Hon. Enitan Jessica Oba, is the Councilor representing Ipakodo constituency and current Council Leader, Ikorodu West Local Council Development. She was first elected into the Ikorodu West LCDA Legislative Arm four years ago to represent the people of Ipakodo.
She was re – elected recently at the primary elections of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to contest in another local government elections on July 12, 2025, on the platform of the party. In her first tenure, Hon. Jessica led the house to produce set of bye – laws to run the administration of the lkorodu West LCDA, a feat which is the first in the history of the council.
In this interview with Kunle Adelabu, the Reporter – in – Chief/Publisher, the Council Leader bore her mind on her re – election by her party, challenges and achievements of her first term, how she has been able to impact directly on her people, her plans for the second term and experience with the Nigeria Port Authority in Ebute, among other issues. Excerpts:
THE IMPACT: You were recently re – elected by your party to contest for the second term, how would you describe your emergence as the APC Councillorship candidate in your ward?
Hon. Jessica Oba: As we all know that power is never served a lar carte. The process is not expected to come so easily. It was another tough primary election like the previous one that brought me into the office. It was a very tough time and politicking is a very serious business and usually very trying period for those in it. It is not for the weak (laughter). The beautiful thing is that our party always has its way of bringing everyone together and minimizing crisis to the best of its ability. The bottom line is that I emerged as the candidate and it wasn’t an easy task
THE IMPACT: Let’s look at your first four years of representing the people of Ipakodo during which you also emerged as the Council Leader. What and what can you point at as your impacts, both as a lawmaker and representative of your people, in terms of bye – laws, facilitation of projects and direct impact on the people?
Hon. Jessica Oba: As a legislator, one of my primary duties is bye – law making. There are also oversight functions over projects and facilitating projects for my wards if possible. For the first time in the history of Ikorodu West LCDA since its creation, the council produced the first set of bye – laws under my leadership as the Council Leader. We have 17 new bye – laws available for the operations of the LCDA and aside this milestone, we are on ground to provide oversight functions on all the projects of the council from road construction to others that that the council is financing. We do our oversight functions and make our recommendations and a lot of times, we are being listened to.
While our functions as legislators are being carried out, I also embark on some programmes for my constituents. The first was a medical outreach which accommodates a lot of people. The General Hospital sent professionals to conducts tests HIV/AIDS tests for the people. We also partnered with youth corpers who were doctors and they were on ground to attended to constituents. They were the ones administering drugs to the people. There were also recommendations for people with serious ailments. It was a fantastic event and we received good testimonies. Even the Medical Director/Chief Medical Officer, General Hospital, lkorodu, was also available to lecture our people on how to manage their health.
Afterwards, with the support of my team, I was able to empower about 60 people who are petty traders. We gave them support to add to their capital to improve their businesses and since then, we have been doing follow -up on them to see that their businesses are still flourishing. I always tell people whenever I am out of Ikorodu that I am from a community that is truly a grassroots. We have local people that are….(cuts in)
THE IMPACT: A community with a port authority?
Hon. Jessica: The port authority has not really been responsive to us. That is just the truth. We have reached out to them and they have made it clear to us that they are not ready for any CSR at the moment. I have actually met them on two different occasions. I hope that they would still be able to make a deliberate contribution to the development of the community and we are here to tell them what we need that our people can really appreciate.
(continued with her response to the initial question) Going back to what I was saying before the interjection, I have partnered with a lot of CDAs to do some projects like road grading. There is a road that the CDA came together and put some funds together to grade it. The road thereafter became a link road between Ojediran and Liberty Road. While Oba Sekumade Road was under construction, it serves as an alternative. I also joined hands with another CDA in a community behind the Ipakodo Community Grammar School, to repair the River Basin water project that was brought to Ikordu, I think by Hon. Abike Dabiri, but which was in a dilapidated condition. There is another one on Ojediran Road which Prince Gafaar Bolowotan contributed to its repair. Yet, there is another one at Noah junction which I single – handedly took over the responsibility. The project was as good as constructing a new one, because we dug the borehole afresh, bought a new pumping machine, tanks and other things except for the scaffolding that was also breaking down but which we had to adjust and bought some metal bars to make it.
On desilting of drainages, I always work with the EVAC, that is the state agency responsible for desilting drainages. Their major responsibilities are for the major state roads, but I usually partner with them to come into the inner roads which might not be under their responsibility but for professionalism work because after desilting, they come with their truck to pack all the waste and sands. So, for clean job and professionalism, I rather partner them to get the job done. So far, we have got about eight drainages desilted across Ipakodo. The Ebute – Iga case is a bit serious, because during the raining season, their houses get flooded. In fact, they tell me that fishes do come into their bedrooms (laughter), but it wasn’t funny. We were able to open up those channels and as a matter of fact, there are lot of moves between myself and the CDA Chairman of Ebute – Iga. We wrote series of letters to the Ministry of Environment to assist in constructing a concrete drainage. Due to the muddy nature of the place, whenever we open the ground, it always collapse and in no time, everything will close up again. But we were able to do palliative measure by opening up into the lagoon and since we did that about a year and half, it has been serving because there has not been any case of flood recorded in the Ebute – Iga community.
Aside these, we distributed free JAMB and GCE forms. I also paid for WAEC and school fees for some constituents. There was this particular project that I really love. It came from my heart. I was toured all the secondary schools in my ward. I called the initiative ‘Sugar Daddy Campaign’. In fact, that theme brought about some questions with some people querying that why ‘Sugar Daddy Campaign’? But it was so because I know the love for material things of this generation. It was going to be a Christmas period and they were preparing for holiday and I know that they want iPhone 16, 12, Brazilian hair and whatever, and these things only come from men with means (cuts in: sugar daddies, okay) Exactly. That is the word and we know the implications of young persons getting into that can be irreversible if care is not taken. A lot of our parents might think that this is a major challenge but because we are close to this generation and we know this, myself and my team went round all the secondary schools, both private and public, in the ward and talk to them about the effects of all these things and how they should plan for their future; telling them that to be a First Lady, Governorship and Presidential materials or a woman of substance starts from now. We also distributed sanitary pads. It was a very touching moment for me, because the students opened up and asked me personal questions and I gave out my phone number. Since then, it has been continuous mentoring for us, and we have been able to sustain that relationship.
THE IMPACT: You are not just a Councilor but also the Council Leader, what do you consider as the height of your representation/council leadership, and also the challenges too?
Hon. Jessica Oba: As the Council Leader, my responsibilities are to oversee our plenary sessions, speak on behalf of my colleagues’ interests, welfare and every other things concerning the House. The height of it is that, it is a learning ground for me. There is a clear difference between leading a people that you just take their request and get it done and bring it back to them, and being among my colleagues and my equals. A lot of them are even older than me and also gender wise, most of them are also men. There has never been a female Councilor in Ikorodu West LCDA, until this tenure, and I also emerged as the First female Council Leader. There was no template or formula on ground that anybody or female had used. So, everything came from raw experiences and ideas. There was a lot to learn for me; having to lobby my colleagues, align their own ideologies with mine, because I feel that it is in the best interest of everybody: our constituents, constituency and ourselves. We had our good times, challenges and ugly moments.
It wasn’t really so easy as a female woman leader, because of the society we are in. There is this stereotype perception about the position of a woman: she is supposed to be second figure after a man and here, we have a woman heading a male dominated house. It took like twice or thrice efforts to get the job done. We had events that were ugly that reshaped our perception, thinking and expectations, as a matter of fact. In this part of the world, some of us, before coming into the office, saw politics as a breakthrough from poverty. Unfortunately, that ideology was unable to hold ground which made it become a danger zone and battle ground, because your expectations were caught short. The truth is that this tenure is richly blessed with representatives that love their communities. My other colleagues have done food palliatives and other projects by themselves. There is one that is building a mini – health centre as a Councilor. That is a lot and it is because of his strong love and passion for community building. Due to our ability to work together, we have helped one another to grow and added value to our various communities. So, it was a learning ground for me and I am sure it is the same for my other colleagues. We learnt a lot from one other and helped one another to grow to an extent. As a Council Leader, I think that we have done our best to give our people quality representation.
THE IMPACT: You were in Washington DC for the Nelson Mandela Leadership program, what about that? I think that is part of the height of your representation.
Hon. Jessica Oba: That is actually one of my personal achievements or growth. Being a Council Leader actually gave me the opportunity to participate and explore the program. I could remember that when I got into the office, I was talking to a friend and I told her that I just became the Council Leader of my local government area and asked her what she thought we can do together to improve my council and she asked me to apply through a link. I opened it and it was a very tedious application and you need a lot of inputs to fill it. I input all the necessary requirements and to my surprise, I got selected. Although, I couldn’t participate that year because I was heavily pregnant, and the US government thought that I should have my baby and I was told that it will be more like a walk-over for me the following year and that I just have to apply to let them know that I still want to come. The following year, I applied again for the fellowship and got selected for the Mandela Washington Fellowship which is an all – expense paid by the US. It’s for selected young leaders in Africa to to learn about leadership and I was in the public management. It was a fine experience at Howard University where I met with a couple of other African leaders. We were 57 from Nigeria and about 700 in total from Africa. We were posted to different states in the US and different institutions. At the end of our programme, we all converged on Washington DC, where I actually did my fellowship. We had a three -day seminar which is another fantastic gathering. That was where we all met ourselves. I met people from South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Swahili and other countries that I have never heard of before (laughter). It was a fantastic moment and experience. It really opened me up to see the world. I actually saw Africa when I was in the DC, because all these people actually came with their cultural backgrounds and ideologies. They are very vibrant and full of life. They were very proud of where they came from. It was a program that I would encourage everybody that I know in my generation who have something to offer, to undertake. It is an experience to look forward to. After I returned from the fellowship, I have also mentored other leaders to participate. I have a record of success stories of three people that I assisted in becoming a fellow.
THE IMPACT: Once again, you have been elected by your party as a Councillorship candidate. Why are you going back to represent your people since you have achieved all these as a Councilor?
Hon. Jessica Oba: Earlier in this interview, I mentioned that we have learnt a lot in this tenure and some of these things learnt, if we had it written down, it would have saved us time and energy. Now, we can see clearly and the constitution still gives us the opportunity to represent our people, and our people and the party have put their trust in me as an individual to serve another tenure. These are initiatives that I can still replicate and improve upon for my community and council. There are other things too that we could still do that we didn’t pay much attention to while we were learning our left from our right. Through my journey in this legislative session, I have been able to meet, network with people that can help our community grow better. Part of my manifestoes for the coming session is to create a platform where we can pitch young leaders and entrepreneurs with investors. I mean young people that have ideas. This idea actually started from our programme for the petty traders that we did then, but it wasn’t clearer that we can put machinery together to advance it. But now, we have grown and we are in a generation that things keep changing, and so, as a representative that has seen how things have changed and still changing, and in position to bring the desirable change into our community, it is in the best interest of our people to assist in initiating that change. The world has moved and thank God that we now have senior legislators with us that are also doing everything to put Ikorodu Division in the limelight. In addition, in the course of my journey, I have been able to work around the UN, Mastercard and mobilise for the body. There is this female leadership entrepreneurship program by the Mastercard in Ikorodu Division, and I have been able mobilise for them in about three trainings. These are people that we can partner with and bring them to Ipakodo as community where we can pitch our young people with the ideas and resources that they have and use them in placing Ipakodo very well on the global map. Those are just some of the reasons, because there are still a lot that we have.
THE IMPACT: What is your message to people in Itasin, Ipakodo, Ebuta – Iga and other sections of your ward?
Hon. Jessica: I am speaking as a daughter of the soil of Ipakodo, that I am grateful for given me their mandate and trust for four years and I know for sure that I have tried everything within my ability to make them proud. While I was in the US, it was all about the council woman from Ipakodo and I still want them to let us put Ipakodo in the larger picture and properly on the global map. They should trust me again with their mandate and they should expect something bigger to come from the next administration through my representation at the local government. I want them to come out in their large numbers on the 12th of July to vote for me, their daughter, Enitan Jessica Oba. I promise that to the best of my ability, l will make them prouder. So, my people in Ojediran, Malete, Abule -Onigo, Araromi, Papa, Solebo, Olu – Oo, Itasin, Alogba, Ebte – Iga and Ipakodo, I want you all to, please, give me your trust again by coming out to vote for me. I promise to make Ipakodo better. Ipakodo can be greater and we can achieve more together.
THE IMPACT: The Ikorodu terminal of the Nigeria Port Authority, is a very big institution and it is a major facility within the Ipakodo community, particularly your ward. However, you said earlier that the port is not responsive to the community, how do you mean? How have you tried to involve the port or partner with them to bring programmes to your people…(cuts in)?
Hon. Jessica Oba: Yes! I have many ideas that I can impact greatly on the people of Ipakodo, one of which is the Clean Cooking Initiative that I have always thought about and l have made moves to actualise it. I approached the Nigerian Port Authority twice to sponsor this initiative in Ipakodo community. The idea is to help our women cook better through clean energy sources, because of their health and prevent environmental hazard. As a matter of fact, many of them use plastic waste and rubbers as fuel and these are hazardious to their health, and that of the men and children and of course, the ecosystem. In the cause of pushing this campaign, I have approached the Nigerian Port Authority twice. I think that they changed leadership the second time that I approached them and they made us to understand that they are not interested in any CSR at the moment and I was like wow.
We are planning to go back but at the moment, the Nigeria Port Authority is not ready to establish something really tangible for the people of Ipakodo, where they are running their operations.
THE IMPACT: What are your expectations from the Nigeria Port Authority, Ikorodu Lighter Terminal?
Hon. Jessica: NPA is a national parastatal that is big enough to do a solid community project, and there are so many things that they can do within our community. At the moment, the World Bank is helping us to renovate the only health centre in Ipakodo and some other wards within Ikorodu West LCDA. These are things that we expected that NPA can also do for us. Also, the Clean Cooking Initiative is also a fantastic idea, because it is about the distribution of cooking gas to people to make use of in their homes. These will be given to the families that need them, those that are still cooking with local sources like firewood and the rest. There are so many initiatives that the NPA can do for us. They can even employ or train youths in our community on what they do. They can employ our youths and train them. This is how they can make direct impacts on the community. We can also partner them in training youths in Artificial Intelligence technology, marine engineering and others. The focus now is on the youth between 18 to 40, and there are so many things that they can be engaged with.
THE IMPACT: You also mention something about Ebute – Iga. Looking at that environment which is a slum, what would be your appeal to the state government, particularly in addressing the flooding issues and other challenges in the community?
Hon. Jessica Oba: I have had a lot of one – on – one contacts with the people of Ebute – Iga, and they have been able to present their needs on numbers of occasions. I give thanks to Hon. Babajimi Benson that installed solar street lights in Ebute – Iga. The solar lights are quite a lot that they illuminates the Ebute – Iga environment, but they still need more. Myself and the Ebute – Iga CDA Chairman have also approached the Ministry of Environment and as a matter of fact, we have gotten fantastic responses. We are told that they have noted the drainage system in the next year’s budget, because it would take quite a lot to construct such a drainage system needed in Ebute – Iga. Ebute – Iga has quite a lot of educated people and professionals in various fields. So, these are people that should tap into modernization going on around us and it starts with a good road that will lead into the community. Ebute – Iga needs a road and it is not such a long distance from the main road. The community has produced quite a lot of quality men and women such as Sen. Wasiu Eshinlokun and Prince Abiola Kosoko among others. There are so many things that Ebute – Iga can benefit, starting with good roads, and good drainage systems to help boost its economic and social lives so that the community won’t be left behind. Ebute-Iga is actually rich in culture and tradition, and such facilities would go a long way in protecting the cultural heritage therein. When we sit down to talk about how Ebute – Iga came about, how people came down there to fish, sell and exchange in the era of trade by barter. Part of these histories is also the eight days market beside the ultra -modern Ikorodu West market. It is a market that we grew up to know and it is a market where you can find anything that you are looking for. So, people always look forward it every eight days. Immediately after Ebute market, the next is Iworo market. From all that I have heard about Ebute – Iga, it was a very fantastic era.
THE IMPACT: Thanks.
Hon. Jessica: Thank you sir.
