Elder statesman and former diplomat, Ambassador Dr. Yemi Farounbi, has urged the Yoruba to look inward, rediscover their strengths and pursue a renaissance capable of driving development across the region and Nigeria.
Farounbi spoke when some leaders of the Community Integrity and Heritage Support Initiatives (CIHSI) paid him a visit to mark his 82nd birthday, stressing that meaningful development must begin with the people and requires a renewed commitment to their cultural, economic and developmental resources.
“For Yoruba to grow, it has to start from within. We need to rediscover our ecosystem. There is a need for a renaissance before we can grow,” he said.
He urged the Yoruba to pursue the changes necessary to make the region and Nigeria more prosperous, noting that collective action could unlock opportunities for development.
Farounbi advocated the collective development of the Ikere Gorge Dam in Oyo State for power generation, describing hydroelectricity as an effective source of electricity.
“We can develop Ikere Gorge Dam collectively for power generation. One of the most effective means of power supply is hydro,” he said.
He also lauded CIHSI for its activities, urging members of the organisation to remain committed to their efforts.
“Thank you for what you are doing. You are making a difference and adding value. Don’t give up,” Farounbi said.
Earlier, the National Coordinator of CIHSI, Engr. (Dr.) Akinbolade Jones Adeniponye, described Farounbi as an elder statesman whose contributions to Yoruba unity, heritage and development had spanned several decades.
Adeniponye, in a tribute, described Farounbi as an “apostle of Yoruba renaissance” and a champion of unity, heritage and emancipation.
He said Farounbi had remained actively engaged in intellectual, cultural and socio-political conversations on the unity, dignity and development of the Yoruba people.
According to him, Farounbi’s involvement in the Yoruba unity and emancipation movement dates back to the post-NADECO era, when he founded OODUA ASSEMBLY as a platform for advancing Yoruba interests.
Adeniponye said the organisation’s vision went beyond political agitation to encompass infrastructure development, industrialisation, employment generation, security and accelerated development.
He added that Farounbi had continued to contribute to discussions on governance, heritage and the future of the Yoruba people through platforms including the South West Development Stakeholders Forum and Yoruba Discuss Group.
Adeniponye also highlighted Farounbi’s role as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of CIHSI, saying his experience had contributed to the organisation’s vision of promoting effective governance and establishing a Yoruba Heritage Commission.
He said the Yoruba Heritage Renaissance Project, anchored on a Renaissance Congress, was conceived as a platform for bringing together traditional rulers, leaders and people of Yoruba land and the diaspora around their shared heritage and development aspirations.
Adeniponye said Farounbi’s 82nd birthday offered an opportunity to celebrate not only his longevity but also his decades of service, advocacy and commitment to the advancement of the Yoruba people.
He prayed for continued strength, wisdom and many more years of purposeful service for the elder statesman.
