MTN to commit ₦20m to Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival – Soun unveils more developmental breakthroughs
As preparation for the 2025 edition of the Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival gathers momentum it had been revealed that the telecom giant MTN Nigeria is now a financial partner.
This year edition of the cultural festival which is the second one is scheduled to hold between December 18 and 22, according to the monarch of the city, the Soun, His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III.
Oba Ghandi addressing a tumultuous crowd at Iresaadu Town Hall Thursday, during the Series 3 of the townhall meeting he inaugurated to foster collaboration for the development of Ogbomoso zone, said enthusiastically that MTN would commit a whopping sum of ₦20m (twenty million naira) to the carnival. “MTN has promised collaboration with us for the carnival and their financial commitment is to the tune of N20m,” the monarch disclosed as he handed invitation to the people of Iresaadu to attend the carnival. “I am formally inviting Iresaadu to the cultural festival between December 18 and 22.”
The indefatigable Oba recalled a sum of about N180m was amassed for the first edition of the carnival informing the amount was raised internally, a development he noted reassured him of the bright future awaiting the town.
“We raised ₦180m last year and our people made the contribution. I made personal donation too. All this gave me confidence that Ogbomoso has a bright future.”
Oba Olaoye reeling out other strides and breakthroughs, re-affirmed his determination and commitment to break the barriers of underdevelopment in the zone.
One issue that has also become germane to him which he has been re-emphasizing as he engages residents in public meetings is devotion to education. He charged the people of Iresaadu especially women to give all to ensure their children are well educated. ”It is only when our children are educated that Ogbomoso in the future will get to be in important positions.”
Soun berated those who strove to scuttle the Iresaadu townhall meeting though observed their shenanigans had made the ancient town more popular, while expressing appreciation to the people of Iresaadu for standing their ground and allowing the meeting to hold in an atmosphere of peace and love.
This is as he thanked the traditional rulers especially those of Surulere origin who attended noting “in spite of threats from some quarters to dissuade you from coming you made it here. It shows Your Majesties and Highnesses understand your position as independent traditional rulers and are endowed with value and courage. I thank the chiefs too.”
Oba Olaoye reiterated he was on the throne not to enrich himself or lord it over anyone but “to rally people for development, harnessing our immense human resources scattered all over the world and leveraging on my own goodwill and connection.”
He added that he won’t sell land or grab any land, “If l need land l will buy,” while recommending the model to other traditional rulers as he argued, “If development comes it is the Oba that will benefit more in unbelievable ways.”
To encourage education pursuit he reiterated his pledge of donating 50, 000 exercise books to primary schools pupils in all local governments of Ogbomoso in September, institute scholarship for best secondary school students in each local government, dinner with Soun by the best students, monetary gifts to the schools the students attended. “We want to encourage education.”
He informed the pipe-borne water rehabilitation project in Ogbomoso he spearheaded is almost complete disclosing electricity is what is delaying water flowing from the tap now.
However he promised borehole provision across Ogbomoso zone informing a public-spirited individual had donated a borehole drilling machine even as he said he is executing repair of boreholes in Otamokun presently. “If we can’t provide tap water in these areas we will help with boreholes.”
The monarch also promised widespread building of markets “which would be undertaken by people seeking to be chiefs. If you want chieftaincy title that will have the suffix Ogbomosoland be ready to undertake developmental projects, l won’t collect money from you. So, through this model we will build health centres, markets, police stations and so on.”
He said to assist in agricultural investment, he stated he is holding meetings with foreign investors, from America, Ukraine, Iran and so on, also it was disclosed plans are afoot to redirect the sales channel of commodity traders (cashew nut especially) “so that instead of selling their produce through middlemen like Indians they would sell directly to foreign users. So, we have registered cashew dealers, introduced them to the Nigerian Export Commission and are presently undergoing training. If they make money through this effort they will of course spend the bulk of it in Ogbomoso. As from next year we will start seeing the difference.”
This is as he advised other farmers to form themselves into associations submitting this would give them access to assistance from government and agencies like the Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture. “In fact, we have written these two specialized banks and we have received grants which our people are benefitting.”
He added, “Both President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde have good programmes towards development and promotion of agriculture. The governor is involved in the cashew nuts sales promotion programme while President Tinubu in conjunctions with Bank of America is giving out grants to farmers’ associations. We will work it out so you get financial assistance to boost your farming. Bank of Industry gave us ₦89m and we are training people with it. 200 people are presently enjoying this and are undergoing training in different trades and skills.”
The co-chairman of Oyo State Traditional Council similarly harped on digital literacy. “Our ICT Committee will soon begin conduct of ICT training. We are going to train at least 5, 000 youths from Ogbomosoland, that is average of 1, 000 people per local government and it will be free of charge. The training will incorporate basic use of computers, because that is the future.”
In the second session the Oba addressed various questions such as the abandoned Oko Fruit Juice Industry, abandoned Police Secondary School in Odanbon, support for female football, support for local hunters and so on, all which he promised to look into.
The Iresaadu people through the Mogajis and Chiefs expressed gratitude to Oba Olaoye and presented him a gift of palm oil.
Leaving Iresaadu, the monarch accompanied by other traditional rulers proceeded to Iwofin also in Surulere local government for a rendezvous with the Oluwofin Oba Raphael Oladayo Amosun and then to Iba Iyaoje, Iba Nathaniel Adekunle Oyelade Oyeleye II, both who were also at the Iresaadu townhall meeting.
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