Kunle Adelabu
-Erogbogbo unveils 2nd term agenda
The new executive council of the Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS), under the leadership of Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo, has declared that the focus of the administration in the next two years shall be development of Ikorodu.
Erogbogbo, who said that Ikorodu played a major role in the emergence of the next administrations in the country and the state, charged the Lagos State Government on the need to ensure that the Division gets what commensurate her contributions in terms of appointments and projects.
The IKODASS Chairman, who spoke on the agenda of the umbrella body, themed, a ‘New Dawn’, at the inauguration at the Arch. Olutusen Onafowokan Hall of the Ikorodu Ultra – Modern Town Hall, Ikorodu, on Sunday, April 31, 2023, also set education, skill acquisition, building of students’ hostel and continuation of changing the narratives through literary engagements, as core of the association’s agenda.
“Today marks a new dawn; a new dawn in the affairs of IKODASS. A new dawn in Ikorodu. Dawn is a new beginning. A new beginning is a fresh opportunity to go forth. And like the erudite scholar, Prof. Wole Soyinka said, you must set forth at dawn. This is our dawn to set forth”, Erogbogbo said.
“As we set out on the journey of the next two years, our focus shall strictly be, Ikorodu first. We are a city determined to fulfill our destiny. Just per adventure you have forgotten, may I remind you that Ikorodu is home to the only natural sea port in Lagos; home to five dry ports; it is the delight of real estate developers as you do not have to turn water to land in order to build; Ikorodu is home to two universities; home to the most comprehensively equipped community security outfit; has a lower cost of living; it is only thirty minutes by ferry to Lagos Central Business District and eight minutes to Ajah; Ikorodu Ladega market is home to all reputable brands; no other open market beats the price at our markets.
“Do you realise that if there is any job to be done, no matter how skilled or complex, an Ikorodu indigene can do it? Excellent human resources abound in our city.
“That is why education will still remain a critical area of focus for us going forward. We shall continue the IKODASS Scholarships Scheme which has granted 5.5m naira worth of scholarships to 55 deserving students in various higher institutions of learning across the country over the past two years”, he said while recalling the achievements of the association in the last two years.
“This is apart from payment for forms, registration and preparation of candidates for GCE and JAMB. We will continue to build strategic partnerships with willing individuals and organisations for funding to sustain the scheme by providing professional and transparent administration of the process.
“The building of IKODASS Hostel on our land adjacent to the Lagos State University of Science and Technology, to service the students of the institution, is to commence pronto.
“In the same vein, it is the intention of this administration to situate a One-Stop Certification Hub to service our SMSEs within the Civic Centre Building in Kasolori. This hub will house NAFDAC, SON, SMEDAN and all requisite agencies of government, thereby, greatly accelerating the process of registration and certification for SMSEs”.
Erogbogbo also revealed that IKODASS will be hosting Youth and Women Conferences to address certain challenges and proffer ways forward, while also reiterating that IKODASS will publish and stage the drama that won its literary competition last year.
“In direct response to our youths, we shall be hosting the Ikorodu World Youth Conference to curate their opinions. In this dawn of our nation, the young people must not be ignored. We shall equally host the Ikorodu World Women Conference”, the IKODASS Chairman said.
“In pushing the Ikorodu narrative further globally, Owanbe, the winning play from our play writing competition last year, shall be published and performed around theatres”.
He assured that the annual Ikorodu – Oga Day Carnival this year will be a memorable one.
“Ikorodu Oga Festival shall be like no other. Mark your calendars. November 11th – 18th are the dates. Start now. Clubs, societies, unions and associations should work on their flags as this year’s festival shall feature a spectacular colour party among other things. Don’t be left out”, he said.
While stating that the performance of the Division in the last General Elections was commendable, the IKODASS also charged the Lagos State Government to ensure that Ikorodu is well compensated for appointments and projects.
He charged the government to ensure that the aspiration of young residents that contributed greatly to the electoral victory of the ruling party should not be ignored.
“From the recently concluded round of federal and state elections organised by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), one thing is clear; Ikorodu delivered the numbers commensurating with her status as the second largest city in Lagos State. The critical question is, has Lagos State delivered commensurately to Ikorodu? Will the state deliver commensurately to Ikorodu? Will the APC deliver commensurately to Ikorodu?”, he asked.
“These are questions we must pay critical attention to because they are questions our young people are asking as their brothers and sisters across the divide continue to reach out to them, lobbying them and persuading them.
“In this phase of our evolution, any leadership that ignores the young people is a leadership that is totally out of sync with the times. Even our last internal elections as an association, lays credence to this. The strong showing of our young people is a wake – up call for all and sundry to sit up, because it is indeed a new dawn in our lives as a people.
“We, yet again, appeal to the government of the state to identify with IKODASS. Ikorodu is more than the sum of its parts. IKODASS, the umbrella body of over two hundred and fifty clubs, associations, unions and societies committed to the development of Ikorodu, is more than the sum of its parts.
“Our young people are asking questions that transcend divide rule. They are asking questions that transcend personal interests. Our young people are asking questions that prioritise Ikorodu interest over clannish interests. To reduce Ikorodu and IKODASS to the sum of its parts, is to ignore the voice of our teeming young people”, he said.
Sen. (Otunba) Dr. Adeseye Ogunlewe, Chairman, Ikorodu Division Resources Development Group (IDRDG), who chaired the occasion, congratulating the new executives, charged them to partner with the Group in ensuring the development of education in Ikorodu Division.
“We (IDRDG) have a lot of work to do together with IKODASS, particularly in the field of education. The IDRDG and IKODASS will sit down to work together. Why we must work together is that this hall belongs to the Ikorodu Division, and people pay to use the town hall. It is from that money that we must use to train our children free”, Sen. Ogunlewe said.
“We must not allow them to go astray because if we allow them to go untrained, our children will not be able to reside peacefully in this town. Together, we must train them and harness our resources together.
He informed the large audience at the inauguration that the Alogba Library located within the Ikorodu Town Hall, has been upgraded to develop an ICT centre with capacity to train JAMB students in Computer Based Training (CBT).
Ogunlewe, who also informed that the library has been fully upgraded to a e-library, pleaded for ways of bringing primary school students for training for Common Entrance Examinations into model colleges and unity schools.
“When we started these computer training for JAMB, many of these children loved and appreciated it because many of them don’t have the facility at home and around them”, he said.
“These properties (town hall) belong to all of us, and not anybody in particular but for the children, both those from the privileged and poor backgrounds. They must have access to the facilities and benefit from the proceeds.
“Fortunately for us, Otunba Eniayewun has turned the library into an e-facility. In that facility, we have thousands of books, magazines and other educational and research materials for our youths to access, so, we don’t need books (hard copies) again”, Sen. Ogunlewe added.
“We will be increasing our computers to about 50. I want to plead with you to start now by exposing our children to computers, even if it’s just for an hour per day. They must be trained. Any student that does not have computer knowledge cannot pass any examination.
“We must sit down together and plan for these children because some people planned for us – The Ogunsanyas, Allisons, Bensons, Alokolaros and others. They planned for us to be where we are today, what are we planning for the younger generations coming after us”, he asked rhetorically.
“I want to congratulate the new excos. We have a lot to do together. Don’t let us abandon these children. They are from poor homes.
“Congratulations to the new excos and I wish you the best of luck as we are together to make sure that there is a very befitting future for these our children”, the IDRDG Chairman pleaded.
Sir (Otunba) Ayodele Elesho, the Agbaakin of Ikorodu Kingdom who represented the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Shotobi, congratulated the new IKODASS Chairman and his team, while he charged them on the task ahead.
“Erogbogbo and his team have worked very well for IKODASS, in the last two years and it was on that basis that they were elected for another two years. I wish you and your team well and a successful tenure’, he said.
“There is so much work to do and you must brace up for the challenges. I have discussed with you privately and I am making it public that you should meet with Kabiyesi on the need for him to lead delegation to the Governor on the need for the Lagos State Government to support IKODASS, especially the annual Ikorodu – Oga Carnival the same way that they have been supporting Eyo and other festivals”.
While speaking on the controversy over the management of the Ikorodu Town Hall, the representative of the Ayangbure said that the monumental structure is owned by the Ikorodu community and that IKODASS should be allowed to access to it at any time.
“Omoba Ogunlewe has spoken well and truthfully about the Ikorodu Town hall. This edifice is a property of the Ikorodu community and not that of Ikorodu Division or that of the Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group. It is owned by Ikorodu and IKODASS is the body saddled with the responsibilities of representing Ikorodu and its people. Such a body should be in charge of the hall”, he said.
“If we are not dabbling into the management of the hall which belongs to us, IKODASS cannot be prevented from using the hall at any time”.
Agbaakin Elesho, recalled the challenges faced by the IKODASS before getting office space within the lkorodu Town hall, and how the cultural group and IDRDG met and brought the matter before the Ayangbure.
Also speaking on education, Agbaakin Elesho said that educational intervention has improved with scholarship and bursary schemes, but added that there is need to improve on the computer based education for primary school students.
Otunba Elesho assured Erogbogbo and his IKODASS team of support from the palace of the Ayangbure, while assuring that the entire Ikorodu will back the association to succeed.
