Leaders, traditional rulers, and youth and women representatives of Okunland have charted a roadmap for security and unity, resolving to establish a community security network, a leadership charter, and a regional skills hub.
This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Okun Dialogue on Unity, Security and Youth Development held in Abuja.
The dialogue, themed “One Voice, One Okun: United for Peace and Progress,” was held on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the Armed Forces Mess and Suites, Asokoro, Abuja, and deliberated on three thematic areas: security, political cohesion, and youth development, before speaking with one voice on a shared path forward for the region.
**Unity for security**
On security, the meeting noted rising concerns over banditry, kidnapping and farmer-herder tensions, and observed that fragmented efforts were weakening the region’s collective defence. Speaking as one voice, it resolved to establish an Okun Community Security Network to coordinate vigilante groups, hunters and local security outfits across the six Okun local government areas.
Participants also called for traditional rulers and community leaders to set up intelligence-sharing structures with federal security agencies in each LGA, and urged government and stakeholders to support technology-driven tools such as communication gadgets for community patrols.
**Unity for strength**
On leadership cohesion, the dialogue observed that disunity among leaders had limited Okunland’s ability to attract development and speak with one voice. Charting a path toward greater political unity, it resolved to draft a non-partisan “Okun Leadership Charter of Unity” and institutionalise a regular Okun Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum to build consensus ahead of major decisions affecting the region.
Leaders were enjoined to prioritise Okun’s collective interest above personal or party interests, with elders and traditional institutions given a central role in mediating unity among stakeholders.
**Unity for the future**
On youth engagement, the meeting expressed concern that unemployment was fuelling risks to security across Okun communities. As part of the roadmap, it resolved to establish a Regional Okun Skills and Entrepreneurship Hub offering vocational, agricultural and tech training, and called on government, the private sector and diaspora sons and daughters to invest in youth-focused programmes.
Community leaders were also directed to set up mentorship platforms to guide youths away from crime, and to identify and promote young talents in entrepreneurship, sports, arts and academics.
The dialogue commended the host/convener, traditional rulers, security agencies and all participants for their commitment to peace and unity, and closed with leaders reaffirming, in one voice, their commitment to “one indivisible Okunland.”
