Lion Temitayo Ogunsanya, is the Chairman Lagos State Public Service Club, Ikorodu annex. He took over the leadership of the club on August 26th 2022, after a successful election. He is currently running the affairs of the facility with five other executive members – the General Secretary, Financial Secretary, Sport Secretary and the Social Secretary.
He joined the club over ten years ago, and since then, he had served as the Financial Secretary of the Fitness Section in 2017, for about four years. He later became the Financial Secretary of the club in 2018 and now, he’s the chairman.
Since his emergence, the young and socialite civil servant and chieftain of the Lions Club, Ikorodu, has turnaround the club’s facilities and environment and made them more attractive, engaging and the environment more conducive.
In this interview with THE IMPACT crew, led by its Publisher/Reporter – in Chief, Kunle Adelabu, Ogunsanya spoke on the formation of the Civil Service in the state, its annexes, rehabilitations, facilities/activities in Ikorodu and challenges among others. Excerpts:
About Civil Service Club/Rehabilitation:
“Lagos State Public Service Club was created in 1979. The purpose for the creation is for the staff’s relaxation after work and interactions amongst the members. We don’t discriminate here in terms of status or class, if you’re a Director, Permanent Secretary or occupying any position of authority, you drop that status at the gate before you come in here, but we are respectful and courteous. This place is just like the Officers’ Mess. It is a place where we come together and mingle; talk business and make friends. It was a fantastic idea from the former Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande. In all the three annexes – Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry, we have the same structure in terms of administration. It is what we have here that you will find in other places in Lagos. The mother club is in Ikeja”.
Membership:
“There are two categories of membership in the Lagos State Civil Service Club – Full and Associate Membership. Full members are workers/staff with the Lagos State Government, while the Associates are those members who don’t work for the Lagos State Government, but are willing and interested in being part of us and make use of our facilities. It is an opportunity and gesture that we extend to those that are not in service of the state. So, we all join to make the club a better place and also extend the opportunity to those who are not working in Lagos, to also join the club”.
Rehabilitation/Upgrade
“The rehabilitation of the Lagos State Public Service Club started four years ago, under the leadership of Mr. Olufemi Ajenifuja, the State President. He is a sociable person, and an Epe indigene who looks outward and inward to give the club a new face. He started the rehabilitation of all annexes of all public service clubs in Lagos State. He told us that his aims are to make the club a conducive place and world class standard for Lagos State workers. A place where staff can come after work, and truly relax and enjoy themselves.
“He started with the construction of the main hall here, which was really dilapidated then. The hall was used by the colonial people then, before it was taken over. He transformed the place to a world class Standard. In Ikorodu. We have the VIP section, the main hall for meetings and we have the fitness section, where we keep fitness equipment for members to come and engage in exercises, because health is wealth”.
Ogunsanya’s Emergence & Impacts:
“Since about eight years ago, when I joined the executives, the club’s sustenance has been basically on membership commitment and zeal to make changes and keep it going. The restructuring here started from the person I took over from as Chairman, that is Mr Olawunmi Oluyibo, and it was at the same time that Mr Ajenifuja was the State President. I was the Financial Secretary then. After the tenure, the leadership of the club and members considered me to be in good stead to continue the transformation and sustain the developments that were evolving at the club. That was why I was voted in and we have been at the saddle for some months now and we have been improving the facility.
“In trying to keep the club active, engaging and in the business of satisfying and fulfilling for our members who come around to relax and enjoy themselves, when we took over, we bought some fans and freezers. We actually bought a lot of things in our Ikorodu annex.
“Although, the state government provided us with many things, but for us to work at our standard and our level of development, we need some other things that we need to provide and those are the things we needed within certain timeframe, and as you know that it is never an easy thing to get anything from the government. You will have to write letters and at the end, the budget might not even accommodate it.
“When we came in, we started with the rehabilitation of our huts. We replaced and purchased some televisions to make sure that all our customers and members are able to enjoy themselves. We also upgraded our subscription on DSTV, because when I was the Financial Secretary, customers and members always complained that we didn’t give them the full package which included sports. Immediately I came in, we changed the package to the premium level and we have an extra view where you can easily watch what you want to watch.
“I can tell you that in all the huts that governments did for us, we have a television each in them and in the VIP we have two TVs. We also have two TVs in the gym, likewise in the hall and bar. That is what we call transformation”.
Support By Gov Sanwo – Olu’s Administration:
“I have to say this, the regime of Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu has been amazing. The Governor is actually the one that transformed all our annexes and our mother club. We have been having governors in the state, but in his own regime, he told the Head of Service that he wants a world class standard for all members; a world class relaxation center where you can come and relax when you are coming back from work. And then, if you want to go to the gym, you go to the fitness section and if you want to play light games; you go to the VIP. He transformed everything. You will not believe it if I give you the whole pictures of this place before now, but all the credit goes to Mr. Governor, because he made sure that we have a good looking place so that people will really respect us, unlike before when we had leaking roofs, lack of freezer or fridge to make our drinks chillith. We didn’t even have a single air conditioner then and our floors were very bad. So, you understand where we are coming from. The Governor transformed everything and that is what you are seeing today”.
Activities/Services At Civil Service Club, Ikorodu:
“Presently, in the Ikorodu annex, we offer food and drinks to our members and members of the public at affordable rates. We offer fish barbeque, Asun, Catfish Pepper Soup, Assorted Pepper Soup, Ofada Rice, Beans and so on. If you come here, you are 100 percent assured of getting something to eat and be satisfied.
“For our activities, we usually participate in all the public holidays in Nigeria, like Easter, Ileya, Independence Day and Valentine. We normally bring DJs and bands to play on those days, so that we can enjoy ourselves together as family.
“Also, we always bring musicians every weekend so that our members can enjoy themselves to the fullest, but we discourage such from Monday to Thursday, because we don’t want to disturb people around us and are also conscious of the fact that our members are going to work. And when we play music, we make sure we conform with the Lagos State Environmental Regulations on noise pollution. We have to do this because this place is for the state government, and we must be seen to be following the rules”.
Corporate Social Responsibilities Of The Club:
“I engaged the Gold Circle Condom on the need to come around to talk to our people and customers on the risk of having sex without protection and they did come to sensitize and educate them. This was part of our responsibilities to our people, because there is every tendency that if one drinks beer, that can cause some people to engage in some sexual activities and it is important that they protect themselves. This does not mean that we are promoting such an act, but it is important that we encourage protection just in case. They not only enlightened people on HIV/AIDS and how to protect themselves, but also shared condoms. People were also sensitized on the need to donate blood. It is very good to donate blood.
“In addition, we are looking at inviting people from the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), to come and educate members and our customers here. They are coming around to educate them on drinking and driving, because you have to be very careful while driving and to follow the rules and regulations”.
Challenges:
“The challenges are global and national. What we are experiencing at the moment are things that are affecting everyone and businesses generally in the country. It is an economic thing. We have problems with light, fuel, diesel and lack of cash, which is giving us a lot of stress. The last time that we did our budget was in 2022, we estimated diesel will be N350, unfortunately, the price skyrocketed to N800 plus, which is affecting us so much to the extent that we don’t really make use of the big generator given to us by His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu”.
Future Plans For the Club:
“The future plan is to make this place more conducive place. We are working closely to make this place a better place and we have written a letter to our mother club on this, while Lagos State Ministry of Works are coming soon to rehabilitate our car park. We are also trying to do some art works around the club environment to showcase the tradition and the culture of Lagos State. The most important thing is our membership and customers’ satisfaction and we are not relenting on improving this place so that they can always come in and get quality services”.
Words for Members & Public Using the Club:
“I would like to inform the public that Lagos State Public Service Club in Ikorodu and other annexes are the safest place for you to come at any time, gather, have fun, merry, discuss business and relax yourself, because we have a very conducive and secure environment. The environment is very healthy and okay for all.
We want to encourage members of the public and workers of Lagos State, to join the club for maximum enjoyment and satisfaction with facilities provided for us by the State government”.
