LAWMAKER LAUDS FASHOLA AT IKORODU OGA DAY

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Ikorodu Constituency 1, Hon. S.O.B. Agunbiade, has extolled Governor Babatunde Fashola's administration, saying the governor has done wonders.

Agunbiade, who was guest at the grand finale of the Ikorodu Oga celebrations held in Ikorodu recently, said the governor had put his political opponents who had thought he was making empty promises during the campaigns to shame.

Agunbiade said Fashola had started implementing the projects he promised to embark on during his second term in office, including the Ipakodo-Ibeshe Road and the Awolowo-Itamaga Road in Ikorodu. He assured residents that the Mile 12-Ikorodu Road Project would soon be done. He also said the governor would soon start work on the Ipakodo Jetty.

Earlier, Chairman of Ikorodu Development Association (IKODASS), Otunba Lamidi Afolabi Gbadamosi, had stressed the need for all Nigerians to partner with government at all levels to develop the grassroots and, in the process, wipe out poverty from the country. The ex-permanent secretary in the Lagos State Government said only a collective effort by everyone can compliment the grassroots development efforts of government to nip the menace of poverty in the mud.

The community leader cited the example of his association, IKODASS, which he said, has been organizing bursary and scholarship awards to students of the town, apart from participating in the renovation of the Ikorodu General Hospital and the Home Economics Centre for primary schools in the town. He said the youth empowerment programmes the association had engaged in were aimed at engaging the youths in productive ventures thus preventing them from involving in criminal activities.

Also speaking about the event, which was the 20th edition, a one-time commissioner for agriculture and cooperatives in Lagos State, Kaoli Olusanya, said the association had enjoyed lots of support from the Monarch of Ikorodu, Oba S.A.A. Oyefusi; his wife, Olori Muyibat Oyefusi; other monarchs of the division, past presidents of the association as well as other well-meaning indigenes of the town who had contributed their time, talents and resources to lift the image of the town. While stressing that the association was not done with developmental activities in Ikorodu, Olusanya said the association would soon embark on the construction of toilets, bore holes and overhead tanks at the Home Economics Centre as well as the State Library, while efforts were also being made to empower the security agencies to protect the residents of the town from the activities of hoodlums.

Meanwhile, the grand finale of the week long event was held on Saturday with a visit to the monarch, Oba S.A.A. Oyefusi, while funds were also raised for the construction of the proposed Civic Centre, which was expected to gulp about N3.5m.

Ikorodu remains one of the viable economic centres of Lagos State as it has one of the largest concentrations of industries in West Africa- with most of them being at the Odongunyan Industrial Estate.