At the 18th Oba Abimbola Memorial Lecture held at Saki City Hall on Tuesday, 30th December, 2025, Ife Varsity Saki Students’ Union (IVSSU), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife equipped students with AI Skills. Titled “The Development Okeogun Youths Need: A Call for Collective Responsibility”, the event drew representatives from 20 secondary schools as key participants.
Guest Speaker at the event and Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Adam Muritala, urge the students to focus on practical aspects of their various fields of knowledge and acquire new skills in order to solve real-life problems. He emphasised that, with the support of all stakeholders, creation of enabling environment and political will, education is enough to transform the Okeogun Region.
The event also featured three panellists who engaged the audience in an interactive session, unveiling the vast opportunities in Artificial Intelligence (AI). They highlighted roles such as Project Developers, Digital Marketers, Data Analysts, and Data Scientists, emphasizing AI’s potential to shape their future. The panellists encouraged young students to be curious, think deeply, and turn the impossible into possible. “AI isn’t just for the best brains in class,” one of them noted, urging students to explore and add value to their endeavours.
The Chairman of the event and the Chief Medical Director, Federal University Ila-Orangun Teaching Hospital, Prof. Kola Owonikoko, was represented by Surv. Dr. (Prince) Badmus Yinusa Adepoju, PhD, JP, Mnis, who advised the students to fortify their formal education with modern skills and intentional personal development to face life challenges.
High Chief Busari Ganiyu Adio, The Apeeki of Saki, who represented the Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Olabisi Oyedepo III commended the organisers of the event for keeping the legacy of the Late Okere Abimbola Oyedokun II and charge them to be good ambassadors of Saki City.
Patron of the Union, Dr. Niyi Ojo, who also represented the Chief Host, Hon. Justice Munta Abimbola (Rtd), emphasized the importance of education as the bedrock of success in life. He recalled how the students’ union served as a unifying platform for students from diverse backgrounds in the community.
“Despite challenges,” Dr. Ojo assured, “the annual lecture is overcoming obstacles and will continue to inspire the youths”. He urged students to focus on their education and be diligent to become assets to their community and country.
Speaking on the event, former President of IVSSU, Babarinde Godwin, emphasized the need to connect Saki youths to global economy through Artificial Intelligence (AI) in order to maximize current digital opportunities. He assured that, students who participated in the educational program will receive follow-up and reorientation on Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills. “Participants will be contacted through their provided data”, he stated
While thanking the guests, the Chairman, Organising Committee, Folaranmi Fehintola, noted the significance of the intervention of Great Ife Alumni, Saki, their commitment to the legacy of Oba Abimbola Oyedokun II and constant support in shaping the planning and execution of the event. “On behalf of the entire organising team and the association, we say a profound thank you for standing by us as pillars of support”, he concluded.
Students who participated in the event commended the organizers for exposing them to Artificial Intelligence (AI) opportunities, enabling them to go global legitimately. The program helped broaden their perspectives, encouraging them not to limit their talents. “It exposed us to reaching new heights in life through modern practices”, one of the students said.