Kunle ADELABU
It was yet another moment of glory and great honour for the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the representative of Ikorodu Constituency I, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, on Sunday, December 17, 2017, as he bagged Excellence Award from the Junior Chamber International (JCI).
He was honoured alongside several others at the 2017 Convention and Investiture ceremony of the body which was themed, ‘Equipping, Executing & Excelling As Active Citizens’, and held at the Golf View Hotel & Suites, situated along General Adeyinka Adebayo Street, GRA, Ikeja.
Junior Chamber International is a worldwide federal of young active citizens with over 5,000,000 active members and alumni.
At the ceremony, Laolu Owolabi, the 2017 President of JCI, Lagos City, handed the baton of leadership to the new President, Toyin Olaogun.
While delivering his lecture on the theme of the event, Kolawole Osinowo, 2018 JCI Vice President, stated that the core value of the international organization is to equip the future of the society, involve in developmental activities and excel by having a lasting positive impact on the society.
He stated that the long term plan of the organization is to unite every section of the society and make them work together as partners in progress and development.
The guest lecturer, while stating that the organization is present in 132 countries of the world and it’s working with the UK Parliament on Constituency projects to have right impact on the people, revealed that JCI will be working with the Lagos State Government and Lagos State House of Assembly in similar area.
In his speech,the immediate past President of the organization, Laolu Owolabi, stated that JCI has been impacting on the community with the aim of making it a better place to live for the people.
“We dare where we needed to and did our best in the areas of safety, advocacy, education, empowerment, Citizens Discourse , Health Intervention, Wellbeing and protection of the future generations and environment”.
“It is said that persistent and consistent dripping of water will eventually wears away a stone and shapes rocks. The little we did in our little corner of the world ensured that we achieved synergy; a synergy of change, synergy of impact and a better world”, he stated.
“Today affords us an opportunity to celebrate ourselves, our partners, sponsors and other individuals who are committed to service to humanity, JCI Owolabi added.
Also, Lere Afolabi, the Director of Convention and Conference, while speaking stated:
“This evening, we have another opportunity to celebrate an impactful year, transfer of leadership baton and appreciation of contributions from stakeholders in helping JCI, Lagos City, delivered on its core mandate to make a positive change in our immediate environment”, he stated.
While presenting the award to Hon. Agunbiade, JCI Laolu Owolabi stated that the international organization considered the lawmaker deserving of the award because of his sterling qualities, exemplary leadership and quality representation which has made his people elected him continually to represent them in the State Assembly to make good laws for the state.
Hon. Agunbiade, in his response shortly after receiving the award, stated, “This is a very important organization which offers service to humanity and I am very proud to have identified with it.”
“There is nothing like Constituency Project in Lagos State House of Assembly. We only make laws while the executive is saddled with the responsibility of executing the projects. Whatever projects the state lawmakers have been embarking upon are from our personal earnings.”
“But since your organization is all about development and advocacy for enabling laws, I will ensure that JCI is listed in the Lagos Assembly and we are going to be inviting you to make input during public hearings and stakeholders’ town hall meetings” , he assured.
Others that bagged JCI Excellence Awards were Dr Bukky Olatosi, Mrs Mercy Makinde, Mr Bayo Adeyinka and Hon. Francis Babatunde Oke.
Also at the event, Mr Oluwarotimi Olanrewaju was conferred with the honour of JCI Senator.
More so, several JCI members were equally honoured with awards. Among them are Ijoma Ijoku (Most Innovative Member), Debbie Oduwole (Most Professional Member), Blessing Ofiri (Most Outstanding Chairperson), Akinlabi Hassan, ( Most Outstanding Director and JCI Member of the Year).
