Wale Jagun & Mariam Akinloye
-Plans inauguration of textiles, shoe associations
The Iyaloja General, Ikorodu Division, Deaconess Busola Isikalu, has called for unity and cooperation among traders in Ikorodu. According to her, it is through these that traders can tap into enormous potentials inherent in a large market in Ikorodu.
She said that a united market association in Ikorodu, also offers members access to government support and partronage.
Isikalu made the appeal during the week when she held a parley at her office at the Ikorodu Plaza, Ita Elewa, Ikorodu, with stakeholders in the textile and shoe sections of the Ikorodu Market Associations, for the purpose of inaugurating the two bodies.
The market leader and her exco members met with the two groups separately.
“We need to bring everybody together to present a strong force to benefit from the government and also assist ourselves. This is why we are bring traders in fabric business into the main association where they belong before”, she said.
“I have reached out to major stakeholders that are selling fabrics.
“Whenever it is time to inaugurate the association, I have the permission of our Mama, the Iya Oloja General, Chief (Dr.) Mrs Folashade Tinubu – Ojo, to inaugurate the association and it is possible she would be in our midst on the day that we are going to inaugurate these associations”, she said.
While emphasizing that she will not be part of the textiles association executives, Deaconess Isikalu charged stakeholders present to mobilise others to be part of them.
“The association will have to decide among themselves who to be Iya Egbe Alaso, Treasurer, General Secretary and if possible, Iya Alaje. These are the officers that they have to be presented for the inauguration”, she said.
“I charged you to bring everybody on board in reviving the association which has been rested for a long time. lt has to be re – registered. The proposed name is the Ikorodu textiles association. We will later extend it to other parts of the division”.
While speaking on her efforts and that of her executive members so far in creating opportunities for fabric traders, Isikalu said that they plan to bring investors to assist traders with goods and also facilitate loans for business expansion.
“Through this association and with unity among us, we will bring investors into Ikorodu, to assist textiles sellers with fabrics”, Deaconess Isikalu said.
“Ikorodu is big enough and with a huge market, we have so much potentials and opportunities to tap from. Today, it is the second largest in Lagos State. So, with unity, love and good leadership, we can expand our business through cooperation and partnership.
“On this, we have been making moves and contacting persons in places of authority that can assist us. We have been able to meet with Hon. Babajimi Benson and also our Senator, Tokunbo Abiru. We have discussed our proposal on how to move the textiles association and market association generally, forward in Ikorodu.
“It is through our discussions that Senator Abiru told us that there is a fund for traders with 6% interest. We were assured of the loan if we can guarantee that our members will pay it back.
“To show the Senator’s commitment, the person incharge of the facility called me the next day. On this, we are reaching out to other Iya Oloja in other parts of the Senatorial District, to also bring them on board”, she told the traders at the meeting.
In another meeting with the shoe traders, Deaconess Isikalu said that every trader dealing with all kinds of shoes and footwears, will be brought under an umbrella, while he also charged them on unity and cooperation.
“You are invited for progress and development, and there is need for us to partner and collaborate so as to make Ikorodu a centre of excellence as depicted in the state motto. You are called to deliberate on ways forward and we have to have unity and be like minds”, she said.
“It is through our association that we can access opportunities from the government.
“My focus and priority for traders in Ikorodu, is to ensure that we move to the next level and be in position to compete favourably with our counterparts anywhere.
“Our plan is to bring different sections, be it rubber, leather, school, women and other shoes sellers together. We have the mandate to create more associations for the development of ourselves and Ikorodu”.
The Baba Oja Ike Oluwa, Mr Musbau Ogbara, speaking, also preached unity and cooperation at the meeting.
He charged members of the two intending groups to ensure that jostling for office do not create problems for the association.
Mrs Ajalekoko, in her own submisisons, emphasised the need for formidable association and the need for unity.
She charged those in the position of market leadership, to have good managerial skills and adapt to given situations.
Other chieftains of the association in attendance were Chief (Mrs) Lamoh Adewunmi, General Secretary, Alhaji Akorede Ganiu, Majeobaje Foodstuff , Chief Lawal Abayimi, Babaloja Igisowo and Alhaja Mutiat Ojulari, Iyaloja Ayangbure market.
