AWORI LEADERS CALL FOR UNITY AND SUSTAINABLE WEALTH CREATION

Awori leaders in Lagos State have called on members of indigenous communities to strengthen political unity and explore ways of turning ancestral land into long-term economic opportunities.

The call was made during the third Awori Summit in Lagos, organised to mark the fifth coronation anniversary of the Olofin of Isheri Mole and Adimula of Awori Kingdoms, Oba Sulaiman Bamgbade.

Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Cornelius Ojelabi, said economic growth in Lagos would have limited benefits for indigenous communities if they remained disconnected from investment and development opportunities.

Ojelabi urged the Awori people to focus not only on political representation but also on producing leaders with the capacity to influence policies, budgets and development decisions.

He said prospective leaders should develop knowledge in areas including governance, public finance, urban planning, infrastructure, maritime development, education and technology.

The APC chairman also encouraged Awori landowners to reconsider the practice of selling ancestral land outright. He suggested that land could instead be used as equity in development projects, allowing families and communities to retain long-term economic benefits.

According to him, the focus should shift from the immediate monetary value of land to how such assets can generate sustainable wealth for future generations.

The summit brought together Awori traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to discuss political participation, economic development and the preservation of the interests of indigenous communities in Lagos.