In a bid to promote human capital development, stamp out social vices and elevate communal cohesion in Imesi Ekiti, Ayekire Local Government Area of Ekiti State, for rapid economic progress, the town has organised a Youth and Community Harmony Summit for its residents.
Onimesi and Chief at the event
The well attended event was convened through effective partnership between the Onimesi in council, headed by Oba Festus Olatunji Olatunde, Olaibiyemi II and some concerned stakeholders.
The summit, where youth of the community had participated through Oba Olatunde’s prodding and aggressive mobilisation strides, was held on Saturday, 21st March 2026 at St. James Church Auditorium located in the town.
The programme recorded a resounding success with an attendance of over 700 participants comprising youths, Federation of Imesi Ekiti students’ Union, artisans, traditional chiefs and residents including Hausa, Gede and Tiv nationalities .
The Summit featured a series of insightful presentations by distinguished guest speakers addressing critical issues affecting youth development, security, drug abuse, community responsibility and infrastructure.
Speaking at the event, Oba Olatunde , branded the summit as a game changer that will redirect the town back to the path of sanity, peace, economic recovery and sound communal living that would as well propel Ekiti’s development .
The prominent monarch, who is a former commissioner for Works, said the programme was also targeted at reducing the incidences of vandalism, drug abuse, and security threats for its productive population to protect the future of the town.
Oba Olatunde promised that no effort will be spared to ensure that the productive youth population is supported to accomplish their objectives and set goals through proper counseling , role modeling concept and community engagement.
Oba Olatunde described the youth as the pivot of development in any nation, state and community, pledging total support for the youth to actualize their dreams, urging them to desist from drug abuse, banditry, insurgency, kidnapping, political thuggery and other criminal tendencies that could derail their future.
The monarch said the task to gainfully engage the youth as well as maintain internal security, where all stakeholders will be partakers is topnotch in the agenda of the town, which he said, fuelled the convocation of the summit.
Oba Olatunde promised that all the recommendations made at the summit will be implemented without delay, saying issues discussed were pressing community matters that will stoke unprecedented development, if fully applied.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Ayekire Local Government, Hon. David Adeyemo, condemned the use of social media platforms for negative narratives about the community and urged proper documentation of non-native residents.
On spiralling security threats across border towns, security representatives from the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force, delivered strong messages on point of law, order and the importance of youth cooperation in maintaining community security, describing their partnership in intelligence gathering as essential to efficiency of their men and officers .
