We'll Revisit Rural Communities For 21st Century Development, Says Lagos Commissioner

...To Reward CDAs For Self-Help Projects

Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Mrs Yetunde Arobieke

AgegePulse Magazine

The Lagos State Government said it planned to transform Revisit Rural Communities For 21st Century Development, would  improve standard of living of the residents at grassroots level and also attract more business opportunities to the areas.

Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Mrs Yetunde Arobieke, said this during a media briefing on the “2019 Community Day Celebrations” which would begin on Friday.

She said that the 2019 Community Day was organised to celebrate the grassroots people for complementing government’s efforts in their communities.

“We are here to celebrate our people in the communities for their various self-help projects, promotion of peace and security and advising the state government on matters affecting community development,” she said.

According to her, prizes will be given to Community Development Associations (CDAs) that emerged winners during the project assessment across the local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

AgegePulse learnt that the three-day event tagged: “Revisiting Rural Community for 21st Century Development,” would  feature church and mosque services, Health Walk/Talk and grand finale at Police College, Ikeja, starting today Friday 8th of November, Special Jumat Service till Sunday 17th November, Sunday Thanksgiving Service.

2018 holds better deal for Lagos residents, investors – Ambode

Agege Pulse Magazine

…Approves N28.5m grants, vehicles to Community Development Committees

…As 3900 CDAS endorse Gov for second term

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday joined in the celebration of the grand finale of 2017 Community Day, assuring that the year 2018 would be better for residents and investors in terms of implementation of projects and policies aimed at making life comfortable and easier.

Speaking at the programme held at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja with the theme: "Community Affinity: Aligning Lagos Communities With Private Sector," Governor Ambode said though a lot had been done through implementation of various projects and initiatives by his administration across the communities, but a lot more would be done to truly transform and secure the future of the State.

The Governor, who at the event was endorsed for second term, particularly urged the people to continue to support the State Government and be faithful to their civic obligations, saying that government in turn would reciprocate by implementing various projects across the State.

He said: "Y2018 is going to be a better year for Lagos. It is a year we hope to achieve phenomenal increase in the State's ability to sustain itself by persuading more people to share in the burden of the transformation going on across the State.

"You are all witnesses to the modest projects our administration has executed such as the reconstruction of Airport Road, Light Up Lagos, the Oshodi Transport Interchange, the Abule Egba and Ajah bridges, the ongoing Agege flyover, waterways channelization and construction of jetties, the Ikeja Bus Terminal, the Badagry Marina and the massive deployment of security personnel and equipment across the State.

"What you have not seen, but which is on the way is the implementation of the embedded power project which will bring electricity to every home in Lagos. You have also not seen the reforms which we are going to execute in the transport sector which will ease connectivity across the State.

"With your support through the performance of your obligations, we can safely commit ourselves in the conviction that by the end of Y2018, our communities will be better with more youths gainfully employed and small businesses growing. With a home to return to and a community to live in, our dream of a more secure and prosperous State will be another Nigerian wonder."

While emphasizing the importance of the Community Day celebration, Governor Ambode said community development was at the heart of the policies of his administration and a key consideration in every government decision.

“It captures the vision and the mission of our administration to continually work for the general good of the people. At inception, we declared clearly our commitment to give governance to the citizens of this State, young and old, men and women, able and challenged.

“We said in our manifesto that from where ever you come from, as far as you labour and add value to the productivity of our dynamic and vibrant State, our government shall work with you to make Lagos State a better, livable and more prosperous home. Two and a half years after we signed that contract with you, we can confidently reflect on our policies, programmes and projects and assert that we have been true to our vision and we have been very honest in our mission,” the Governor said.

Besides, Governor Ambode commended the Community Development Associations (CDAs) for their various self-help initiatives aimed at developing their neighborhood, and urged them to continue.

At the event, Governor Ambode presented three vehicles to the best CDAs which performed creditably-well in executing projects at their neighborhood to complement government, while he also increased the prize of the community development competition to six vehicles next year.

The Governor also approved immediate support fund of N500, 000 each to all the 57 Community Development Committees (CDCs) in the State totaling N28.5million.

In his goodwill message, Chairman of Lagos State Community Development Advisory Committee, the umbrella body for all the 3900 CDAs in the State, Alhaji Tajudeen Quadri, said having reviewed the activities of Governor Ambode ever since assuming office, the body has decided to support him for a second term.

He said: “Having reviewed the activities and lofty accomplishments of our silent achiever in the area of equitable distribution of road infrastructures, health, education, security, emergency response, welfare especially with consideration for people living with disabilities, among others, we have unanimously resolved to support this administration for a second term to consolidate on the gains of the last 30 months in our match towards a megalopolis of our dream.”

HOW WE PLAN TO DECIMATE OUT-OF-SCHOOL PUPILS IN AGEGE - Majiyagbe

Although, statistics have shown that the number of pupils enrollment into Agege primary schools has drastically increased since the square peg for the job was placed in the square hole with the appointment of Hon. Olalekan Olatunde Majiyagbe as the Executive Secretary of Agege Local Government Education Authority, LGEA, the need to further decimate the number of out-of-school children that litter the nooks and crannies of Agege remains on the front burner for him.

In a chat with Agegepulse Magazine, the brilliant dude spoke on the journey so far, the present state of the LGEA and plans to make primary education more interesting and appealing for every child in Agege. Excerpt:

“As a trained psychologist and counselor, I’ve been able to transform and impact lives through counseling. I am one of the team that produced the first gifted and talented child in Lagos state from Yewa Pry School, Agege. The survival of every man is in his brain; your brain generates solutions depending on how you apply it to issues. 

For someone to succeed in life he/she must identify his/her inner treasury. I became a consultant to World Bank on community issues around age 27, which was as a result of the cognitive academic system operating during our time. Our parents were ready to give physical support and assistance to us unlike now that parents are using money to buy their primary roles for their children. It is high time parents worked with teachers to build a better future for our pupils.

“In Agege, we have 50 Pry Schools and 2 special schools for children with special needs. Since I came in, we have been able to increase staff welfare, build more structures, organize periodic staff training for academic improvement and co-curricular activities. It is our believe that out of school children are products of unfavourable economy situations, what we are doing is to partner with market leaders to fish them out, though they are not too many, people use them as maids and as hawkers. We are working to have stakeholders meeting with CDAs and other stakeholders in order to develop a working paper and statistic on them. Through this, we'll proffer solution to that. Till date we have experience massive enrolment into our primary schools because parents appreciate government efforts to make learning accessible and appealing to pupils.

On his proposed 30days traditional dancing steps to mark his 10years investiture as the Asiwaju of Oko Oba Land, Majiyagbe said; "that is a new dimension to publicity, we want to create an euphoria to sensitize people that Asiwaju will soon celebrate 10th year anniversary. And that dancing step is not a regulated approach, I may not be in royal regalia, I can be at a point they will sing and dance and I will inform them to get ready for Asiwaju day. When the day gets closer, there will be royal movement on horse or open roof with guards and they will sing and dance at almost every point to dole out gifts to children all around. And when it gets to the D-day which is June 2017, it will be only church service and reception. I will also use the day to mark my 54th birthday.

On politics, he said; I've a commitment and vision to emerge Agege LG chairman. It's an age long dream because I've the wherewithal to bring succor to my people. We have tailor made plans to make Agege people happy. We’ve a strategy to run a successful Local Government system called Agege Model. I assure you that this model will be emulated by other LGAs in the long run".

Watch out for the full interview in the next edition of AgegePulse Magazine.