Apero Nile Loko In Egbe Omo Yoruba North America And Breaking The Barriers: The Beginning Of A New Dawn. By David Adenekan.

David Adenekan

"The first fact finding that stuck in my mind, was a brief discussion with a young beautiful Yoruba girl, Oluwabunkunmi (Blessing). She just graduated from the university with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. She is the daughter of Engr. Foluke Oladipo, a beloved sister and committed member of Apero planning Committee." Adenekan.

"How are you, my daughter? I am fine, sir. How old are you, my daughter? I am 22 years old. Oh, I have a son in that age bracket. Where is he, is he here now? She responded in a high spirit as if my son was there with me. No, my daughter, he is not here. Immediately, I said, he is not here, I read the meaning in her face (a mood swing). Where are my age group in this convention to socialize and play with? It was a strong body language expression and I instantly got the message."

"We must act fast because, there is a big gap between the present crop of leaders and Yoruba youths that are under the age of thirty years. The need to close this generational gap before we lose the steam, cannot be overemphasized."

Again, my path with Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America crosses because, I am on a divine assignment. I did try not to yield to the demand of my inner spirit but it becomes more difficult as events unfold. I later found out that I was already enmeshed in this triangle of success as we all started flowing with the trend of a new trajectory called, Apero Nile Loko; an initiative of Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America. 

Many a times, I have queried myself for engaging in this difficult task but, I think I have a divine assignment that must be completed.

Apart from the enthusiasm and euphoria of meeting with some of the great and wise members of Apero Nile Loko Planning Committe who also doubles as strategic members of  Afenifere North America namely; Dr. Durojaye Odumaye Akinduitre, Dr. Banji Adegunloye, Dr. Ayodeji Famuyide, Prof Modupeola Adebayo, Engr. Foluke Oladipo, Dr. Michael Awosanya and Dr. Remi Adebayo, I  traveled all the way from Chicago to attend the epic event because, I was on a fact finding mission. 

At the event, I never allowed the excitement, entertainment, glamour and other side shows to make me lose track of my fact finding mission.

The bottomline, is that, I really want to put into acid test, my great perception that Egbe Omo Yoruba is the largest Yoruba socio cultural group with structures in many states all over North America. I have been having this perception since I was one of the Guest Speakers in one of their biggest convention in 2011.

Also, I want to see if the synergy among Yoruba people that many like me have been clamoring for, will come into fruition at the 28th Anniversary and Convention of Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America.

I never intended to attend the epic event but I was kind of restless in the spirit that I have to change my mind to buy a flight ticket to Atlanta, Georgia in less than 48 hours before the convention. 

In my fact finding assignment, I now have a first class information on what we need to do to strategically, reposition the organization to fulfil the vision of the founding fathers. 

We cannot just afford to make it business as usual. A reset is urgently needed under the new leadership of Dr. Ayodeji Famuyide.

We must act fast because, there is a big gap between the present crop of leaders and Yoruba youths that are under the age of thirty years. 

Alas, it is going to be a loss for a whole generation of Yoruba youths  in North America if we do not act fast in doing the needful. 

The need to close this generational gap before we lose the steam, cannot be overemphasized. 

Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America is the bridge and umbrella to close this dangerous and obvious gap. 

Yes, we have the moment and we must start doing it now. "Iduro o si, ibere o si." 

On my first day at the convention of Egbe Omo Yoruba North America, metaphorically, the color of the sky was radiating in rainbow colors. It was an event of many beautiful butterfly colors of Yoruba traditional dresses as I just remained my humble self with a simple yellow long sleeved shirt, brown pant, white shoes that matched a white designer face cap. I felt very unique in the midst of many of my kinsmen and kinswomen who were adorned in a lot of royalty attires on my first day of gracing the epic event. Fortunately, it was during this epic event that we had the grand finale of Apero Hybrid Summit. 

The first fact finding that stuck in my mind, was a brief discussion with a young beautiful Yoruba girl, Oluwabunkunmi (Blessing). She just graduated from the university with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. She is the daughter of Engr. Foluke Oladipo, a beloved sister and committed member of Apero planning Committee. "How are you, my daughter? I am fine, sir. How old are you, my daughter? I am 22 years old. Oh, I have a son in that age bracket. Where is he, is he here now? She responded in a high spirit as if my son was there with me. No, my daughter, he is not here. Immediately, I said, he is not here, I read the meaning in her face (a mood swing). Where are my age group in this convention to socialize and play with? It was a strong body language expression and I instantly got the message."

Hmmm, she felt so isolated throughout the convention. 

We must start packing our future Conventions with youths of different age groups. 

May I suggest, in line with what is currently happening in Wasimi, Abeokuta, Ogun state as  postulated by Chief Tunde Kilani during one of our summits. That, ahead of the Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America National Convention, a one week youth retreat in a nice recreational facility that will be packed with many enrichment programs like cultural displays, dancing, drama, teaching of Yoruba language, sporting activities and also, invite Motivational Speakers that will teach the history of Yoruba deities and festivals that extol our "Omoluabi ethos". This should be organized during the summer break, leading to the Anniversary and Convention of Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America. 

We need some kind of funfare that will resonate with our today's youths to bring them onboard and give them some leading roles in the national caucus. 

The retreat for our youths will be the ground and medium to mobilize many of them to the convention. Also, natural leaders that will emerge during the youth retreat, would be given some leading roles during the convention.

Also, in my findings, Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America is now making a strong collaborative efforts to bring other relevant groups under the umbrella of the great organization. The credit union that is been facilitated by the Prince of Ile Ife, Omooba Ayotunde Adebayo, the newly inaugurated Yoruba Nurses in North America under the indefatigable and dynamic leadership of Prof. Modupeola Adebayo (Nee Aka Bashorun) and the new dynamic Life and Pension Scheme, under the tireless leadership of Engr. Foluke Oladipo. Yes, all these laudable projects coming under the umbrella of Egbe Omo Yoruba, is the beginning of the synergy we all have been clamoring for. 

What a blissful moment in the history of Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America!!!

Also, the media team must be fully evolved from analogue age to the digital age. The urgency of time for a new media team to start marketing a new brand to mobilize our youths, to the mainstream of Egbo Omo Yoruba North America is now. We must start preparing them to take over the mantle of leadership in about 10 years from now because, the today's crop of leaders at the helms of affair are already in their fiffties to mid sixties. The zeal and vigor to maintain the momentum in about 10 years to come may decline (it is called the law of diminishing returns) and if we do not make adequate preparation to fill the leadership vacuum, we may just end up recycling the old brigade that may not meet the need of the 21st century industrial revolution and digital age.

Suffice it to say, Egbe Omo Yoruba needs to invest more on youth programs that will maintain and sustain its leading role as the biggest social cultural group in North America. Again, this cannot be overemphasized.

In the final analysis, there is no doubt, that, Apero Nile Loko is another watershed in the history of Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America and in the spirit of espirit de corps, the new leadership of Egbe Omo Yoruba must continue to mobilize all the necessary resources and moral support towards the huge success of this laudable project; Apero Nile Loko. 

In addition, now that the national Executive Committee of Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America has declared every member of Apero Planning Committee as Honorary Members, the organization has the obligation to access and harness the great wealth of knowledge and wisdom in Apero Planning Committee, to fulfil the vision of the founding fathers. 

I will not hestitate to offer my own expertise advice on media as a consultant. 

Yes, every member of the Planning Committee are indeed very resourceful. Please make use of this great  talents because, they are now the think-tank of Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America and by extension, Yoruba as a nation.

Congratulations to Dr. Ayodeji Famuyide and his new team of leadership. I pray his legacy will exceed that of his predecessor in Jesus Mighty Name. Ase Edumare.

Aku Apero!

Oodua agbe wa o!

David Adenekan, who is the Editor of Shekinah International Magazine and a Media Consultant, writes from Chicago, Illinois.