The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, has inaugurated a foundation for Traditional Rulers’ Intervention on Truancy Prevention, School Enrollment and Engagement.
This was contained in a statement by the Director, Media And Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare.
The foundation is expected to officially unveil plans and programmes to curb the out of school menace in Yoruba states of the six South West states, including Kogi and Kwara states.
This is coming ahead of his 50th birthday anniversary in October this year.
Headed by HRM Oba (Prof.) Adekunle Adeogun-Okunoye Oyedeji II, the Eburu of Iba, Osun State, the Foundation has other traditional rulers across the six southwest zone as well as Kogi and Kwara States.
The traditional rulers 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), Onipetu of Ijeru (Oyo State)
and the Olujumu of Ijumu (Kogi State) as directors, while the Ooni’s Director of Media and Public Affairs, Otunba Moses Olafare serves as Deputy Secretary of the Foundation.
While briefing newsmen shortly after the inaugural meeting held at the Banquet Hall of the Ooni’s Palace in Ile-Ife, the Eburu of Iba, HRM Oba (Prof.) Adekunle Adeogun-Okunoye,
explained that the Ooni set up the foundation in fulfilment of his quest to ensure that traditional institutions in Nigeria and Yoruba states in particular must work for the masses, especially by complementing government’s efforts in curbing truancy and out-of-school syndrome in the society.
“This organization is a creation of our father, the Ooni of Ife, in his capacity as the overall leader of all the traditional rulers in Yourubaland which covers the present six South West states, including Kogi and Kwara states,” the Eburu said.
He added: We’ve been saddled with the responsibility of implementing a programme for traditional rulers’ intervention on truancy prevention, school enrollment and engagement in Ooni’s readiness to complement efforts of the government at all levels in addressing major social problems of truancy and out of school children.
“With this development, our Arole Oduduwa, the Ooni of Ife, will be engaging all traditional rulers in Yorubaland in the implementation of a community-based traditional approach to solve the menace of truancy and out of school children,” he added.
The Eburu also disclosed that Ooni Ogunwusi had premised the programme on the ongoing agitation of the traditional rulers for constitutional roles as well as their persistent efforts in working with government on the need to address challenges, especially those that directly affect youths and girls.
The Secretary of the Foundation, Professor Michael Adeyeye also told newsmen that the Ooni had considered the initiative as a veritable strategy to give the monarch a meaningful, measurable, and effective eligibility and competence for constitutional roles in governance, while the national assembly is still working on reviewing of the constitution to recognize the important roles being performed by the monarchs.
“Our nation is blessed with a very good traditional governance system whereby all and each community are under a traditional ruler. We are also blessed to have a forthright and visionary leader in our current Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula who has been leading our race very creditably well in the last 9 years, he said.
“The innovative programm will enable us harness the opportunity provided by the established traditional structure to work with the school systems to prevent and control truancy, increase school enrollment and bring all stakeholders together for overall success of school children.” Professor Adeyeye added.
The specific goals of the programme to be unveiled by the foundation include
To collaborate with school authorities at all levels (local, state and Federal), law enforcement agencies, courts, and local, state and federal agencies to support youth and their families to be engaged at school.
To pay a special attention to truancy, school engagement, attendance, dropout prevention, and the mental health needs of students and staff using traditional institutions.
To engage in measurement of school success in terms of positive educational outcomes leading to high school graduation and a transition to continuous learning in an educational or work setting.
To prevent truancy, dropout, sexual harassment and bullying at schools.
To engage students and families in active involvement in learning at school.
To promote attendance, attachment and achievement through traditional advocacy methods
To support the indigent but very brilliant school children with necessary scholarship opportunities.
Information from the Ooni’s Palace has revealed that the Foundation will function as an NGO with main fundings from the Ooni who has already earmarked a sum of 50 million Naira as a take off grant while relevant well meaning Yoruba sons and daughters across the world will be contacted for financial support.
