Uzalla village savouring dividends of impactful elders, youths’ leadership synergy

By Kingsley Abavo, Benin

Uzalla Village in Uhunwonde Local Government Area, Edo State is about five minutes drive from the bypass, Benin – Auchi highway on the left hand side off Egba road.

The Village has rich deposit of kaolin clay; a natural mineral resource (known as eko in Benin language), making her one of the highest producers in Nigeria.

Uzalla is also an agrarian Village; and one of the food baskets in Edo State, peaceful, very receptive to visitors and open to those who really are interested in the development of the community.

Sitting atop the administrative organogram of the Village, is the Enogie HRH Igbinosun Aghafekokhian Godwin, followed by the Council of elders, and the Igheles (youth group) ably led by Saturday Osayande and his team.

Suffice it to say that the Enogie HRH Igbinosun Aghafekokhian Godwin, elders and the entire people made the right choice in the appointment of Saturday Osayande as the Ogaevbo of the community and other members, to help in the smooth running of daily affairs of the Village.

Filled with concern about the growth and development of Uzalla; Saturday Osayande immediately went to work upon appointment.

Obviously displaying the burning desire to contribute to the development of the community; it is no gain saying that alot of positives have been achieved within the little time he has been in the saddle.

Consequently; the youths who hitherto left the Village for greener pastures abroad, are returning home to be part of the new order courtesy of the impactful leadership of the Saturday Osayande era.

They have been variously empowered: in the area of farming, skill acquisition and self sustainance, with Osayande himself; being one of the top producers of cassava and yam in the locality, thus setting good example of how a leader should be.

Apart from empowerment of both the youths and women in the community, Saturday Osayande initiated self help efforts which facilitated legacy infrastructural development amongst the people.

Some of them include: building of the community town hall, and a resuscitated functional industrial borehole which makes the people now have unhindered access to portable water for their domestic use.

Hitherto; the people of Uzalla would trek a long distance through the bushes, hills and slope to fetch water from the stream. But today that unpleasant experience is history.

He also led the community efforts to bring electricity to the Village thus making it now look like little London especially at night.

This is as his leadership has put on ground security network made-up of the community youths who ensure safety of life and properties daily.

Under Osayande’s leadership, constant mentainance of the access road and mobilization of the youths to carry out regular environmental sanitation of the community, and others is top notch.

He asserts: “As a respectal of the rules and Law of the land as laid down by the great Oba Ewuare II, there is nothing like land grabbing in Uzalla.

“Once you acquire a land in the community which is usually through the elders, it is very safe till the owner decide to develop, the issue of land grabbing, reallocation or what have you; is allien to the people of Uzalla which the Enogie and elders keep drumming to the youths always in the community meetings”.

In the face of scarce resources and other daunting challenges, Osayande attributed all achievements under his leadership to the fear of God, huge and unwavering support of the elders and entire people of Uzalla.

He says there are no words to describe their cooperation, zeal for the growth, progress and development of the community for the benefit of all.

Osayande who marked his new age on Sunday, 15 January, 2023 with a bash; has this to say: “I want to use this opportunity to thank God and our ancestors for the provision and safe keeping from harm’s way; and the great Oba of the great Benin kingdom, HRM Oba Ewuare II for being father to all and the relative peace in the land.

“Also, not forgetting my Enogie HRH Igbinosun Aghafekokhian for his fatherly role; the elders for their efforts at uniting the people and standing by the Enogie and the entire youths, and people of Uzalla for the confidence reposed in me.”

Osayande promising to continue to do his best for the betterment of Uzalla Community; solicits the continued support and cooperation he and his team had enjoyed since coming on board.