Kunle Adelabu
The Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS) has held its maiden retreat to review the activities of the body and project for the future.
The one – day retreat, which was held at the Rhoda Youth Centre, Solomade, Ikorodu, on Saturday, February 19, 2022, was attended by the 26 executive members of the association.
Barr. Saheed Osuolale Kolawole Shillings, a founding member of the association and guest speaker, spoke on the theme, “IKODASS Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”.
IKODASS Chairman, Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo, speaking at the opening of the retreat, said that the retreat was initiated to review the activities of the association and plan for the future.
“We are here to review our activities; look at our challenges; achievements and plan for 2022 Ikorodu – Oga Day and future of the association”, he said.
“It is about knowing more about IKODASS and duties and responsibilities of the officers.
“It is also about planning for this year’s Oga Day Celebration and ensuring that everyone gets involved. It is about sharing ideas and finding solutions together”.
He added that the gathering was also about reconciliation and moving forward.
“It is about reconciliation among ourselves because it is better for us to stay together and discuss our challenges than going outside to fight against the association”, he said.
“It is about the need to know and move IKODASS forward”.
Barr. Shillings, in his lecture, recalled the founding of IKODASS and his activities with others.
He said that many of his ideas as the General Secretary were opposed because he defeated the candidate of some people that constituted themselves as power brokers.
He added that the present IKODASS office was part of the achievements recorded by IKODASS administration he served due to his insistence.
Looking at the body today, the guest speaker said that the association is yet to build its image to a level that should have made it an attractive brand.
He charged that the body needs to raise funds outside Ikorodu if it is to execute its large activities and sustains them.
“Looking at IKODASS today, it is an association that is very big but little in image.
“Here is an organization that is very big as the umbrella body of all clubs and societies in Ikorodu with large activities but there is no way that you could raise necessary funds within Ikorodu.
“There is a need to do something about sustaining the organization. There is need to awake the consciousness of our young people to come together and form clubs and societies.
”There is need to mobilise existing clubs and societies for full participation and engagements.
“We also have to get the state government to be more involved in the activities of IKODASS because its activities are many and they are assisting the government in promoting peace”, Shillings said.
“It’s just about the methodology. We need to look for people that can approach the Governor, Assembly personally and officially”.
He also called for a befitting office for IKODASS within and outside the Ikorodu town hall and this according to him, must be in the centre of the town.
“IKODASS needs to have a befitting Secretariat. The present one is not good at all. If it’s going to be within the town hall, it must be at another location and should not be hidden and if we are to have it outside the town hall, it must be in the centre of the town”, he said.
Shillings also charged that IKODASS need to streamline its functions or phase them quarterly.
He commended the IKODASS Chairman for initiating new programmes like Chess Championship, Youth Championship and Retreat among others.
At the retreat, executives of the socio – cultural and developmental organization agreed on the following:
-that the constitution of the association needs to be reviewed
-that the programmes of the association needs to be reviewed
-that both the local governments and residents should be encouraged to get more involved in the activities of the association.
-that both the executives and members of the association should be more alive to their duties and responsibilities among others
Many of the executive members that spoke applauded the initiative of the retreat which they described as great leap forward.
