B Stephen Adeleye
Lokoja, April 17, 2025
The Okun Development Association (ODA), the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Okun-Yoruba people of Kogi, has officially unveiled its Website and ‘Okun Job Centre’, to foster unity and development in Okun land.
Speaking at the launching in Lokoja, the President General of ODA, Amb. Akenson Rotimi, said the website (www.okundevelopmentassociation.org.ng) was created to foster unity among Okun sons and daughters worldwide.
He added that the Okun Job Centre which is embedded in the ODA website, would create job opportunities for the teaming youths, while addressing the challenges of unemployment and insecurity in Okun nation.
He noted that the association had in March 28 convened a security summit aimed to evolve and implement a comprehensive security plan for the area.
“We recognize that unemployment is one of the issues that you can trace to the insecurity that is so pervasive in our society.
“So, the job centre is people-oriented arrangement to help our teaming unemployed youths as well as provide job opportunities for skilled and unskilled labour, artisans among others,” he said.
Speaking on the Website concept, Dr Ayo Moses, the National Social Secretary of ODA, described the website as a dynamic platform that would be frequently updated, and accessible by all Okun sons and daughters across the globe.
The job Centre will be a platform where authentic and verifiable job opportunities across the globe would be uploaded and accessible by our teaming youths who are both professional and unprofessional job seekers.
Moses added that the job centre would also be a platform for youth empowerment for skills acquisition to help them to be self reliant.
“The second part of the website is the general information portal that contains all the activities of ODA, individual and communities’ activities across Okun nation.
“Okun sons and daughters will also have the opportunity to access the contacts and pictures of both past and present Executives of ODA.
“The third aspect is the Payment portal where all Okun sons and daughters could easily make payment of the annual dues of N5000, donations and other financial commitments anywhere they are around the world.
“This will solve the issue of lack of fund in running the activities of the association.
“The website is poised to unite all Okun sons and daughters across the globe,” he said
Also speaking, Oladele John-Nihi, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Students Matter, commended the ODA leadership for the initiative saying it would go a long way in assisting the teaming youths to get employed and be self reliant.
John-Nihi reaffimed the commitment of Gov. Ahmed Ododo’s administration in supporting the development of Okun nation through a robust partnership with ODA.
John-Nihi, who is the Convener of OYA Movement promised effective collaboration with ODA to achieving the goals and objectives of the website and the job centre.
He called for proper reorientation among the youths in acquiring the right skills, and urged them to study courses that are relevant in the fast growing world of technology.
The highlight of the occasion was the unveiling of the Okun job centre and ODA website: okundevelopmentassociation.org.ng
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