The Olugbe of Ugbe in Ondo State, Oba Ilufemiloye Muri Adefemi, Ajiboye II, has asserted that respect is an ingredient through which lasting relationships can be built, especially with people outside one’s comfort zone.
According to the monarch, youths should learn to honour and respect elders, especially the traditional institution, wherever they found themselves as that would attract positive attention towards them.
The traditional ruler made the assertion while delivering a lecture on Cultures and Traditions of the Yoruba to the 2023 Batch ‘B’ (Stream II) corps members at the Nationl Youth Service Corps, NYSC, orientation camp, Ikare-Akoko.
He posited that youths had insatiable desire to develop their potentials anywhere fate led them.
He added that they should study their new found environment so as not to be on head-on-collision with the custodians of the land.
“Gentlemen corps members, I want to welcome you to Ondo State and Akoko North East Local Government and to congratulate you for coming this far in your academic pursuit which could be regarded as a stepping stone towards becoming what you desire in life.
“In achieving life goals, you need to possess some characteristics or attitude that will be beneficial to you in the long run. The Yoruba just like any other culture cherish people who respect them and I want to warn you to always respect any elderly person you come across in your various communities.”
The monarch said that corps members should not visit any place forbidden for strangers and visitors as that could have grave implications to their well-being.
“In scientific terms, every law or statute has exemption but this is not applicable to that of culture. Once you have been forewarned not to be seen or found in a secluded place, I want to appeal to you to take to that sacrosanct advice,” he said.
He told the corps members that dressing in Yoruba land depicted virtue which they should try as much to emulate.
“There is a saying that when you are in Rome, you behave like Romans. I want to admonish the responsible youths who the society sees as ambassadors of the federal government to learn the way of life of their host communities and integrate properly into their ways of life.
“Greeting is part of the norms that the Yoruba hold dearly. Whenever you meet with people, especially the elderly ones, it is expected that you will greet them with courtesies according to the time of the day or season. You will warm yourselves into the hearts of the natives and citizens if it is discovered that you accord them honour especially in the public.
“Every society has its own culture with distinct similarities and differences but integration should be promoted among the members of the service corps and their host. Learn to eat their food, speak their language and most importantly do not over-step your bounds as this will help you navigate the service year successfully.”
The Olugbe of Ugbe was represented by a high chief, Otunba Oluwole Remilekun Babasanya, who expressed the generosity of the town through donation of fabrics to some corps members and camp officials.
The State Coordinator, Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Ani, who was impressed with the quality of the lecture delivered lauded the delivery and the mastery of appropriate illustrations by the king.
She said that she looked forward to having him again in the nearest future to interact with corps members.
Ani, before the commencement of the lecture charged the corps members to create enough space to learn new things about the community that most of them were visiting for the first time.
