…As Okemesi community charts course for development
The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeoye Aribasoye; the Owa Ooye of Okemesi Ekiti, Oba Michael Gbadebo Adedeji; and former Deputy Speaker, Mr. Sina Animasaun, have urged youths to stop beggarly attitudes and rent mentality as a way of life.
They spoke at the weekend at the 3rd Okemesi Socio-Economic Summit & Investiture of the new Executives (2025/27) of the Likes Club, with the theme: Reimagine Okemesi-Ekiti Community Dialogue: Achieving Consensus on Our Socio-Economic and Political Growth.
Speaking at the summit, Aribasoye warned that the future youths do not envision, they cannot be part of, saying they must stop having the notion that things happen by happenstance.
“That is why I like the theme of the summit. The future we don’t envision—how do we get attracted to it? Our problem is a lack of vision. We can’t see into the future. Let the youth be involved in this kind of summit because the future they don’t envision, they can’t be part of it,” he said. “They must stop having the notion that things happen by happenstance. Our youths must stop having rent mentality and tokenism. If they don’t stop, their future will be bleak. Begging for money and tokenism is a devaluation of our value system. We mustn’t tow the line of a beggarly life.”
Also, in his welcome remarks, veteran journalist, Mr. Dare Babarinsa, said that Nigerians like to find excuses wherever they are gathered, saying they must face the challenges because nobody is coming to help.
“Most of these towns were founded by illiterates,” Babarinsa said.
“We have no excuse not to build on their efforts. Let us rise up and face the challenges. Nobody is coming to help us. This summit must find out why we are not rich in Okemesi.”
The lead discussant at the summit, Chief Bayo Ajijola, Chairman/CEO of the Conference of Africa Studies Ltd, said the Likes Club, Okemesi-Ekiti, has sent a resounding message: “We are no longer willing to be passive observers.
“Let us imagine an Okemesi-Ekiti where: healthcare is not a luxury for a few but a fundamental right for every citizen.
“Education is not a burden but an empowering bridge to prosperity for all our children. Our fertile farmlands serve as a thriving engine for our local economy.”
In his acceptance speech, the new Mayor, Mr. Animasaun, said, “We are trying to woo the youth to see the need to come up with ideas that will push them forward to the realization of their dreams. Our concern is the youth’s attitude to things like this.
“Today’s community dialogue, themed Reimagine Okemesi-Ekiti Community Dialogue: Achieving Consensus on Our Socio-Economic and Political Growth, is a purposeful initiative. It calls us to reflect on who we are, where we’ve been, and where we must go,” he said. “It challenges us to listen to one another, to prioritize unity over division, and to focus our energies on what truly matters—healthcare, education, infrastructure, youth and women’s empowerment, trade, and the overall social well-being of our people.”
Also, in his remarks, the monarch, Owa Ooye of Okemesi, pleaded with Agbeyewa Farm and the Ekiti State Government to assist Okemesi in the areas of agriculture, health, and infrastructure.
He said, “Our youth have become so lazy. They don’t want to do anything anymore, and that is what is killing us as a community. They want to spend money, but they don’t want to work.”
Dignitaries at the summit included the former Attorney General of Ekiti State, Mr. Wale Fapohunda; Commissioners for Agriculture, Health, Utility, and Youth Development; and the member representing the community at the State House of Assembly, among others.
