Youth development and cultural renaissance took centre stage as the Yoruba Youth Council (YYC) paid a historic working visit to the residence of the late sage and foremost nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Premier of the former Western Region, in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State.
The visit underscored the Council’s unwavering commitment to progressive youth engagement, cultural preservation, and the promotion of enduring Yoruba ideals. It also provided an opportunity for interaction with members of the Awolowo family and a renewed reflection on the timeless legacy of the revered statesman.
In his remarks, the President of the Yoruba Youth Council, Aare Alawode Rahmon, speaking on behalf of Yoruba youths worldwide, commended the Awolowo family for their steadfast dedication to sustaining and projecting the legacies of the late nationalist icon. He noted that through impactful initiatives, visionary leadership, and the continuous promotion of progressive ideals, the Awolowo heritage has remained a beacon of hope and inspiration in national development discourse.
The visit reached its climax with the official decoration of Ambassador Dr. Tokunbo Dosunmu Awolowo, daughter of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Yeye Onibudo of Ife and Founder of the Awolowo Foundation, as the National Life Matron of the Yoruba Youth Council (YYC).
The highly interactive engagement, held at the Efunyela Hall, Pa Obafemi Awolowo Residence, brought together youth leaders and representatives of the Council from across the South-West and beyond, marking a defining milestone in the history of the organisation.
The honour, conferred in accordance with the provisions of the YYC Constitution, reflects the Council’s unwavering commitment to the promotion of Yoruba culture, values, heritage, norms, and traditions, while strengthening intergenerational leadership, mentorship, and the continuity of progressive ideals.
Through the symbolism of the event, the Yoruba Youth Council reaffirmed its status as the umbrella body of all Yoruba youth organisations worldwide, duly recognised by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Abuja. The Council reiterated its resolve to empower youths, uplift the downtrodden, and confront critical societal challenges including insecurity, drug abuse, unemployment, and other social vices.
With Ambassador Dr. Tokunbo Dosunmu Awolowo assuming the role of National Life Matron, the Council expressed strong confidence that her wealth of experience, moral authority, and the enduring Awolowo legacy will inspire disciplined leadership, purposeful and inclusive youth engagement, and sustainable development across Yorubaland, Nigeria, and the international community.
During the visit, the Vice President of the Council, Hon. Sunday Adebowale, led a special condolence session in honour of Barr. Segun Awolowo, as the gathering observed a solemn moment of silence in tribute to the deceased.
The visit also featured a lunch session and a guided tour of notable sections of the Awolowo Residence, Museum, and Mausoleum, further deepening the youths’ appreciation of the timeless ideals of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s selfless service, integrity, and progressive governance.
The Yoruba Youth Council concluded the visit by reaffirming its steadfast commitment to youth empowerment, cultural preservation, and collective progress, declaring that the future of the Yoruba nation remains firmly anchored on enlightened, responsible, and visionary youths.
