All roads led to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, last week Thursday.
It was the opening of the N3 billion Heritage Mall and Cocoa Mall built by the Yoruba business flagship, Odu’a Investments Company Limited.
The event served, in a way, as a reunion for various classes of Yoruba elite, including politicians, traditional rulers, technocrats, industrialists and other professionals. It was also an occasion for the celebration of the creative ingenuity and business acumen of the founding fathers of the conglomerate.
Not only were guests excited at another opportunity to reconnect with Odu’a, many relished the idea as a great addition to what was inherited from the founding fathers.
The inauguration was not just a celebration of a new project, the rich culture of the Yoruba was on display including the use of Yoruba Language in conducting part of the programme by culture ambassadors and other leaders.
As early as 9:00 am, the Cocoa Building complex, which houses the malls and the famous high rise Cocoa House, had been filled with vehicles. It was under the close watch of teams of policemen, men of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence.
Despite of the arrangement, there was still traffic around the building due to its location in the city’s central business district.
The sprawling canopies under which the programme held wore gold and white colour with a splash of green. It stood beside a cluster of entertainers who displayed at the various stands of official partners and other known brands such as Maggi, Milo and Airtel. Music blared from the stands while professional dancers rolled their bodies to the sweet tunes.
When the programme commenced at 1:00 0’ clock, the Awise of Osogbo, Chief Yemi Elebu’bon, was ushered to the microphone for the opening prayer by the trio of Messrs Yanju Adegbite, Laolu Olatubosun and Wale Rufai who served as compere for the occasion. Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu led in Christian prayer.
The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the conglomerate, Mr Adebayo Jimoh, was a happy celebrator, having capped his achievements as the helms man with the building of the malls. Jimoh’s leadership has seen many old properties of Odu’a redeveloped to modern estates and shopping complexes. Under his leadership, the real estate portfolio of the conglomerate has risen to over N 65 billion.
An elated Jimoh expressed satisfaction with the project, saying the huge malls have been attracting an enormous number of shoppers, giving store owners real value for their investments as well as changing the lifestyle of residents of the city.
He praised Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi for his “strong support on the project since the beginning”.
He gleefully reminded his audience that while Heritage Mall is sitting on the former Kingsway Store and the premises of the rested Sketch newspaper, Cocoa Mall is occupying the same building used by the defunct UTC Store but which was redesigned to meet modern needs.
For him, the malls are succeeding in keeping shoppers in Ibadan, thereby rejuvenating the economy of the city while also creating opportunities for locals in the area of business and jobs.
“We are adding to what we inherited.” Jimoh declared with glee.
He added: “we believe that the success of the Heritage Mall and Cocoa Mall in Ibadan will definitely encourage the opening of new malls in the Odu’a states of Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti.”
Jimoh said Ajimobi should be commended for making investors come to Oyo State through enthronement of peace and security, disclosing that over 2000 jobs have already been created by the two malls.
The Chairman of the firm, Alhaji Sarafadeen Alli, also lauded the project and thanked all stakeholders for supporting the project.
In his speech, Ajimobi commended Jimoh and his team and pointed out that the project was in line with his administration’s transformation agenda.
He said: “From the eye of commerce, the vision of the Board was to redirect home the footsteps and the foreign currencies of high net-worth individuals who spent time and money travelling far distances of Europe and America for shopping. Today, that vision has become a reality. It has given birth to one of the most attractive shopping malls in this part of the country and a place that anyone with an eye for shopping would not be at their shopping peril.
“Let me confirm to you that this vision by Odu’a Investment Company Limited in constructing these malls rhymes with our transformation agenda as an administration. Indeed, the zeal behind the vision is a replica of the can-do spirit with which we have broken the barriers of developmental impossibilities in Oyo State.
“You will recall that during my inauguration on May 29, 2011, I promised the good people of Oyo State that our administration would vigorously pursue the vision of peace and order, as against the chaos that we inherited. We also promised to run an efficient and result-oriented government that has an eye on making our state welcoming, business-friendly, leisure-friendly and an attraction to investors.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to report to you that, after successfully maintaining peace and order in the last two years or thereabout, after embarking on an aggressive environmental clean-up and provision of infrastructure, investors are now making Oyo State their Mecca.”
The governor, however, charged the company to replicate the mall in other owner states.
Tokunbo Omisore, an architect, who designed and partnered with Odu’a for the construction of Cocoa Mall, said he was satisfied for building an affordable and sustainable mall. He thanked WEMA Bank for providing the loan at a time other banks rejected the idea because the location is outside Lagos and Abuja.
Dignitaries at the event include a former military governor of the old Oyo State, Gen. Oludayo Popoola and representatives of the four other governors.
Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Dr Ganiyu Owolabi.
Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun was also represented by the state’s SSG, Taiwo Adeoluwa. While Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, was represented by the Director of Commerce, Mr Robert Adewole, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Legal Matters.
Traditional rulers at the event include the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Aladesanmi; Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle and Onitaji of Itaji, Oba Idowu Adamo.
The Ooni of Ife was represented by Oba Toyosi Akindoyin, who is the Jagunosin of Ife and Oba Adebowale Olafare of Erefe. The Olubadan of Ibadan was represented by the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Omowale Kuye while the Ataoja of Osogbo was also represented by his chiefs.
Others include the Chairman, WEMABOD Estates Ltd, Dr Ismail Adewusi; a former Chairman of Odu’a, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; Proprietor, Lead City University, Prof Jide Owoeye; Chief Lekan Alabi; Chief Mrs Alaba Lawson; Senator Olabiyi Durojaye; Senator Iyabo Anisulowo; Otunba Olajumoke Ogunkeyede, Tokunbo Omisore; Bashorun Dehinde Adegbofa; Chief Ayo Adebanjo; Sir Olaninun Ajayi and Baale Taye Ayorinde.
Others are Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu; President, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) Chief Bayo Oyero; Chief Bode Amoo; Alhaji Gboyega Arulogun; Apostle Sunday Popoola and Pastor Olubi Johnson.
Others include Chief Kola Bajomo; Head of Service, Oyo State, Alh. Tajudeen Aremu;
directors of subsidiaries, associate companies and partners of the conglomerate as well as
representatives of New Nigerian Development Company Ltd from Kaduna. They were led by Alj Alli Gombe.
Others are the Oyo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Akin Oke; Dr Lekan Are; Hon. Abiodun Awoleye; Hon. Saheed Fijabi and the Director-General, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), Mr Dipo Famakinwa.
