Kunle Adelabu
It was a deserving end of the year party for members of the Tortuga Frigate of the BAN-BC72 Alpha Galleon, and their families as they gathered at the Barracuda Beach and Resort, Lekki, Lagos, on Sunday, December 27, 2020, to unwind.
The memorable party took off around 8am with a marathon humanitarian, sanitation and community campaigns by members of the group at the Treasure Lounge and Bar, along Lagos road, lkorodu, after which the members alongside their families moved from Ikorodu, by road and through Lagos road, Yaba, Lagos Island, to Barracuda beach in Lekki for the climax of the party.
The party was tagged, “Time – Out with Tortugarians at the Beach & Family Love – Feast 2020”.
It was party galore inside the about 40 cars that conveyed the Tortugarians and their families to the beach while the convoy had frequent stopovers to link up with those that might have missed their ways or stuck in the traffic. There were also intermittent calls among those in the convoy to know how one another were doing and to know if those expected to join the convoy at various spots did so.
That was the exemplary fraternity displayed throughout the journey to the Barracuda beach in Lekki by members of Tortuga Frigate, the Ikorodu branch of the BAN-BC72 Alpha Galleon in Lagos State.
The group, under the leadership of Comrade Olalekan ‘Rado’ Pelumi, about two weeks ago won the best Frigate (chapter) out of the eight in the state for its laudable programmes.
Speaking at the colorful party, Comrade Pelumi thanked members for their dedication and commitment to the Frigate.
He also commended wives and children of members for making their respective homes peaceful for their husbands and allowing them to participate in the functions of the association.
“This is a party to say thank you to all our members for their commitment and dedication to our Frigate throughout the year.
“It is also an avenue to thank our wives and children for their support and for making our homes peaceful which helped us greatly in impacting humanity.
“We wouldn’t have achieved all that we achieved if you had made life difficult for us at home. This party is to celebrate and honour our wives and families generally.
“It is also an opportunity to relax and enjoy ourselves after a turbulent year and thank God that we didn’t lose anybody despite the pandemic and other challenges in the global village”, he told THE IMPACT.
“We are also using this opportunity to honour our members, especially those that have served diligently and dedicated themselves to the Frigate and humanity, to prove to them that we acknowledge their services and encourage them to do more”, he charged.
He urged other youthful organizations in Ikorodu and Lagos State as a whole to emulate the good deeds and humanitarian gestures of Tortuga Frigate.
“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to other youths organisations like ours to desist from social vices, killings and other criminalities. They can emulate our ways and instill discipline in their members. We can make our society better if we can imbibe discipline and the spirit of being our brothers’ keeper and give back to the society”, Comrade Pelumi advised.
National chieftains and members from other seven Frigates in the State also attended the party. Among them were Mr Abayomi Adejonwo (National Vice-President), Barr. Oyin Pedro (Chairman Santiago Frigate), Mr Francis Obiebi (an elder statesmen), Mr Hussain olawale (elder statesmen), Mr Ajibola George (the representative of the State Chairman, BAN BC72), MR Ik Ezekwelu (State Publicity Officer), Mr Labi Molake (Chairman Balearic), Mr Bernard (former Chairman Balearic Frigate), Mr Olumide Abikoye (former Chairman Benija Frigate), Mr Kayode Issa and Da great photograph.
Members’ children and wards that attended the party were presented with packs filled with children’s play toys, assorted drinks and other items, alongside branded exercise books.
Wives of the Tortugarians, who were all dressed in beautiful attires with branded yellow hats, were also presented with gifts items, while members and other guests were given branded jotters.
One of the heights of the party was the presentation of gift items such as Electric Water Kettle won by Mrs Opara Benneth, Plate rack won by Mrs Animawun Samson, Big Frypan – won by Mrs Agunbiade Ismail, Pepper Grater won by Mrs Oreagba Rasheed, Pepper slice tray 1 won by Mrs Oladunni Odunayo, Pepper slice tray 2 won by Mrs Adeniji Femi, Toast machine won by Mr Pedro Oyin, Food flask won by Mr Francis Obiebi, Set of Spoons won by Mrs Sanni Aiyemo and Serving plate won another member, in the raffle draw.
The wife of the Tortuga Frigate Chairman, Mrs Monsurat Olaibo Pelumi and children, sponsored the raffle draw gifts.
Awards of excellence were presented to many chieftains and members of the Tortuga Frigate and other Frigates of the BAN-BC72 Alpha Galleon.
Among the awardees were Oluwaseun Oluwanisola Akeredolu (Chairman, Alpha Galleon), Ajibola George (Immediate Past Chairman Alpha Galleon), Abayomi Adekola (Immediate Past Chairman Tortuga Frigate), Emeahu Victor (Secretary Tortuga Frigate), Jide Akinlade (Publicity Officer Tortuga Frigate) and Ajayi Adedayo Jelili (Treasure National Headquarter).
The awardees also included Abass Afeez Olanrewaju (Chairman, Tortuga Education / SecuriTy Trust Fund Committee), Akinyemi Larry (Past Chairman, Tortuga Frigate), Adeyemi Adedayo (Former Chairman, Tortuga Frigate), Fateye Babajide (Secretary, Alpha Galleon), Odunayo Oladunni (Chairman, Tortuga Social / Publicity Committee), Agunbiade Ismail (Chairman, Tortuga Empowerment/ Employment Committee), Adio Tope (Chairman, Tortuga Disciplinary / ADR Committee), Adebanji Olugbenga (Chairman, Tortuga Sport/ Inter-Frigate Relationship Committee) and Shoneye Olugbenga among others.
Those that were presented with the awards for dedication were Adigun Richard, Akhazeta Julius, Apatira Ganiu, Ganiu Azeez, Odofin Adeyemi, Adeniji Adedamola, Adeniji Olufemi, Odukomaiya Olufemi, Hamza Kabir and Ajaiyi Olanrewaju among others.
One of the many highlights of the beach outing was the presentations of two awards to the Chairman of the Tortuga Frigate, Comrade Olalekan Pelumi, by the Council and the Beach party committee for his outstanding leadership for the group.
The Tortuga Frigate, under the Chairmanship of Comrade Olalekan ‘Rado’ Pelumi, in 2020 secured a store at Sabo market, Ikorodu, for the business interest of the association, organized sanitation exercise and presented environmental sanitation equipment to the Ayangbure (Sabo market) lnternational market from finances solely contributed by members.
Also during the turbulent year, the group presented food items, toiletries, clothing, livestock and land mower worth over half a million naira to an orphanage home in Ikorodu and distributed food items and livestock to the needy members and residents for the 2020 yuletide season.
Also in the year under review, the group gave financial assistance to members and others, especially during the COVID – 19 pandemic lockdown while special prayer was also organized for members of the frigate.
