Otunba Amid Adekunle Oduborisa is the current President of the prestigious Oriwu Club, Ikorodu. He is an environmental consultant. He worked with Chevron for 27 years before retiring meritoriously.
He is the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, WordsWorth Environ Limited (an Environmental Consulting Company) located at 1A, Ogunsiji Close, via Afolabi Aina Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos. He is also the General Manager of DV Howells Nigeria Limited; a subsidiary of BraemarHowells, U.K., for WACAF Countries.
Before establishing WordsWorth Environ Limited, he worked with Chevron Nigeria Limited for 27 years before retiring as manager- Environment/ Regulatory/ Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited.
Before his retirement from Chevron, he occupied various positions of responsibilities which included Manager, Environment and Regulatory Compliance in the Asset Department, Chevron Nigeria Mid- Africa Business Unit that comprises of Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, JDZ and San Tome and Principe, and he was a member of the Chevron World Wide Emergency and Oil Spill Response Team.
Otunba Oduborisha was nominated by former Governor of Lagos State (now the President – elect), His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a member of the Lekki Free Trade Zone Implementation Committee in 2005.
He was a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Clean Niger – Delta 1999-2001 and Co- Author of National Spill Contingency Plan, and was invited in 2004 as resource person by the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology.
The President of the Oriwu Club was a former President, Lagos State Chapter, Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), 2005; Fellow Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), 2002; Associate Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineer (SPE) since 1983; Fellow of the Nigerian Environmental Society(FNES), 2000; Member of the American management Association,1992; Member – A.I.M.E; Member of the American Association of the petroleum (AAP) and Member Who’s Who environmental register, California USA.
He has won many awards, and has also been honoured in Ikorodu, as well as at the state, national and international levels.
He spoke recently in his office with THE IMPACT newspaper’s team led by its Publisher/Reporter – in – Chief, Kunle Adelabu, on the impacts of Oriwu Club since inception, achievements under his leadership as President of the club, plans for the 50th anniversary of club and general developments of Ikorodu Division among other issues. Excerpts:
Note:
This interview was conducted in February, this year, but somehow, the transcript alongside others were deemed lost until a few days ago when our editor accidentally stumbled on the files.
THE IMPACT: Sir, let me congratulate you, and your administration on the successful completion of your first term and re – election for a second term as the President of Oriwu Club, Ikrodu. In a few months’ time, Oriwu Club will be 50 years old, kindly let us know the impacts and significance of this club?
Otunba Oduborisha: Oriwu Club is a unique club just like some other few clubs. It is unique in the sense that, if you go through our club’s constitution, you will read about the history of the club. It was in May 1973 that late Somi Jaiyesimi set in motion the process that led to the establishment of the prestigious club in Ikorodu. At that time, he just came back from the United Kingdom and he gathered a few friends who were also returning from the United Kingdom. At that time, their generation started the journey to the UK to study, so, the conglomerate of a few of them established the Ikorodu Club. It was a long procedure and process that were spearheaded by an individual by name – Somi Jaiyesinmi. He was the first Chairman of the club and the first President. His name is in gold, and for us to have renamed our Great Hall after him, shows that Oriwu Club, heavily appreciate the great work our first President put into this club. It’s a journey that started in 1973, and this year’s March 2023, the club will be marking its 50 years of existence, which will be celebrated, though, we haven’t concluded on the month of celebration but when we are ready, we will inform media like your organization, to be part of our success story.
THE IMPACT: Before your emergence as the club’s President, what has been the achievements of the Club and what made it a prestigious club?
Otunba Oduborisha: Oriwu Club is very unique. It brings professionals that the country needs together. The brains that our dear Nigeria needs are in this club like Odofin Tajudeen, who was a former Commissioner for Finance, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, former deputy Governor, Engr. (Chief) Kayode Shoderu who served in the LAWMA Board, our number one member, Bode Ogunleye, also served on a board. We also have past Permanent Secretaries in this club, such as the former Auditor General, Lagos State, who is presently the Chairman, LASU Governing Council, a former Senator and Federal Minister for Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe former Minister for National Planning, Professor Kunle Ade Wahab among others. These alone tell you the kind of personalities that are in this place called Oriwu Club. In those days, our parents used to strive that their sons should be a member of this club, because it is a pride of our parents to say my son is a member of the club, which alone shows the space we occupy in Ikorodu division and in Nigeria as a whole.
THE IMPACT: What are your achievements in your first term as the President of the club, and how have you been able to turn around the club within a short period of time?
Otunba Oduborisha: Before I go into that, I will like to take you back to 1973, when the story began till date. It is just like setting up blocks. It’s like footprints and no President has failed to put his footprint into the annals of history of this Club. Meaning that each administration built the little it can within one or two years. As for the time we came in, November 2021 to 2022, we designed a five-year plan, which is about ten different major projects. It was just a wish list, but we believe that in order to keep the legacies of the founding fathers of this club – the First Nine and later, Twenty – Three, that spare-head and committed to build a club of this magnitude, we know that we must be able to achieve the set targets. Every President and administration always makes their impacts. So, the Oduborisa administration cannot be any different, and our administration decided to keep the legacy going. Before we came in, we knew what we wanted to do, which was to upgrade this edifice. The edifice was completed around 1975 or thereabout. We decided on improving it to modernize our facilities (a long break…).
Some of the things this administration has done are little things that are unique things, which we achieved through creativity and ingenuity. We have a logo, which this administration decided to inscribe on the club’s flag, that alone tells you who we are. The first point of call for any guest is the President’s office. The first point of call after meeting with the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo – Olu, at the entrance when he visited December 11th last year was the office of the club President, where he signed the register. The visit was an ice on the cake for our first term. It is all about ideas, which this administration has in abundance, and whenever we present any idea to the general house, they always welcome it. It is a collective idea where everybody contributes. Everybody in the club today is much happier seeing their club and if you read our mid- year reports for last year, it will tell you about the road map and what we have done. This visit/interview is just for you to verify what we have on ground now. Our conference room can compete with any major organization. We are very pleased that our Grand patron, Mr Governor, was the one who opened the new Conference room that has been refurbished and expanded. He appreciated the quadrangle where he met all the members. We have facelifted the club’s edifice and infrastructures generally. One thing that I am happy about or fortunate to have are my colleagues in the executive. They realized that I have a lot of energy and ideas, so they have been giving me 100% support. Every one of them played significant roles in our first term, which is why I celebrated them. The celebration is the first time that a President of the club would demonstrate his appreciation to his Executive members. I cannot get a better excos than what I have. Do you want to talk about social activities? My Social Secretary is full of ingenuity, so also is my Publicity Secretary, Vice President who is the owner of the club. Even, when my Secretary went on vacation in Canada, the Assistant Secretary stepped in and did a very good job. I salute every member of my Executives. I also want to use this opportunity to appreciate our revered Life Patron, Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba (Engr.) Kabir Adewale Shotobi, who, from time to time, is always ready to help. He holds Oriwu club in high esteem. Also my past Presidents have been wonderful.
THE IMPACT: How far with the plan of the club to build a Dialysis Centre at the General Hospital, Ikorodu?
Otunba Oduborisha: Thank you, I think that this administration plans to execute two major Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR). Although, Oriwu Clan gives students that are indigenes scholarships every year. However, we have decided that we want to give the community something that will impact everyone in Ikorodu. That was why this administration conceived the idea of a Dialysis center and Bio-Diversity Park. But, fortunately for us, our generous brother and the Odofin of Ikorodu Kingdom, High Chief Adewunmi Olusanya SAN, decided to take over the Dialysis project. You know whatever he touches always turns into gold. So, we decided to leave it for him, and we are happy. He wants to build a complete ICU Department for the General Hospital. The bigger picture and goal which we have discussed with the Governor is that Ikorodu General Hospital and which is in tandem with that of the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Taiwo Hassan, is that the General Hospital be turned into a Teaching Hospital, and Mr Governor is also planning to have another big General Hospital in Ikorodu that will serve people in Ikorodu and outside our division. Since that has been taken by our brother, the next thing is to formally write Mr Governor, because we mentioned it in our presentation to him, that Agbala Health Centre, which is next door to us and an historical healthcare delivery centre in Ikorodu Division, is in a state that needs State government’s intervention, and we want it to be turned into a Children hospital. We have already recommended this to Mr Governor. This will make the General Hospital free from attending to children. This will make the General Hospital serves only the adults alone. The conceptual design is ongoing and we are working with the Permanent Secretary, Health Service Commission, Dr Benjamen Eniayewun. I have set up an ad-hoc committee to work on the design for the presentation to His Excellency.
Our CSR on the Bio – Diversity Park is still very dear to our minds as well as the Gymnasium to take care of our aged members, and we believe that Mr Governor will be supporting in honour of our 50th anniversary celebrations. We have equally invited him ahead of our ceremony.
THE IMPACT: Ikorodu has been said to be the third largest city in Southwest and 12th in Nigeria. What is the Club with giants, great personalities with state, national and international status, doing in terms of infrastructures and other things relative to the increase in population of the city? Also, as an Environmentalist of international standing, and as the President of the most prestigious club in Ikorodu, what do you think that Ikorodu should be doing with this status in order to sustain this status?
Otunba Oduborisha: You have asked me a pertinent question which is very significant and thoughtful. Do we have what it takes to be a mega town? We can ask ourselves this question. This present administration of Lagos State Government is trying with infrastructures, but we need to go into partnership with the state government and the Federal government and also support the Lagos State government, being the economic hub of the country, to fully realise and sustain the city status. Ikorodu needs a workable sewage system like what late Alhaji Jakunde did and have at least one in each division; a giant sewage system, giant waterways system, giant landfilled; sanitary landfilled to take care of our solid and hazardous wastes. Right now, we don’t have that. Most of the facilities that we have on waste issues are not really engineered. Ikorodu deserves to have an engineering landfill, a sewage system, and bigger inlet roads. The creation of LCDA in Lagos has really helped connect with the grassroots, but our LCDA are supposed to connect our roads to the main road. What Rep. Babajimi Benson is doing with road facilitation is very laudable and our council only need to build on that. If we are able to do that, Ikorodu as a whole will be a mini London. In addition, if the light train system can also get linked to Ikorodu, it will also help the transport system in Ikorodu. Here in Ikorodu, we have a lot of people leaving for the Island every day, I believe if the train system can be extended to Ikorodu, it will help a lot. All I just have to say about this is that the political leaders and the Oriwu club have a big role to play because we have the brains and manpower in this club who can develop a blueprint. Dr Bawallah of blessed memory is one of the architects of what we are seeing in terms of the road system today. I believe Ikorodu has a masterplan that connects to what is happening at the state level now, and all that we needed to do is for us to work with the state government in implementing this master plan, and this club has a leverage because Mr Governor is our Grand Patron and we can use that leverage for the benefit of our people.
THE IMPACT: Sir, Oriwu Club is synonymous with Ikorodu, and the people are interested in knowing how the club wants to celebrate its 50th anniversary, what are the programmes lined up for the celebrations?
Otunba Oduborisha: The Vice President is the chairman of the planning committee. I believe that the members of the committee are quite aware of the quantum of responsibilities that are bestowed on them; considering the expectations of State; the town itself and that of the club that they are serving, I am sure that they are not going to disappoint any of those sectors.
THE IMPACT: What should the club and the state be expecting from your second term, and where do you see Oriwu Club in the next 10 to 20 years?
Otunba Oduborisha: I see the Club growing continuously in the next 10 to 20 years to come. Strategically, the last two or three administrations have been attracting younger members, because we do not want our club to be like some others. We are getting old, and our income capacities are are equally becoming low, hence, the young ones that we are attracting as members will pick up the mantle. So far, this administration has taken members in their 50s and late 40s on board, who are professionals. Those are the members for the future and leaders of clubs in the future and that is what our founding fathers expected from us; that we should be able to look beyond the present, so that we will continue to have an evergreen club long after we have passed on. Our plans for the second term is to improve the internal infrastructures of the club which we are continuing with in this second term. As I speak, our Elders’ Room is under renovation and simultaneously, we will get to the members bar and thirdly, I am looking at our frontage and finally, the legacy project that we are going to embark on for our 50th anniversary is the Bio-Diversity Park and Gymnasium. Those are the five projects that are in my mind for this second term, and may God helps us and helps those who are willingly support us.
THE IMPACT: Your message to the members of the club, and the Ikorodu residents in general?
Otunba Oduborisha: The only message is that I am so fortunate and happy in the sense that our founding fathers appreciate the good work that this current administration has embarked upon. Sir Akinola Oyenusi came to share fellowship with us. So, you cannot ask for more from our past Presidents and leaders who had put in so much money and investment into building this club to the status it is now. That is why I believe so much in improvement, maybe it has to do with my professional calling. I like beautiful things. I like things to be in conformity with the global standard. I want to be able to measure Oriwu Club in line with the ISSO’s standard. That is my dream. I want to go into the club’s President office and see that it is in conformity with the expectations of the International Standard Organisation. Likewise, the club’s bar, conference room and gym and others. That is the dream and I know that we will get there. If you can’t release yourself for an audit against the international standard, you are not going anywhere. As at today, if an external comes to Oriwu Club, we will score nothing less than 50% with where we are today, and we will not stop improving. That is what we have been working on, and we are going to create a more conducive environment.
THE IMPACT: It’s been a great pleasure having you for this interesting interview, sir.
Otunba Oduborisa: You are welcome.
