In July 2018, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on doled out N500million as grant to 275 Community Development Associations (CDAs) to enable them complete their ongoing self help projects an initiative that is unprecedented in the history of Lagos State.
Like the saying that says to whom much is given much is expected, The Alimosho Mail Newspaper a foremost community Newspaper focused on the development of communities; we undertook the course to follow up on utilization of the released funds per LCDA and report accordingly. Mosan-Okunola LCDA was the first to visit, where three of her community associations benefited from the initiative namely Ifelodun Community Development Association (ICDA), “A” Zone Community Development Association and Water Residents Community Association
Ifelodun Community Development Association “Sector One” of Abessan Estate Ipaja a predominant of retirees community, with over 80% aged men and women its therefore a huge task of raising funds for projects owing to the usual challenges of receiving their pensions. Hence with the receipt of N1.25m from Governor Akinwunmi Ambode intervention fund, the community embarked on the completion of their multipurpose community hall which have been abandoned at its basement level as a result of lack of fund.
Speaking to our Akinfolarin Baruwa said that the community decided to embark on the completion of the multi purposes hall/ recreation center for the purpose of helping residents of the community to have a place for recreation and interaction, according to him since the estate is highly dominated by retirees and with the prevailing challenges of their condition, the center will be a place for them to connect with one another for the purpose of relaxation by means of playing indoor games which he believes will improve on their current living pattern. He added that though the association has plans to do further developmental works on the hall to make it more convenient and purposeful he continued by appreciating the executive governor of Lagos Mr Akinwunmi Anbode on the gesture and pray that God will continue to lead him in his endeavors for such a laudable initiative.
Some of the executives that spoke to us expressed their joy for the intervention funds and most especially thankful to the leadership of the CDA for being able to channel the fund to a valuable project as the multipurpose hall. The secretary of the association Mr Israel Ayodele Ayandipe was thankful to the state government for the initiative and urge her not to relent on such initiative as it will cause rapid developments within communities and also creat healthy rivalries in development while Elder Ajayi Bamidele noted that the hall could not have come at any other better time than now as he sees it as a rallying points for members of the community while thanking governor Ambode for the initiative and the leadership of the association for her wisdom.
Dr Baruwa hinted that already a member of the community had indicated interest in using the hall for a prayer session for her birthday noting that at the stage of completion achieved residents are allowed to use it for free pending the launching as it is still work in progress meanwhile they (residents) will be required to make provisions for tidying it up before and after their events. He also added that upon completion only financial members of the association will be qualified to benefit from the usage of the hall. While urging members of the community to maintain the level achieved so far and warn members with ill intentions to keep of the facility.
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Construction Site of Green Roof A Zone
“A” Zone Community Association is undoubtedly one of the richest CDAs in Alimosho LGA, hence their beneficial from the project intervention fund of governor Ambode is a blessing to the community. Also a community with high dominant rate of retirees but her advantageous position over other CDAs include a playing ground which has over the years accrued monies to her coffers.
According to the association’s chairman Mr Femi Ojo who also is the secretary of Mosan-Okunola CDC who informed our correspondent that the association has over the years had plan of replicating the famous Blue Roof at Alausa in her community tagged “Green Roof” hence with the intervention fund the association has gotten a quantum lip to commence the project. The project valued at about N10m has commenced with the initial release of N2m to the construction company with plans to drive for more funds for its completion in good time.
Mr Shomoye Adeola was full of praises to the performing governor in his words and he could not hide his displeasure on the current political development in Lagos state which is seem targeted at governor Ambode and was quick to wish the governor well in his future endeavors noting that he has left a legacy for posterity to judge with his achievement in such a short time in office and said that the intervention initiative is a wonderful one that is capable of transforming the entire Lagos communities in a shortest period. For Mr Nwosu Uwajingba a retiree said that the hall will help them to live longer as there are plans to have indoor games for residents. He noted that the initiative should be emulated by whoever that emerges the next governor of Lagos state while Mr Adekoya M. D. agreed to what his fellow residents said.
The last but certainly not the least is Water Residents Association, several calls to have a meeting with the chairman Mr Emmanuel Oriade yielded no positive results as his schedules have continually clashed with ours, but on our investigation, members of the community are yet to see any project embarked upon by the executives of the association as we will continue to follow up on him to give details of the associations’ plan for the fund given to her.
