Aare Ona Kakanfo Ganiyu Adams urges UK diasporans to organise national dialogue twice a year

AARE Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland Otunba Ganiyu Adams has urged the Nigerian diaspora in the UK to try and organise interactive national dialogues twice a year so that community leaders like him can come and rub minds with them.

 

Speaking during a dinner organised in his honour at Bexleyheath in Kent, Aare Adams, said it is important for diasporans to be active participants in the process of taking Nigeria forward. Organised by UK community leader Dr Dapo Williams, who was conferred with the title the Fiwagboye of Arigidi Akoko at the occasion along with his wife who now bears the title Yeye Fiwagboye of Arigidi Akoko, the event attracted the cream of the UK diaspora.

 

Traditional monarchs Oba Yisa Olanipekun, the Saki of Arigidi Akoko and

Oba Owolabi Adeniyi the Oba of Igbobi-Sabe were also present at the event. Also in attendance were diaspora leaders like Otunba Mobolaji Falase, the president of the Yoruba Council of Elders UK,  Chief Adebayo Oladimeji, the chairman of the Nigerian Council of Elders, Dr Alistair Soyode, the chairman of Ben TV and a host of other community leaders.

 

Calling on diasporans to try and assist with the process of national development, Aare Adams and the two monarchs asked Nigerians in the UK to bring their expertise, know-how and capital back home. They pointed out that many of those governing Nigeria today are not any better than the Nigerian diaspora in the UK.

 

Aare Adams added: "In many countries of the world, including India it was the diaspora that helped turn their economy around, so I see no reason why we cannot do the same in Nigeria. I think we need to hold this kind of interactive session twice a year, so we can brainstorm and seek solutions to our plethora of socio-economic problems.

 

"I believe that for Nigeria to function properly, we need to restructure the federation so that its component parts can achieve their full potential. Once we have worked this out, we can then start to see dramatic improvements as at the moment, many states across Yorubaland do not have industries or companies that employ up to 10 people."

 

In a surprise addition to the occasion, Otunba Williams and his wife were presented with the traditional beads confirming their titles, to the delight of the guests. This was then followed by contributions from the likes of Dr Soyode, David Smith the chairman of the British African Business Alliance and Ayo Akinfe, the chairman of Uncelebrated Nigerians Awards UK.

 

Both monarchs urged Yorubas in the diaspora to keep their traditions alive and to teach their children the Yoruba language. Oba Adeniyi pointed out that he lived in the US for 20 years before returning to Nigeria and urged diasporans to also look at returning home.

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