Kunle Adelabu
-As Development Association targets 6 month completion
In its quest to ensure a sustainable development, the Imota community has commenced the construction of the proposed Imota Ayayo ICT & Innovation Hub which major stakeholders agreed would further transform the council after its completion, few weeks after raising funds for the initiative.
The idea to have the hub was made public by the Imota Ayayo Development Association (IADA), during the 37th Imota Ayayo Day anniversary, and the lmota community in Ikorodu Division area of Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria, has wasted no time in using the fund generated during the celebration, to achieve the laudable project.
To this end, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ajibade Bakare Agoro, FCA, the Ranodu of lmota, alongside other chieftains of the lmota Development Association, on Saturday, laid the foundation for the hub.
The centre, which is located on a land which is at the center of the community and which is also hosting the UBA Bank, Lagos Neighbourhood Watch office, ICT Centre, Health Centre and ongoing mini – stadium), was acquired for developmental purpose 60 years ago.
When completed, the centre will house an ICT hall with the capacity to accommodate about 300 computers, innovation hub, CBT centre, training centre among others.
The Chairman, Imota Ayayo Development Association (IADA), Mr Adekunle Arowolaja, explaining the idea behind the initiative, said that the need to advance the community, make the youths innovative and compete favourably with their counterparts globally, propelled the idea.
“The world is now driven by technology and we thought it fits to empower our youths because there is nothing that you would do now without technology, even the manual aspect of filing the WAEC and JAMB forms is no longer in existence”, Mr Arowolaja said.
“Whatever that you are doing now is driven by technology. We look at it that there is a need to have a centre to aid the development of our youths. To register for WAEC, our youths have to go to as far as Ikorodu to register.
“That is why we decided that whatever fund generated during the 2023 Ayayo Day Celebration, must be plough back into the community by empowering our youths, because they are the future, thus, the development idea of having an ICT centre, so that we can have a CBT centre in Imota, in order stop our youths from going to Ikorodu to register for any institutional thing that they want to do.
“This would not only be for CBT, but also serves as a training centre where our youths will be trained in ICT. These are what drive us to have an ICT centre”, he said.
While assuring that the project would not be abandoned, the development association Chairman said that they are counting on stakeholders in Imota, to ensure that the centre is fully completed in six months.
“For me and members of my committee, we don’t believe in fail project. This was conceived and by the special grace of God, we will see it to completion. We don’t really have the funds now to complete it, but we believe in God, that we are going to get it done”, he said.
“We have the necessary support from the Kabiyesi, and that is why you saw him performing the foundation laying ceremony. The council has also been of tremendous support, and we believe that many support will still come up.
“At the last Ayayo Day Celebration, we surpassed all expectations, and we still believe all those that pledged towards the development of Imot, will come to give us support. Whatever level we get the construction to, we have no doubt that our people will come to our aid to complete it.
“We are looking at 6 – month duration to get the construction completed. Although, registration for WAEC will start January, but this ICT Centre will be made available for registration for admissions into higher institutions and for other things.
“All in all, we are trusting in God, to get this completed and this project will not be an abandoned or failed project. It will be a project that will be completed”, he assured.
Oba Agoro described the development as an innovation that would bring further development.
“This development portends a very good future for Imota. It is an impetus for development and that is why we are here. This place was acquired 60 years ago for the purpose of development and today, the intention of leaders then is now manifesting”, the royal father said at the site.
“You can see that on the land, a stadium construction is going on, this is an ICT and Innovation centre that is also being commissioned, that is the Neighbourhood Watch office there. The prayer of the frontrunners have made this place a fertile land.
“This is an added innovation to develop Imota, which started during my enthronement 30 years ago. On my ascension on the throne, Imota had only four quarters but today, we have 23 quarters and communities in Imota.
“We are here today to continue what we have started long time ago, and I pray to God that it would continue until Imota becomes the town of my dream which I had when I ascended the throne on the 21st of June , 1993”, Oba added.
While calling for support for the completion of the centre, the Ranodu of Imota also charged the youths to take advantage of the opportunity that the innovation will bring, to develop themselves.
The revered royal father also emphasized the importance of education as a major factor for the development of any community.
“I am admonishing the youths to take up the charge for the development of Imota. We are not stopping and all these are just foundation for greater developments to come”, Oba Agoro said.
“My admonition to the youths and other residents is that they must support this project. Education is the major thing for any community’s development. After education is education and after it is also education. Now, it is ICT education and they must all come on board to see to this.
“All that I have said and achieve is because of my education. I have no other secret. My father used to be a farmer, but he insisted that we must be educated and it was the education that has been propelling me to do all these for Imota, and I want all the youths to key into this and see what would happen. With education, there is nothing that you cannot do.
“The whole world is being modernized through the ICT, and I want to see Imota youths becoming ICT gurus, and God Almighty will grant that for us”, Ranodu said.
At the commissioning were Dr Olumide Metilelu, former Deputy Vice Chancellor, LASUSTECH and chieftain of the Imota Ayayo Development Association (IADA), Dr Shakiru Okedeyi, Chairman, Imota Ayayo Day Planning Committee, Princess Abisoye Oredoyin, Financial Secretary, and Hon. Mohammed Fagbesan, Social Secretary, among others.
There were also traditional chiefs, Baales, Hon. Hon. Babatunde A. Oredoyin, Council Leader, Imota LCDA, and other members of the Legislative Arm of the council.
