Wale Jagum & Gabriel Eweje
-Honours Abirus, Ogunsanya, Sunmoni, Olowosago, Kasali, others.
The Liaison Group of Eminent Persons and Residents in Ikorodu Division (EPID) has presented the report of its activities at its General Assembly.
The presentation of the report which held at the Ikorodu Town Hall, on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, was commended by royal fathers and eminent persons in attendance.
The General Assembly also commended the activities of the Liaison Group, which is an arm of the Eminent Persons of Ikorodu Division (EPID).
The report of the Liaison Group, as presented by Chief Shoderu R.O, Chairman, Liaison Group, EPID, to traditional rulers, eminent personalities and stakeholders, covered launching of the liaison group, educational intervention, intervention for promotion of indigenes in public, preservation of history of various communities and celebration of indigenes appointed and elected into positions.
“The Liaison Group made series of efforts to ensure that the Ikorodu Division indigenes were enlisted into the training and skills acquisition programme of the Federal Government. The group visited training centre – Government Technical College, Ikorodu, and obtained forms for the interested individuals and created public awareness about the programme for the benefits of the youths”, he said.
“In addition, the Small and Medium Scale Development Agency (SMEDAN), situated along Ibeshe Road in Ikorodu Division, was visited to assess the status of the agency and its relevance to the Division in order to create awareness about its programme.
Speaking on the group’s effort in ensuring that Ikorodu indigenes are not shortchanged in the civil service, Chief Shoderu said.
“In order to ensure that the Division was not shortchanged, the Liaison Group compiled the list of indigenes in the Civil Service that are qualified for the posts of School Principal, Vice Principal, Head Teacher, Assistant Head Teacher, Permanent Secretary and Director to monitor the appointments into Lagos State establishment for the Division to have its fair share.
“As part of the efforts of the Group to associate, recognise and celebrate its own, the Group hosted the elected and appointed representatives from the Lagos East Senatorial District in a grand style reception”, the Liaison Chairman said.
Emeritus Prof. Sikiru Adebayo Sanni, Chairman, Eminent Personalities of Ikorodu Division (EPID), in his address, congratulated the Liaison Group of Eminent Persons & Residents of Ikorodu Division, which is an arm of EPID, for its achievements over the years.
“I want to take this opportunity to honour and congratulate the Liaison Group, particularly, its Chairman for an excellent job.
“The report is very comprehensive and affects most of the important issues on development of the division. This is what is expected of the Liaison Group, because of its assigned roles which is to serve as a think-tank.
“They have been able to achieve all these by harnessing all resources available, particularly, human resources in the division for development. From the report, the Liaison Group appreciated that development is people – oriented.
“It is the people that must be developed first and people in turn will develop the Division”.
Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, the Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District, commended the Eminent Persons of Ikorodu Division (EPID) for its impact and activities contained in its report.
He was represented by Otunba (Dr) Saheed Ibikunle, Permanent Member, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB) and Special Adviser to the Senator on Constituency Matters.
Ibikunle said that what the EPID is doing are in tandem with Sen. Abiru’s agenda.
He said that the Senator is set out to ensure greater good for larger number of people in Lagos East Senatorial District.
Dr Ibikunle said that the Senator will like to partner with EPID and other developmental groups in Ikorodu and within the District in achieving his plans for greater good.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Ajibade Agoro, Ranodu of Imota, also speaking, said that:
“I want to commend specially, the efforts of Engr. (Chief) Shoderu whom I have nicknamed as the bridge builder. He has been serving in that capacity building bridges between the Ikorodu township and other towns in the division.
“He had been to me in Imota for rapport about the division and I want to thank him.
“The establishment of Eminent Persons of Ikorodu Division (EPID) is as a result of the unwavering and tireless commitment of its leadership and that is why we are here today. We were just informed about the event about three days ago and we are here today.
“This is the type of gathering that can bring us together in Ikorodu Division to harness all the resources for the greater good”.
“The formation of the Oriwu College in Ikorodu, spearheaded by late TOS Benson and former Adeboruwa of Igbogbo made Ikorodu and Igbogbo to be ahead of the other parts of the division in term of education”.
He said that products of the premier college in Ikorodu Division have been leading in the development of the division which made the then Military Governor of Lagos State, Col. Mobolaji Johnson, in 1967, to comment that graduate in Ikorodu township alone are enough to run Lagos State.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, speaking at the event, called for the usage of Yoruba language at important functions like this “as a way of promoting our culture”.
He commended EPID leaders and charged them not to relent but continue to support and seek more developments in Ikorodu.
Oba Kasali, while commending the siting of Rice Mill and other industries in the Division, stated that the establishments will create employment, adding that other moribund industries in the division should be looked into to help in the future development of Ikorodu Division.
Also speaking, His Royal Majesty, Oba Bashir Sotonwa, Sekumade of Ipakodo, said that:
“I really appreciate the efforts of some of our eminent personalities in Ikorodu Division like Sir Engr) Shoderu, Prof. Kunle Ade Wahab and others. On behalf of the entire Ikorodu Division, we are grateful for inaugurating EPID.
“We have gone through the report and it is very impressive. You have done your job very well and that shows that you are committed to the development of Ikorodu Division.
“At the General Assembly, EPID presented awards of recognition to various elected and political appointees from Ikorodu Division among who were Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, Senator representing the Lagos East, Sir (Chief) David Sunmoni, Pro – Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, LASU, Mr Kamal Olowosago, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportstion, Mr Waheed Kasali, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Special Adviser on Education, Mr Adebayo Odusanya, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Public Service.
Others were Hon. Justice Habeeb Adewale Abiru, Justice of the Court of Appeal (JCA), Hon. Justice Adebayo Oyebanji (nee Benson), Hon. Justice Olubunmi Fadipe, Hon. Justice Wasiu Animasahun, Hon. Justice Yaqub Gbadebo Oshoala and Hon. Justice Lekan Ijelu among others in the judiciary.
In the business category were High Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya, SAN, Mr Abiodun Balogun, FCA, Alhaji (Chief) Olabanji Oreagba and Alhaja (Mrs) Modupe Sanni.
Also recognised for their appointments were Dr (Otunba) Saheed Oladapo Ibikunle and Dr Abiodun Fatai – Abatan, while Hon. Wasiu Agoro, Chairman, Imota LCDA, Hon. Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju, Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, Hon. Moyosore Ogunlewe, Chairman, Kosofe LG and Hon. Wasiu Adeshina, Chairman, Ikorodu LG other Council chairmen were also honoured.
