Residents of Oke Oro community in Saki are gearing up for a major fundraising event scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2026, aimed at constructing a modern multi-purpose community centre to serve as a hub for social, cultural and developmental activities.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Oke Oro Youth Forum, comes at a time when socio-economic and community activities are gradually regaining momentum across Saki and its environs following a period of mourning occasioned by the deaths of several prominent sons and daughters of the area.
The community’s renewed development drive is also unfolding amid growing concerns over insecurity in parts of Oyo State, particularly following the recent abduction of some teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area. Community leaders and residents have continued to pray for the safe return of the victims while calling for stronger measures to address the nation’s security challenges.
Against this backdrop, stakeholders in Saki have continued to emphasise the importance of grassroots development initiatives driven by Community Development Associations (CDAs), which remain critical partners in local growth and security efforts.
Saki Parapo is home to about 200 CDAs, many of which have contributed significantly to educational, healthcare, infrastructural and security development within the town and the wider Oke Ogun region. In recent months, several communities have organised fundraising campaigns for projects such as maternity centres, health facilities and vocational training centres, with support from philanthropists, traditional leaders and political office holders.
One notable example is the Isokan Community along Ogbooro Road, which recently launched a fundraising campaign for the construction of an ultra-modern health centre. The project received a major boost when the Balogun Okere of Saki donated a strategically located parcel of land for its development.
Community leaders say such initiatives underscore the importance of long-term planning and responsible management of communal resources to ensure sustainable development for future generations.
The forthcoming Oke Oro project is expected to build on this tradition of community-driven development. Oke Oro, one of the ancient settlements adjoining the Saki metropolis, has long been recognised for its strong cultural heritage, communal spirit, commitment to security and adherence to ethical values.
Historically, the community has maintained a close relationship with the traditional leadership structure of Saki, with the Baale of Oke Oro playing a notable role in promoting peace, unity and development.
According to the organisers, the proposed multi-purpose community centre will be located at the heart of Oke Oro, near the historic Ojikutu site, a place of cultural significance to the people. The facility is expected to provide space for meetings, youth empowerment programmes, educational activities, skills acquisition training and other community development initiatives.
Speaking on the project, the promoter of the Oke Oro Youth Forum, Mr. Yisa Yusuf Oyedemi Muslim, described the initiative as a practical demonstration of what communities can achieve through collective action and self-help efforts.
He noted that while government intervention remains important, non-state actors such as community associations have continued to play a vital role in addressing developmental needs and strengthening social cohesion.
“The multi-purpose community centre represents our collective vision for a more prosperous and united Oke Oro. We believe that through communal effort and shared responsibility, we can create facilities that will benefit both present and future generations,” he said.
The organisers have therefore called on indigenes, residents, philanthropists, corporate organisations and well-wishers to support the fundraising event and contribute to the realisation of the project.
The fundraising ceremony will hold on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Oke Oro, Saki.