Kunle Adelabu
The I – Heroes (Ikorodu Heroes), a social and developmental organization, have received torrents of commendations for donating a water project to Mowo – Nla Primary School, Ikorodu.
The completed project was commissioned on Thursday, May 26, 2022, by the Executive Secretary, Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited/GTE (IDPIL/GTE), Otunba Ganiyu Olusegun Abiru.
According to Mr Seun Elesho, President, I – Heroes, the water is part of the body’s ‘Water A School Project’ within the Ikorodu Division.
He said that they chose the rural part of the community which is in need of development instead of concentrating everything at the centre, adding that it’s a way of mentoring pupils in the school and letting them know that they are loved.
“This is part of our contributions to the development of education and community at large. We want the pupils to know that they are loved and not abandoned because some people today are misbehaving because they felt that they are not loved”, Elesho said at the commissioning.
“Our aim is to start from primary school and give the little that we have so that when these pupils grow, they too will see the need to give back to their communities and also help in influencing positive things.
“This water project will also assist in providing hygiene for the students and the entire school.
“We chose this school because of lack of water in this environment. Most of our members are residents in Ikorodu township and we think that the gesture should be extended to the outskirt Ikorodu”, he said.
He thanked the school and entire Mowo – Nla community for accepting them to construct the project without any disturbance.
“We are happy that school and entire community accepted us and we also thank them that there was no disturbance all through the construction of the water project”, he said thankfully.
“Also, part of our initiative to mentor the pupils and let them know that they are loved is that today, we have equally invited an esteemed personality, Otunba Ganiyu Abiru who also loves community development, to commission the water project”, I – Heroes President added.
Baale of Mowo – Nla, Chief Sunday Ayodele Ogunsami speaking, thanked the group for the gesture towards his community.
He described the initiative as a lasting legacy.
“We thank you for caring for our pupils and community. This is a good gesture that will also encourage and motivate others to contribute to community development in their own way”, the Baale said.
“This is very commendable because you could have decided to use your money for social activity, instead, you decided to give back to the society and do a project that would benefit many people, especially our children and teachers that in this school.
“This is a lasting legacy that would be remembered forever”.
While thanking Rep Babajimi Benson for the facilitation of the block of classrooms for the school, he said that the community is in need of toilet facility and secondary school because their children are going to far distance in Agura and Gberigbe for their secondary education.
“We need quick intervention to have our secondary school here to prevent social vices that our children are engaging in because they attend school in far distance and that is why they engage in early sex and get unwanted pregnancy. We need them around us to focus on them”, Baale said.
Otunba Ganiyu Abiru, while commissioning the water project, congratulated the school and the community for the development, while commending l-Heroes for deeming it fit to give back to those in need.
“I congratulate the Baale and his Council for this laudable project. I also congratuolates I – Heroes President and his formidable team for this community service and good job that they are doing”, Otunba Abiru.
“I also congratulate the Head Teacher for attracting developments into the school during his own tenure.
“Where ever there is water, there is always life. We thank God that he made members of the I – Heroes to embark on laudable and impacting project like this because they can as well used their money to enjoy life the way they pleases, rather, they felt concerned and knowing fully well that government alone cannot handle everything without the support of residents especially those that are given privilege”, he said.
“This is a great initiative that touches my heart and through this, you have proven that you are good people. There are many other clubs in Ikorodu that cannot think of what to do for the community and the essence of social clubs is to contribute to the social, economic and political development of that community that they are operating within.
Otunba Abiru who is a retired Clerk, Lagos State House of Assembly/Permanent Secretary, also charged other social clubs and associations to emulate the initiative of I – Heroes and also contribute their own quota to the community.
“We must encourage other social clubs to emulate this good gesture by I – Heroes. This initiative of theirs will take away the stress in getting water to drink, clean and use in the toilet that they have been experiencing before now
“This is a gesture that members of the I – Heroes will reap its reward for life.
He also appealed to the community and benefitting school to ensure that the project is well maintained.
“I want to appeal to the Baale and the School Head Teacher to take ownership of the project. This is now owned by the community and don’t expect the donors to be ones to always come back to manage and maintain it. It’s you that will take care of it”, Otunba Abiru said.
He assured the school and community that he would ensure that he talks to people that would assist them in completing the toilet which they had laid its foundation.
Otunba Abiru prayed for pupils and charged them to make good use of the water project provided for the school.
The School Head Teacher, Mr Fapohunda, in his votes of thanks, thanked the group for the donation and promised that it will be properly managed.
At the commissioning were chieftains of Mowo – Nla community, executives and members of I – Heroes, teachers and students.
