Kunle Adelabu
Many young Ikorodu youths on Wednesday, learnt for the first time how the old Ikorodu garage at the popular Ita – Elewa was transformed into a recreational facility that is serving them.
The Asipa of Ikorodu Kingdom and Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Local Organising Committee (LOC), Asipa Kaoli Olusanya told the youths, many of whom were only aware that the location of the Mini – Stadium and Ikorodu Youth Center, used be a garage, but did not know how it transformed, stating that he was responsible for the changing face of the centre.
The former Commissioner for Education, Asipa Kaoli revealed the Declaration of Ikorodu Division Youth Leaders for the Progressives with the theme, ‘Delivering your polling units strategically’, which held at the Ikorodu Youth Centre, Ita – Elewa, Ikorodu.
He was the keynote speaker at the programme convened by Comrade Olalekan Biliamin Oba, the Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Lagos State Chapter under the auspices of his political movement, ‘Lagos Democrats’. Mr Eniola ‘Wake – Up’ Adeyemi, a former aspirant for the Ikorodu Constituency I Assembly seat, was the host.
At the parley were leaders of various groups in Ikorodu Division, with Rep. Babajimi Benson, Member, House of Representatives, Builder Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and Hon. Motunrayo Alogba – Gbadebo, Chairman, Ijede LCDA, as guests.
“At that time, I felt that this Ita-Elewa should not be a motor park. I was the Community Development Director of Rotary Club in Ikorodu, and I changed this place to be a recreational center”, he revealed.
“We wrote a letter to the Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, Dr. Awolesi, that this place cannot be a motor pack anymore with ‘9/11; (name for the local mass transit buses in Lagos then), ‘Bole kaja’ (name for locally made truck which conveyed people and goods from semi – urban to rural areas then), coming to the center is becoming unsafe for children, so, we wrote a letter and we got the approval and that is progressive action”, he explained.
While commending the youth for the initative, Asipa Kaoli charged the Ikorodu youths to develop themselves intellectually if they want to be relevant in community development.
“This is the type of forum that the Progressives will want to follow – the discussion of ideas. I will inform you that if you want to build the nation, you should build it intellectually because if you want to contribute to this nation, it about what you can bring to the table”, he said.
“I started contesting as a Councillor in ward D with my master’s degree. I had a master’s degree and a job then, but I decided that I wanted to serve in the government because this is my town and my state and I am qualified. Then, I resigned and I contested with my master’s degree.
“It is nice to say build the youths; build the nation, but when you want to build the youths, you will invest in the development of the intellect; you will develop intellectually.
“This is my first time that I am coming around Ikorodu, where I see that you are discussing ideas and it is this idea that can develop us and this community.
“Nobody will change our environment for us unless you do it. Either you travel out or not, you will still come back. You better stay here and apply what you have to change the environment because God has given us all we need and what we need is to create ideas”, Asipa Kaoli charged Ikorodu youths.
