- The Elerin of Erin Osun, Oba Yusuf Omoloye (2nd right); Asiwaju of Erin Osun, Alhaji Hassan Alao (right); National President of EPU, Chief Kayode Olawale (centre); 1st national VP of EPU, Engr Moruf Adeniran (2nd left) and Chief Seriki, Secretary of the EPU Board of Trustees
The leadership of Erin Osun have reaffirmed their commitment to the promotion of peaceful interactions with neighboring communities, even as they promote unity among members of the town.
The commitment to peace – anchored on the twin pillars of safety and security – formed part of the resolutions reached at the Maiden Erin-Osun Indigenes’ Conference heals recently at the town’s ultra modern town hall.
The leaders also agree to work for the empowerment of women and youth segments of the population through the introduction of several community-sourced investments in education, infrastructure and health.
Present at the one-day conference was the traditional ruler of the town, the Elerin of Erin Osun, Oba Yusuf Omoloye; his chiefs; the Asiwaju of Erin Osun, Alhaji Hassan Alao; the national executive of the Erin Osun Progressive Union (EPU) led by the president, Chief Kayode Olawale; leaders of chapters of the EPU and senior professionals from the town.
In his welcoming address, Chief Olawale noted that though the town is faced with several challenges, this would only spur the leadership of the EPU to work harder.
“For us, from Asiwaiu of Erin-Osun, myself and the entire Executive members, our conviction is that hstory rewards reformers, not compiainers,” he said. “It is our belief that instead of complaining about the limitations of Erin-Osun, we should engineer its transformation. We acknowiedged the pain we are experiencng now, but we cannot allow it to define our destiny.”
Chief Olawale added that Erin-Osun is not finished, and an unfinished community like Erin calls for architects and not undertaker.
” History will not remember those who complained the loudest, but it will remember those who restructured its institutions and provide for expanded opportunity,” he said.
The Asiwaju of Erin Osun, Alhaji Alao called on accomplished indigenes of Erin Osun to look back and contribute to the growth of the town. He noted that the culture of fear and distrust is fast disappearing and that more people are now coming to invest in the town.
He however emphasised the need to tackle incidents insecurity in the community, saying this might frustrate all previous work done to position the community as as a safe space for investors.
Using the example of the impact which the war in the Middle East is having on the global economy, he said there cannot be any meaningful development in any community that is lacking in security.
His position was buttressed by presentations on security, land matters and on politics by Chief Olawale, Mr Sulaiman Azeez and Mr Yekeen Olayiwola respectively.
Alhaji Alao also supported calls for stronger land management policies to protect the interest of landowners and reduce intra-community friction.
He praised the leadership of the EPU for introducing the annual conference as an avenue to collate and filter community knowledge for the progress of the town.
He also expressed his readiness to work with any groups or individuals desirous of contributing to the modernisation of the town. As a practical demonstration of this, he announced that the facility of the Elerinmosa Institute of Technology will be made available, for free, to students of Erin Osun to prepare for this year’s JAMB.
The youth leader, Comrade Saka Morufu noted that youth and women empowerment is no longer optional, as it is the foundation upon which sustainabie development can be built.
Morufu noted that when the youth are empowered through education, skills acquisition, mentorship and access to opportunities they become catalysts for economic growth, social stabilty and community advancement.
“I wish to call on all well-meaning and well to do indigenes of Erin Osun, both at
home and in the diaspora, to rise to the occasion. Your positions, influence and resources are powerful tools that can be used to uplift others. Let us invest in our youths by creating opporturitles for employment, entrepreneurship and personal development,” he said.
Noting that a community that empowers its youth has secured its future, Morufu called on the youth of the town to remain focused, disciplined, committed to excellence, and shun all actions that may tarnish their image or that of the community.
In her paper on health, Alhaja Monsurat Temilade Ibitoye said it was troubling that many residents do not patronise the healthcare centres within the town, preferring to seek mecical care in neighboring communities.
According to her the trend persists depite the fact that the facilities and services availabie in Erin Osun are comparable to those in surrounding areas.”
She listed challenges hindering the effective functioning of the primary health care centres to include: Inadequate number of resident doctors and healthcare personnei to attend to patients and blnon-availabiity of essential drugs and medical supplies at the centres.
“Effort should be made to support the centres with necessary materals, including essential drugs and equipment,” she said. “If possible, the communitv and relevant authorties should collaborate to employ additional resident doctors or qualified health personnel to improve service efficiency.”
In his presentation on Education, Chief Adelani Aderinola, a former permanent secretary at the Osun State Ministry of Education, stated that schools in the community are being abandoned, while students look elsewhere for “miracle centers”.
“This is a moral, social, and developmental crisis”, he said. “Our schools should be centers of excellence, but enrolment is declining. Students don’t stay through to final year, as many migrate to neighboring towns.”
He emphasised the need to restore confidence in the schools and make them attractve again. He also called for initiatives that promote retention and excellence, strengthen community involvement and provide direction for the youth.
” A well educated population attractsn investment, boosts economy and improves security, ” he said. “Investing in education is strategic. If we fix Education, we fix Erin-Osun.”
Engr Maruf Adeniran, the first national vice president of the EPU, noted that physical and social infrastructure within the town have been neglected for years.
He drew attention to the poor road network, dilapidated buildings at schools and need to support the local police station as of particular urgency.
Adeniran said the town hall needs a lot more support before it is completed.
He listed some of the remaining job to include, ceiling of the Main Hall and other areas; orovision of fan/air conditioning; Site landscaping; Perimeter fence, as well as Master plan and approval from government.
To actualize this would need more resources than the funds currently being raised through annual dues and fundraisers. According to the financial secretary of the EPU, Lookman Ajibola, there is a need to find more ways of generating revenue for the organisation.
Thanking all those who contributed to the success of the event, Chief Olawale said various committees would be established by the EPU to work on the various recommendations.
