Kunle Adelabu
-Monarch honours Hon. Akinsola, Dr Idowu, Ogunmuyiwa, others
In commemoration of the one year coronation anniversary of His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, Emugoriade I, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, over N200million appeal fund was on Friday, November 17, 2017, launched for the construction of an ultra modern city hall in Igbogbo.
The appeal fund was launched at a dinner held at Mikksson Onas Hall, situated along Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road, Igbogbo.
Speaking at the dinner, Oba Kasali thanked sons and daughters of Igbogbo, both home and in the Diasporas,as well as non-indigenes for their support since his emergence as the traditional ruler of the ancient town a year ago..
He appealed to them to contribute generously to the fund raising for the building of the city hall which he said would transform Igbogbo economically and socially.
The 3D project presentation of the proposed 2000 capacity Igbogbo City Hall with features like halls, conference rooms among others was viewed by the guests at the dinner event.
The monarch also used the ocassion to thank the governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode for his developmental projects in Igbogbo, while also enjoining his government to upgrade the Igbogbo Primary Health Centre to a full-fledge General hospital.
More so, Oba Kasali listed the award of the construction of the N30billion Ipakodo-Igbogbo/Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Igbe-Gintin Roads, proposed upgrading of Igbogbo police post to police station, citing of a MOPOL base, establishment of Citizen Mediation centre among many others as part of state government’s efforts in transforming Igbogbo since his ascension.
Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola, acting Commissioner for Tourism/Special Adviser on Arts & Culture, Lagos State ,and ‘Olu-Omo’ of Igbogbo kingdom, in her speech called for support for the Adeboruwa.
She also enjoined indigenes and non-indigenes to support the state government and the organizers of the annual Igbogbo Day.
“I want to appeal to each and everyone of us to give maximum support to our highly revered Oba because that is the only way we could move Igbogbo forward”, she appealed.
“We have also seen that the state government, under the able leadership of our governor, has also been performing with Ikorodu division and Igbogbo in particular benefitting. It is very important to also give support to the state government.”
“A special commendation is going out to the organizers of this year’s Igbogbo Day and the coronation anniversary of our Oba. They too need our supports to keep improving and doing us proud. We started the annual celebration in the division but today, Ikorodu has gone ahead of us. We could still catch-up and even surpass Ikorodu if we put our acts together”, Commissioner Akinsola stated.
She also appealed to residents of the town to get more involved in politics and community affairs.
Prof. Michael O. Ajetunmobi, a professor of Mathematics with the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, added spice to the dinner with the presentation of a paper titled, “Igbogbo Kingdom: A New Dawn”.
In the brief presentation, Prof. Ajetunmobi challenged Igbogbo residents to determine how they want to be ranked among committee of nations.
“My thought is simple. As a people, how do we want committee of nations to place us?” , he queried in his paper.
“My idea is to provoke your thoughts in the direction of redefining our heritage, our kingdom, our people”, he said.
He then reeled out the indices of ranking of communities among committee of nations in a bid to challenge the people of Igbogbo.
Among these indices are level of educational practices; environmental degradation and upliftment; standard of housing and family integration; generation and utilization of electric power; decency of relationship among the people and how they view other nations.
He added that religion, which he described as an abstract, has no ranking, stating that excesses of it is an indication of the sanitary level of the people.
Speaking on politics as an indices of development, the erudite professor querried the effectiveness of how the people are being ruled and level of the indigenes accommodation.
Special awards were given by Oba Kasali and the Igbogbo Development Association (IDEA) to selected individuals who have contributed to the social, economic, political and human developments of Igbogbo.
Leading the category of community development award is Dr Adeyemi Idowu, a former Member of the Medical Advisory Committee to former Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN).
Others in the category are High Chief (Evang.) Segun Daniyan, Alhaji Shamsideen A. Alimi, Alhaji Alade Anifowoshe and Dr Olushola Olalude.
FIFA rated referee, Mr Jelili Ogunmuyiwa and the fastest athlete in Nigeria, Mr Seye Ogunlewe (Jnr.) were honoured with Sports Excellence award.
The Distinguished Royal Award of the 2017 Igbogbo Day Celebration was bestowed on Hon. (Chief) Mrs Adebimpe Akinsola, acting Commissioner for Tourism/ Special Adviser on Arts & Culture.
Other notable personalities at the dinner were Mr Leke Ogunlewe, Chairman of the occasion, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, former Commissioner for Agriculture, Lagos State, Engr. Femi Kalejaiye, Dr Ayo Ajayi, Medical Director, Ajayi HOSPITAL, Lion (Engr.) HOB Lawal, Chief Executive Officer, Consteng, Alhaji M.T Amusa, Director, HOMAT Group of Schools, Mr Fola Tinubu, Chief Executive Officer, Primero, Comrade Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Mr & Mrs Austin Awulonu, Chairman, Ikorodu Division Development Awards (ICDA), Prince Segun Ogunlewe, former Head of Service, Lagos State, Ogbeni Steven Adesemoye, senior lecturer in the department of Mass Communication, Lagos State University, Ikorodu campus. Ogbeni Bashir Fatola, Chief Executive Officer, Falcons Bar & Suites, Mr …Odusanya, General Manager, Lagos Printing Press, Barr. Taiwo Arole, High Chief Tajudeen Onasanya, the Odofin of Igbogbo, Barr. Adeboye Dankwo, a legal practitioner among others
Also in attendance were members of the First Club of Igbogbo, Elites Club of Igbogbo, Adeboruwa-in-Council, and A+ Disciples.
