By In continuing search of succour for his people
by John Eche
As we write, very grave issues confront his people in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, where Oba Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife holds court as King.
Following a crisis that allegedly began with a dispute between an Hausa man and a Yoruba woman in the ancient city, 21 Ife residents are presently facing trial with widespread outrage over why the Hausa-Fulani combatants on the other side are not facing similar charges.
The clash had reportedly broken out on Wednesday March 8th, 2017, in the Sabo market in Ile-Ife and raged on for hours before it was finally brought to a halt.
Despite this storm, the youthful Ooni, who reportedly played a yeoman’s role in dousing the tension and saving the lives of many Hausa-Fulani settlers during the unfortunate clash would not be held back. He is in a hurry to bring real change to the lives of his people and is presently in London for that purpose.
In London, the monarch has signed a 2billion USD MoU for the Oduduwa Global Heritage Fund between Pecora Capital/Nifund, the House of Oduduwa & Norton Rose Fulbright.
The MOU involves the setting up of a 2 Billion USD Oodua Global Heritage Fund, and this is reportedly the very first regional fund ever established in Nigeria and its mission is to revamp moribund industries across Western Nigeria.
The Ooni who had been involved in sundry businesses before his coronation, had indeed revealed at some other forum that he had been compelled to become an entrepreneur at a very young age to survive. The monarch disclosed this while addressing corps member on “Skills acquisition and entrepreneur development” at the NYSC orientation camp in Ede, Osun State.
The programme, which was organised by the NYSC Coordinator in the state was aimed at tackling unemployment in Nigeria.
“I met Aliko Dangote, Dr Deji Adeleke and other successful Nigerians inside the market where I was selling foodstuffs. I used my background to redefine the way I was selling the foodstuffs,” Oba Ogunwusi said, urging the corps members not to be disappointed in the leadership of the country.
The very easy-going monarch also disclosed that his daughter is currently undergoing the compulsory one-year NYSC programme in Abuja.
“I made up my mind that I would be an entrepreneur. I was selling rice and sugar. At the age of 19, I fathered a child, which made the matter more complicated. Life was very tough because I had to cater for my child, but that made me to work harder.”
“Today, I am proud to say that she is one of the present batch deployed to Abuja. That experience shaped my life and made me to keep starving. I started going to Benue to bring yam tubers, which I turned to yam powder. I want to encourage you today, whatever you are selling or doing, do it with zeal.”
Oba Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife
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