Friends, your dreams are valid and achievable. Don’t doubt it.
Our spirit as humans is attached to dream, to aspire, and to reach for the extraordinary, or just the ordinary. This innate longing for betterment is what propelled nations forward, it’s what fuels innovation, and inspires general greatness. If we attempt to trace it from the marvels of ancient civilization to the modern-day technological advancements, the relentlessness in humanity’s pursuit of progress is a demonstration to the forward-thinking drive of collective dreams.
Throughout history, the greatest civilizations have been built on the foundation of shared aspirations and dreams, cultivated and developed by visionary leaders, and sustained by the strongest, most firm and resilient of their people. The ancient Greeks’ pursuit of wisdom, the Renaissance’s celebration of art and science, and America’s bold declaration of independence – all demonstrate the unending abilities unleashed when there is a convergence of collective dreams with courageous action. The human progress is built upon foundations of imagination, determination, and collaboration.
The right to dream is universal, it has no border limit, it surpasses cultures, and socio-economic divides. Every citizen, regardless of their station in life, deserves to have their aspirations validated, nurtured, and actualised. I believe this fundamental human impulse is what drives progress, fuels creativity, and inspires generations. We can see a reason, share a uniform vision to embrace of our individual and collective dreams, and tap into the infinite potential that resides within us, and unleash a stream of breakthroughs in innovation, entrepreneurship, and social transformation.
A dream-worthy society is built on the pillars of industrialisation, quality healthcare, economic growth, peace, and stability. These interconnected variables create an ecosystem where innovation booms, entrepreneurship flourishes, and human potential is realised. When we have a governance that prioritises these fundamentals, the people are empowered to chase their ambitions, and the collective dream becomes a realistic vision.
In such an environment, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) fuels economic growth, healthcare infrastructure supports human capital, and industrialisation drives job creation. Peace and stability provide the fertile ground for progress to take root. This aligning variables of development is the hallmark of great nations, that affords all the citizens to pursue their passions, develop their talents, and contribute meaningfully to the collective prosperity.
Oyo State has an incredible, rich and beautiful cultural endowments, breathtaking natural beauty, with great towns and cities, – all these virtues amount to progress when we look more inwardly. Our state is a thriving economy, with very resilient people, and our strategic location makes us an attractive hub for investment, innovation, and tourism. We have an existing capacity to become a model for more sustainable development that ensures that every citizen’s aspiration is within reach.
I think if we are more intentional and desperate about achieving this vision, if we see what I’ve outlined in the same lens, we must go beyond geographical and ethnic divides, because we can do better than that. We are not merely Oke Ogun, Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Oyo, or Ibarapa people; we are Oyo State indigenes, united in our quest for a prosperous society. If we embrace our truest identity, our emblem, we can deposit the collective energy necessary to drive developmental projects and dream even bigger.
Like I expressed during the week in the engagement with some young persons at the First Amofin Beulah Adeoye Colloquium, that meaningful youth participation in politics, in affairs of growth and development demands advocacy, leadership, and policy-driven initiatives that reflect our collective aspirations. It must be seen as a collective project for it to fly. True change begins when we people see ourselves as active contributors that shapes the present political atmosphere.
Ultimately, I feel our collective successes hinged on recognising that unity is not uniformity, rather, diversity in harmony. If and when we celebrate our various differences, yet stand together as one Oyo State, we unwrap the true efficacy of our greatness, – it also makes us create a legacy that serves multiple generations to come, defines the seriousness in the power of our collective dreams, and speaks really to what it means to be a people united in pursuit of a common purpose.
Happy New Month, please have a great weekend ahead.
Amofin Beulah Adeoye
Friday, November 1, 2024