The Gold In Ife Needs Exploration – Ooni

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, says Ile
Ife will be the take-off point of the new Nigerian
economy in a post oil and gas era.
Oba Ogunwusi expressed optimism that an
exploration of the huge solid minerals in the
state, especially gold, would give an
unprecedented boost to the nation's economy
and shift it away from volatility of the crude oil
market.

He stressed the need for focus to shift from oil
and gas to other solid minerals in Nigerian states.
"All over the country solid minerals are
everywhere. But we haven't even exploited it.
"Indeed, we can survive without oil and gas. If we
don't have oil and gas, we can survive because the
mysteries in this land are more than anywhere in
the world.
"There is a huge potential in Ife. There is no solid
mineral we don't have. We have gold, Timberlight
Gemstone… We have very large scale deposit of
all those materials and I like to practice what I
preach," the monarch told Modele Sarafa-Yusuf
on Channels Television's programme, 'View From
The Top'.
The Oba said that he was already working with
the State and Federal Governments to promote
solid minerals, tourism and agriculture to keep
the youths engaged and promote the local
economy.
He urged the leaders to lead by personal
example, advocating the use of made in Nigeria
goods.
"The beads that I am wearing, I went as far as
Benin Kingdom to go an exploit the beads. People
don't wear it any longer but it is made in Nigeria
and I am proud to say it. The gold in between it, I
took it from Mokuru waters in Ife and it is one of
the most purified gold in the world. It is a 23.9
karat gold, raw. We just decided to do surface
mining.
"We have it in Nigeria. We have it in Ife, Ilesa and
in Niger State. All these things are just littered
everywhere. But there is nobody to harness and
put all those structures in place.
"We have focused too much on oil and gas.
"So I am very proud to say today that what I am
wearing is made in Nigeria hundred per cent. This
throne, the shoe that I am wearing are made in
Nigeria. It is that bad, the soap I use is made in Ile
Ife. That is the only way Nigerian economy can
grow. So we must lead by example," the Ooni of
Ife stressed.