“Our history is sacred, our traditions enduring”—Oba Jokotola charges youth to embrace heritage and lead with responsibility.
Youths in Osun State and Nigeria have been advised to shun violence and not making themselves available as a tool for political unrest.
The Olojudo of Ido-Osun, Oba Olayinka Oyetunde Ishola Jokotola II, Ilufemiloye I, made this call when he was honoured as Grand Patron and Osun Youth Ambassador by the Osun State Ministry of Youth Affairs.
This recognition, which was bestowed on the monarch by the ministry, celebrates his unwavering dedication to youth development, cultural preservation, and the promotion of traditional values.
The award was announced during a youth-focused event held on Friday, 30th May 2025, at the Osogbo Grammar School Mega Hall, Osogbo.
The theme “The Role of Youth in Good Governance”, was aimed at initiating discussion and actions towards emancipation of young people in Osun State.
Receiving the award at his Palace on Sunday, Oba Jokotola expressed heartfelt gratitude to the organisers and offered special appreciation to the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, for championing youth empowerment across the state.
“This honour represents the hopes of a new generation,” the monarch said. “I commend Governor Adeleke for his visionary leadership and for creating platforms that enable our youth to participate meaningfully in shaping the future.”
The royal father urged the youth to wield modern technology and social media with wisdom and responsibility. He emphasized that young people must not allow themselves to become tools of misinformation or destruction, but rather become ambassadors of peace, innovation, and development.
He further stressed the importance of historical and cultural awareness, urging the youth to be well-groomed in the traditions, values, and stories that define the Yoruba people.
“A people disconnected from their history are easily misled,” Oba Jokotola stated. “Our youth must know who they are, where they come from, and the depth of the values they inherit.”
The monarch also reaffirmed the supreme traditional authority of the Ooni of Ife, stating clearly that the Oonirisa remains the natural and undisputed head of the Yoruba traditional institution, embodying the spiritual and ancestral unity of the race.
To conclude the event, Oba Jokotola pronounced a royal blessing upon the youth of Osun State and beyond, praying for wisdom, direction, and divine guidance as they rise to leadership and service in various spheres of life.
“May our youth be guided by light, strengthened by knowledge, and anchored in the wisdom of our ancestors,” he declared from the throne.
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