A Covenant of Heritage and Progress
The UNESCO‑REF proudly announces that His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, has formally accepted the nomination to serve as Royal Father of the UNESCO‑REF Young Women in Agriculture (YWA) Champions. The YWA Champions are the beneficiaries of the Young Women in Agriculture programme – young women across Nigeria being empowered to lead in food production, innovation, and community resilience. His Imperial Majesty’s acceptance is therefore not only symbolic but paternal, a cultural covenant of guidance, protection, and inspiration for the women themselves.
Royal Seal Meets National Agenda
By lending his royal seal to the Champions, the Ooni of Ife aligns ancestral authority with the Federal Government’s food security agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Agriculture, identified as a cornerstone of national resilience, now carries the weight of royal endorsement. His role as Royal Father also resonates with the First Lady’s Food Bank Initiative, which combats hunger and supports vulnerable populations. Together, these efforts form a powerful architecture of food security, with young women positioned at its heart.
Institutional Voices of Commitment
Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu‑Oramiyan, President of UNESCO REF, emphasized: “The Ooni’s acceptance as Royal Father of the Champions is a cultural and institutional platform of immense power. It provides the beneficiaries with a sense of belonging, dignity, and protection, while mobilizing communities and accelerating progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”
He noted that the YWA Champions initiative is not only about agricultural empowerment but also about creating a model of multi‑stakeholder collaboration – integrating traditional leadership, civil society, and government priorities into one unified framework for sustainable development.
Champions of the Future
The YWA Champions themselves represent the future: young women equipped with training, mentorship, and modern technologies; positioned as leaders in agricultural innovation; and contributing directly to poverty reduction, food security, and inclusive economic growth. With His Imperial Majesty as their Royal Father, the Champions gain not only institutional support but cultural legitimacy, embedding their empowerment within the heritage of the nation and Africa at large.
Royal Words of Paternal Commitment
His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Ojaja II, expressed his paternal commitment in elevated terms:
“As Royal Father to the Champions, I embrace these daughters of our land with pride and responsibility. Their hands will till the soil, their vision will feed the nation, and their courage will shape the future. In them, I see the strength of Nigeria and the promise of Africa.”
Symbolism and Strategy for Global Impact
The acceptance by His Imperial Majesty is both symbolic and strategic. It demonstrates visionary leadership, aligning traditional authority with the President’s food security agenda, the First Lady’s humanitarian vision, and UNESCO REF’s institutional mandate. With this royal seal, the YWA Champions are poised to achieve greater impact, ensuring that young women across Nigeria and Africa drive agricultural transformation, reduce poverty, combat hunger, and contribute meaningfully to the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.