Wale Jagun
-Supports rural farmers ; commissions stadium, market
-His programmes has been life-changing – Gov. Sanwo – Olu
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, has described projects and empowerments by the Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District, Sen. Mikhail Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA, in the last 18 months that he had assumed office, as life changing.
Residents of the ancient town of Epe and others from Councils under the Lagos East, defied the torrential rains on Thursday, June 30, 2022, to welcome the Senator and Governor, for the commissioning of projects facilitated by the Senator.
Governor Sanwo-Olu inaugurated a 960-capacity mini-Stadium which has a Football pitch, Basketball and Volleyball courts, administrative offices, changing rooms and other amenities.
The governor also commissioned the remodelled popular Oluwo Fish market which now comprises 240 open stalls, 82 lock up stalls, 5 open floors, 12 toilets and 4 new offices for Iya Oloja and Baba Oloja, Tourism Board and Local Government Staff Security post.
The projects were done by the Presidency through the office of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Abiru also doled out grants worth N62.5m to 1,250 selected market women and traders across the senatorial district and also supported about 200 rural farmers with hand planters and financial grants.
The Senator said he took up the assignment with a determination and passion to improve the lots of his constituents and elevate the socio-economic condition of the people, thereby, complementing the efforts of the State Government.
Aside sponsoring 13 private member bills and co-sponsored three other bills, which included motions, the lawmaker said he had prioritised three key pillars of legislative role, empowerment and endowment to deliver dividends of democracy to his constituents.
“I publicly acknowledge and appreciate the magnanimity of the presidency, through the Office of SDGs, for the projects we are commissioning today. These projects, which also include support for market women and rural farmers, are part of the fulfillment of social contract I solemnly had with the people of Lagos East Senatorial District while seeking their mandate in 2020”, he said.
“The modest achievements I have recorded in the last 18 months in the saddle as a Senator will be sustained with more interventions that will directly impact the lives of our people. I shall maintain this daunting tempo of leadership and development, while also assuring my constituents of effective and quality representation in line with my ‘Doing Good’ mantra.”
In his remarks, Governor Sanwo-Olu said that projects facilitated by the Senator are ones that will have direct impacts on the socio-economic reality of the town, commending Sen. Abiru for diligently representing the district in the National Assembly.
“Over the last 18 months, Senator Abiru has dutifully delivered the dividends of democracy in several areas and on multiple fronts, not just in the primary mandate of law-making, but also in terms of life-changing empowerment and endowment.
“Today, we are here to commission a number of infrastructure projects by him, some of which were facilitated through the Office of the Special Assistant to President Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), being headed by an esteemed daughter of Lagos, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire”.
Sanwo-Olu noted that the market project was commerce-oriented, designed to improve the livelihood and earning capacity of beneficiaries. The recreational facility, the Governor said, is a project that would positively affect people’s lifestyle and translate to health benefits, as well as improved quality of life.
The Governor said that the lawmaker hads lived up to the ideals of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and to the legacy of transformation instituted in Lagos since 1999.
He appealed to the beneficiaries to see the projects as public resources entrusted in their care, urging them to productively utilise the facilities with the utmost sense of responsibility.
In her own remarks, Princess Orelope-Adefulire applauded Senator Abiru for making women empowerment as a cardinal focus of his activities, noting that such action is crucial for social integration and inclusiveness.
She said that the Office of the SDGs in the presidency had facilitated the rehabilitation of more than 10 schools and four healthcare projects in the Lagos East Senatorial District.
A novelty football match was played on the pitch of the new stadium between Tokunbo Abiru Football Club and Epe Alaro United. The match ended in a penalty shootouts which was won by the Abiru FC.
Other dignitaries who graced the well attended commissioning/ empowerment events included: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, Former Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, GAC member, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, Alhaji Bode Oyedele, Alhaji Akanni Seriki Bamu, Lagos APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, serving commissioners, federal and state legislators among others.
