A 13-year-old pupil, Agaba Vincent, on Tuesday assumed duty as the One-Day Chairman of Ibadan South West Local Government, taking charge of the council’s affairs for 24 hours as part of an initiative aimed at grooming young people for leadership and civic responsibility.
Clad in agbada and accompanied by aides, Vincent was received at the council secretariat in Oluyole Estate by council officials and political functionaries. He was formally sworn in during a brief ceremony before commencing his official engagements for the day.
The young chairman toured various departments of the council, where he interacted with heads of departments and staff to gain firsthand knowledge of their operations, challenges and service delivery. His tour covered key units including Finance, Works, Health, Education and Information.
Vincent also inspected ongoing projects across the local government area, receiving briefings from engineers and supervisors at the various sites. He charged them to maintain quality standards and ensure timely completion of the projects for the benefit of residents.
Later in the afternoon, the One-Day Chairman presided over a meeting with political functionaries and senior management staff, where issues including sanitation, youth engagement and grassroots development were discussed. He also directed that feedback from residents should receive greater attention in policy implementation.
Members of the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, who were at the council for a staff audit exercise, also witnessed the programme. Other dignitaries present included Yusuff Alli, Akinkunmi Alhaji Taiwo Oke, Hon. John Abisoye Adisa and Mrs. Nike Arewa, who commended the initiative as a valuable way of mentoring the next generation of leaders.
Speaking after the meeting, Vincent said the experience had taught him important lessons about accountability, listening to the people and planning for community development. “I have learned that being a chairman is not just about giving orders. It is about serving the people and making sure their needs are met,” he said.
The substantive Chairman of Ibadan South West Local Government, Hon. Kehinde Akande, who witnessed the handover, described the programme as “a way of catching them young and preparing future leaders.” The initiative is part of the council’s efforts to encourage young people to take an interest in governance and public service, while residents and staff who interacted with Vincent praised his confidence and composure throughout the exercise.
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