Wale Jagun & Mariam Akinloye
-Unveil 2023 Community Day activities, fabric
The monarch of Isiu, His Royal Majesty, Oba Olukayode David Raji, stakeholders and entire residents of the ancient community, have resolved to work together in bringing development to Isiu, a modest town in Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria.
It is on this strong resolve that the community is coming together to renew its community Day celebration which started about 40 years ago, but was later suspended.
The Eweye Day 2023, themed, “POWER OF TOGETHERNESS AND LOVE; A BETTER WAY TO MEANINGFUL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT”, emphasized the commitment of the people to the development of the community.
Ankara fabric for the celebration was also unveiled at the press conference
At the press conference held at the palace of the Eweye of Isiu, on Friday, Chairman, Isiu Eweye Development Association (ISEDASS), Otunba Banwo Afolagbade Musa, unveiled programmes of event for the celebration with the opening match for the football game slated for Saturday, November 4. This would be followed by Education programmes: Primary category, November 22, and Secondary category, November 23.
Other events lined up for the celebration are: Environmental Sanitation, Tuesday, December 5; Free Healthcare, Thursday, December 7; Woro, Artisan and Market & Women’s Day, Tuesday, December 12; Youth Summit, Wednesday, December 13; Palace Activities, Thursday, December 14, and the Grand finale, Saturday, December 16.
Meanwhile, ISEDASS Chairman, Otunba Banwo, speaking on the celebration, said that the theme for the celebration reflects the challenges that the community had encounter and the need to collectively come together and build the town into a prosperous one.
The ISEDASS Chairman, who was represented by his Vice Chairman, Dr. Haruna Balogun, also revealed that the Isiu Day will also be used in raising funds for the construction of an ultra – modern palace.
“The theme for this year’s Eweye Day celebration is ‘POWER OF TOGETHERNESS AND LOVE; A BETTER WAY TO MEANINGFUL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. It was coined since it is a vital instrument for us to transform our town into an urbanized town where orderliness counts”, he said.
“Isiu had swam in the lagoon and ocean, its survival is divine. The challenges were so enormous, but today, we are more than a conqueror. The healing period has begun. Let us join hands with Our Royal Majesty for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Isiu. Togetherness and love will surely give us a soft landing.
“Let me emphasize that today is a historic day. This celebration is inter-twined, that is, the normal Eweye Day celebration and the fundraising of 500 MILLION for an ultra-modern palace”, he stated.
He pleaded for the support of entire residents for successful 2023 Isiu Day and raising of funds for the proposed palace.
“At this juncture, I want to commend our collective commitment to this project. Many people have been pledging to take care of one thing or the other. Groups have been coming to ask questions about the project to contribute their meaningful quota. With all these, we know that this is God’s time. Remember the popular expression: God’s time is the best”, he said.
“I am so glad to announce to the sons and daughters of Isiu, the lovers and residents that this is the time the Lord has made to build an ultra-modern palace for our beloved town. No amount of money will be undervalued for the execution of this project. Our togetherness is our strength. Our strength definitely moves mountains.
“Be assured that this is one of the meaningful, impactful projects the Isiu Eweye Development Association (ISEDASS) will embark on for our advancement, many more will still follow”.
He acknowledged and thanked late Mr Ranti Oludehinde, popularly called Oriwu, and the first Chairman of Isiu Youth Development Movement, Hon Kunle Ogunbela, former Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, and Alhaji Musa Sulaimon and other distinguished leaders for initiating the community day, and for bringing development to Isiu.
In his royal remarks, the Eweye of Isiu, Oba Olukayode Raji, stated that his community started the annual celebration before others in Ikorodu Division, before it was abandoned.
The royal father called on sons and daughters of Isiu to join hands with the organisers in staging a successful celebration and the achievement of proposed projects.
“Isiu was the first community to start community day celebration. It was after we celebrated it like two times that Imota started celebrating Imota day and Ikorodu started celebrating Ikorodu Oga Day. Today, I thank God that we are bringing back the celebration”, Oba Raji said.
“So, let’s all come back home because everybody in other communities are returning to give back to their community. We have been building houses and developing other places, and now, it is time to come back to Isiu, and develop this community.
“Isiu is not meant for only one person, but all of us. Let us come together to celebrate our community. Those living in Ibadan should remember that they were born in Isiu, and those who live abroad should also not forget that they were born in Isiu. They should remember that they were born in this town. We have to join hands together to develop our community.
“We should all speak in one voice and our prayers will be answered. It is time to come together, and tell ourselves the bitter truth, and through this, we can come together in love and when there’s love, no matter what, we will continue to go higher and move forward, and we’ll never go backward”, Oba Raji said.
