Okun leaders to hold summit on community development

LEADERS of the Okun people in the six Yoruba speaking local government areas of Kogi State will hold a summit to chart the way forward for the people.

The summit, with the theme:  “Breaking the bonds of underdevelopment in Okunland” holds in Kabba, Kogi State between November 24 and 26, 2016.

The programme which would dwell on security, unity and development in Okunland would be attended by traditional rulers, academics, media executives, political and community leaders, business executives and Okun indigenes in the public sector.

The summit, being jointly organised by the socio-cultural bodies in the area,  Okun Development Association (ODA) and a development advocacy group, the Okun Development Initiative (ODI) would deliberate on new political and administrative strategies for Okunland, security of life and property, agricultural revolution as well as the preservation and protection of the environment in the area.

Other issues to be deliberated upon are re-engineering the educational system for academic and cultural revival, industrialisation of Okunland, effective leadership as a panacea for development, women empowerment and youth development, among others.

Prominent Okun indigenes expected to deliver papers at the summit include former Minister of Industry, Chief Kola Jamodu, Ambassador J. I. Lewu, Chief Benjamin Olowodola, Prince Olushola Akanmode, President, Nigerian Academy of Letters, Professor Olu Obafemi, retired Executive Director, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr.Oladele Oyelola,  Professor Michael Ikupolati,  Mr. Babatunde Irukera and the Special Adviser to the Kogi State Governor on Security, Commander Duro Jerry Omodara (retd).

Others expected at the summit are past national presidents, Okun Development Association, Chief E. O Otitoju, Major General Julius Oshanupin (retd) and former Assistant Inspector-General of Police Raphael Osanaiye (retd), among others.