The Ogbomoso First Community Initiative (O’First Group) has rounded off activities for 2025 with an end-of-year celebration, using the occasion to reaffirm its commitment to socio-cultural advancement and sustainable development across Ogbomosoland
.The event, held on Wednesday, brought together traditional rulers, community leaders, professionals and representatives of allied organisations. Dignitaries in attendance included the Asiwaju of Ogbomosoland, Professor. Adesola Olatunde Adepoju; the Asipa of Ogbomosoland and the Immediate Past President of the Group, Sir Olusegun Adeyemi Adekunle Esq; other chiefs, elders and members of the organisation.
In a welcome address delivered on behalf of the President, Arc. Sakiru Suara, by the Vice President, Engineer. Tunde Ige, the leadership described the gathering as a reflection of unity, progress and collective responsibility toward the growth, progress and development of Ogbomoso. He noted that O’First Group has remained steadfast in its core commitments of development advocacy, drug abuse awareness, education support and social cohesion.
The organisation reaffirmed its alignment with the 25-Year Development Programme unveiled earlier in the year by the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III. According to the leadership, the plan provides a comprehensive blueprint for transforming Ogbomoso into a prosperous and modern city, with O’First Group positioning itself as a strategic partner in its implementation.
Engineer. Ige disclosed that members of the organisation actively served on committees and participated in initiatives linked to the development agenda throughout the year. He highlighted education as a major focus, revealing that over 28,000 exercise books were distributed free to pupils in public primary schools across Ogbomoso, branded in honour of the Soun.
He also announced the establishment of a multi-million-naira Behavioural Rehabilitation Centre in Ogbomoso as part of the group’s anti-drug abuse campaign. The centre, he said, focuses on research, rehabilitation, empowerment of recovering addicts and family counselling, and has attracted commendation from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) through strategic collaboration.
Other interventions undertaken in 2025 include free medical outreach programmes in rural communities, vocational and skills-acquisition training for unemployed youths, environmental sanitation exercises, public lectures on drug abuse, and educational support for indigent students through scholarships and learning materials. The organisation also disclosed plans to partner with the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, on skills-acquisition programmes.
Emphasising unity as the foundation of the group’s achievements, the leadership noted that O’First Group’s activities cut across age, profession, religion and political affiliation, fostering peace, dialogue and social harmony within Ogbomosoland.
Speaking at the event, a Pioneer President of the organisation and Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT), Otunba Bayo Babatunde, said O’First Group was founded to encourage sons and daughters of Ogbomoso, particularly those in the diaspora, to maintain strong ties with their homeland. He explained that members were encouraged to own homes in Ogbomoso and return regularly to contribute to its development. He commended successive leaderships for sustaining empowerment programmes, medical outreaches and welfare-driven initiatives.
In his remarks, the immediate past President of the group and Asipa of Ogbomosoland, Sir (Barr.) Olusegun Adekunle, expressed confidence that Ogbomoso would witness sustained and unprecedented development under the reign of Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, with continued support from O’First Group.
The organisation also expressed appreciation to the Soun of Ogbomosoland for his visionary leadership and for honouring the group through the installation of Sir (Barr.) Olusegun Adekunle as Asipa of Ogbomosoland, describing the recognition as a source of pride and renewed motivation.
Looking ahead, O’First Group pledged to expand its interventions in drug education, primary healthcare delivery and youth digital skills development, in line with the broader 25-year development agenda for Ogbomosoland.
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