Kunle Adelabu
-Community to host summit
Members of the Ijede Development Foundation (IDF ) has stated that the group received the sum of ten million (N10million) in the last six years for improvement of the quality of education and human capital development in Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria.
It was also revealed that over 129 students of Ijede were awarded bursary awards of N50, 000 each during the period under review.
At the ceremony in honour of the IDF’s sponsors, it was also agreed that there must be a summit for all Ijede sons and daughters to deliberate on the challenges confronting the town and proffer ways out for its development and greatness.
The Chairman, Ijede Development Foundation (IDF), Alhaji Fola Salu, revealed this while giving the IDF account of stewardship at the ceremony tagged, ‘Sponsor’s Day and Presentation of Activity Report For 2014 2019’, at the IDF Secretariat on Saturday, October 16, 2021.
“I welcome you all to this uncommon gathering which is exclusively put together to appreciate the moral and financial support received so far from the eminent personalities here present”, Alhaji Salu said.
“We have painstakingly documented the events of the IDF between February 2014 and October 2019. It is a summary of our programmes which include Public Lectures, Scholarship Awards and Quiz and Debate Competitions for the period under review.
“I am proud to inform you that the foreword of this brochure was written by an Octogenarian and the pioneer Chairman of IDF, Alhaji (Prince) Adegbola Amusa, a retired Principal and former Executive Secretary, Ikorodu LGEA.
“Our records indicate that in the last six years, IDF has pooled resources worth N10, 000, 000 (Ten million naira) to improve the quality of education and human capital development within the region, with over 120 undergraduates scholarship awards at N50, 000. 00 each and other programmes”, IDF Chairman told sponsors of the group.
While commending sponsors for their support in the last six years, the IDF Chairman also appealed for further financial support so as to be able to support more students in their academic pursuits.
He specially thanked Club 63 of Ijede which donated a property to the IDF which is being used as Secretariat and for library services.
“With your unflinching support we believe we can surpass the 2019 record of 35 beneficiaries and double the figure to 70. This became necessary as a result of the amazing number of applicants (which was over 120) during the last programme”, he pleaded.
“My speech will not be complete if I do not give a special remark and gratitude to the very uncommon donation from Club 63 in Ijede which donated the land and structure that they acquired and built with their hard earned money to IDF, as secretariat and for library services.
“The Club, no doubt, has indeed made history in Ijede as the first group of persons to bequeath its property for charity.
Alhaji Salu further appealed to sponsors and the general public to assist IDF in upgrading the donated landed property for the purpose it is meant to serve.
“The challenge before us now is to upgrade the asset through massive renovation and eventually make it functional as a library and also provide other educational services”, Alhaji Salu appealed again.
“I, hereby, urge our distinguished special guests of honour, sponsors and other well wishers of the society to support the ongoing renovation project of our secretariat and the Library Services Project” he appealed.
In his foreword to the report of the IDF, its pioneer Chairman and a retired Principal, Alhaji (Prince) Adegbola Amusa traced the beginning of the scholarship award that is now institutionalized in Ijede.
“There was a vacuum in the development of educational progress (in Ijede). This vacuum was, incidentally, filled when Dr. Nurudeen Ola Olambiwonnnu (one of our eminent indigenes), established a Scholarship Award Schene in honour and memory of his late parents” Prince Amusa recalled
“It was Yusuf and Adikat Olambiwonnu Memorial Scholarship Scheme. From 1998 onwards, the scheme offered scholarship awards to deserving undergraduates/indigenes. Dr Olambiwonnu also provided stationery materials and school uniforms to some identified indigent pupils in Anglican Primary School and AUI Primary School in Ijede.
“Also, he donated 100 sets of desks/benches worth N500, 000. 00 shared by both Luwasa Senior High School and Luwasa Junior High School, Ijede.
“By the year 2010, some indigenes felt strongly that there was need to accelerate the progress of education in Ijede. Aming those who approached me included Ahaji Lanre Kuye, Aliasau Matti, Late Lekan Tijani, Wasiu Agoro and B.A. Saminu among others.
“The groundwork of the eventual establishment of IDF started with meetings held at my No.3, Eluku Street, Ijede residence…” the pioneer IDF Chairman recalled.
Dr Ganiy Agbaje, one of the IDF’s major sponsors and Chairman of the occasion, commended members of IDF for what they have been able to achieve so far.
He appealed to donors/sponsors to do more in providing financial assistance to the IDF to allow the body to continue to execute its laudable educational programmes and also charged those yet to redeem their pledges to do so.
He called on the body to consider E-library in the project that they are working on and make the library environment conducive for studying.
High Chief Babatunde Ogunmuyiwa, the Odofin of Ijede, in his royal speech, also commended the body for sustaining its developmental efforts in Ijede.
“I commend the IDF for starting and sustaining their efforts in developing our community”, the traditional chief said.
He said that Ijede would soon crown a new King to bring back its lost glory while also appealing to aggrieved parties to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign.
“Ijede is going to crown a new King soon because a community without an Oba is like a community without a head and such will not witness any development.
“I appeal to those aggrieved to sheathe their swords in the interest of the community”.
While stating that the absent of an Oba is depriving Ijede so much, the Odofin reiterated that Ijede, as a community, has not been represented in most occasions where important issues are being discussed and allocations are being made because only traditional rulers are allowed in such gatherings.
“Our inability to have a new King is adversely affecting us in many ways. The other time that the Vice President came to Ikorodu, only the traditional rulers were allowed to have an audience with him.
“The same happened when the Governor and Senator came. We are only chiefs when there is an Oba on the stool, the sooner we have an Oba, the better for us in Ijede”, Odofin Ogunmuyiwa said.
He added that the Alajede – in – Council has perfected plans to host a summit to discuss the way forward concerning the social, economic and other challenges confronting the community.
Engr. Akeem, contributing during the interactive session, also commended the IDF for its developmental efforts, especially in the area of assisting students in their educational careers.
While stating that Ijede has enough human resources to develop the community, Engr. Akeem also called for a summit to address social, economic, traditional and political challenges facing Ijede.
“Ijede has the human and material resources to be great and compete with any other part of Ikorodu Division but there is no synergy at all. All the efforts that have been made are not properly managed”, he said.
“I will suggest that there should be a summit to address these challenges like it has been done elsewhere”, he suggested.
Other sponsors and guests at the ceremony also commended IDF and its members for the good job they are doing.
Present at the ceremony in honor of IDF’s sponsors were two outstanding beneficiaries of the bursary awards who gave impressive testimonies of the body’s support to the admiration of the guests.
Master Abdul – Quadri Agbabiaka, a First Class graduate of Animal Nutrition, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, thanked the IDF for the bursary award which he said helped him in his studies while in school.
“I benefited from the IDF bursary in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and I am grateful for the support”, he said.
“I pray that God should put me in a position where l will also be able to support the educational development of others in this community”.
Ms Salisu Karimot Adeola, a lawyer who also benefited from the IDF educational support in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, was also full of appreciation for the body.
“I am extremely grateful for the support and pray that I have the capacity to pay back what this community has done for me”, she said.
The event also witnessed impressive performances by Eyo masquerades and Bata cultural dancers to entertain the audience.
