The Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba (Prof.) Saka Adelola Matemilola, and the Towulade of Owu Akinale, Oba Adediran Oluseyi, have urged Nigerians to prioritise education, healthcare, job creation and credible leadership as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

While Matemilola called for collective efforts to address Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges, Oluseyi cautioned young people against allowing politicians to use them for campaigns or induce them with money to secure political support.

The monarchs spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during activities marking the 2026 Odun Olowu festival.

Speaking ahead of festival, oba Matemilola identified improved access to education, better healthcare delivery, enterprise development and job creation as essential to national development.

He said the Owu Heritage Initiative (OHI), through partnerships with more than 10 organisations, had reached over 200,000 people through its four intervention pillars.

According to him, the initiative had provided educational support to more than 800 senior secondary school students, distributed over 13,000 school meals and conducted more than 2,000 medical outreaches.

He added that 135 young people had benefited from vocational training, while more than 250 women’s empowerment projects had been undertaken. Its clean-water projects, he said, had reached over 80,000 people in 50 communities.

The monarch also cited the renovation and commissioning of Owu Igosun Primary Health Centre and ongoing work on the Olomore Hospital project as part of efforts to improve healthcare delivery.

“Let us continue to promote education, improve our healthcare, support enterprise growth, protect our environment and create opportunities for the next generation .”

Matemilola urged members of the kingdom to preserve their cultural heritage and uphold the values of unity, good character and community development.

“Our heritage is both a gift and a responsibility. We honour our forebears not only by remembering their achievements but also by building upon them”.

In his remarks, Oluseyi urged young Nigerians to scrutinise the backgrounds, records and qualifications of political candidates before deciding whom to support in the 2027 elections.

He warned against exchanging votes for immediate financial gains, saying such practices could undermine the country’s future.

“Our youths should not be used in any form for political campaigns. They should sit down and go through the profiles of the people they are voting for. Who are they? Where are they coming from? What have they done that you have to vote for them?” .

The traditional ruler said voters should assess candidates’ antecedents, family backgrounds, achievements and capacity to lead rather than be swayed by money offered during election campaigns.

He also called on parents, schools and community leaders to pay greater attention to the upbringing and education of young people, noting that the values instilled in them would influence the kind of society they would build.

Oluseyi urged young people to take responsibility for their future and resist pressure to trade their votes for short-term benefits.

“Temporary money is nothing. They should not allow themselves to be used for temporary money”.

He likened responsible voting to laying a solid foundation, arguing that sustainable national development would be difficult to achieve without sound electoral choices.

The monarch urged eligible voters to obtain their permanent voter cards (PVCs), participate in the 2027 elections and encourage others to do likewise.

“Get your PVC. On election day, go there and do your bidding. Encourage others to vote. That should be your assignment.”
Other activities lined up for the

Odun Olowu festival include interfaith prayers, youth sports, a symposium, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Owu Muslim Hospital and visits to Apomu, Erunmu, Orile Ifo and Abule Owu.

The programme also features the Ogbe Festival and project commissioning, chieftaincy installations, the Oritafisewe and Awards event, and the Ajibosin Colloquium.