How OYES Transformed My Life – Ex-Cadet, Mofolake Adeleke

I was the first parade commander that led parade for 20,000 OYES cadets in 2011 at Ede NYSC Camp. I was a Masters Degree holder searching for a job when I volunteered to join OYES Scheme in order to earn the monthly stipend of N10,000 and to serve my father land. I was patriotic and decided to maximize my potentials by contributing my own quota to the development of the State of Osun.

With my believe in the transformation agenda of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in the area of Agriculture, I became the team leader and one of the pioneer member of Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme (OREAP). I led a team of 35 cadets that compiled data base of registered farmers, conducted perimeter survey and validation of Mokore, Ago- owu and Iwo farm settlements. I also led a team that worked with the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning to validate the dilapidated buildings in all the Local Government in the state.

As a technocrat, I worked as an enumerator for O’School that validated the dilapidated structures in some selected primary schools, compiled the database of all primary and secondary school students and also located sites for mega schools in some selected Local Government in the state of Osun.

Serving as an OYES cadet really transformed my life and I will forever be grateful to the Governor of Osun for paying my second year PhD session school fees. Honestly, my story will not be complete without mentioning the values that OYES/OREAP program added to my life. The trainings and experience I got from OYES coupled with my qualifications was the added advantage that qualified me for my present job as the Head of Agric of my company.

I am a quintessential researcher with interest in Agricultural Extension systems reform, innovation and gender issues in Rural Development.

I am a member of Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria (AESON) and a member of Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG Cluster 5). Some of my research works have been published in reputable journals both local and international.