Wale Jagun with Ayoola Oladipupo & Taiwo Olaleye (SIWES Students)
-As 40 students get IDF bursary awards
Residents of Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have been charged to jettison unproductive patterns of the past and adopt a new path to transformational future by adopting courage that confronts excuses and challenges of the past.
Prof. Simeon Dosunmu of the Faculty of Education , Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos, who was the guest lecturer at the 9th Ijede Development Foundation (IDF) Quiz/Debate Competition & Annual Public Lecture, gave the charge at the event.
At the well – attended event, which took place at the TBT Event Centre, Ijede, the eminent scholar listed early marriage, voodoo enchantment and traditional fear -mongering, spirit of entitlement, fragmented efforts and disunity and political polarization as some of what he termed harsh hurdles and unproductive patterns of the past that are confronting the ancient town and preventing its progress.
To transform, Prof. Dosumu charged stakeholders in Ijede, to embrace technology for development, talent for transformation, tenacity for tomorrow, and partnership that propel.
He emphasised that Ijede cannot afford to be left behind in the fast changing global village, emphasized the need to empower children from within with skills and leadership capacity.
“The world is no longer analog. Ijede should not be either.
“We need: A community digital hub, perhaps sited at Ijede Hall or beside the Public Library, where youth can learn coding, graphics, data science; a smart market initiative where our Obun-Ale market women use mobile payment, online ordering, and e-commerce and internet access not just for leisure but for learning.
“If we do not code the future, we will be coded out of the future”, he said.
Calling for talent for transformation, the scholar urged capacity building for youth and rebranding of Ijede’s heritage into tourism.
“Our children must not only aspire to leave Ijede. They must learn to lead within Ijede. We must empower: artisans with digital tools, young creatives with platforms and local teachers with scholarships.
“Cultural custodians like Ajede masquerade performers, traditional drummers, and oriki chanters with rebranding support and tourism marketing drummers, and “A community that does not celebrate its champions will be conquered by outsiders”.
He further charged:
“Community change is harder but consistent tenacity conquers all terrains. From Ijede River Jetty to Egbin Power Station, let every hand hold a brick and every voice raise a banner. We have churches on every corner, but we must now turn our convictions into construction. We have mosques at sunrise and moonlight, but let our supplications translate to social services. Let the royal staff touch grassroots schools and streets”.
Calling for partnership in propelling development in Ijede, Prof. Dosunmu suggested four structured partnerships among the government, academia, private sector and the community.
“No community climbs by chanting alone. We need partnerships that propel. Let us build Quadruple Helix for Ijede:
“Government: From the LCDA to the Lagos State Ministry of Rural Development; Academia: Invite LASU, Unilag, and other institutions to run research, health drives, agricultural projects in Ijede; Private Sector: Approach banks, telecommunication companies, and developers for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects in infrastructure and tech and Community: Active town unions, vigilant community development associations (CDAs), and diaspora networks.
“Let us draw a diaspora directory mapping every Ijede indigene abroad and linking them to one local project. Let the Ijede Day celebration not end with pageantry but begin a performance audit of the town’s progress”, he added.
He beckoned on the stakeholders to challenge each church to adopt one school, mosque to fund one microenterprise and youth group to clean one road monthly.
Education Secretary, Alhaji Taiwo Odumbo, emphasized the importance of education, while stakeholders need to get involved in its development.
“Through my academic journey, I have come to realize that education is the foundation of progress. It shapes our minds, builds our confidence, and prepares us to take responsibility for the future.
“When I visited one of our education centers recently, I noticed that many students still lack access to proper learning tools, especially computers. Some have to share, and others have none at all. That reality touched me deeply.
“Education is for everyone, no child should be left behind because of a lack of resources”.
He explained his efforts in ensuring that pupils are supported with digital learning.
“That’s why we’ve started working on creating more computer sections in our centers. In fact, one student told me, “If learning computers is the only thing I can get from this program, I’ll pay for it myself.” That shows the hunger and passion for knowledge among our youth.
“We are also collaborating with the NPC and other local committees to make education more inclusive and skill-based. Our goal is not only to educate minds but also to empower our young people with practical skills that can change their lives.
“So, today, I want to thank everyone here — the representatives, the teachers, the parents, and the students, for believing in this vision. Together, we will continue to build a better educational system and a stronger future for all”.
Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo – Alogba, Chairman, Ijede LCDA who was represented by her, Vice Chairman, Hon. Kabir Kareem, commended the IDF for its efforts in developing the human capacity in Ijede LCDA, while also emphasizing the importance of education in the future of any society.
“I appreciate the founders, foundation leaders of this lovely initiative, IDF, which has been instrumental to the educational development in Ijede LCDA. As a result of IDF’s interventions, students that are benefitting today, will become professional leaders of tomorrow, that would protect the future of Ijede.
“Yoruba says that how tomorrow is going to be will be determined by the activities of today, IDF has been doing wonderful things and we all need to work with them.
“We must never toy with education, through which we prepare for the future, and as a result, I will appreciate members of the IDF for what they are doing through their personal earnings, commitment, energy, resources and their time, towards the betterment of our tomorrow”.
The council boss charged the beneficiaries of the IDF bursary awards to be serious with their education and develop themselves to be in position to replicate the gesture to others in future.
He also commended schools that participated in the quiz and debate competitions for the efforts, and charged them never to relent in their pursuit of academic excellence.
Speaking earlier, Alhaji Fola Salu, Chairman, IDF, said that the platform has been supporting students for the past years with N50, 000, a figure he said IDF intends to increase.
He explained that last year’s edition did not hold due to economic reasons and the need to focus on bridging the gap to consolidate on computer advocacy awareness on primary schools, another laudable initiative of the IDF.
“For the past 8 editions, the IDF has been giving N50,000 to each beneficial students. We intend to step-up the amount hopefully, this edition. Today, IDF shall present a total of forty (40) Bursary awards.
“Also, prizes for the Quiz and Debate Competitions in the three categories – Primary Schools, Junior Secondary Schools and Senior Secondary Schools, will be presented today. The preliminaries were held at Ijede LCDA secretariat Hall on Saturday 4th of October, 2025″, he said.
The IDF chairman thanked sponsors and stakeholders that have been assisting the IDF in achieving its aims.
Alhaji Salu also called for collective efforts among stakeholders to move Ijede forward.
“It is no more news that the country is going through surgical operation. Blaming games is not the solution, but rather individual and collective patriotic efforts is the solution.
“While the Federal Government is battling with the social, economic and security problems of this country, our various communities in general and ljede town in particular deserves our collective peace, mercy and prayers to be in the committee of progressive kingdoms. We must all come together to find solutions to our leadership problems.
“Hot tussle, blames and counter accusations are not the solution.
“We have no other city or town we can call our own legitimately. God had good reason for making us indigenes here. Should we, therefore, continue to fish in troubled water or what side of history do you want to be known for?
“I seriously appeal that we sheath our swords, unite, forgive, forget and come together to be counted and have a voice in the government of the state. Ijede is a beautiful town blessed with a lot of intelligent, willing-to-do human resources ready to tap the benefit of its aquatic splendor. I am sure by working together, we can triumph”, Alhaji Salu charged.
As part of the IDF support for education, 40 students across various higher institutions with good academic performances, were given N50,000 bursary awards each.
In the 2025 IDF Quiz competition, Egbin Kingdom Primary School, Luwasa Junior High School and Mahmud Ahmadiyya College emerged winners in the primary, junior and senior secondary schools categories respectively.
In the debate, Hadex Nursery and Primary School (77 points), Abule Eko Junior School also ( 77 points), and Abule Eko Community Grammar School (78 points), won in the primary, junior and senior secondary schools categories respectively.
Winners of the debate and quiz competitions received prizes and certificates, presented by the IDF.
A remarkable gesture was made by Alhaji Shina Oseni who donated a desktop computer to the foundation, as part of his commitment to promoting digital literacy and supporting educational advancement within the Ijede community.
Other dignitaries at the event were Dr. Ganiyu I. Agbaje, Chairman of the occasion, Hon. (Dr.) Abiodun Moshood Aro, Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Ikorodu Constituency II, represented, High Chief Musediku Aliu, Regent of Ijede Kingdom, Alhaji (Chief) Munir Opeifa, Arobadade of Ajiranland, Alhaja Taibat Amope Onilenla, Mogaji Adeen of Nigeria, Mr Wahab Abiru, Prince Adejeminiyi Thomas , Mr Wasiu Olaniyi Agoro, Otunba Lanre Kuye and Chief Isiaka, among others.
