ITIRE-IKATE LCDA LEADER, HON. HAMMED IDRIS HAS DONE A LOT OF FACILITATION WITH HON. GBAJABIAMILA – ABDURRAZAQ BALOGUN • As Ward councillor delivers first-ever secondary school in Itire-Ikate, road constructions, scholarships, others in 1 year
By Yomi Oyelami, Trek Africa Newspaper
Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun (right) takes picture with Hon. Oladipupo Idris and wife, Modupeola Idris
The reality of Nigeria’s socioeconomic development, indeed Africa’s, emphasize the importance of ensuring that sustainable advancement must cascade down all tiers of government including the subnational governments. Extensive attention on the central government would no longer suffice.
It is against this backdrop that the Leader of Itire/Ikate 5th Legislative Assembly and Councillor of Airways Ward, Hon. Hammed Oladipupo Idris hosted the 2nd Annual Airways Ward Engagement Day today Thursday 8th June 2023. Trek Africa Newspaper can report that the Engagement Day themed ‘Robust Grassroots Governance: Panacea for a Prosperous Neighborhood’ held at the Itire/Ikate LCDA secretariat, 39/47 Airways road, Ijeshatedo, Surulere, Lagos.
Present at the robust engagement with members of the community were the Executive Secretary/CEO of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun; Chief of staff to Itire/Ikate LCDA chairman, Alhaji Mukaila Apatira; the Onikate of Ikate, HRM Abdulateef Adams, represented by high Chief Murphy Aribidesi; the Apex leader of Surulere zone, Pa D. O. Adelekan; Apex leader of Itire/Ikate LCDA and Akamuja, Chief Charles Ekundayo and wife, Mrs. Oluremi Ekundayo; Rt. Hon. Hakeem Arole Fansi; the Chairman of APC in Itire/Ikate LCDA, Alhaji Ayinde Kushimo; and Executive Secretary, Surulere Local Government Education Authority, Hon. Tunde Awoyelu.
Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun presents bursary certificate to scholarship winner, Master Akanni Emmanuel Erioluwa
Others are wife of the Councillor of the Airways Ward, Mrs. Modupeola Idris; the Supervisor of Education, Itire/Ikate LCDA, Prince Yomi Lawrence; the former Councillor, Airways ward, Hon. Elijah Lukosi; the Chairman of APC in Ward A, Hon. Elijah Lukosi; the Chairman of Community Development Committee, Itire/Ikate LCDA, Pa Abodunrin; the Chief Imam of Ijeshatedo Central Mosque, Alhaji Sulaimon Adebayo; Rasheed Amusan; Pa Abioye; the National Correctional Service officer in Itire-Ikate LCDA, OA Olasoji; and immediate past woman leader of Itire/Ikate LCDA, Alhaja Titilayo Savage.
Also in attendance to give their Leader, Hon. Oladipupo Idris the needed support are members of the Itire-Ikate 5th Legislative Assembly. They include the Deputy leader, Hon. Adesola Santos; Majority leader, 5th assembly, Hon. Isiaq Hakeem; Chief whip, Hon. Abiodun Azeez; Deputy majority leader, Olaoluwa Agbeyangi; Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Adewale Olori; sole female member of the Assembly, Hon. Adebisi Adetayo, and Clerk of the house, Mrs. Erolaja.
Speaking on his ideal for community development, the Itire/Ikate LCDA Ward A (Airways Ward) Councillor, Hon. Hammed Oladipupo Idris noted: ‘the bedrock of nation building begins with grassroot governance. Unarguably the local government iis the closest to the people. The significance of LGA in the federal government cannot be overemphasized. The task of representation has been pursued so far with all sense of sincerity. It is worthy of mention that I have worked harmoniously with members of the 5th Assembly.’
The Coucil Leader and Councillor of Itire-Ikate LCDA Ward A (Airways ward), Hon. Hammed Oladipupo Idris gives account of stewardship
‘As a legislator, our primary role is lawmaking. However the Constitution further vested on the legislature functions such as representation, oversight functions, checks and balances of the Executive arm, and constituency programmes. I have painstakingly discharged the aforementioned to the best of my capacity. Also I have used lobbying to facilitate the infrastructural development and empowerment programmes from the Office of the Honourable Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Member of Lagos House of Assembly, Hon. Mosunmola Sangodara’, Trek Africa Newspaper gathered from the exceptional lobbyist, Hon. Oladipupo Idris.
In this year, Trek Africa Newspaper can report that the innovative Leader of the Triple “I” Council, Hon. Hammed Oladipupo Idris facilitated the siting of the first secondary school ever in Itire-Ikate LCDA; the construction of Airways link road, Ilamoye street, and a second street courtesy of the support of the Speaker of Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. The Council Leader also donated a standing fan and washhand basins to enhance the Airways Prmary Health Centre. Hon. Idris love for education made him to start the Ola Brain quiz competition. After giving JAMB forms to indigent students, he assured that any student who scored above 250 marks will get N50,000 scholarship from him. This produced Miss Blessing Olamide and Master Akanni Emmanuel Erioluwa who scored 262 and 257 respectively. The best student of Ola Brain elementary quiz competition, a Priimary 6 pupil, Miss Abayomi Auwal got a bursary award of N25000 to fund her entrance into junior secondary school.
The Apex leader Surulere zone, Pa. D. O. Adelekan delivers goodwill message at Airways Ward Engagement Day
In his goodwill message, the Executive Secretary/CEO of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun hailed the Council Leader, Hon. Hammed Idris, ‘Let’s thank this man. First ever Secondary school brought into itire ikate LCDA. He has done a lot of facilitation with the support of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and I am happy that he has become the Chief of Staff to the President. This means that our help has not ended with him.’
Trek Africa Newspaper can report that Dr. Balogun used the opportunity to charge other councillors. ‘Our councillors should continue to strive. There is nobody that was forced to do this job. People will disturb you, so you can’t be tired, we are in this job to serve people. Governance is about feedback. Covid 19 taught us that money can fail. Please on our PHCs, whatever you can do to assist please do it for them.’
The LSSTF boss thereafter supported with 10 scholarships opportunities, ‘Because I am also a strong believer in education and having heard about what you are doing with education, I am supporting 10 more students with scholarships to continue the great work you are doing’, he told Hon. Idris.
The Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun delivers goodwill message at Airways Ward Engagement Day
On his part, the apex leader in Surulere, Pa D. O. Adelekan said about Hon. Hammed Idris, ‘He is the leader and he is showing leadership. He is not eating it all. God will be with you. You will go higher and higher. When someone is doing well, you should celebrate him.’
Adelekan advised the good people of the Airways ward and Itire-Ikate LCDA, ‘The council is the lowest in rank in administration. If you are angry, you can’t rush to Alausa but here you can carry your bed in anger to sleep in front of the secretariat. But I also have to tell you that it is not all about complaints, no single government can do everything. Advise your children that Yahoo pays nobody, let them study, let them invest in education, they will be like and even greater than the people who are on this high table.’
Further, the Akamuja, Chief Charles Ekundayo lauded Hon. Oladipupo Idris, ‘They use to call us troublesome Airways. I went to pray. Look at him today, he is laying a good foundation which is making a great change. I want to say no councillor has performed like him ever. He is humane and gentle leader and knows what to do. I will ask you to keep it up. By next year, do much more. I want you to lobby for some roads, particularly Sesanmoye street which is very central to this ward. I want you to also remember the leaders and members of the Ward, no matter how small, ensure you do something every year.’
Also, Rt. Hon. Arole Fansi added: ‘This is a good initiative. I will be excited if other ward leaders do this feedback mechanism. We are no longer in a military government. That’s the difference we want to see.’
Hon. Abiodun Ahmed Apatira said: ‘Let’s thank our council leader for the great work, look at the secondary school, the first ever in this LCDA and the roads here. Let’s pay our taxes and rates, you may have disputes but you come in and interact with them’.
The Apex Leader in Surulere zone, Pa D. O. Adelekan presents bursary certificate to winner of Ola Brain Elementary Quiz competition, Miss Abayomi Auwal
The Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun presents bursary certificate to scholarship winner, Master Akanni Emmanuel Erioluwa
The Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun (right) takes picture with Hon. Oladipupo Idris and wife, Modupeola Idris
The Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun delivers goodwill message at Airways Ward Engagement Day
Cross section of pupils of the 2 primary schools – Aguntasolo Primary School and Duro Oyedoyin Primary School – under Itire-Ikate LCDA
Itire-Ikate LCDA Council leader, Hon. Hammed Oladipupo Idris; wife, Mrs. Modupeola Idris take picture with Ola Brain scholarship winners
The Council Leader, Hon. Idris and the Akamuja, Chief Charles Ekundayo present equipments donated to health officers in Airways Ward PHC
Hon. Hammed Oladipupo Idris stands for the recitation of the National Anthem
Hon. Ahmed Apatira presents bursary certificate to scholarship winner, Miss Blessing Olamide
L-R: Wife of Coucil leader, Mrs. Modupeola Idris; Council leader, Hon. Hammed Idris; Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun; the Akamuja, Chief Charles Ekundayo; Rt. Hon. Hakeem Arole Fansi
