New Alaafin of Oyo: What King Akeem Abimbola Owoade Intends to Achieve in His Reign Has Emerged

• Governor Seyi Makinde has officially approved Prince Akeem Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo, with plans to empower widows and modernize the palace while preserving Yoruba culture
• Owoade's agenda includes promoting economic development through an industrial park, supporting youth employment with vocational training in partnership with international organizations, and establishing a cultural village
• Additionally, he aims to create a museum to retrieve Yoruba artefacts taken by the British and support Yoruba language programs for Americans

King Akeem Abimbola Owoade has been officially approved as the new Alaafin of Oyo by Governor Seyi Makinde.

The announcement was made on Friday by Dotun Oyelade, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation.

Akeem Abimbola Owoade's Agenda

King Akeem Abimbola Owoade has outlined a comprehensive agenda for his reign, focusing on cultural preservation, economic development, and social empowerment:

• Empowering Widows and Widowers: Recognizing the profound impact of losing a spouse, King Owoade plans to create a scheme to support widows and widowers.
• Modernizing the Palace: He aims to modernize the palace while preserving the rich culture, customs, and traditions of the Yoruba people.
• Promoting Yoruba Culture: King Owoade is committed to ensuring that Yoruba culture does not go into extinction by promoting activities that align with Yoruba customs and traditions.
• Establishing a Museum: He plans to establish a museum reflecting Yoruba culture and work with the British government to return artefacts taken in the 1800s.
• Economic Development: Prince Owoade intends to promote commerce and economic development by creating an industrial park to attract both foreign and local investors.
• Youth Empowerment: He aims to ensure that youths are gainfully employed and empowered through vocational training in partnership with agencies like the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• Acknowledging Contributions: King Owoade will acknowledge and reward individuals who have significantly contributed to Oyo's development and Yoruba interests.
• Cultural Village: He plans to establish a cultural village where artisans can showcase their wares, promoting economic prosperity for Oyo indigenes in partnership with UNESCO.
• Yoruba Language Training: Collaborating with the Center for Yoruba Language Engineering (CEYOLENG) and the University of Ibadan, King Owoade will support Yoruba language immersion programs for Americans, further exposing them to Yoruba culture.

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Full details of King Akeem Abimbola Owoade's agenda as published by TribuneOnline read thus:

• The loss of a spouse is undisputedly and incredibly saddening experience. It is his strong belief that a scheme be created to empower widows and widowers to support themselves upon ascension to the throne.
• To modernize the palace without sacrificing the standard of our culture, custom and tradition.
• King Akeem Owoade will play his role in ensuring that Yoruba culture does not go into extinction. This is with a view to promote activities that align with Yoruba culture, custom and tradition.
• King Akeem Owoade will work hard to promote the establishment of a museum that reflects Yoruba culture, custom and tradition. There were so many artefacts that were taken away by the British in the 1800. It is his plan to work with the British government to return the artefacts.
• King Prince Akeem Owoade will create industrial park that will make lands available to investors, both foreign and local, for the establishment of industry.
• It is the plan of King Akeem Owoade to ensure that the youths are gainfully employed and empowered through vocational training by partnering with multi-lateral agency such as International Labor Organization (ILO) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This will enable us to reduce our people’s dependency on the rich view for handouts.
• Acknowledge and reward the contributions of individuals, dead or living, who have contributed immensely to Oyo development and Yoruba interest at large.
• Owoade will promote the establishment of cultural village where calabash carvers, bead sellers etc. will be brought together under a single umbrella to showcase their wares for the economic prosperity of Oyo indigenes. Part of the cultural village activities will include partnership with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
• He will collaborate with Center for Yoruba Language Engineering (CEYOLENG) and University of Ibadan, in Yoruba language training emersion programme that are organized for Americans that come to Nigeria to learn Yoruba language. This is a view to expose them further to Yoruba culture, custom and tradition.

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Abimbola Owoade as New Alaafin of Oyo

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has approved the appointment of Prince Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo.

The Commissioner made this announcement for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, who stated that Owoade was chosen after extensive consultations and traditional divinations conducted by the Oyo kingmakers, the Oyomesi.

Source: Legit.ng