Kunle ADELABU
Participants on THE IMPACT whatssApp chat platform have continue to raise issues on the social, political and economy development of Ikorodu division.
The recent being the call for a Mega Celebration of Ikorodu Division’s Heritages. The idea, which was suggested by Otunba Ganiyu Abiru, the Chairman of Ikorodu Oga Development Association (IKODASS) and a former Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly, was applauded by participants on the platform.
Those that contributed to the discussion on the issue opined that the Mega celebration would not only promote unity among the independent towns in Ikorodu division, but would also serves as a means to further promote the tourism potentials of the division which has been commenced by the IREP-Ikorodu Division Rebirth Foundation, particularly with the recent celebration of the Asa festival.
“I am looking forward to a Mega celebration of Ikorodu division’s heritages which will involve the active participation of all the towns in the division coming together as one entity. That will symbolize our unity. Is it a pipe dream? Think about it”, Otunba Abiru had stated on THE IMPACT whatssap chat group platform recently.
“It’s like a journey of 1000 km, it starts with a step and others will follow. The idea of Ikorodu-Oga Day, Ijede Luwasa Day, etc, started from somewhere until they became what they are today”, Mr Taiwo Salami, a senior public servant responded.
Also contributing, Mr Tayo Odesanya, an aide of the Governor of the State of Osun stated, “The idea of a Mega Celebration of Ikorodu Division heritages is a good thinking and innovation. I can always go to bed with Ikorodu in your hands and have a sound sleep”.
In his own reaction, Prince Lanre Sanusi, a United States of America (US) based businessman and Nigerian politician, simply stated while responding to Otunba Abiru’s suggestion: “There is really nothing to think about because it will come to reality sooner than expected”.
Another US based Ikorodu indigene, Ibrahim Alani Onibudo stated, “A much idea”.
In a phone interview with THE IMPACT, Prince Abiola Kosoko, the Alashe of Ebute-Iga and Chief executive Officer of Origin Zoo & Garden in Ikorodu, stated that the idea of a mega celebration of Ikorodu division’s heritages is a noble one but insisted that there is need to have a Tourism Board in place to make the idea achieve its full potentials.
He had once muted the idea of tourism board in an interview with THE IMPACT sometimes ago.
“To promote the huge tourism potentials in the division, we need to constitute a central tourism board which would be saddled with certain responsibilities”,he stated.
“Each town in the division will nominate a minimum of three and maximum of five representatives on the board. Part of their jobs would be to collate tourist sites, historical centres and cultural values in their respective domains and submit same to the central board for the purpose of creating a central data base”,he suggested.
“These representatives would also serve the role of tourist guards in their respective localities. They are expected to be paid as the establishment of the board would provide employment for the youths and encourages custodians and owners of buildings, sites and centres that have historical and tourism values to preserve and protect their heritages”, Prince Kosoko stated.
According to him, the representatives on the board would also perform the functions of planning and strategizing for cultural and traditional events in conjunction with traditional institutions where and if necessary.
It would be recalled that IREP-Ikorodu Division Rebirth Foundation on November 4, 2017, staged Asa festival, which is one of the rich cultural heritages of Ikorodu division, at the Ikorodu Ferry Terminal located at Ebute-Iga in Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area to blaze the trail for the resurgence of the celebrations of key cultural and traditional heritages in Ikorodu division.
