OCYF plans big for December, highlights achievements
Yinka ADETUNJI
Ogbomoso Community Youth Forum (OCYF) has unveiled various activities slated for December to cap an eventful year.
This is just as it listed some of its achievements in its three years of existence.
In a press briefing Monday addressed by president of the youth group, Rev’d Peter Olaleye, at the Ogbomoso Recreation Club, both the activities for the end of the year and its accomplishments were made unfolded.
Unveiling the programme tagged “Ogbomoso Youth Festival,” and slated for December 21 and 22, Rev’d Olaleye said the activities, aimed at creating an atmosphere that would make Ogbomoso sons and daughters who would come visiting during the Christmas and New year period have something to be proud of, highlighted the two-day event which included peace and development walk, award night, friendly match between Crown FC and Ogbomoso All Stars and youth day.
On day 1, we will stage “Peace and development walk,” he revealed.
Giving the rationale for this, he explained, “OCYF decided to engage Ogbomoso people in walking together as one family, regardless of religion, political colouration and local council of origin. We will walk together as one ‘Ogbomoso Parapo.’ Our scope is from Ogbomoso High School to Ogbomoso Recreation Club.”
He further stated, “That same day, we will have “An award night. We decided to honour those who have laboured in one way or the other for the development of Ogbomoso community. This award will be for the living and those who are dead. The venue is Great Hall, LAUTECH.”
Continuing, he submitted, “On day 2, we will have a friendly match (Crown FC vs All Stars in Ogbomoso). Crown FC is our great asset and heritage in Ogbomoso, OCYF aims at bringing all the sports lovers in Ogbomoso to see how we can mobilize everyone to support Crown FC and sports generally in the town. Of course, Crown FC will be playing with all selected star players from the five (5) local governments of Ogbomoso zone.
“Then, on the second day, we will have Ogbomoso Youth Day. This will be the first time that Ogbomoso youths will be having a special day dedicated to them to meet and ruminate together on how Ogbomoso can be better than how we met it! OCYF looks forward to a fruitful deliberation and a reunion that will result in unveiling a greater Ogbomoso city. Venue is Soun Stadium.”
On the programmes Olaleye informed the group is seeking partnership with interested organizations “in order to make December bubble and lively for both the old and young ones in the ancient city.”
Giving a background to the group, the youth leader disclosed OCYF was gingered into life following the excesses of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) in Ogbomoso about three years ago, while going ahead to highlight their other achievements.
“OCYF is a group of sons, daughters and lovers of Ogbomoso who came together to serve a purpose in their country home. Kindly recall that Ogbomoso Community Youth Forum (OCYF) came into limelight about 3 years ago when we discovered the IBEDC atrocities and we did everything possible to address it.
“One success begat another! After the IBEDC struggle, we stimulated communal efforts to repair the damaged portions at Caretaker and Olopemarun areas along the trunk A road that passes through Ogbomoso.
“Subsequently, we repaired additional 7 roads in the community. Thereafter, we delved into conflict resolution and with the help of God and the support of our fathers, OCYF was able to resolve the Ajaawa and Iluju crises, and so averted the desolation staring those communities in the face.
“Sequel to those interventions, OCYF became a major stakeholder that people now look up to when there is a situation that threatens the land or needs urgent attention.
“One other modest achievement we recorded was mobilizing over 80 security personnel, which we led, to combing Ayegun Yemetu forest, when rumour of bandits’ infiltration broke sometimes ago. Finding no iota of truth in the rumour, we were able to restore calmness in time to the good people of Ogbomoso.
“In addition, we gave scholarship award that’s worth N1.3 million to a pupil of Ogbomoso origin who made the city proud in a mathematics competition by coming first at the national level. Furthermore, to ensure that OCYF also contributes its quota to the taking off of Ayede Polytechnic, we donated a bill board erected at the temporary site of the school and currently working to donate a building as students’ activities centre at the permanent site.
“OCYF equally believes that an injury to one is an injury to all. This of course led us to intervening in the TESCOM’s Tutor General – park managers’ saga recently and we were able to ensure peace reigns.
“In our effort to ensure security of life and property, OCYF also met the aggrieved members of OPC in recent times and unified them. These and many more were done by OCYF with the aim of making Ogbomoso better than how we met it.
“Recently, there were reported cases of kidnapping and killing in Ogbomoso which led to the murder of Gbenga Owolabi, Rachel Opadele and Idowu Ajagbe; the incident shook Ogbomoso to its foundation. Fear pervaded the community, there was palpable panic, and that is when OCYF intervened with the support of our fathers and we organized a peaceful rally on security awareness, which saw more than thirty thousand (30,000) people attending. That singular act helped in restoring calm and buoying the confidence of the people.”
He emphasized that OCYF is focused on contributing their quota to the development of the city saying, “The aims and objectives of OCYF are all about service to God and humanity. And in whatever things we are doing, our community always comes first! This is the rationale behind the OCYF’s move for Ogbomoso Youth Festival.”
