By  Saheed Ibrahim

|

The Olowo of Owo, Oba (Dr.) Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye has advised Corps Members to be in the forefront in regaining the lost value system in Nigeria.

According to the traditional ruler, restoring  value system is the only way the country could regain her lost glory.

The prominent monarch gave the charge while delivering a lecture on Culture and Tradition of the Yorubas to the 2022 Batch ‘B’ (Stream II) prospective Corps Members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State.

According to Oba Ogunoye, Nigerians, especially the youths, must go back to the virtues which made the country the toast of the world.

His words: ‘Nigerians are known for virtues such as honesty, hard work, industry and resilience to overcome all challenges but the trend wherein the present generation have resorted to cutting corners or engaging in sharp practices have debased those values and the results are what is pronounced in every facets of our life’.

“As youths that have been mobilised to serve the nation, you need to promote cultural awareness and pursue vigorously campaigns that will take us back to the glorious era when honesty was the hallmark.

“In those days, if you purchase goods and agricultural products, you put a corresponding amount of money where you took those goods but the reverse is the case today and I want to admonish you as leaders that will take over the administration of this country in the foreseeable future to reverse this trend for the benefit of all’.

The 32nd Olowo said that all hands must be on deck to prevent culture and tradition from going into extinct.

“It has become worrisome that the younger generation are not as aggressive as our fathers in preserving our legacy but rather prefers to move with civilisation thus relegating our culture and tradition to the background”.

“I want to let you know that no culture is superior to another but we need to preserve our cultural heritage so that the generations yet unborn will have identity to identify with in the comity of nations”, he said.

While lauding the NYSC management for the establishment of Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, he encouraged the Corps Members to embrace the intervention for job creation.

“You may not want to agree with me because majority of you want to work in offices but I want to charge you to take advantage of the SAED programme and learn one or two skills to make your future a guaranteed one.

Agriculture is the way forward and any professional can make a lifetime living by subscribing to it and other subsets of SAED from the orientation camp and throughout the service year”.

In her speech, the State Coordinator, Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Ani eulogised the Olowo of Owo Kingdom for the rare honour he has bestowed upon the patriotic Nigerians with his presence, charging the Corps Members to take serious his royal charge.

The monarch donated handsomely to support the camp activities while the prospective corps members reciprocated his gesture with gifts.