‘We Must Prioritise People’s Welfare’ — Ooni Of Ife, Alara Of Ilara Conclude Uganda Visit With Uniting Message

• The Ooni of Ife recently led a group of monarchs, including the Alara of Ilara, to Uganda.

• They spent seven days in the East African country.

• The group of monarchs was in Uganda on the invitation of the country’s president.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has concluded a seven-day working visit to Uganda on the invitation of President Yoweri Museveni.

The Ooni made the trip last week alongside an entourage of monarchs including the Alara of Ilara Kingdom, Epe, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo.

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Eko Hot Blog gathered that the monarchs attended the wedding anniversary of Museveni and his wife in the president’s hometown; Rukungiri, Uganda.

However, the deepening of economic ties between Nigeria and Uganda was the focal point of the seven-day visit.

After attending the wedding anniversary ceremony, Ooni Adeyeye met privately with President Museveni at the State House in Entebbe to discuss unity and strengthening bilateral relationships among Africa.

He spoke on the need to deepen economic relations between Nigeria and the East African country.

Ooni further emphasised the need for political and traditional institutions to work harmoniously towards delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.

He spoke on the need to accelerate efforts towards providing infrastructure, creating jobs, stimulating investments and improving education and healthcare across Africa.

Ooni, alongside his entourage which comprises his wife Olori Temitope Ogunwusi, wooed the Ugandan Leader on the need to foster more trade and business relationships between Nigeria and Uganda, while making a case for more investment, need for economic stability across Africa.

“As a traditional leader and the Progenitor of the Oduduwa race, it is essential to speak on the need for peace and economic liberation among Africans. As leaders, we need to prioritise our people’s welfare and remember that there can never be a leader without followers,” the first-class monarch said.

“Africa must rise to the task ahead and maintain a stable economy. As leaders, we must promote more trade activities among ourselves and give room for more investment to drive the change so Africa can be self-sufficient in all ways.

“The borderless African continent is an unexploited asset critical to unlocking African countries’ economic potential. The vision of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is one of the flagships for the continent’s shared wealth and economic boom.

“It is a game changer that can provide a tariff-free framework that should have existed since 1957 when Ghana became the first African country to achieve independence from colonial rule. It is time to build the “Africa that We Want,” not as a slogan, but as an epic movement that restores Africa’s honour, pride, and reverence, from aid to trade.”

On his part, President Museveni thanked Ooni for honouring his invitation and disclosed his readiness to drive more trade and investment opportunities to Uganda.

He added that his government was open to striking partnerships that would be of mutual economic benefit to both African countries.

“I am pleased to have you here your majesty and I am a great admirer of you and what you have been doing most especially women and youth empowerment and your promotion of culture and trade across Africa and outside the continent,” the Ugandan leader.

“We Ugandans are open to more partnerships. We are open to synergising with you and the Nigerian people. We are brothers and we are bound by one ideology as Africans so we must always remain one regardless of anything that happens.

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“My door is always open for you and your team. We will work with you and ensure a robust bilateral relationship between Uganda and Nigeria.”

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