Umbrella socio-cultural organisation of the Yoruba people in Kogi State, Okun Development Association (ODA) has inaugurated the working committees of Okun Security Trust Fund (OSTF).
OSTF is the creation of ODA as a special-purpose vehicle aimed at raising funds and driving security plans and strategies towards tackling the growing wave of insecurity in the region.
For result-oriented purposes with a focus on achieving specific outcomes, the main, existing “Okun Security Implementation Committee” is split into three working committees, namely; the Board of Trustees, the Technical and Strategy Committee and the Funds Mobilization Committee, which are expected to translate the security plans and strategies under the OSTF into effective and coordinated actions “to protect Okun people, assets and infrastructure, as well as ensure peace and harmony”.
Members of the various committees were inaugurated during the event tagged: “Launching of OSTF Working Committees” held at Haris Hotel, Wuye, Abuja on Saturday, July 13, 2025.
In his address, Chairman of the Okun Security Implementation Committee, Dr Williams Toyin Akanle, erstwhile National Director, State Security Service (SSS), analyzed and described the roles of the various committees as vital under the OSTF towards “building a stronger (and) more resilient future together”.
Noting the strategic nature of the Funds Mobilization Committee towards achieving the set goals, Akanle however emphasized that: “By the committees working in unison, we can ensure our security initiatives are comprehensive and sustainable. A key element of our success lies in community involvement and strong partnerships with the state government and the formal security agencies. We believe that an engaged community and collaborative efforts with these entities are essential to creating effective security solutions”.
While appealing for support for OSTF from home and the Diaspora, he assured all stakeholders and donors that their generous contributions will be managed with utmost responsibility and transparency.
“As we embark on this journey I urge everyone present to consider the importance of contributing generously to the Trust Fund as your support is crucial in enabling us to acquire resources, implement measures and ensure the safety and security of Okunland”, he said.
A former governorship candidate and businessman, Otunba Olayinka Braimoh who was named on the membership of the Technical and Strategy Committee called for more and active participation of political representatives from Okunland and Kogi West by extension in such gatherings giving the importance of security at this time.
He urged the Implementation committees to prioritise the engagement of a critical mass of the people to key into the security plans and strategies as a better, effective and more sustainable option to trigger a significant action in the fight against insecurity.
Noting the passive migration of villagers from their homelands due to fear of kidnappers, Braimoh appealed to the committee to engage members of the National Assembly from Okunland to push for a legal framework that will enable communities to legally defend themselves, “so that people who want to help the various communities with the necessary tools to defend themselves will be able to do that, legally”.
In his remarks, President General of the ODA, Ambassador Akenson Rotimi enthused that the inauguration of the committees will enable the operationalization, in a result-oriented manner, of the concept of OSTF.
He further described OSTF as “a special purpose vehicle aimed at driving us towards goal-attainment in sustainably tackling the prevalent existential crisis of insecurity that has bedeviled the landscape of of our beloved Okun homeland”.
Concerned and deeply perturbed by the intensity and high numbers of acts of terrorism across Okunland, Rotimi noted that for the ODA leadership, OSTF as a concept had become inevitable.
He expressed the association’s deep worries about the multi dimensional socio-economic challenges, particularly the rising wave of insecurity across Nigeria.
He said ODA is “greatly bothered that widespread banditry, kidnappings, herders-farmers (clashes) with the attendant killings and maiming have resulted in a reign of despair, displacements, and a major negative impact disruption in the agro-economy of our people, resulting largely in food insecurity, fear and despondence”.
He added: “We owe it a duty to ourselves and generations coming to rise up and be counted in the needed war of freedom from the activities of those who lay siege on our land—agents of darkness and marauders who traverse and plunder our land, leaving in their wake, tears, blood and sorrow. Therefore we all have the task of yielding to the clarion call to mobilize our resources and leverage our diverse spheres of influence in the service of our homeland in whatever capacity or areas where we are enabled.
“It is, therefore, on the foregoing note, that I warmly thank all members of the Board of Trustees, Technical/Strategy Committee and Fund Raising/Mobilization Committee for honouring our call and for yielding to the service of Okunland. ODA NEC appreciates all our supporters and we particularly thank Engineer Isiaka Haruna for his invaluable support for our work. As we mobilize, strategize, syndicate and synchronize oour voices against the evil of the time, we trust in God Almighty to grant unto us victory against all agents of darkness that are terrorizing our land”
Names of Members of the Committees:
Board of Trustees: Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN, CON – Chairman; Dr David Atte – Vice-Chairman; Amb. Akenson Rotimi, Chief Funmi Bodunde, Prof Olu Obafemi, Dr Obamero Mike, representative of Oworoland.
Technical and Strategy Committee: Toyin Akanle, PhD, mni – Chairman; Col. Kingsley Bolorundoro, Rtd – Vice-Chairman; AVM Awarun, Rtd, Gen. Atte, Rtd, Gen. M.T Durowaiye, Rtd, Gen Bode Ayeni Rtd, Commodore Folusho Daniel, Rtd, Otunba Olayinka Braimoh, Hon Tunde Ibrahim, Cmdr Adekunle Obayemi, Rtd, Barrister Femi Oloruntoba, CP Wilfred Afolabi, Col. Olukomogbon, Major Owa, CSP Sunday Ajibade, ACP Bamidele Awoniyi.
Fund Raising/Mobilization Committee: Mr Dan D. Kunle—Chairman, Amb Shola Enikanolaye — Vice-chairman, Chief Sam Aro, Otunba Olayinka Braimoh, Senator Sunday Karimi, Senator Smart Adeyemi, Senator Dino Melaye, RT Hon James Abiodun Faleke, Hon Leke Abejide, Hon Salman Idris, Hon T.J Yusuf, Alh Adebola Sheidu, OON, Mrs Bola Sanni, Engr Francis Osasona, Mukadam Ashiru Idris, Tunde Olusunle, PhD, Chief Femi Ajisafe, PhD, Prince Philip Orebiyi, Engr Tayo Akanbi, Chief Femi Olubiyo, Mr Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, Erelu Prof Ronke Bello, Hon Danladi Aguye, Omoba Tunde Ajibulu, Chief Dele Obiniyi, Mrs Bola Ampitan, Dr Muyi Aina, Dr Korede Adedayo, Aremo Jide Omokore, Chief Funsho Owoyemi, Mr. Funsho Isiaka Haruna, Barrister John Fabola, Barrister Morito, Barrister Babatunde Irukera, Otunba Olu Owa, Chief Oladokun H Jeremiah, Engr Emmanuel Kayode, Pastor Kayode Adedayo, Prof Nasir A, Naeem, Omoluwabi Folami Onirinwa, Mr Stanley Jegede, Ms Tayo Leslie, Mr Ola Oyelola, Engr Olusola George Olumoroti.
