Kunle Adelabu
-NUT plans commissioning of Gym, Cooperative house this year
The number one teacher in Ikorodu Division, Comrade Oluwafemi Fakolade, recently led other chieftains of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Ikorodu to parley with the officers and members of the Ikorodu Community Media Practitioners (IKOCOMP) and seek the support of the body in propagating and advancing the course of teachers in the division.
Fakolade made the appeal while conducting members of IKOCOMP round the Gym/NUT Cooperative House situated beside the Teachers’ House within the Oga/Methodist and LGEA Secretariat premises.
Speaking during the media tour, Comrade Fakolade stated that NUT in Ikoroodu is parleying with journalists in the community because of their important strategic roles.
He added that the body will like to improve on its relationship with the media for proper cooperation and propagation of its programmes and activities.
“We invited you here today, because we realized that community media are the best. They are the best media tool that can effectively and adequately propagate their immediate environment. This is what we recognized and decided to work closely with them”, he stated.
“The executives and entire members of NUT Ikorodu hold you in high esteem and we are going to partner with journalists in Ikorodu for developmental activities.
“We need help and journalists are going to be considered when it (the gym) starts operating”, he assured members of the Ikorodu Community Media Practitioners during the facility tour.
Fakolade stated that his administration is following in the footsteps of the previous NUT administration in Ikorodu, led by Asiwaju Lateef Odugunwa, where he served as the Secretary.
While commending the performances of the former administration, he added that the present one decided to raise the bar by also embarking on building another edifice beside the Teachers’ House constructed by the Oduguwa’s administration to accommodate Gym and Cooperative House.
“NUT house was built by the Oduguwa’s administration and since that administration has done that and many more, we decided to do something different to further uplift teachers in Ikorodu.
“This structure that we are touring today is going to serve two purposes (gym and cooperative houses for the teachers in Ikorodu Division). We are going to name it after a foremost teacher who has not been giving deserved honour, late Alhaji Solaja Alagago.
“It’s going to be a standard gym and the Lagos State Government has thought of taking over it. It will be equipped with standard equipment”.
He stated that membership of the gym would open to members of the public on subscription when it is commissioned.
“The cooperative society of Ikorodu NUT started about 2 years ago. It turned 2 years this February. We have the vision of turning it into micro-finance bank.
“We are planning to commission this project this year but we still need support from members of the public”, he solicited.
“This is a multi-million naira project and we expect every notable person in Ikorodu division to contribute to this project to immortalised Solaja Alagago”.
Fakoade, while speaking on plans for the celebration of the 2020 World Teachers’ Day and other plans to improve the welfare of teachers in Ikorodu, stated that:
“We want to improve the standard of teachers in Ikorodu with impactful programmes and schemes.
“Ikorodu NUT has distinguished itself to be a fantastic branch among other NUT branches in Lagos and Nigeria.
“We are planning a mega Teacher’ Day celebration this year. We plan to give out 10 or more cars to teachers this year among other programmes that we have have.
Asiwaju Lateef Oduguwa, the immediate past NUT Chairman, Ikorodu, also speaking during the parley stated that the vision that his administration conceived was realized within the 8 years that he served and which the present administration is consolidating upon.
“The vision that we established when we came on board was actualized within 8 years and now, Fakolade is consolidating on the achievements with the gym and cooperative centers.
“I commend him for all that he has been able to achieve and for his innovativeness. We are really proud of him”, he said while commending Fakolade’s administration.
“We appreciate the media because if not for you, we are not going to be heard. We are sincerely appreciative of your propagation of our programmes in Ikorodu”.
Oduguwa sought for further support and cooperation from journalists in Ikorodu.
Speaking on behalf of media men in Ikorodu, Prince Adedamola Olaribige, the Coordinator, Ikorodu Community Media Practitioners and Publisher of the Starlight LCM, thanked the NUT for recognizing the roles that journalists are playing in Ikorodu and assured them of further support.
“These recognitions are appreciated and I can assure you that journalists in Ikorodu will continue to celebrate teachers.
“With these new projects, NUT is changing the face of Ikorodu economically and socially.
“We are grateful for the consideration extended to us to use the gym when completed and open for use”.
Also speaking, Kunle Adelabu, Secretary, IKOCOMP, commended the administrations of Oduguwa and Fakolade for displaying good leadership and initiating and completing good projects and schemes for teachers in Ikorodu.
He also pledged continuous support of media in Ikorodu for Ikorodu NUT.
