By Adetokunbo FAKEYE
Nigeria – The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing developmental challenges in Yewa North and Ogun State at large.
The Minister, who spoke through his Special Assistant, Agbaakin Wale Junaid, at the 2025 Yewa North Patriotic Forum (YNPF) symposium, held on Friday, 21st February, 2025 at Omidokun Hall, Ayetoro-Yewa, the capitalofYewaNorthLocalGovernmentArea of OgunState, acknowledged the longstanding economic and infrastructural challenges facing Yewa North, emphasizing that the region’s growth potential can only be unlocked through strategic investment in key sectors such as healthcare, education, and agriculture.
Highlighting the government’s role, Dr. Salako assured the gathering that the administration is working on policies to improve healthcare services, strengthen social welfare programs, and facilitate infrastructural projects in the region.
“The Federal Government recognizes the critical role that healthcare and social welfare play in sustainable development. Efforts are ongoing to ensure that communities like Yewa North benefit from improved medical facilities, healthcare funding, and social intervention programs,” he stated.
He urged the people of Yewa North to remain united in their quest for progress, stressing that collaboration between government, private investors, and community leaders is key to overcoming developmental setbacks.
The symposium, attended by top political figures, traditional rulers, and industry stakeholders, served as a platform for discussing Yewa North’s socio-economic challenges and proffering actionable solutions for sustainable growth.
Below is the full speech of the Minister:
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES, UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITIES AND FOSTERING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL, INFRASTRUCTURAL AND POLITICAL GROWTH IN YEWA NORTH
Being text of Lecture delivered by Wale Junaid on behalf Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako at Prince Gbadebo Omidokun Hall, Ayetoro on Friday 21st February, 2025.
PROTOCOL
I am delighted as I am honoured to stand before this august gathering of my Kinsmen from YEWA North local government area to represent an illustrious Son of this local government, my Principal, Mentor and Benefactor, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the Hon. Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Federal Republic of Nigeria who is at the moment on a national assignment of urgent importance, hence his unavoidable absence from this great occasion. He sent his warm greetings, regards and best wishes to all and sundry.
Members of the Yewa North Patriotic Forum stand commendable and commended for their thoughtfulness, proactiveness, readiness and commitment to join other groups and individuals of Yewa North descent in charting walkable paths to the unity, economic vibrancy, buoyancy and sustainable greatness of our council area which is our common heritage. Her greatness and excellence should be seen as our collective responsibility and a task that is achievable regardless of our religious, and political diversities.
The topic of discussion could not have come at a better time given the current situations in which Yewa North has found herself amongst other local government areas in the state on the one hand, and in Nigeria on the other hand. A deeper look at the cross section of invitees and guests at this symposium will reveal that Yewa North has been endowed with rich deposits of human resources who have carved out enviable niches for themselves locally, nationally and internationally in their various engagements and endeavours. With these men and women of immense successes in different fields of human endeavours, should YEWA North still be backward or stagnated? If we are not backward or stagnated, are we where we should be or are we walking the path of destiny?
From Ayetoro, Eggua, Ebute, Ibese, Iboro, Igbogila, Igan-Alade, Imasai, Ijako – Orile, Sawonjo, Joga-Orile, Igan-okoto, to several other beautiful towns, communities and villages that make up Yewa North local council area, and given the arrays of successful men and women these towns and villages have produced and are producing, can we truly and genuinely say that we are where we should be in the gamut of socioeconomic and political schemes in Ogun state and by extension in Nigeria? Can we get better? Do we have all it takes to break boundaries? Can we overcome our age-long and current challenges by unlocking opportunities and breaking through on all fronts? If you ask me, I believe we can and that we are on the path of attaining the lofty dreams of our founding fathers.
OVERCOMING OUR CHALLENGES
What are the challenges confronting us?
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
Let us approach this conversation with open minds as we will not leave this hall with any possible achievable results if we allow our minds to be locked against our current realities as a people.
The challenges we are faced with are not peculiar to us alone as a people. However, there are certainly some specific challenges that we must do our best to overcome. No doubt, socio-economically and politically we have our peculiar challenges. As a people we desire and strive to see Yewa North and its communities growing in leaps and bounds but how do we achieve such dreams amidst seemingly insurmountable power and energy problems; growing insecurity; festering unemployment; heart-shattering inflationary rate; and above all, the fact that Ogun West has not been able to produce a Governor to lead Ogun state since her creation. We need to cross the political hurdles and the time to do so is now, lest we all live to regret it.
If we failed, to clinch this lifetime opportunity this time around, our unborn children would not forgive us.
With political powers embedded in the governorship mandate coming to YEWA axis of the state in 2027, I am convinced that our greatest challenges will become history. The signs are there that we seem to be dotting our I’ and crossing our t’s since 2023 electioneering success in our Senatorial district and the follow up display of capacity and able representation at that level with visible human and infrastructure development across our land from Ado Odo Ota to Yewa South to Ipokia to Yewa North to Imeko Afon. The overwhelming affirmative slogan is now “FROM WEST to STATE”.
This is why everyone of us must halt our individual differences, and lower our personal ambition to allow collective interest and aspirations tower above self in all consideration so that this ample opportunity is not hijacked by other zones if we fail to heed the cry for collectivism instead of individualism.
UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITIES
“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
How many of us are ready, willing and able to go where there is no path and leave a trail? To do this which Ralp Waldo Emerson says, we need to be selfless, unselfish, feeling and willing to become a team player for the good of all and the uplifting of our dear land, YEWA North. YEWA North can not afford to play second fiddle in the comity of communities in the entire Yewa area of the state. We are leaders given the arrays of successful men and women God has blessed us with, hence we should be united and welded together to produce the best human resources for the purpose of unlocking the opportunities that are available.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
FORSTERING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL:
“We must learn to live off the land, not just on it.”
Among the twenty Local Governments in Ogun state, our dear local government council area has the LARGEST EXPANSE of land with a size of 200, 213.5 hectares and it has a population of 281,826 as at the 2006 census. These are huge assets and not liabilities if we could harness them. No doubt, the population would have hit the roof by 2025 especially with our youths being the largest of the population.
Here are some strategies that can help achieve the goal of Sustainable Agricultural Growth:
1. Investment in Irrigation Systems: Develop irrigation systems to support dry-season farming and reduce dependence on rainfall.
2. Promotion of Agribusiness: Encourage agribusinesses to invest in Yewa north, providing training and support to farmers.
3. Improve Access to Markets: Establish markets and trade routes to connect farmers to consumers and processors.
4. Support for Research and Development: Collaborate with research institutions to develop new technologies and practices that improve agricultural productivity.
5. Food and cash crops Production: we have significant potential for crop production, including crops like: cocoa, palm, coconuts, tree planting, oranges, maize, rice, cassava, etc. We have large expanse of land to this effect
6. Livestock Production: we can also have a large livestock population, with opportunities for growth in the poultry, cattle, and other species of animals
7. Fisheries: our youth and women can also be empowered to invest massively in this subsector with loans made available for them at low interest rates.
ON INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENTS
“Building sustainable infrastructure is not just about building roads and bridges, it’s about building communities as Infrastructural development is key to unlocking economic growth and birthing sustainable development and peace for a people”
No doubt, there are several factors that militate against building sustainable infrastructures in Nigeria over the decades. And since YEWA North is not isolated from the rest of the country, it is only natural and sensible that we expect the current retardation and stagnation which infrastructure deficit has conferred on us as a people. Where corruption, unstable inflation, population explosion and lack of political powers are concerned, we shall continue to suffer deficits in infrastructure and of course development. We shall continue to embrace rurality and not urbanisation, hence our youthful population shall continue to drift and migrate to bigger cities and other countries.
What we need to do:
Invest in Infrastructure: Develop a comprehensive infrastructure development plan, including roads, bridges, school, power supply, and transportation systems that are geared towards bringing overall development to our local government area.
Improve Water Supply: We must as a matter of urgency develop mini water treatment plants and distribution systems to provide clean water for households, agriculture, and industry.
3. Youth Empowerment: We must invest in youth empowerment programmes to develop the skills, knowledge, and entrepreneurial spirit of young people. After all, this age category makes the largest chunk of our population, and the future lies with them and in their hands. Developing and investing in the Information and Communications Technology sector should be the concern of both state and non-state actors if we desire and wish for a local government area that meets with the aspirations of its youth and other categories of people and catch up with the rest of the globe that is not ready to take a break for our sake.
POLITICAL GROWTH IN YEWA NORTH
“Politics is not just about power, it’s about serving the people as good governance is the key to unlocking economic growth and fostering sustainable development.”
It is no longer news that Ogun West where we all come from has not tasted political powers as far as Ogun Governorship mandate since the creation of this beautiful state on February 3rd, 1976; almost 50 years!!!. If this harsh reality does not give us concerns, then I am afraid, nothing will. We need much more than having our citizens going to the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and the Senate or being made Deputy Governors or, commissioners heads of MDAs or Ministers or even Ambassadors if we must develop all the sectors and in the long run the division and zone in the final analysis. It’s time we stopped being second fiddle.
Political powers will kickstart or jumpstart many developmental process and progress that have since eluded us as a people.
Let us allow the BEST, the most EXPERIENCED, the most ARTICULATE, and the most FORMIDABLE among our political players wishing to govern the state to enjoy our mandate for the good of all. Never should we pander to sentiment on this again in our bid to occupy that coveted seat at Oke Mosan come 2027.
POLITICAL GROWTH OF YEWA NORTH
We must support the right candidate for governorship mandate to engender the following:
1. Strengthen Local Governance: Empower local government to take ownership of development initiatives and provide basic services.
2. Promote Transparency and Accountability: Establish transparent and accountable governance systems to reduce corruption and ensure effective use of resources.
3. Encourage Citizen Participation: Foster citizen participation in decision-making processes through town halls, public hearings, and other engagement mechanisms.
4. Support Capacity Building: Provide training and capacity-building programmes for local government officials, community leaders, women and youths and citizens to enhance their skills and knowledge for economic development
AS I CONCLUDE:
YEWA North has the capacity and potential to overcome its challenges and unlock its opportunities for sustainable growth and development. By implementing the strategies outlined above, the council area can diversify its economy, develop its infrastructure, promote good governance in the local council, enhance security, invest in human capital, foster private sector development, and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. With a concerted effort from government, private sector, and civil society, we can achieve sustainable growth and become a beacon of hope for the Senatorial District and Ogun state in general.
Once again, on behalf of the Hon. Minister of state for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, I wish to say our deepest gratitude to the members of YEWA NORTH PATRIOTIC FORUM for conceiving this lofty idea and initiating it. I am convinced that it will yield unprecedented dividends for our dear local government area in the final analysis.
Thank you for your time and audience!
Agba’kin ‘Wale JUNAID
Special Assistant on Media & Strategy to the
Honourable Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare
Friday 21st February, 2025
