Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Ikenne, Ogun State, to build on the educational and development legacy of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo by embracing artificial intelligence, robotics and technology-driven education.
He proposed a 10-year development blueprint, tagged the Ikenne 2036 Plan, to position the community as a centre of technological innovation in Africa.
Osinbajo spoke on Friday while delivering a lecture titled, “Ikenne, a Small Town, a Great Inheritance and an Even Greater Future”, at the 50th Ereke Day anniversary organised by the Ikenne Development Association.
He said Awolowo’s visionary leadership demonstrated that the size of a community should not limit its ambition or capacity to contribute to national development.
“Ikenne occupies a small place on the map, but a great place in our national story. Our geographical size has never defined the reach of our possibilities,” he said.
Osinbajo cited Awolowo’s free and compulsory education policy in the defunct Western Region as an example of how ambitious leadership and investment in human capital could transform society.
He recalled that nearly one million children were reportedly enrolled in schools in the region by 1959, while about 41 per cent of its budget was devoted to education.
The former Vice-President also highlighted the establishment of the Western Nigeria Television service in 1959, describing it as evidence of the region’s foresight in embracing technology.
He said the achievements of Awolowo, who was born in Ikenne, should inspire the community to invest in emerging technologies and prepare young people for future opportunities.
“The next 50 years will be shaped by artificial intelligence. We can be the village in Africa that trains the best minds and develops the most transformative AI tools,” he said.
He also drew lessons from the educational philosophy of late educationist and social activist, Tai Solarin, who founded Mayflower School in Ikenne in 1956.
According to him, Solarin’s emphasis on independent thinking, character development and the dignity of labour demonstrated that education should equip young people with practical skills and a sense of responsibility beyond academic qualifications.
Osinbajo said the proposed Ikenne 2036 Plan should establish clear development priorities, assign responsibilities, set measurable annual targets and provide mechanisms for monitoring implementation.
He urged the community to look beyond physical infrastructure and invest in knowledge, innovation and technology.
“Brick and mortar are good. We can put a few more buildings here and there, we can prepare a few more things, but we must think big,” he said.
He added that the most meaningful way to honour Awolowo’s legacy was to apply the principles of visionary leadership and human development to contemporary challenges.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Ikenne Development Association, Otunba Femi Allen, commended residents, particularly the late pioneer chairman of the association, Daddy Kolawole Oronti, for their contributions to community development.
Allen reaffirmed the association’s commitment to promoting unity, encouraging self-help projects, preserving the town’s cultural heritage and building a prosperous future for coming generations.
The event featured the presentation of awards for selfless service and community development to individuals recognised for their contributions to Ikenne, Ogun State and Nigeria.
The award recipients included Chairman of ValueJet Airlines and Bet9ja, Kunle Soname; Alhaja Sikiratu Jakande, widow of former Lagos State Governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande; Justice Olufemi Adeniyi; Otunba Adedoyin Adesina; Otunba Sola Odumosu; and Chief Mrs Idowu Owolana.