Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo, Chairman, Ikorodu- Oga Development Association (IKODASS) addressing the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, eminent personalities and members of the Ikorodu business community at the second business breakfast with the Ayangbure last week. He was flanked by Mr Adekunle Bada, Publicity Secretary, IKODASS (right) and Hon. Azeez Jimoh Olosugbo, Chairman, 2022 Ikorodu – Oga Day Transport Committee.
The Chairman of the Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS), Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo, has stated that this year’s edition of the annual socio – cultural and economic carnival is promising and would be bigger than the past editions.
He said that the town is expecting more than 9000 guests that took part in the festival last year, stating that opportunities await businesses in Ikorodu to take advantage of.
Erogbogbo made these assurances while welcoming captains of industry, business managers, entrepreneurs and market men and women to the second edition of the ‘Ikorodu Community Business Breakfast with Ayangbure’, held at the Banquet Hall of the Ayangbure palace, Ikorodu, on Wednesday, October 12, 2022.
The annual business forum is being organized by IKODASS.
“Next month marks the biggest month in Ikorodu history. For the past 31 years, November has become synonymous with Ikorodu. This is so because it is in the month of November that we celebrate Oga Day Festival every year”, the lkodass Chairman said.
“This edition holds larger promises and opportunities as it is bigger and more inclusive. We are preparing to host well more than the 9000 people who visited the festival last year”.
Erogbogbo charged business owners to take advantage of the largest celebration in Ikorodu to promote and market their brands.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu (4th left), Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, Chairman Senate Committee on Industry represented by his Special Adviser, Mr Enitan Olukotun (middle), Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, the Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly (4th right), Sir (Otunba) Ayodele Elesho, Agbaakin of Ikorodu (3rd left), Alhaji Monzor Olowoshago, Publisher, Oriwu Sun Newspapwr (2nd left), a guest (left), Alhaji Lateef Afinni, Secretary to Ikorodu LG (3rd right), Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo, Chairman, Ikorodu Oga Development Association (IKODASS) (2nd right), Prof. Haastrup, keynote speaker (right) at the second Ikorodu business community breakfast with Ayangbure at the banquet hall of the Ayangbure palace, Ikorodu.
“As business people, you know more than anyone else, that once people gather, there is money to be made. Do not be left out. Stands for Ikorodu Market Expo which runs for the duration of the festival. Space is already on sale. Ditto, space in the festival’s brochure for adverts and congratulatory messages.
“I am sure you will want to congratulate Kabiyesi and the good people of Ikorodu on this auspicious celebration. Book for the number of Street Light flags you want for your brand as we are going to decorate all street lights with festival flags so that the entire city wears a celebratory look. Note that the cost for major streets and inner streets are not the same”, he added.
“The festival consists of several expressions that would further afford your brand deeper penetration into the Ikorodu market. This includes Walk for Fitness, Say No Drugs; Table Tennis Tournament; Market Expo; Woro; Music Concert; Hair and Fashion Show; Miss Ikorodu Beauty Pageant; Medical Mission; and so much more.
“Of course, there is also the Royal Banquet where you not only eat the best foods, but you eat in the company of Kabiyesi, his brother kings of Ijebu extraction in Lagos and the creme de la creme of society. For this particular event, you need to reserve tables for youself and your friends now. Each table is for 10 people.
Cross section of lawyes and members of the Ikorodu business community at the parley.
“For this year’s Oga Day Festival, we are running a strict first come, first served policy, to help us better execute the specific events”, he said.
Explaining the idea behind the business breakfast, Erogbogbo said thst it avails the business owners the opportunity of interacting with the community, discuss their challenges and finding solutions together.
“IKODASS set up this forum as a direct feedback mechanism for leadership of our community with a view to achieving better effective responsiveness particularly with regards to ease of doing business in Ikorodu” , he said.
“So, each time you are here, please, give us accurate feedback as per the challenges and obstacles hampering your business operation so that Ikorodu can serve you better. The ones we cannot handle shall be channeled to appropriate authorities for their attention. One thing you can be sure of is that we would take it up”, he assured them.
Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, the Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District and Chairman, Senate Committee on Industry, said that he has been using his legislative and representative interventions to advance the course of businesses in Lagos East.
The Senator was represented by his Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Mr Enitan Olukotun.
Participants
He said that the Ikorodu – Shagamu road rehabilitation which is now at the Gbara village, has improved greatly since the maiden edition of the forum where he promised that efforts would be intensified.
Abiru said that if the road he facilitated its financing through SUKUK Funding can be completely fixed, a lot of businesses along the corridor would be positively affected and improve people’s socio – economic existence.
Among other ways the Senator said that he has assisted the business community include: sponsoring the repeal and amendment of the Copyright Law and Franchise Regulatory Bill.
He said that the Senator Abiru Innovative Laboratory (SAIL), Lagos East Senatorial Fellowship Programme and institution of N300 Million Revolving Constituency Intervention Loan among others, are other ways the Senator has directly impacted on youths and businesses.
The Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade who chaired the interactive session with the business executives, said that his position that Ikorodu is big enough to stand on its own has been justified with the recent United Nation’s declaration of the town as the third largest in Southwest, Nigeria.
Scholars and others at the business parley.
He said that the security and other challenges are part of issues that usually confront a growing city like Ikorodu.
“Growing communities come with challenges and before you can solve a problem you must know the cause of that problem. Some years back, we have Nichemtex industry which employed thousands of youths in Ikorodu, but today, the reverse is the case”, he said.
“We also used to have Industrial Estate in Odogunyan employing our youths, but that also changed because of the economic downturn as companies there folded up and youths took to the streets because man must live and with this, different issues started.
“There was also the issue of Ajelogo which was demolished and this increased the population of Ikorodu with all shades of characters coming in the community”, he added.
The Lagos Majority Leader, who said that he co – sponsored anti – land grabbing law with late Sen. Gbenga Osinowo, said the law has been curbing insecurity in Ikorodu, while he also commended the royal fathers and the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited for their intervention in securing lives and properties.
He called for unity among elected representatives in Ikorodu and charged that they should rally round the palace to bring more developments.
In his royal remarks, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Engr.) Kabir Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, commended IKODASS Chairman for the initiative and laudable programmes that the association has been implementing under his leadership.
Cross section of participants
Oba Shotobi said a lot of efforts are ongoing to improve the socio – economic development of Ikorodu, and called on the government to intensify actions on ongoing projects and other proposed ones.
He also charged sons and daughters of Ikorodu to continue to partner the Ayangbure palace and IKODASS in bringing more developments.
The royal father singled out Odofin Adewunmi Ogunsanya, Chairman, MultiChoice Nigeria and Chairman, Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited/GTE, for his efforts and interventions in security, education and other areas to enhance the division’s development.
Also at the interactive session, business owners pleaded with residents of Ikorodu to always patronize their products and services instead of going outside, while also calling on the local government areas to stop killing taxes. More so, they called for a master plan for Ikorodu.
There was also a call for Ikorodu to be accorded a special status.
Sir (Otunba) Ayodele Elesho, the Agbaakin of Ikorodu, was appointed as the Chairman of a special committee that would monitor and see to the actualization of the resolutions at the forum.
