November 03, (THEWILL) – Olowu of Owu, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Ọba Saka Matemilola, has been inducted into the Nigeria Book of Records for his humanitarian contribution to empowerment programmes to improve the living conditions of people and eradicating poverty within and outside his kingdom.
The Director General of the Supreme Council of Nigeria Book of Records, Prof. David David, who presented the certificate and book of induction to the monarch at the 7th edition of the Six Sense Children Reading Competition event held at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Abeokuta, said that Ọba Matemilola merited the induction.
The annual event is organised by the Orunto Of Owu Kingdom, Chief Abiodun Lasile, the Publisher of the Six Sense Series publication, to inculcate reading culture in pupils and students of private and public primary and secondary schools in Ogun State, so as to promote reading culture among children in the state and the country.
David said that the council decided to induct the traditional ruler into the Nigeria Book of Records because of his empowerment programmes through the “Olowu Hope Initiative” including plans to create an agricultural estate in Awowo community for food security, loan and health insurance scheme, creation of library, provision of boreholes, electric power, among others.
He said, “Kabiesi( Ọba Matemilola) has actually proven himself worthy to be inducted based on his impact, based on what he has contributed to humanity. We have taken time to chronicle his records and we discovered that this is a man that should be elevated and positioned as a role model, especially to the younger generation to emulate to see that they can be useful in society.
“For instance in terms of human development which is actually one of the greatest criteria he has contributed to also of humanistic activities like reading culture among the young generation, empowerment scheme, creation of library and others” he said
Oba Matemilola thanked the Director General of the Council and his team for inducting him into the Nigeria Books of Records, saying that he won’t take the gesture for granted and would do more empowerment programmes to better the lives of the indigene and residents living within and outside his Kingdom.
He said, “Let me again thank the executives and the leader of Nigeria’s book of records for this recognition. To start with, the institution that you have built is something that is of great value to us as a country, especially in these times when the image of Nigeria has been battered in so many ways.
“What you are doing is not just helping project the best of the country but also to use the documentation to inspire others that Nigeria has all the very good things that we must feel proud about not only showcase to the world but to let the young ones know if they work hard if they are of the best characters, they can also become stars in life. I want to dedicate the achievement of this induction to all those who are part of my success story and I won’t take this for granted from the Nigeria Book of Records”, he noted.
The monarch congratulated the children who attended the reading competition for being part of the programme while urging them to imbibe a reading culture in order to gain knowledge, educate and prepare themselves for a bright future.
“Something you must not take for granted, something you must appreciate and cherish because what Chief Abiodun Lasile is trying to do is to encourage you to love reading. You must read and educate yourself for that is the primary source of Knowledge. And I congratulate you for being part of this programme because as you know there are a lot of kids who are not part of this programme so it is a privilege and opportunity for you that you must not take for granted”, he added.
Earlier, Chief Lasile, charged the children to imbibe a reading culture and lauded Council for inducting Ọba Matemilola for his contribution to human development and eradicating poverty through his empowerment programmes in and outside the kingdom.
“He (Olowu) is my king and he is passionate about human development, eradicating poverty, suffering of the people and reading to ameliorate the suffering. In the two years that he came to office, he had done a lot; he has provided electric light, borehole water, loan scheme, medical facility”, he stressed
Prof. David presenting a certificate of induction into Nigeria’s Book of Records to Ọba Matemilola.
