The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, paid a seven-day working visit to Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, to discuss economic relationship.
According to a statement, on the President’s invitation, Ooni, alongside an entourage of monarchs including the Alara of Ilara, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, attended the wedding anniversary of Museveni and his wife, in the president’s hometown, Rukungiri, Uganda.
After attending the ceremony, the Ooni met privately with Museveni at the State House in Entebbe to discuss unity and strengthening bilateral relationships among Africa.
He spoke on the need to deepen economic relations between Nigeria and the East African country.
Ooni emphasised the need for political and traditional institutions to work harmoniously towards delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.
He spoke on the need to accelerate efforts to provide infrastructure, create jobs, stimulate investments and improve education and healthcare across Africa.
Ooni alongside his entourage which comprised his wife, Olori Temitope Ogunwusi, and Alara of Ilara-Epe kingdom, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, wooed the Ugandan leader on the need to foster more trade and business relationships between Nigeria and Uganda, while making a case for more investment, need for economic stability across Africa.
Ooni said, “As a traditional leader and the Progenitor of the Oduduwa race, it is essential to speak on the need for peace and economic liberation among Africans. As leaders, we need to prioritise our people’s welfare and remember that there can never be a leader without followers.
“Africa must rise to the task ahead and maintain a stable economy. As leaders, we must promote more trade activities among ourselves and give room for more investment to drive the change so Africa can be self-sufficient in all ways.”
“The borderless African continent is an unexploited asset critical to unlocking African countries’ economic potential.
The vision of the African Continental Free Trade Area is one of the flagships for the continent’s shared wealth and economic boom.”
On his part, Museveni thanked Ooni for honouring his invitation and disclosed his readiness to drive more trade and investment opportunities to Uganda.
He said, “I am pleased to have you here your majesty and I am a great admirer of you and what you have been doing, most especially women and youth empowerment, and your promotion of culture and trade across Africa and outside the continent.
“We Ugandans are open to more partnerships. We are open to synergising with you and the Nigerian people. We are brothers and we are bound by one ideology as Africans so we must always remain one regardless of anything that happens. My door is always open for you and your team. We will work with you and ensure a robust bilateral relationship between Uganda and Nigeria.”
