital equipment had already been shipped to set up the facility.
Finally, the Alaafin discussed plans to renovate and modernize the more than 200-year-old royal palace. He emphasized the importance of balancing modernization with tradition, saying, “Some new buildings need to be constructed and some need to be renovated… to make it modern while keeping its essential traditional qualities.”
