The Budget Supervisor of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, Hon. Azeezat Owonla-Odubajo, has donated a borehole to the residents of the Baruwa Ward-E community, providing them with access to clean water.
The project was commissioned on Thursday, December 28, by the former council boss of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, Shakiru Adisa, and Azeezat’s father, the Baale of Cardoso Community.
Azeezat explained that she was moved to initiate the project in the area due to the lack of power supply and the long distance residents had to cover to access water.
She said: “This is not the first or the second project facilitated by my humble self here, but I just felt the pains of people grappling with the unavailability of power supply coupled with the long distance they travel to get water.
“So, I just thought of something that I could do that could ease their stress and as well help the federal and state government for people to get the dividends of democracy because they put us there, so why not give something tangible enough and that will help ease their stress?
“The people will always want more; I pray that God gives me more grace to at least give them as my quota to influencing development. God so good we have been able to facilitate power supply through a prepaid meter arrangement and also a generator set for them to revert to when there is a power outage because I want it to be 24 24-hour water supply. I have handed it over to the CDA chairman for maintenance and supervision.”
“In this regard, I also want to appreciate our Governor, our own Mr. Sellable- Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we want to say thank you so much, because he has been a huge inspiration for young people like myself too, to make sure we give back to the community.”
Azeezat encouraged women to chart a path forward for themselves in 2024, urging them to reject the notion that they cannot succeed in politics without compromising their values.
She presented examples of successful women who have utilized the resources available to them to make positive contributions to society.
She said: “It is the season of Christmas and New Year, I want to appeal to women like myself most especially young women, you don’t have to see politics like a stigma or something bad, it is what we all have to get involved in and do, because together we can. If you say one person should be doing it and you are at the back it is not too good, it is better we are all together and we are doing this.
“Leadership is not all about politics, you can be a leader in your community and do great things, so I would charge every young woman like myself, and there are so many opportunities for women lately.
“It is not just about what you can offer with your body, now we have so many opportunities women are at the forefront, and we have many women on top, Dr. Betta Edu is a very good example, so I would advise women to please key into politics, leadership and mentorship and as well contribute to their community irrespective of any level they are in life.”
During the inauguration of the water project, Shakiru Adisa, former Executive Chairman of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, acknowledged Azeezat’s commitment to serving the community.
He praised her dedication to giving back and emphasized that the community had no regrets in appointing her as a Supervisor at the LCDA.
Adisa said: “I thank Azeezat Omoowo who is the initiator of this water project, she thought it wise to give the dividend of democracy back to the people who voted the party in. She is a young woman with a heart for doing wonderful things for people.
“She has done several empowerments within a short time like empowerment to the whole residents of Ayobo-Ipaja, she has given scholarships to many who are now in the higher institution, and this water project is another one here in the Orisun community.
“She wants them to enjoy free clean water, the CDA should ensure the proper maintenance of the borehole for it to last.
“They can also make time frames for the facility to operate say in the morning from 6-9 am and evening from 4-8 pm to ease management of the borehole quite well, we have no regret that she was appointed one of our supervisors in Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA.”
Azeezat’s father, High Chief Morouf Owonla Baale of Cardoso where the project is being sited, expressed his satisfaction with the project being implemented in their community.
He noted that it was a proud moment for him as a parent, knowing that his child had taken the initiative to facilitate a commendable project within their neighbourhood.
He stated: “I feel fulfilled because for a son of the soil to be doing a wonderful thing like this is very impressive, this is what we expect from her and I am sure more is still coming through her to Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA not limited to this community.
“All we need to do for her is to pray for a long life and good health for her to continue with the good job she had in mind. She had good intentions and plans we are not surprised as she is doing it because she happens to be a son of the soil and that is exactly what is expected of her.
The traditional leader also tasked well-meaning individuals in the community not to leave developmental responsibilities to the government alone, given the myriads of issues they had to attend to in society.
Baale Owonla said: “Our needs here are not limited to one thing so many are still not being done like road infrastructure, stable electricity and so many other things like that but all I just believe is that government alone cannot do it, so in any form, we individuals too can contribute our quota, I think we should give them support.
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“They are trying so we cannot say we want to leave everything to them because in this place we don’t have good roads, we lack so many things but I believe with time, the government will come to our aid.”
He, however, urged the initiator to always look back and see to the maintenance of the water project as well.
“We can’t leave it for the community to maintain, they don’t know the purpose and motive of the initiator, and she has to come around to check, to aid maintenance she needs to give support regarding that too.”
For Mr. Akinwunmi Kayode Olawale the Chairman Platinum CDA Orisun Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, the gesture by Azeezat is a very wonderful one as it will ease the problem people encounter in their effort to access clean water before now.
Akinwunmi Kayode Olawale, the Chairman of the Platinum Community Development Association (CDA) in Orisun Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, described Azeezat’s gesture as wonderful. He highlighted that the project would significantly alleviate the difficulties people previously faced in accessing clean water.
He noted: “Before now people go about looking for water, this nearby Church later started providing us water to help out but with this wonderful project she has just done in our community, we really appreciate it as it will go a long way to address water supply issue here.”




