Kunle Adelabu
-Council names sections after Basorun, late Oba Fatola, four others.
Two months after the visitation of the of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, to Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu Division, Southwest, Nigeria, to commission four projects, one of which was the ultra – modern council secretariat, the First Lady, Dr (Mrs) lbijoke Sanwo – Olu, has also visited the same council to commission another project.
Dr Sanwo – Olu, on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, commissioned the Adeboruwa Ultra-modern Market and Motor Park, a project initiated by the Builder Sesan Daini’s administration and constructed through Public Private Partnership initiative.
The ultra – modern market, called Kaniyi Owode market and established in 1978 by the former Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, comprises of 200 shops, 160 k-clamps, public toilets, standard car park, space for fire station and other state-of-the-art facilities.
Meanwhile, Dr Sanwo – Olu, who was accompanied to the commissioning by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Oluremi Hamzat, Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr Wale Ahmed, among several others, thanked the founders of the market for the initiative and the Council Chairman for the redevelopment.
She also thanked them for creating an avenue for addressing youth employment.
“We just have to be in Igbogbo/Bayeku CDA, a beautiful place. Thank you very much Comrade Daini.
“I am delighted to join the good people of Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Development Area as we formally unveil this imposing edifice which will go a long way in improving the socio – economic development of this council”, she said.
“I commend the Chairman of the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Comrade Sesan Daini, and his team for the successful transformation of the popularly Adeboruwa market in Igbogbo.
“I have been informed that the market has been transformed to comprise of 200 Shops and 160 k-clamps with other modern facilities such as standard car park, modern toilet among other things”.
She stated that the market would add positively to the social and economic development of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA.
“With the completion of this project and its official commissioning today, it is expected that it will greatly facilitate economic activities and makes life easier and better for the people of this axis, especially by creating for them an enabling environment to make income.
“The leadership of this council has done commendable work for women and men who will further make income to make life comfortable for them and their families”.
Dr Sanwo – Olu charged residents of the council to take ownership of the market and safeguard it.
“It is important to charge stakeholders and members of the immediate community to take ownership of this market and ensure it is well administered in line with the international best standard”, she said.
“Make sure that you guide your market jealously and make sure that you don’t allow intruders to destroy your market because this market belongs to you”.
She warned marketers against converting their shops to living quarters and ensuring that it is at all times clean.
The Chairman of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Builder Sesan Daini, in his address, said that he decided to improve on what his administration met on ground on resumption in office, especially in terms of infrastructural development.
One of such redeveloped projects is the Kaniyi Owode market which was reconstructed through a Public Private Partnership.
“When we came into office on July 25th, 2017, we met beautiful foundations and we are prudent enough to evaluate, analyze, modernize and improve them for realizations of our campaign promises and development of our communities”, Daini said.
“One of the beautiful foundations we met when we came into office was Kaniyi Owode Market.
“The market was an old style of market with old structures but we do know that if we must develop our commerce, we must provide facilities that conforms with the dictates of this generation’s enterprise.
“Our motivation is our desire for the world class and commitment to the THEMES agenda of the Lagos State Government.
“In a bid to achieve the modern standard market structure, we went into PPP arrangement with Marlet Investment Ltd. We built this market in parity with the few ultramodern markets in Lagos State”, he said.
The Chairman said that each of the sections in the market are named after former traditional ruler of Igbogbo and others that played great roles in the development and sustenance of the market, with only Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun being the only one that is still living among them.
He also announced that processes of redeveloping two other markets in other parts of the council have started.
”This Market, which is sub-sectioned to meet the global standard where each section will be departmentalized according to the commodities that will be sold in them, actually comprises 200 shops, 160 k-clamps, public toilets, standard car park, space for fire station and other state-of-the-art facilities.
“This market is one of the 414 registered markets in Lagos State and we are committed to making all our markets of this standard across the Council; we have started the process of Elepe and Ibeshe Markets reconstruction because our people deserve the best and we are unswerving at giving the very best.
“In the same stance, we will use this project to appreciate some of our heroes that have played significant roles in laying the foundation of the first market in this town and making this market project a reality from the inception”, he said.
“The blocks in the market will be named after them as follow: HRM Oba Festus Omolaja Ogunlewe, Chief Emmanuel Omotayo Dankuwo, the Community Development Committee Chairman when market was established, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, Secretary CDC 1973, and Secretary, Market Men and Women Association 1978, the founding year to 1996, Late Chief Joseph Ogunyemi, First Babaloja and Late Chief (Mrs.) Sikirat Obayomi, the First Ijaloja of Igbogbo”.
He charged and called for support and cooperation from residents for the council and also urged the community to work together in unity.
Daini also assured the governor of Lagos State that his administration at the council level will assist the state in achieving its cardinal objectives by focusing on infrastructural development.
“My people, our tomorrow is beautiful. I believe we can seize this future together because we are not as divided as politics may dictate. We are not cynical. We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions, and we remain more than a collection of individuals. We are and forever will be a people of IBLCDA.
“Ma, I have assured Mr. Governor that we will continue to intensify our efforts towards the realization of our administration’s cardinal goals anchored on infrastructure development, improved healthcare system, youth/women empowerment and human capacity development and we are at it without any sense of ado”, he said.
The Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, in his royal remarks, thanked the First Lady and her team for coming to Igbogbo to commission the project.
A chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, in his own remarks, said that the day was a special day for him for being the only one alive among the six honoured.
“Today is another special day in my life. We are six that were counted for honour but I am the only one here alive.
“We started cutting bush (site of the market) in March 1978 and we started working on it. Today, my joy knows no bound”, the elder statesman said.
“Today, my joy knows no bounds. The small thing that was planted that time has germinated into this. We must celebrate Oba Ogunlewe for this and fortunately, his last son is here with us, Mr Segun Ogunlewe, the former Head of Service”.
While recalling the role played by Oba Ogunlewe in the establishment of the market, he narrated how the late Oba supported the development of the market and charged that he must always be celebrated.
