Kunle Adelabu
-As group delivers second school water project
I-Heroes (lkorodu Heroes), a social, economic and political group which is strictly for indigenes of Ikorodu Division, has received commendations from the Lagos State Government, for its social and community interventions, especially in education.
Dr Nurudeen Agbaje, the Special Adviser on Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Olushola Sanwo – Olu, gave the commendations on behalf of the government, at the icommissioning of the water project completed and donated to the Jamatul Islammiyyah Primary School, Ikorodu, by the group, on Friday.
The water project (borehole), which was initiated by the family of Alhaji Ishaq Olukayode Oyenuga, but has not been functioning for several years, was completely refurbished by I-Heroes for the use of pupils and staff of the school.
The first water project by the I-Heroes was at Mowo – Nla Primary School, Ikorodu, which was commissioned in July last year by Otunba Ganiyu Abiru.
While commissioning the project, Dr Agbaje thanked members of the group for their community intervention programmes which he said are supportive of the state government’s functions.
“Thank you guys, and nice meeting you. I don’t know that you have invested so much in terms of giving back to the society. This is part of the social services through which one can give back to the society, especially in a place where one resides”, he said.
“This is very commendable and on behalf of the Lagos State Government, I really appreciate you. Government alone cannot do it all, and this is an assistant towards what we are doing in the government. This is part of the collaboration that we want. Thanks to you and I will even love to be one of you”.
While charging them to continue with the interventions, Dr Agbaje also told members of the I-Heroes that the government will be willing to partner with them on any major project.
“This is a non – profit making venture in which the group is giving back to the society. This is part of a community development efforts that falls under our jurisdiction”, he said.
“You can write the government for assistance whenever that you have any project that your capacity cannot carry since you have been doing it before”.
Mr Oluwaseun Shokunbi, a former President of the club, addressing the special Adviser on Rural Development, said that the club has been intervening in providing support for schools as part of their corporate social responsibility.
“Members of the club are indigenes of Ikorodu that have been growing inside Ikorodu, and also giving back over the time. This water project is the most recent of our intervention, and we decided that your humble self should do the commissioning being the Special Adviser on Rural Development, for the use of the school”, he said.
“We have been identifying schools that require our intervention and before now, we have done other things like distributing bedspread to the General Hospitals in the Division.
“We have also distributed exercise books to some primary school pupils around Ikorodu and also did some things for the special school at Ebute –Ipakodo. We have been doing this since 2009 when the club was formed”, he added.
Another former President, Mr Seun Elesho, said that the intention of the club is to intervene by providing water in five schools.
“We handed over the second completed water system to Jamaitul Islammiyyah Primary School, Ikorodu. Our intention is to embark on water projects in 5 schools within the division”.
“A big appreciation to the Special Adviser to Mr Governor on Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. (Dr.) Nurudeen Agbaje, who did us the honour of commissioning the water project today.
“Two down, three more to go. You can nominate a public school within the Ikorodu Division to benefit from our water a school project”, he said.
Also on the ground are Hon. Pappy Shotomiwa, the Councilor representing the Ward and Mrabunmi, the representative of the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA).
