On Monday, May 5, 2025, journalists, media executives, security chiefs, clergies, educationists, academics, traditional rulers, business owners, government officials, family and friends, gathered at The Exellessor Bar and Lounge, located beside BCOS Ile Akede, Ibadan, for Parrot Xtra’s 20 years of media excellence and the 60th birthday of the magazine’s publisher, Ambassador Olayinka Agboola. In attendance were CEO, OPULENCE Creation and Outfits, Alhaji Bashir Babatunde Azeez Akande, aka Ike Bashir, the former Managing Director, Nigerian Tribune, who is currently a Director/Consultant of the foremost newspaper, Pastor (Dr) Segun Olatunji, the proprietress of The Vale College, Funso Agboola, and her brother, Arc. Olumuyiwa Ige, a former Commissioner for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development, former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, Bishop of Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Ogbomoso and Chairman of the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Bishop (Dr) David Ademola Moradeyo, Chairman, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Mogaji Isiaka Abiola Olagunju (SAN), Uncle Toye Ajagun, a juju maestro, Chief Executive Officer, Kayrom Lee Group of Companies, Ambassador Romoke Ayinde, Managing Director of Vivid Imagination, Godwin Mekwuye, Lady Bose Afolabi-Ajayi, Businessman & Tax Consultant, Chief Akinyele Oladeji, Lady Yomi Ladigbolu, Babatunde Onifade, Chief Gani Kayode Balogun, Hon Rahman Adepoju, Bolanle Adeyemi and Barrister Akeem Aponmade.
Launching of Parrot Xtra Compendium
Also in attendance are actors Dele Odule, and Chief Kayode Olaiya, alias Aderupoko and Baba Jenifa, Prof Femi Adefisan, President, Omo Ajorosun Club, Ibadan, Chief Sunday Oyekanmi Gbenjo, Dr Sikiru Adekola Adebayo, Dr Seun Awodele, Alhaji Semiu Okanlawon, Semiu Adenekan (DJ Semight), Chairman, South West Guild of Online Publishers (SWEGOP), Pastor Bisi Oladele, Gbenga Olunloyo, prophetess Kehinde Fasoro, Hon. Taofeek Akinwale, Sir Ayo Akinyemi, former Chief Press Secretary in Ekiti State, Chairman and CEO of Yes FM Ibadan, Mr Yemi Sonde.
The peak of the event was the presentation and launching of the media organisation’s compendium, the cutting of the birthday cake, and treatment of guests to sumptuous meal and assorted drinks, with a fuji music legend, Adewale Ayuba, alias Mr Johnson, entertaining with his thrilling songs that spurred the wealthy ones to spray generously.
Amb Olayinka Agboola and Dr Oluwagbemiro Adesina
In his opening remark, the chairman of the occasion, Ambassador (Dr) Yemi Faronmbi, who described the celebrant as a great person, who has never given up in the face of challenges, lamented the various challenges the media industry is facing including absence of locally made printing materials. Faronmbi further lamented the failure of the generation after the generation of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who failed abysmally to build on the legacy inherited with the view of making the South West region to continue to lead in all spheres of life.
He held that the region is homogenous in nature with the same climatic condition, vegetation, culture, language, the advantages the current generation could not harness for the development of the Yoruba speaking area of the country. As a result of dissension, lack of cohesion and coherence, the region is struggling to survive, he said, pointing out that during the time of Awolowo, Yoruba is first in virtually everything. Among the remarkable achievements of the region is its first to run free education, first to have television in Africa, first to have skyscraper with the construction of Cocoa House in Dugbe Area of Ibadan, and leaders in commerce. Rhetorically, he asked, “What is the difficulty in planning South West for greatness? He called on the political leaders to toe the path of Awolowo’s generation so that they could be remembered the way Awolowo’s generation is being remembered today.
In their separate speeches, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, CP Johnson Adenola and Commander of the Oyo State Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Rosemary Alo lauded Nigerian journalists for being critical about the security agencies. Biodun Onuoha, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, who represented the CP, said that critical writings of journalists about the nation’s police make the men of the agency to behave well, saying, “If you don’t criticise us, we will misbehave. Your criticism makes us better.”
Amb. Olayinka Agboola and his Daughter
Rosemary Alo added that FRSC and the media always have altercation stressing, “If we are not criticised, we will not know the area to work on. You give us feedback. You let us know what to do and correct.”.
She revealed that Agboola is not alien to her, pointing out that they grew up together as she affirmed, “I have known Ambassador Agboola since we were teenagers. He is an extrovert.”
Delivering a lecture titled, “South-West: Critical Issues to Shape the Future”, the Director General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), Dr Seye Oyeleye, who claimed that the Yorubas are a distinct nationality of more than 40 million people in the homeland, with a rich Diaspora population across various continents, and possess one of the most notable civilisations among the people of Africa. He opined that the Yoruba ethnic group has “a very widely-acclaimed sophisticated liberal and progressive development orientation; one of the earliest to be in contact with education; can boast of early ground-breaking landmarks and achievements; having the advantage of a proven template for effective and result-oriented governance; with unique providential bestowals of access to both land and sea borders, and has always been the most dynamic space for commercial engagement in Nigeria, can indeed be the growth pole not just for the country, but with the potential to become a true Icon of Africa” stressing, “Such a people clearly has no business with underdevelopment, poverty and low quality of life.”
From left, Actor Dele Odule, Adewale Ayuba, Amb Olayinka Agboola and his daughter, and Arc Muyiwa Ige
However, contrary to his view, vulnerability to the vagaries of both political and economic changes; buffeted with serious security threats; sub-optimal and underperforming economy; a weak social sector, especially education and health, are responsible for the poverty bedeviling the region, with governmental policies that make it impossible for the government of the region being unable to feed its population; and generate enough resources to finance its development.
Other challenges the region is currently battling is the near extinction of its Yoruba language, which has been attacked by negative and uncontrolled net migration, with all the attendant consequences. Failure to generate enough consensus and internal solidarity for moving forward on both basic and fundamental issues; sitting on a demographic time bomb, composed of a youthful population, largely misguided and misdirected, and therefore susceptible to misuse. Unequivocally, the DG, who was represented by the Commission’s Development Executive, Prince Adetayo Adeleke-Adedoyin, called for a need to work hard for its survival and sustainability. Stressing the significance of the South West Region in the turning around of the situation in Africa for good, Oyeleye identified five key elements that must be given ultimate attention including excellent leadership.
According to him, the Southwest region of Nigeria has long been a centre for bold thinkers and reformers, driven by the foundational legacy of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s free education policy in 1955, which boosted literacy rates to the highest in the nation. To meet the demands of a growing and youthful population projected to exceed 60 million by 2055, he opined that the region needs visionary leaders who blend traditional wisdom with global competence. This includes executives who drive technology-focused education reforms, legislators committed to evidence-based policies, business leaders fostering sustainable economies, media professionals upholding integrity, healthcare leaders ensuring accessible care, tech pioneers envisioning smart cities, and educators preparing students for global competition.
From left, Chairman/CEO, Yes FM Station, Yemi Sonde, Amb Olayinka Agboola and President, Omo Ajorosun Club, Ibadan, Chief Sunday Oyekanmi Gbenjo
As the world evolves, Oyeleye charged Southwest Nigeria to prioritise long-term strategies over short-term gains, building systems that outlast political cycles and empowering ethical, digitally savvy leaders to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the future.
The DAWN DG also identified the media, known as the fourth estate of the realm, which the region must pay attention to. According to him, it has historically championed democracy by exposing injustices and holding power accountable. In today’s fast-paced digital world, where misinformation spreads rapidly and AI-generated content blurs reality, Oyeleye noted that the media’s role as society’s guide is more crucial than ever. He stated that for Southwest Nigeria’s media to thrive, journalists must be trained in AI literacy to combat misinformation, journalism schools must integrate ethics with technology, and regulators must balance free expression with accountability. He said the future of media by 2055 hinges on the ethics, skills, and courage cultivated today, ensuring truth prevails amidst digital disruptions and algorithmic biases.
Examining technology and Artificial Intelligence as a tool or tyrant, the lecturer proposed a transformative digital future for Southwest Nigeria, driven by its current 71 accredited universities and high literacy rate. Oyeleye pointed out that with the African Development Bank projecting Africa’s digital economy to grow to $712 billion by 2050, the region has the human capital to lead in tech innovations.
According to him, Lagos is already a leader in tech startups, but the challenge is for Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti to catch up. Emphasising the integration of coding, robotics, biotechnology, and digital finance into secondary education is crucial. Oyeleye noted that if embraced, AI could revolutionise farming, healthcare, education, and governance in the region, positioning it as Africa’s Silicon Valley. He advised that the region has to shift from merely importing technology to creating its own, tailored to local needs, echoing Paul Kagame’s vision of technology serving communities. With half of Africa’s jobs projected to be automated by 2050, He urged the region to prioritise STEM education and local innovation, which could turn cities like Ibadan and Ife into tech hubs, redefining their identities and driving economic growth, pointing out that the opportunity is there and the will to act is what is needed.
Also, interrogating whether youthful population is a blessing or Time Bomb, he informed that the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report (2025) anticipated that while 92 million jobs may be displaced by 2030 due to automation and market changes, 170 million new roles would emerge, resulting in a net gain of 78 million jobs globally. According to him, this transformation emphasised the need for skills adaptation, with nearly 40 percent of core job skills evolving and 59 percent of workers requiring reskilling.
Staff of Parrot Xtra with the Celebrant
According to him, in Africa, the continent’s rapid population growth is projected to contribute 57 percent of global growth by 2050, with Sub-Saharan Africa’s population doubling adding that Africa’s youth, comprising 60 percent of its populace under 25, represent significant economic potential if adequately empowered. He posited that Southwest Nigeria mirrored this demographic trend, with over 60 percent of its population under 35, posing both opportunities and challenges, and to harness this youth-driven potential, strategic investments in education, technology, entrepreneurship, and governance are crucial. He emphatically stated that the future success of the region hinges on whether it channels this youthful energy towards innovation and economic growth or face instability and unemployment.
Finally, on security, Oyeleye said that the African Union Peace and Security Council has anticipated that by 2040, emerging threats such as cyber warfare, climate-induced conflicts, and resource competition would surpass traditional security concerns adding that global organisations had warned that water scarcity could displace millions, with Africa at high risk. He said that the signs of these challenges are already evident in rising cybersecurity threats, persistent banditry, and climate-driven migration.
He said to address these threats, requires innovative security measures like the regional security outfit Amotekun, which has enhanced safety in Southwest Nigeria. Looking ahead to 2055, according to him, requires expanding this model into a community policing system, enhanced with AI, drone surveillance, and cross-border intelligence. stressing that security must evolve from mere physical protection to include economic, digital, and psychological well-being. He also said that the future of Southwest Nigeria’s security hinges on collective action, technology integration, and strategic governance.
From Right, Dapo Falade, Uncle Toye Ajagun and Chief Tunde Busari, to the far left
Oyeleye emphasised that addressing five critical issues: Leadership, Media, AI & Technology, Youth, and Security, would shape the region’s global standing. He stated further that as Lagos is projected to become one of the world’s largest cities by 2055, proactive action today would determine whether it thrives as a smart megacity or succumbs to chaos, while Ibadan’s destiny would depend on its role in culture and technology.
Rounding off, Oyeleye came up with the “30-30-30 Life Model”, which divides life into three distinct 30-year phases: Human Capital Development and Identity Formation (0-30 years), Productivity, Leadership, and Influence (31-60 years), and Legacy, Leisure, and Societal Enrichment (61-90 years). According to him, for the youth (0-30), it is a call to invest in education, skills, and character-building, emphasising the importance of creativity and digital literacy for a transformative future. For those in their prime (31-60), Oyeleye urged deliberate leadership, institution-building, and mentorship, highlighting the need to create lasting impacts like Mr. Parrot (Olayinka Agboola) did with Parrot Xtra. And for elders (61-90), it focuses on using wisdom for societal enrichment and intergenerational knowledge transfer.
He envisioned a transformative future for the Southwest region of Nigeria by 2055, driven by the principles of SAVOR Centers—Smart, Attractive, Vibrant, Optimal, and Resilient communities. He emphasised the need for technology, clean and organised urban spaces, a thriving creative economy, economic competitiveness, and sustainable environmental practices.
The lecturer called for visionary leadership, fact-based media, skillful youth, and a commitment to progress, reflecting the legacy of Awolowo. He concluded with a call to action for all generations to turn ideas into tangible outcomes, ensuring that the next 30 years reflect excellence and commitment to regional development.
