The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has approached the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin, to seek for his support for the protection of rights of children in the country.
This was as the Olubadan said the UNICEF Team made the right choice by making him a reference point of contact to other traditional rulers in the country.
Olubadan spoke through the Maye Olubadan, Senior Chief Rasheed Olalekan Alabi, when the UNICEF Team visited the Olubadan Palace, Oke Aremo, Ibadan, on Wednesday.
The foremost Ibadan traditional ruler cited the importance of Ibadanland, being the home of the first in the socio, economic, political, educational, information, health care delivery and cultural development of Nigeria.
“Ibadan is the home of first in Nigeria. Ibadan has been at the forefront of political, information, social and economic development in Nigeria.
“To mention just a few, the first teaching hospital, University College Hospital (UCH) was established in Ibadan, the first university in Nigeria, University of Ibadan was established in 1948 and the first television station in Africa was established in Ibadan.
“Thus the aims and objectives of UNICEF towards reduction of maternal mortality, infant mortality and other social and health problems will be realised now that you have visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland,” Senior Chief Lekan Alabi said.
Earlier in his address, the UNICEF Team Leader, Mohammed Okorie, said the visit became necessary in order to solicit the support of the Olubadan to sensitise, mobilise and enlighten parents and guardians to ensure that the rights of children are protected.
“That every child right must be protected, that Ibadan and Oyo State residents are not accessing UNICEF services as expected.
“Thus the need to appeal to Olubadan, Olubadan-in-Council, chiefs, mogajis and baales to sensitise and mobilise their people to make use of the facilities and opportunities provided by UNICEF.
“To ensure that pregnant expectant mothers attend ante-natal care and save delivery. Also, the care of the elderly persons and to impact on financial assistance to secondary health care institutions and other hospitals in general whenever the need arises,” Okorie said.
In a related development, the Ibadan North East Local Government Traditional Council, on Wednesday, paid a courtesy visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin.
Senior Chief Emiola Rafiu Onideure, who spoke on behalf of the traditional council, described the Olubadan as a peace-loving person.
“I am the Agba Akin Balogun of Ibadanland. We are here to celebrate our monarch, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin for several reasons.
“If we want to open the book of our father, we will have many pages. Baba is a peace-loving person, very prudent.
“Baba is a always a good man to every body. He is a good father to everybody. The small time he used in Ibadan North East as chairman of traditional council, we enjoyed him. He even deserved more than this. We just have to do something to show him that we appreciate it,” he said.
