Mariam Akinloye & Austin Onah (SIWES Student)
As part of his administration’s aim of improving and expanding the educational facilities in Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Omo’ba Hammed Aroyewun, the Executive Chairman of the council has commissioned a block of classrooms that were fully rehabilitated and upgraded at Methodist Primary School, Igbogbo, as part of projects executed to commemorate his 100 days in office.
The infrastructure was equipped with 120 desks, benches and marker boards. Also commissioned were six units of toilets constructed by the administration for the use of staff and pupils of the school.
The building that has been fully rehabilitated by the new administration was abandoned for years and threatening to the staff and pupils of the school which is the first primary school in Igbogbo kingdom. The project work includes total overhauling of the roof and ceiling of the school and replacement with new ones, flooring and structural repair and construction of walkway for people with special needs/disabilities to access the building easily.
Joining the council administrator in the commissioning were HRM Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Bashorun, GAC chieftain, Asiwaji Kaoli Olusanya, Asiwaju of Ibesheland, Hon. Ameen Apanisile, Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, Hon. Taiwo Orenuga, Chairman, APC Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Hon. Gbenga Basanya, former Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Prince Jimoh Ogunmuyiwa, former Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Hon. Gbenga Oshin, former member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Yeye Bolanle Bashorun, former Sole Administrator, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Hon. Sesan Daini, former Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA and Alhaji Taiwo Odumbo, Education Secretary, LGEA
Aroyewun, speaking at the commissioning emphasised that his administration is embarking on what the residents of the council yearn for in their requests from him, which he said were in alignment with the agenda of both President Bola Tinubu and Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, Governor of Lagos State.
“Immediately we resumed office and went on tour to assess the needs of the people, we saw the need and put all this together and then, we put it into action. This is a school commissioning. We have commissioned two primary health centres. So, it’s an ongoing thing, and as you know, the needs are key to development.
“If you look at the RENEWEDHOPE Agenda of Mr. President and the THEMES – Plus Agenda of Mr. Governor, it’s in the same direction. The biggest needs of the people must be provided, and that is why we are here.
“We thank God that we are able to achieve this within a hundred days in 100 days in the office, to God be the glory.”
Aroyewun also assured people that his administration will continue to listen to them and provide them with more developmental projects.
“They should be expecting more. We got a massive number of votes when we contested. Therefore, we cannot afford to disappoint the people and the residents of Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA
“We adhere strictly to the party manifesto, party guidelines, and the policies of government from the federal or state government.”
On maintenance, the council chairman said: “Since there is school management, we will stress the importance of maintenance of this infrastructure through them.
“Those are the basic things. We must develop our maintenance culture.”
Asiwaju Olorunfumi Reuben Bashorun, who recalled the historical development of the school and Igbogbo/Baiyeku as a council, commended the council administrator for his conscious efforts in spreading his 100 days project across the three major parts of Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA.
He also thanked stakeholders for the continuous development of the school.
“I think that somebody has properly educated and enlightened the Chairman on the history of Igbogbo/Baiyeku. What he has done today, is like going back to 1955, when Igbogbo/Baiyeku was created. These are the three towns that agreed to form Igbogbo/Baiyeku council area – Baiyeku, Igbogbo and Ibeshe, there were others that we invited. Baiyeku has subsumed Oreta and Offin that are also aligned. It was Baiyeku that was at the forefront at that time. Ibeshe was the only one that identified with us while Ipakodo refused to go with us.
“Today, he has gone to commission a project in Ibeshe and Baiyeku today and he is also here in Igbogbo, well done, Mr Chairman. God will continue to guide you and your team, there is nothing much to say again than to urge and continue to pray for you and ask this community to continue to thank you,” the elder statesman said.
Asiwaju Kaoli Olusanya, the Asiwaju of Ibesheland while commending the chairman for the good start, charged the administration to continue to feel the impulse of the people to be able to satisfy their needs.
“I want to commend the chairman and his team for having a listening ear to advise. He started on a very good note, by carrying out a needs assessment of the community as inputs for his programme, for his projects, and policies. And from that, all the projects we have commissioned today were a result of that needs assessment – Primary Health, Primary School, and Security Office.”
He charged the administration with the need to continue to focus on people’s -oriented projects.
“So, on that note, if he continues with that trend, by no means he would be able to tailor his performance to the needs of the grassroots, which is what the President is asking the local governments – to apply the resources he’s making available to them.”
The party leader emphasised the importance of education when he charged the Aroyewun’s administration to focus on education to empower the children for the future.
“I will say number one is education, number two education and number three education. It’s education first. When you provide primary level education to children, it’s human capacity building. It’s human capacity that you build that will build other things. Any other thing you want to build, for us, is human capacity you build.
“So, it’s education. That’s what Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Jakande did precisely and that is why Lagos State and the Western Region are ahead of other regions in Nigeria. If that is a formula, then we should focus on education, education, education, that’s all. Thank you, sir.
“If you want development; if you want growth and development, it is not in bricks and mortar, It’s in the capacity of the people; the education of the people; in what we build in the people and there’s no better way than making that investment in the young ones; in the little children. We know a child that is well brought up today in education will tomorrow bring greater things,” Asiwaju Kaoli noted.
In his royal remarks, HRM Oba Semiudeen Kasali, who was represented by Chief Jelili Sanni, the Ayangade of Igbogbo Kingdom, thanked the chairman for continuing the developmental strides of his predecessor and wished him and his administration well.
Also speaking, Alhaji Taiwo Odumbo, described the projects as a huge investment in the future of Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA.
“What we are witnessing today is just beyond the construction of bricks and mortar. What we are seeing is nurturing future generations. We are building investment so that all our future generations will have hope and that is exactly what we’re experiencing today.”
Other speakers and Head of the school, also thanked the administration of Aroyewun in the infrastructural development of Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA especially in the area of education.
Other guests at the commissioning were Honourable Councillors, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Ahaji Sefiu Ogunyemi, APC leader, Alhaja Aroyewun, mother of the Chairman, Mrs Omofolake Aroyewun, First Lady, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Mr Wasiu Olowu, Chief of Staff to the Chairman, Dr. Adeleke Dankuwo, President, Igbogbo Youth Forum, Mr Gbenga Oduniyi, former President, Igbogbo Youth Forum and BOT Chairman, Achievers’ Crew among others.
