The apex socio-cultural organisation of the Okun-Yoruba people of Kogi State, Okun Development Association, has officially unveiled its website and ‘Okun Job Centre’ to foster unity and development in the region.

In a speech at the launch in Lokoja, on Thursday, the ODA President-General, Akenson Rotimi, said the website (www.okundevelopmentassociation.org.ng) was created to foster unity among Okun sons and daughters worldwide.

Mr Rotimi also said that the job centre, embedded in the website, would help to create job opportunities for the youths and address the challenges of insecurity in Okun nation.

He said that the association on March 28 convened a security summit to evolve and implement a comprehensive security plan for the area.

He stated, “We recognise that unemployment is one of the issues that you can trace to the insecurity that is so pervasive in our society. So, the jobcentre is a people-oriented arrangement to help our teeming unemployed youths as well as provide job opportunities for skilled and unskilled labour and artisans, among others.’’

Speaking on the website concept, the group’s National Social Secretary, Ayo Moses, described it as a dynamic platform that would be frequently updated and accessible to all Okun sons and daughters across the globe.

Mr Moses said the job centre would be a platform where authentic and verifiable job opportunities across the globe are uploaded and accessible to both professional and unprofessional job seekers.

He said that it would also serve as a platform for youth empowerment through skills acquisition to help them become self-reliant.

Mr Moses said, “The second part of the website is the general information portal that contains the activities of ODA, individual and community 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 and Membership Portal, where all Okun sons and daughters could easily pay their annual dues of N5000 and other financial commitments from anywhere, globally. The website is poised to unite all Okun sons and daughters across the globe.”

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Students Matter, Oladele John-Nihi, commended the ODA leadership for the initiative, saying it would go a long way in empowering the youth to become self-reliant.

He affirmed the commitment of Governor Ahmed Ododo’s administration in supporting development in Okunland through a robust partnership with ODA.

Mr John-Nihi, who is the convener of the OYA Movement, promised effective collaboration with ODA toward achieving the goals and objectives of the website and the job centre.

He called for proper reorientation of the youth toward acquiring the right skills and urged them to study courses that are relevant in the fast-growing world of technology. 

(NAN)