Wale Jagun & Mariam Akinloye
It was another massive outing this year as thousands of children across the Montessori, Primary and Secondary Schools in Ikorodu, gathered at the Ikorodu Town Hall, for the 2024 Children’s Day Celebration.
The annual event, which is been organized by the Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS) and sponsored by the Ayangbure palace, is named in honour of the wife of Ayangbure of lkorodu and the Treasure of Ikorodu Kingdom, Olori Kudirat Abosede Shotobi.
ln the march past, which is a major part of the annual celebration, Cherubim and Seraphim Primary School, scored 29% to emerge winner, while United Methodist School, Eleja scored 28% and Ayangburen primary school had 25%, to emerge second and third, respectively.
In the Secondary School category, Keme Balogun Secondary School, Ibeshe, came first with 30%, while Tindip Secondary School and Ayangburen Junior Secondary School emerged second and third with 29% and 27%, respectively.
Other events at the celebration were cultural dance, choreography and dancing competitions. While winners in their different categories were presented with special gift items, all the children in attendance were equally presented with bags, exercise books and other educational items as well as with drinks and snacks.
At this year’s edition of the Olori Kudirat Abosede Shotobi Children’s Day Fiesta, were the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Engr.) Kabir Adewale Shotobi, the Asipa of Ikorodu Kingdom and former Commissioner for Agriculture, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, Agbaakin of Ikorodu and former Commissioner for Information, Sir (Otunba) Ayodele Elesho, KJW, Tutor – General/Permanent Secretary, Mrs Anike Adekanye, wife of Senator Tokunbo Abiru, Mrs Feyisola Abiru, wife of the Representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Mrs Jumoke Benson, Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, Hon. Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju (SKO), wife of the IKODASS Cahirman, Mrs Tosan Erogbogbo and the Chairmanship aspirant for the Ikorodu LG, Comrade Japheth Odesanya among others.
Chairman, Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS), Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo, while commending Olori Shotobi for his consistence in supporting the celebration and showing love to children in Ikorodu, he added that the annual event was aimed at showcasing the children.
“Childrens’ Day is being celebrated all over the world and Olori has been doing this since, but Mama started partnering IKODASS last year. This is the second edition.
“We felt is important to join hand with her and give our children befitting celebration, particularly when Ikorodu is the third largest city in Southwest Nigeria after Lagos and Ibadan. So much is expected from us and also, we need to showcase Ikorodu and showcase our children.
“As you can see, this is also being celebrated by the state, which means that they too are prioritizing it. If you look at the effort of the State government in terms of education, you will know they are prioritizing children’s development.
“Lagos State knows that this is our future, and I am sure most of their budget goes into education, and in all budgetary allocations, we have these children being represented”, Erogbogbo said.
The IKODASS Chairman charged parents on the need to impact values in their children and give them more attention.
“The family should go back to the basis because we are of course losing it. They should remember that it’s values that took us (the adult) to where we are today. We should not lose those values. We should go back and give them more attentions; give them their right of place like what we are doing today, it is their right; it is their day. We should celebrate them when we should.
“I will charge parents to pay more attention to their children”, he charged.
The Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Shotobi, in an interview, said that the royal family is partnering with the IKODASS, in enlarging the celebration because of large crowd.
“The celebration is my wife’s idea and I am just a partner in progress. This fiesta belongs to my wife who has been doing it in the palace every year, but because of the large crowd, we are now expanding it to include other communities in the division. That was why she said that we should bring it to the Town Hall, and it is being adopted and accepted”, Oba Shotobi said.
“We have to join her in celebrating these children who means a lot to mothers. This is something that she cherished and emotional about, and that is why she is sponsoring this. I am witnessing it for the first time because I was away for the President’s inauguration last year.
“I am seeing how joyous it is to celebrate with children and I will continue to support her because it also means a lot to me”, the highly revered royal father added.
Oba Shotobi commended the Tutor – General, Education District II, Mrs Anike Adenikanye, wife of Senator Abiru, Mrs Feyisola Abiru and wife of Hon. Babajimi Benson, Mrs Jumoke Benson, and other notable women, for gracing the occasion and expressing their love for children in Ikorodu.
The Ayangbure of Ikorodu, also charged that such celebration should be encouraged to give children sense of belonging and motivate them to be serious with their education.
Mrs Anike Adekanye, Tutor – General/Permanent Secretary, Education District Ii, also commended Olori Shotobi for her motherly love, adding that the Children’s Day is all about promoting goodness in the lives of the young ones and entire state.
“Where are celebrating children and we are celebrating goodness of God in the land of living in Lagos State”, she said.
“Our Olori and Mama has deemed it fit with IKODASS, to always celebrate children in Ikorodu. We want to celebrate the Kabiyesi, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, for given us enabling environment in Ikorodu, to teach and to learn. Also, we will never forget our own governor for always been there for us and providing for all our educational needs in the state.
“We thank the Olori, IKODASS, Commissioner of (Tertiary) Education, Commissioner of Basic and Secondary Education in Lagos State, Deputy Governor and the Governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, for their love for our children. He can spend any amount just for the progress of children in Lagos State. He has spent a huge amount of money in education sector.
“Thank you to our Kabiyesi and Olori, for this. This a is a wonderful program for the children to exhibit what they have as talents, and you can see wonderful things they have been displayed since morning.
“I want to appreciate the chairman of IKODASS, Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo, too and all other members of the body. I want to say thank you for making the children to have their sense of belonging. We will never forget you”, Mrs Adekanye said.
Mrs Jumoke Benson, wife of the representative of the Ikorodu Federal Constituency, also emphasized the importance of the Children’s Day.
She was represented by Mrs Odumbo Monsurat.
She congratulated the children on the celebration and for being wonderful, talented and promising children who will be pride of not only their families and Ikorodu but also that of the state and the nation at large.
The wife of Rep. Babajimi Benson also commended the Ayangbure of Ikorodu and his Olori, for their love for the children and also the IKODASS, for the gathering the children in Ikorodu, for the celebration.
Also at the celebration were Baales, teachers and other dignitaries.
