By
The event was grand with all the trappings of royalty. It was the 33rd Igbogbo Day and the 5th Coronation celebrations of His Royal Majesty, Alayeluwa, Oba (Barrister)AbdulSemiu Orimadegun Kasali, Emugoriade 1 , Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom.
The chairman of the occasion, the urbane and suave Distinguished Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA, the Chairman, Senate Committee On Industries graced the auspicious occasion in the company of his friends; Otunba Teni Zaccheaus , Mr Muyiwa Fagbemi and Mr Ali Bedhoum alongside close political associates like Otunba (Dr.) Saheed Oladapo Ibikunle (Omoluabi), Hon Olusegun Olulade amongst others.
The Senator’s arrival generated rousing joy and accolades from Igbogbo indigenes and eminent personalities who have become acquainted with the giant strides the Senator has been making in the last 11 months in the saddle as the Senator representing the people of the Lagos East Senatorial District.
As a courteous, thoroughbred Yoruba son, the Senator paid homage to the royal fathers on the high table. They are Alara Of Ilara, HRM Oba Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, Olubeshe of Ibeshe, Oba Richard Ogunsanyan, Oba Mudashiru Ajibade Bakare-Agoro, the Ranodu of Imota and HRM Oba Abdulateef Badru, Elejigbo of Lamgbasa and titled chiefs.
In his speech, Senator Abiru extolled the industry of Igbogbo people and remarked that illustrious sons and daughters of the kingdom have contributed immensely to the development of Lagos State and by extension Nigeria.
He said, “Coincidentally, you are also blessed with a Monarch who is well educated as a lawyer with vast experience in private and public practice before his ascension to the throne of his forefathers.”
“I therefore enjoin you to continue to give Kabiesi the needed collaborative support and cooperation to foster economic prosperity for the upliftment and development of Igbogbo Kingdom.”
‘When Kabiesi informed me that I will be the Chairman of this occasion, I gladly accepted without any hesitation considering the bond between me and Kabiyesi and the unalloyed support that I got from the people of Igbogbo during last December Lagos East Senatorial bye-election”.
To the admiration of guests, and indigenes of Igbogbo land, Abiru gave the stewardship of the mandate that was entrusted to him barely a year ago.
The Senator said he was working committedly, ‘charting new paths in alignment with the new normal and by extension global thinking’.
He continued, ‘’Ladies and gentlemen, Distinguished guests, our programmes and interventions are people-centered which are meant for the benefit of the larger number of our esteemed constituents.
‘’You all will recall that I was elected Senator on December 5, 2020 and this was just about the time we were all coming out of the economic crisis caused by the global pandemic of Covid-19 which affected a lot of low income earners and small and medium businesses.
‘’To ameliorate the impact of this on the people of Lagos East, since January 2021, I have been facilitating direct credit transfers to over 2500 people as a form of Covid-19 relief support.
‘’We have done this consistently for the past eleven months. The beneficiaries were drawn across the 98 wards in the 16 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs in the Lagos East Senatorial district.
‘’Also upon my assumption as the Senator representing Lagos East, I conducted a Needs Assessment and one of the things that featured was the need to upscale the technological and digital skill sets of youths for them to be globally competitive in order to contribute to national development.
‘’In addressing this needs gap, I am currently setting up a Community Innovation Hub in partnership with Co-Creation Hub, a world class Innovation Centre in Lagos to train youths in my senatorial district on relevant soft skills and build best entrepreneurs that can compete in the ever dynamic global economy.”
‘’This will be privately funded by me through my foundation, Tokunbo Abiru Constituency Team Foundation (TACT).”
‘’On the 14th of October 2021, I gave bursary awards to 600 indigents but brilliant students across Lagos East Senatorial District who were thoroughly selected on merit by an Independent Board.”
‘’In the present economy, it is a general knowledge that the Micro, Medium, Small Enterprises (MSMEs) form the largest business operators in Nigeria and there is a need to enhance their capacity for economic recovery.
‘’In line with this, on Monday 8th November 2021, I organized a one-day Business Clinic for 1000 MSMEs across the 98 wards and 16 LCDAs to build the capacity of these businesses and I announced a N100,000,000 (One Hundred Million Naira) Constituency Intervention revolving Loan, which will be topped by additional 100 Million Naira from the bank of Industry.
‘’I have also moved the motions for increased funding for accelerated completion of Ikorodu-Ishagamu Road; and the rehabilitation of Ikorodu Itoikin Road.”
“I am happy to report that the motion has led to the inclusion of the funding of Ikorodu-Shagamu in the SUKUK program which is a special financing service’’.
Senator Abiru announced contributions made by him and his friends for the construction of the Igbogbo Township Hall.
Dignitaries who attended the occasion include; Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Bello, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof. Adenike Boyo, Registrar LASU, Mr. Emmanuel Fanu, Labarian LASU, Dr. Layi Adebayo, Provost ACOED, Lafiaji Okunneye, Registrar ACOED, Bursar ACOED, Adeyanju Adebisi, Rector LASPOTECH, Dr. Oluremi Nurudeen Olaleye, Hon. Tokunbo Wahab , Provost MOCPED, Prof. Nosiru Onibon among others.
