Kuku lauds ex-President’s initiative
Barely a year after promoting a youth centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has floated another centre in Ijebu Ode, aimed at getting youths off the streets.
The Centre, named Obanta Centre, is under the Olusegun Obasanjo Youth Development Centre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), comprising a cinema, squash court, lawn tennis court and an entrepreneurial centre, among others.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, yesterday, Obasanjo urged youths in the country to utilise the opportunities available in their communities to develop their innate and God-given talents, fostering self-reliance, poverty reduction, and the socio-economic development of the country.
He hinted that this was the third edition of having a youth centre in the state.
He said: “We have one in Panseke (Abeokuta), we have one in OOPL, and this one, Obanta Centre, in Ijebu Ode and others are still coming. The commitment is to get the youths off the streets. You can see what it consists of, but I would call it a hospitality, relaxation, and entertainment facility where youths can come to learn and enjoy themselves.
“This is a community centre in a way to have a good and full life. You have to work and relax, recreate and socialise. But if all you do is socialise and you don’t work, then that is too bad. To live a full life, you must work. They say work and play, but I say rest, relax, socialise and recreate,” Obasanjo said.
Earlier, Director of the OOPL Youth Centre, Bisi Kolapo, disclosed that the Obanta Centre comprises a tennis court and other facilities where youths can enjoy themselves. But more importantly, we have an event centre that can be used for celebration
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the occasion and Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland, Sunny Kuku, eulogised Obasanjo for his contributions to the socio-economic development of Ijebu, including improvements in health, education, and social welfare.
Kuku said that he was marvelled by the health and social welfare inclusion aspect of the centre.
