Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
In the quest to make the newly elected and appointed executives of the Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS), most of whom are new, be on the same page, especially in the execution of his visions encapsulated in his ‘New Dawn’ agenda for the next two years, the re – elected IKODASS Chairman, Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo (2023 to 2025), has organized a 2 – Day retreat.
Erogbogbo, who introduced the retreat last year, said that the interactive and educative engagement was called to bring the new excos up to speed on the operations of the socio – cultural, economic and developmental body and prepare them for the challenges ahead.
The first session of the retreat, which took place at the Harmony Castle Hotel, Gbasemo, lkorodu, between Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6, 2023, was themed, ‘IKODASS Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’. During the session, resource persons – Sir (Otunba) Ayodele Elesho, former Commissioner for Information and former IKODASS Chairman; Otunba Ganiyu Abiru, retired Clerk/Permanent Secretary, Lagos State House of Assembly and also a former Chairman, IKODASS; Mr Akinpelu and Mr Oke Godwin OlaOluwa, x – rayed the formation, challenges, impacts of the cultural organization, how it has expanded its scope and its future.
Otunba Lanre Kuye, the Director, Information/Public Relations, Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu, engaged participants on, ‘Conduct and Ground Rules of Key Functionaries of an Association’.
At the retreat, Mr Erogbogbo handled the ‘Review of the 2021 – 2023 Executive Plans (A Dispassionate Assessment of Performance to Decide 2023 – 2025 Major Focus), while the Constitution with focus on duties of executive members was coordinated by Barr. Kolawole Olabisi, the IKODASS Legal Adviser and Mr Samson Disu, the Treasurer of the body, engaged the participants on, ‘Revenue Generation and Budgeting’.
The General Secretary of IKODASS, Mr Rasheed Elemuren handled the session on, ‘Actualizing Our Plans (Enabling Peer Review and Sharing Performance Assessments).
Erogbogbo, explaining the reasons for the retreat at the opening of the 2 – Day event, said:
“The reason we are here is for us to fast-track what has been happening in IKODASS from the inception till date and what are expected of us, so that, it will not take you (new executive members) much time to know what IKODASS is all about. We are here to look at the expectations of your office. That is why we brought resourceful persons as a panel to discuss ‘IKODASS Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’. With this, you will learn things that you are supposed to know in one year with two days”, Erogbogbo said.
“Also, to put heads together to look at the programmes that we want to execute in the next two years, especially in our first year. We need to know the ground rules as an association when we come together like this. Contrary to the popular saying within the Ikorodu social circle, ‘Sa n jo mi sere ni (we are just catching fun), but in here, we are not playing at all. Once you are in IKODASS, you are sent here to be Ambassadors of Ikorodu and you are to serve the community diligently”, he emphasized.
“And, we have, by His Grace, answered that call to serve Ikorodu, we must finish the race with dignity and fulfilment. We must contribute our quota; hence, we are here to learn, discuss and put heads together on the ways to go. This is what we are going to do here…..”, Erogbogbo charged.
He listed achievements of the association during his first term which are – Literary Initiative, Scholarship awards, Indoor Games Championship, Breakfast with Ayangbure, Food Distribution to Needy, Teachers’ Conference, Education Summit, Outing with Octogenarians, Medical Missions, Development of a website for IKODASS, Visitation to Member Clubs, and sustenance of the annual Ikorodu –Oga Day Carnival among others.
A former Chairman of the group and the current Agbaakin of Ikorodu Kingdom, Otunba Ayodele Elesho, spoke on ‘IKODASS Yesterday’. Traced the challenges encountered in setting up the association and how the challenges at every phase of IKODASS development was surmounted. He also highlighted the achievements of the body from the initial stage of its formation.
While charging the newly inaugurated excos to brace for challenges ahead, the Agbaakin also charged them, especially the Chairman, on the need to engage the Lagos State Government, for support for IKODASS programmes.
Agbaakin Elesho, while assuring IKODASS excos of support from the palace of Ayangbure and residents of Ikorodu, he also charged the association to forge ahead in their representation.
Otunba Abiru, former IKODASS Chairman, speaking on the theme: ‘Ikorodu Today’, spoke about the initiatives that his administration introduced.
He emphasised that focus should be on the youths, especially in curbing the drug and other social ills. He added that IKODASS should partner with National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Also, the former Chairman, who is the Executive Secretary of the most structured Divisional or community security architectural in Lagos State – Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited/GTE (IDPIL/GTE), called for review of the award system and make it meritorious.
Abiru sympathized with the current IKODASS Chairman for his inability to get the government support in his first two years for the annual Ikorodu – Oga Day. He, however, charged him to continue to engage the government on the need to support the annual carnival like they are doing to other parts of the state.
While commending Erogbogbo led administration in for the success recorded in its first term, the former Chairman pleaded with the Chairman to focus on the IKODASS Civic Centre at Kasoleri, which his own administration has constructed to lintel level.
Mr Akinpelu, whose talk focused on ‘IKODASS Tomorrow, said that IKODASS should look into the future and move Ikorodu from township to city state status.
He said that the activities of the group must be geared towards the advancement of Ikorodu economically; socio – culturally; technologically and educationally; security wise and in the area of health.
While stating that ‘IKODASS is a government within a government’, Akinpelu called for the establishment of the ‘Ikorodu Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (IKEEDS).
He charged IKODASS, on the need to network and carry companies in lkorodu, along.
In his own session, Otunba Lanre Kuye, who spoke on ‘Conduct and Ground Rules of Key Functionaries of an Association’, charged members to always contribute meaningfully and not complain.
He said that there should be regular review of the association’s activities.
Kuye also emphasized the power of media and charged the IKODASS to always take advantage of it.
While stating that there is need for fund to operate, Kuye also charged members to always come up with initiative that will assist the association to grow.
At the retreat, IKODASS executives presented their programmes and how they intend to go about them.
For the next two years, the IKODASS executives agreed to focus on the pursuit, publishing and performance of the winning play – Owambe; Indoor Games Championship; Ikorodu – Oga Festival 2023; Building of IKODASS Hostel, Building of Civic Centre HUB; Scholarship; Ikorodu World Youth Conference; Ikorodu Women Conference; Breakfast with Ayangbure; Walk for Fitness and Signage erection at Ikorodu borders.
