FOLASHADE OLABANJI-OBA: ‘IKORODU IS ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING COMMUNITIES’, URGES YOUTHS TO PUT VALUES FIRST
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
Aarebinrin Hon. Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba, Vice Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government
The Vice Chairman of Ikorodu LGA, Aarebinrin Folashade Olabanji-Oba was full of thanks after a successful LG/LCDA polls which took place last Saturday and has culminated to her being returned for a second term in the administration of the local council. She believes that the act displayed by the good people of Ikorodu has emboldened her to bring more value.
‘It is all about the people’, the Hon. Princess in a brief Interview with Oki Samson of Trek Africa Newspaper said ‘and so in making sure that the votes count is in making sure that there is value added and we all enjoy the true dividend of democracy. Obviously, we are very much a work in progress but so much more in good governance is what is expected this time.’
Hon. Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba, Vice Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government giving her Keynote Speech as a Guest Speaker at the South West Youth Economic and Security Summit held at Alausa-Secretariat Ikeja.
In her praise for her party APC, she said: ‘First and foremost, I want to thank the great leadership of our party All Progressives Congress (APC) – our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the GAC, the Governor – there is a reason why Lagos is the state of excellence and I want to say that we are proud that our Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is excellence-personified. I want to thank the good people of Ikorodu and Lagos state for the peaceful, credible, and fair elections but most importantly, the victory is for us all. It is people’s project.’
‘We have the Governor’s THEMES agenda but at the local level, there are different needs for different communities so every politics is local and we have to cater for the needs of our people. Ikorodu is one of the fastest-growing communities in Lagos made so by the location, affordability and so on. But also we are saying Ikorodu to the world so that when you think Lagos, we want you to think of Ikorodu as that place to reside and do business. Yes we have teething problems but I thank God that i am part of this great party that listens which ensures that we are not just hearers but doers.’
The Vice Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government also used the opportunity of her exclusive chat with Trek Africa Newspaper to challenge Nigerian youths. ‘The youth are the lifeline of the society. They are not just leaders of today, they are also leaders of tomorrow and so you cannot give what you don’t have, a lot needs to be done to make sure you invest in them and for them to know we are here for them.’
She advised: ‘You must be ready to learn, the world is getting competitive and because of that you must rise above every challenge to do better. You must be teachable. You must know that this land is ours and we must be a blessing to it, be a solution provider, quit the blame game, engage, occupy the space, we need more people. Shortchanging ourselves does not prepare the youth for tomorrow. Let them come closer, listen in good faith, and trust the system. It is a process. Yes, we have needs but some can be deferred if you put value first. When you add value, the price you will charge later becomes priceless. Be the very best of you.’
‘Be an asset. Be a role model. Be an answer to Nigeria’s problems. I see beyond the box if we only we can all understand that we have power in numbers. We cannot remain consumers and not produce and expect dollar rate to go down. No pain, no gain. We all need to go back to the drawing table. What is sellable abroad that they too can buy from us, what value are you bringing. Give yourself a 5-year game plan and say in 5 years, this where I want to see myself. It is about the mindset, the unseen control the seen’, the astute administrator urged.
