The Community Integrity Heritage Support Initiative (CIHSI) has expressed readiness to collaborate with the Oyo State Government to boost community security, entrench integrity in governance, and revive Yoruba cultural values.
The National Coordinator of the organisation, Engr. (Dr.) Akinbolade Jones Adeniponye, stated this during a sensitisation rally held across strategic locations in Ibadan, including the Oyo State Secretariat Complex, Agodi, before terminating at the Palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Governor Seyi Makinde received members of the group through his Executive Assistant on Security Matters, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd), who commended CIHSI for complementing the state’s efforts in sustaining peace and security.
Odukoya said the state government has invested massively in modern security infrastructure, insisting that the administration remains committed to making Oyo one of the safest and most prosperous states in the country.
“We urge residents to report any suspicious activity through the 615 emergency line or other approved channels,” he said.
At the Olubadan’s Palace, Chief Kola Balogun, who represented Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, received the delegation and applauded the initiative. He assured the group of the palace’s support toward achieving its stated goals.
Earlier, while speaking at the Secretariat, Dr. Adeniponye explained that the organisation was founded to provide community-driven solutions that align with government’s development priorities. He described security as a shared responsibility, noting that Governor Makinde’s administration has demonstrated commitment to safeguarding lives and property through increased logistics support, improved illumination across public areas, and the deployment of security patrol vehicles.
“As His Excellency always urges, when you see something, say something. That has helped security agencies respond faster to threats, allowing our people to sleep with their two eyes closed,” he said.
He disclosed that CIHSI’s intervention frameworks are built on two strategic pillars: integrity governance and heritage promotion.
According to him, integrity governance focuses on expanding employment and enterprise opportunities at the grassroots, while the heritage component seeks to restore the moral and cultural values that have shaped the Yoruba civilisation.
Dr. Adeniponye argued that countries that embed cultural values into public governance, including China, Japan, Singapore, and India, continue to sustain development progress and social cohesion.
He announced that CIHSI would soon launch the Yoruba Heritage Renaissance, a programme expected to lead to the establishment of the Yoruba Heritage Council. The council, he said, would promote cultural education, language preservation, and community-based empowerment through institutionalised structures.
The organisation also plans to set up Community Governance Centres to strengthen surveillance, monitoring, and rapid response capabilities at the local level beyond traditional community development associations.
“The role of communities in ensuring safety cannot be undermined. When crimes occur, the community is the first contact. Strengthening their capacity for intelligence, record keeping, and swift response is essential to safer neighbourhoods. This is the foundation of our collaboration with the government,” he said.
He encouraged residents to remain alert and cooperate with security agencies, remarking that sustainable security and good governance can only thrive where citizens are actively engaged.
