Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi, the Asiwaju of Ijesaland and the president/CEO of Ibadan Business School, has proposed a development fund to raise 1 billion annually for the Ijesaland as part of his unrelenting efforts to elevate the region in terms of social and economic growth.
Speaking
at the Owaloko of Iloko Ijesa palace, where the launch was held, Asiwaju Yinka
Fasuyi pinned the initiative's success on the nation's dire economic
circumstances, which have affected every industry.
“
The need to support the government, especially, at the state level in arresting
the declining human development index occasioned by dwindling resources
available to government is our primary consideration for this proposal.
Our
dear state of Osun for instance recorded 30 and 31 position out of the 36
states in the 2023 WASCE and NECO examinations results, respectively
Many
of our tertiary institution graduates are unemployable because of lack of
employability skills. Army of our Youths roam the streets daily in search of
unavailable jobs.
Many
of our people in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Sector lack in modern
business knowledge and empowerment support.
A lot of our health faclities are either obsolete or inadequate to support the health requirements of our people”
By
levying people according to their financial capacity, the business management
consultant suggested that Ijesaland residents take the initiative and return to
reviving the country's economy through communal efforts.
He
explained that a few wealthy ijesa sons and daughters had been repeatedly taxed
and had generously made several donations to various development projects; saying,
as Lauderdale as this approach may be, donation fatigue may set in as people
become tired of being constantly asked for donations. “This approach, as
laudable as it is, also comes with its own limitation.
First,
it could lead to donation fatigue where the few gets tired of being
continuously called upon to contribute.
Second,
it limits the potential capacity of what is doable from the community because
some members of the community with financial capacity may be erroneously
omitted and left out.
Third, the emergent project may be wrongly perceived as not being commonly owned which may eventually jeopardize the communal efforts system”.
Tolling
the memory lane, Asiwaju Fasuyi reminisced about how the projectors of
Ijesaland built the premier grammar school, Ilesa Grammar School, and Obokun
High School, noting that abandoning social and infrastructural development to
government alone would amount to economic stagnation, hence the need for
traditional and community leaders to ginger their people to key into the
Ijesaland Development Fund Initiative to reinvigorate the education system,
establish cottage industries, and strengthen the health sector for the benefit
of all.
“However, the advent of crude oil in Nigeria in the 1960s
has rather than catalyze this existing spirit of collective advancement, become
the unfortunate game changer where all sustainable productive system in the
land became jettisoned and abandoned for easy wealth accruing from the oil and
gas ssector
Formal government at all levels suddenly and subsequently assumed
the new unsustainable role of "Mr. Provider" of all inexhaustible
resources for all people and for all communities.
With this new government posture, the traditional system of self-help
resources mobilisation for community development did not only collapse but also
disappear from communal mentality”.
He went on to state the population of the Yoruba nation. According to the CIA World Fact Book, the country's population is 40 million, with ijesa accounting for 10%, giving a population of 4 million people, 6% of whom are targeted in the first year, 2026.
‘ The Yoruba nation in the country is estimated at 40million
population (CIA World Fact Book). Out of this, ljesas are estimated to
constitute 10%giving a population of 4million people.
Our target in the first year of operation, year 2026 is 6%
of this populace i.e. 240,000.
This 240,000 people would comprise ljesas young and old, residents
in ljesaland, in any part of Nigeria, and those residing outside the shores of
Nigeria.
To realise this 6%, the body would mobilize and galvanize
all the known ljesa socio-cultural groups .
Speaking on the schedule of implementation the Asiwaju said the entire 2025 would be devoted to massive sensitisation of the Traditional Rulers, Community Leaders, ljesa Societies and Clubs; Professional Groups; Vocational Groups;Religious Organizations; Political Organizations; ljesa Diasporan Groups; Market Women and Men and Vulnerable Groups to mention a few.
Asiwaju Fasuyi hinted that 2025 would also be used for the creation of website and setting up of secretariat and other management logistics to ensure smooth running of the operations in the year 2026.
He added that a 10- level payment profile has been designed which allowed for a minimum contribution of N1,000 (Onet thousand Naira) only per annum stressing that the top ceiling contribution is open ended as the individual commitment, capacity and endowments dictate.
LEVEL 1:N1,000 X 150,000 N50,000,000
LEVEL 2: N2,500 X 50,000 125,000,000
LEVEL 3: N5,000 X 20,000 N100,000,000
LEVEL 4: N10,000X 10,000 N100,000,000
LEVEL 5: N25,000 X 4,000 N100,000,000
LEVEL 6: N50,000 X 2,000 N1O0,000,000
LEVEL 7:N100,000X 1,000 N100,000,000
LEVEL 8: N250,000 X 300 N75,000,000
LEVEL 9: N500,000 X 150 N75,000,000
LEVEL 10: N1,000,000 X 75 N75,000,000
“In order to promote commitments from all communities in Ijesaland
coupled with the need to ensure that proceeds from the fund are spread across
all communities in ljesaland to prosecute their community-driven projects,;
individuals will be made to maket their payments into any of the six local governments
of their Choice in ljesaland.
He/She will be made to indicate in which of the six local
governments in ljesaland would he/she wants his/her donation to be credited to”.
Every
traditional leader in the Obokun and Oriade Local Government Areas endorsed the
project and pledged to spread the word about the novel development concept
throughout their spheres of influence.
The Elerinmo of Erinmo, Oba Odunayo Ajayi, and Owaloko of Iloko Ijesa, Oba Akeem Ogungbangbe, were among the chosen traditional leaders of Obokun and Oriade Local Government, who alternated in offering prayers for the initiator, Asiwaju Fasuyi.
On the
entourage of the Asiwaju of Ijesaland were Chief Afolabi Igbaroola, Alagaba Wale
Idiwu, Erelu Olafadehan snd Mr Olatunbosun
