50th Birthday: Ooni launches foundation to combat Out-of-School Children in S’West

August 15, 2024

By Adedoja Adesoji

In celebration of his 50th birthday anniversary, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has established a foundation aimed at combating truancy and promoting school enrollment across South-West Nigeria.

This initiative will also include Kogi and Kwara States.

The newly inaugurated foundation will focus on addressing the out-of-school crisis and will be led by Oba Adekunle Adeogun-Okunoye, the Eburu of Iba. The foundation’s membership comprises traditional rulers from all six South-West states as well as Kogi and Kwara States. Notable members include the Onigogo of Igogo (Ekiti State), Larooka of Wanikkin Ife (Osun State), Olukotun of Ikotun-Ile (Kwara State), Adeboruwa of Igbogbo (Lagos State), Oloba-Uso of Oba-Uso (Ondo State), Onpetu of Ijeru (Oyo State), and Olujumu of Ijumu (Kogi State).

Moses Olafare, the Ooni’s director of media and public affairs, will serve as the deputy secretary of the foundation.

At a press briefing held on Wednesday following the inaugural meeting at the Ooni’s palace in Ile-Ife, Oba Adeogun-Okunoye detailed the foundation’s purpose. He explained that the initiative is a testament to the Ooni’s commitment to leveraging traditional institutions to support government efforts in addressing truancy and the out-of-school syndrome.

“This organization, established by our father, the Ooni of Ife, aims to mobilize traditional rulers across Yorubaland to address truancy and out-of-school issues through a community-based approach,” Oba Adeogun-Okunoye stated.

As the foundation’s Director-General, Oba Adeogun-Okunoye further clarified that the Ooni’s program is rooted in the ongoing push for a constitutional role for traditional rulers and their continuous efforts to collaborate with the government on issues impacting youth and girls.

Michael Adeyeye, the foundation’s secretary and a professor, emphasized that the initiative represents a significant opportunity for traditional rulers to demonstrate their value and competence for constitutional roles in governance. He highlighted that the program aims to use the traditional structure to enhance school systems, reduce truancy, increase enrollment, and engage all stakeholders in improving educational outcomes.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria holds the unfortunate distinction of having the highest number of out-of-school children globally, with 18.3 million children currently not attending school.