Yoruba Leaders Receive South-West Award: Ooni of Ife, Reuben Abati, and Dele Momodu Among Awardees

Lagos (9News Nigeria) – Prominent Yoruba Leaders have been honored at the 4th South-West Advancement Awards and Investment Summit.

The South-West Advancement Awards and Investment Summit 2024 was held on June 12, 2024, Nigeria’s Democracy Day, at the Lagos Oriental Hotel. This prestigious event recognized and celebrated the contributions of several distinguished Yoruba leaders.

The honorees included:

Ooni of Ife: The Ooni of Ife, the traditional ruler of the historic Ile-Ife kingdom, was one of the key recipients of the South-West Advancement Award. As the spiritual and cultural leader of the Yoruba people, the Ooni’s role in preserving and promoting Yoruba heritage and values was celebrated.

Reuben Abati: The respected journalist, academic, and former presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati of the Arise TV, was also recognized at the event. Abati has been a prominent voice in championing the Yoruba cause through his insightful commentary and analysis on regional and national issues.

Dele Momodu: The media mogul, publisher, and political commentator, Dele Momodu, was another honoree at the summit. Momodu has used his platforms, such as Ovation International magazine, to amplify the achievements and contributions of Yoruba leaders and the South-West region.

The event covered by 9News Nigeria and other media outlets was attended by other notable figures, including Zaccheus Adedeji, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The summit focused on “Unlocking Investment Opportunities in the South-West States,” reflecting the region’s economic potential and the efforts to attract more investments.

The South-West Advancement Awards and Investment Summit 2024 served as a platform to recognize the exemplary leadership and contributions of Yoruba luminaries, while also promoting the economic development and growth of the region. It was an important event that celebrated the rich cultural heritage and the diverse talents of the Yoruba people.

At the awards ceremony, renowned journalist and political commentator Reuben Abati delivered a speech commending President Tinubu’s recent decision to restore Nigeria’s former national anthem. Abati also used the platform to advocate for a return to a regional system of government in the country.

Abati expressed his view that Nigeria would be better served by a decentralized, regional governance model. He argued that under such a system, each of Nigeria’s regions should be empowered to manage the resources and affairs specific to their respective territories, while still contributing a royalty to the central federal government.

Citing the example of the free education programs pioneered by Obafemi Awolowo in the Western region and later adopted by the Eastern and Northern regions, Abati maintained that Nigeria had prospered more under the previous regional structure. He believes reinstating this model would allow Nigeria’s diverse regions to champion their own developmental priorities and better serve the needs of their local populations.

Overall, Abati used his platform at the awards ceremony to advocate for a return to a more decentralized, regionally-focused system of governance in Nigeria, which he believes would be more effective than the current centralized approach.

9News Nigeria