Oyo NOA Organises Town Hall Meeting with Community Leaders, Other Stakeholders

The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Oyo State Directorate today ,3rd July, 2025 held a stakeholder meeting on how to overcome challenges facing the country Nationwide and foster peaceful environment that can bring about unity and meaningful development.

Mrs Ajolayo Sinmiat Akande,Oyo State director in her welcome address called on all community stakeholders to jointly address the issue and also disseminate the right messages and workable solutions to their followers and congregations accordingly.

The hall, which was filled to the brim by different stakeholders, ventilated roboust brainstorming on a meaningful way forward to attain peace and harmony in various communities.

The gathering also discussed on Famer-Herder incessant clashes and offered a possible way out.

The stakeholders in the event included leaders from all segments-religious, community and market leaders representatives of MDAs, National Council of Women Societies, Park Managers, , Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), National Youth Council and a host of others.

Mrs. Ajolayo Akande stated, “As chosen representatives of the people, it behoves you to disseminate this message to your followers or congregation accordingly for it to be impactful and result oriented. The betterment of our country, economic prosperity, peaceful coexistence, and strong social bond all require our collective efforts. This gathering will, therefore, offer a road map to our national cohesion, development, and unity. We can’t just pretend there will be a way forward without asking ourselves,’ Where did the rain started to beat us ?’”

After the welcome speech, goodwill messages from different stakeholders were opened by Oyo State IPAC Chairman, Otunba Ade Fagbemi who asserted that political thuggery is not what Oyo State is known for, he explained that thuggery exists in other states as well but emphasised that the issue of ethnicity and trade always brings about conflicts. He called on the law enforcement agencies to be more efficient in their approach to tackling insecurity whilst promising to carry the message to the threshold of political actors.

The Chairman of the event who doubles as the Director General of the Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Socio-Economic Development (OYMASED), Dr Morounkola Thomas, ably represented by Mrs. Busola Adetunji, appreciated all critical stakeholders, especially governor of Oyo State, Engineer Oluseyi Makinde for taking a quantum leap in job creation for the unemployed youths and security enhancement to boost people’s morale.

He however expressed hopes for improved policies to overcome the dual challenges of political thuggery and fermers/ Herders clashes once and for all.

Also speaking, the community head, Baale Ekotedo, Chief Dr. Taiye Ayorinde  underscored the fundamental case of political thuggery and advocated for creation of state police. In his arguments ” a stranger posted to other states for peacekeeping might not be familiar with the inner flash points”.

Speaking in the same vein, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Oyo State command, Olubunmi Apapa called for collaboration between the police and community leaders. He also shared the 615 toll -free numbers to the public to call when they perceive any untoward developments.

The NSCDC Director, represented by Aderinola Olasedundun, the representative of the Chief imam of Ibadanland, Mogaji Khalifat Qozeem and some other stakeholders called for communal lifestyle where all moral training would be impacted from homes to guide the Children’s upbringing.

Other Stakeholders including Iyaloja of Ibadanland, Alhaja Iswat Oyinlola Ameringun; Com AbdulSalam Kadiri – the Chairman, National Youth Council; Mr Akingbade Abiodun who represented Amotekun, Mallam Yusuf Bakare from the Fulani Herders also graced the event.  OYO NEWS

OYONEWS