The 3-day maiden national conference and non-elective congress of Offa Youths Council (OYC) has come to an end on Sunday, July 2, 2023.
The event, themed “Building a Prosperous Future for OFFA and the Ibolo Kingdom; The Role of Young Generation”, started on 1st and 2nd of July, 2023 at Olofa’s Palace & Offa Descendants Union (ODU) Hall, respectively.
The conference-cum-congress featured award presentations, inaguration of OYC Board of Trustees (Bot), district tour, presentations of papers on thematic topics among others.
On Friday, 30th June 2023, members of the Offa Youth Council (OYC) led by their President, Aare Musbau Olalekan Olaniyi, paid homage to the Olofa of Offaland, Oba Mufutau Muhammed Oloyede Gbadamosi, Okikiola Esuwoye II, Ajagungbade I as part of activities for the maiden National Conference and Non elective congress of the council.
The council also presented Asiwaju of Offa, Chief Tajudeen Owoyemi, the Offa Special Developmental Impact Award for their impactful contributions to the growth and development of Offa.
On Saturday, 31st June 2023, OYC held cocktail party at the PrintBest House, GRA Offa. Award of Special Developmental Impact (OSDI) Award was presented to Omoniyi Salami on behalf of Neat Micro Credit Human Development. This, according to Aare Musbau Olalekan Olaniyi, was “in recognition of your immense contribution and impactful investment in Offa Community and her economy/human capital development.”
Speaking during the event at ODU Hall, Aare Musbau Olalekan Olaniyi said the Council was purposefully created to be umbrella body for all Offa indigenes forums and clubs.
In his words: “Offa Youths Council (OYC) is the youth wing of Offa Descendants Union (ODU). Like we all know, Offa Descendants Union is the umbrella body for all Offa Indigenes, home and abroad, so is OYC. We are aware of some Offa youth forums, but we feel there should be umbrella body that will encompass these young people’s clubs and forums.
“OYC was established with approval of the ODU, Palace and the local government.
“Our aim is to foster unity and support peaceful coexistence among Offa Youths. And for good developmental projects in Offa. We also aim at gaining due recognition and good reputation in the affairs of the community. It is essential to be harmonious in our efforts and minds to achieve these and more.
“OYC was created in 2020, and we had been having lots of online meeting; this is the first physical conference we will be officially having.
“We will soon roll out our projects in the community and some of the challenges we are faced with.
“Once again, I welcome you all to the maiden edition of Offa Youths Council (OYC) conference.”
A chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Asiwaju Moshood Shittu (AMS) applauded the interim committee of the OYC for “such a successful event.”
He said, “this programme is a successful event. It is not a must the hall be filled to the brim before we can consider it as such.
“I grew up hearing them call Offa ‘small London’, but with what we are seeing and strategically working towards, Offa will be more prosperous than that London.
“I believe this is 100% voluntary participation. It is a voluntary service to the progress of immediate society.”
Suraj Oyewale Jarus, FCA, Founder of Jarus Homes expatiated that humility should be young Offa Indigenes watchword as the ancient town is an avalanche of unprecedented achievements.
He went on to list many Offa icons who had cacophony of achievements the new generation might consider enormous.
Jarus, who is one of the two guest speakers at the event, said there is a dire need for Offa youths to put “Offa first” as in priority.
Dr. Azeez Issa, the founder of Lens Polytechnic and Lens University took the gathering on his life journey, the trumph and challenges that led to the establishments of his educational institutions.
Dr. Issa subsequently motivated the youths to be societal “problem solver” as they exhaustively dispense their academic and life experiences to the betterment of the society.
Awardees at the Saturday event are: Alhaji Musbau Olaniyi, Prince Olaboye and Ganiyu Jimoh Gandibu, Alhaji (Chief) Abdullateef Adekunle Ajeigbe, Omoniyi Salami, Dr. Azeez Issa, Alhaji Lukman S. Alayande, Alhaji Sharafadeen Kola Shittu, Adeleke Sarafadeen Olanrewaju, Sarafadeen Olorunwa, Alhaji Suleiman Olowo Pako Kaduna, Alhaji Surajudeen Oyewale Jarus, Engr Kazeem Olatunde.
