Kunle ADELABU
-As Asa Festival emerge the ‘Most Outstanding Event of the Year’
The Chairman, Ikorodu-Oga Development Association (IKODASS), and former Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Otunba Ganiyu Olusegun Abiru, has been honoured as ‘Ikorodu Man of the Year’ (IMOYA) for 2017 by the Starlight Legacy Celebrity Magazine.
The astute administrator and much loved personality emerged the third winner of the annual award which was won by Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo and Hon. Sanai Agunbiade in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
The well attended event took place at the ultra modern hall of the Ikorodu Town hall on Sunday, April 8, 2018.
Also honoured at the award ceremony were Hon. Fathiu Salisu,the Chairman of Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA) who emerged as the ‘Most Outstanding Council Chairman in Ikorodu Division’, Comrade Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and Hon. Gbadamosi Olaomo Saliu, a Councilor in Ikorodu West LCDA, both of whom emerged as the ‘Most Outstanding Youth’ and ‘Most Outstanding Councilor’ in Ikorodu division respectively.
Princess Aroyewun Sidikat Oluwatoyin emerged as ‘Most Outstanding Civil Servant’ while Never Say Never Foundation emerged as the ‘Most outstanding Foundation’ in the division for 2017.
Also, the duo of Mr Bashiru Hassan and Princess Aderoju Ladega received Starlight Magazine’s ‘Special Recognition Awards’.
The award was rounded off with the recognition of Asa Festival, which was organized by the IREP-Ikorodu Division Rebirth Foundation to reinvent the dying cultural display of man on the delicate stilt sticks, as the ‘Most Outstanding Event’ for the year 2017..
Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and Convener/Scout Master of IREP personally received the award.
Mr Adedamola Aderibigbe, the Publisher of Starlight Legacy Celebrity Magazine, in his welcome address stated that the award ceremony was instituted to honour and celebrate distinguished men and women who are contributing remarkably to the growth and development of Ikorodu division.
The ‘Ikorodu Man of the Year Award’ was designed to honour and celebrate distinguished men and women who are making remarkable contributions to the growth and development of Ikorodu division”.
“We have had two editions in 2015 and 2016 which were won by Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo and Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the Opomulero of Ikorodu kingdom respectively”.
“Today, we are having another distinguished individual who has shown exemplary leadership in person of Otunba Ganiyu Abiru, Chairman, Ikorodu-Oga Development Association (IKODASS).
“When it comes to community service, the bar has been raised in Ikorodu division by the crop of people that are exhibiting selflessness in community activities”,the Starlight Publisher stated.
Prince Segun Ogunlewe, the former Lagos State Head of Service, in his remark, commended Otunba Abiru for not being tired after a glorious and meritorious service to Lagos State.
He also appreciated other awardees for their efforts in developing Ikorodu division.
Eminent dignitaries at the 2017 IMOYA ceremony were His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Hon. Babajimi Benson, Member, Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Aremo Adeniyi Ogunsanya, Arch. Taiwo Kara, Prince Lanre Sanusi, Comrade Fakolade Oluwafemi, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Ikorodu branch, Barr. Saheed Shillings, former Chairman,Nigeria Bar Association, Ikorodu branch and Mr Bayo Oteju among many others.
Profile of Alhaji Olusegun Ganiyu Abiru :
Alhaji Olusegun Ganiyu Abiru, who served as the Clerk/Permanent of the Lagos State House of Assembly between August, 2011 and 2016, was born in Lagos on August 6, 1956, to the Abiru and Ogunsanya families of Ikorodu, Lagos State.
He attended Muslim Primary School, Ikorodu, from 1961 – 1962 and Ago-Ijaiye Methodist Primary School between 1963 – 1969 and Methodist Boys’ High School between 1973 and 1976 for his secondary school education.
He worked briefly as a Clerical Officer with the Nigerian Port Authority between July 1976 – January 1977 before proceeding to The Polytechnic, Ibadan,for his advanced level programme which he completed in 1979. He was offered admission to study History at the University of Lagos where he graduated in 1982.
He had a brief stint at Bethsol Williams ( Nig) Limited as Personnel Officer between July – September 1980 and Mobil Producing Nigeria Limited as Visa/Travels Officer August- December 1983.
He undertook mandatory one year national youth service as a class room teacher at Ransome-Kuti Memorial Grammer school, Surulere, in 1983, where he established the Literary and Debating Society as well as the Muslim Students Society before the end of his youths service .
He joined the State Civil Service in 1983 after his National Service and served in various capacities starting as Higher Executive Officer (HEO) coordinating the Ministry of Finance’s movement from the Old Block to the present Block12 as well as management and allied matters.
The former Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly also worked at the Ministry of Finance, Agric Land Holdings Authority, as Secretary, Agricultural Development Project as Head of Personnel, Ministry of Information, Culture and Sports as Head of Planning, Research and Statistics, Central Licensing Authority, Board of Internal Revenue, Lagos State Public Works Bureau as Secretary and Head of Hackney, Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board as Secretary.
