• Seeks improvement in teaching, speaking of Yoruba language
• Congratulates Adebanjo on 96th birthday
• Ratifies Omololu as Acting Secretary-General

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has appealed to governors in the South-West region to extend their support to farmers in accessing agricultural facilities provided by the Federal Government.

Besides, the mainstream Yoruba group stressed the need for increased awareness and assistance in utilising the various resources and facilities available at the federal level for the benefit of farmers in the region.

Afenifere, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, after its caucus meeting at the Akure residence of the organisation’s national leader, Reuben Fasoranti, emphasised the existence of numerous agricultural facilities and support programmes initiated by the Federal Government.

It said that the facilities had not reached the intended beneficiaries due to a lack of awareness and accessibility issues, but that farmers in the region could take full advantage of the opportunities and resources.

The group expressed concern over the neglect and diminishing focus on the speaking and teaching of the Yoruba language within the region, stressing the cultural significance and importance of preserving the Yoruba language as an integral part of the heritage and identity of the Yoruba people.

Afenifere, therefore, also called for renewed efforts and initiatives to promote and sustain the teaching and usage of the Yoruba language among the youths and future generations.

“The Afenifere meeting encouraged the state governors in the Yoruba-speaking states to make it easy for farmers in their respective states to be able to assess these facilities at the federal level.

“The meeting also called on the government, particularly in Yoruba-speaking states, to make it a policy and probably even make it compulsory for the language to be used as a medium of expression in teaching at the primary school level and up to the junior secondary school level to encourage the speaking of the language.

“Also, the meeting took note of the fact that one of our elders, who clocked 96 years old yesterday, Ayo Adebanjo. We give glory to the Almighty God for sparing his life, and we are gloating over the kind of leadership he and others have provided for Afenifere, and we congratulate him.

“The meeting also took note of the fact that even Fasoranti himself, Asiwaju of Yorubaland, would be 98 years old next month, May 11, 2024. We pray he would spend many more years to enable him to continue to lead us and, of course, be able to chat the proper way for Yorubaland of which he is the Asiwaju. These are the issues that we discussed, among others, at the meeting.”

“The caucus also took note of the role that Kole Omololu had played as the National Organising Secretary. So, the caucus meeting took note of it and commended him for his efforts. In other words, he has been recognised as the Acting Secretary General of Afenifere,” the statement stated.