Dr Christopher Odey Ogar, President of the Ogar Okrache Save Alive Foundation (OSAF), has urged the people of Yala, Cross River State, to promote unity, mutual respect and collective responsibility to accelerate development in the area.

Ogar made the call after receiving the Yala Community Development Champion award from Yala United Forum Worldwide at a ceremony in Abuja.

The event, led by the forum’s President, Amb. Dr Chris Oko Odey, brought together indigenes of Yala to celebrate community service and discuss ways to advance the development of their homeland.

Expressing appreciation for the recognition, Ogar described the award as an encouragement to intensify his efforts towards improving the welfare of the people, supporting vulnerable groups and creating opportunities for young people.

He urged residents to set aside political, social and personal differences, stressing the importance of respecting elders and drawing on their experience and guidance in building a peaceful and progressive community.

According to him, the development of Yala requires the contributions of individuals, organisations, traditional institutions and other stakeholders, both within the country and in the diaspora.

He also called for greater support for hardworking and talented indigenes, saying that creating opportunities for them to contribute their skills and expertise would strengthen the community’s human resources and promote economic growth.

A major highlight of the event was the establishment of a partnership between Yala United Forum Worldwide and Ogar Okrache Save Alive Foundation to support community development initiatives.

The partnership is expected to focus on coordinated humanitarian interventions, youth empowerment and other programmes aimed at improving the wellbeing of residents.

Ogar also hosted the forum’s leadership and accompanying guests during their visit and made a cash contribution towards their transportation expenses.

Those present included Comrade Joseph Odey, popularly known as BobT, and Dr Ebriku John Friday, Senior Special Assistant to the Cross River State Governor on Media Data Analytics.

Participants also discussed the need for stronger collaboration among Yala indigenes and increased attention to youth development, humanitarian support and community advancement.

Ogar said he remained committed to initiatives that would promote unity and create opportunities for the people, adding that collective efforts were necessary to build a prosperous community.

The partnership between the forum and OSAF is expected to provide a platform for joint interventions and increased collaboration towards addressing development needs in Yala.