‘If anyone is still asking what local governments can do, I say come to Agboyi-Ketu LCDA’ were the bold declarations of the Vanguard Icon of Grassroots Governance, Mayor Dele Oshinowo to Lagosians and indeed Nigerians as he scored another milestone in his developmental strides within the grassroots. He distributed the sum of NGN 75 MILLION to 1,500 small business owners in his local council, Agboyi-Ketu LCDA.It would be recalled that the Agboyi-Ketu LCDA Chairman, Mayor Dele Oshinowo was hailed by many dignitaries at a recent award ceremony for doing what some Governors have not been able to accomplish.
Further, the exceptional go-getter LCDA Chairman has set the bar so high for local council administration in Nigeria, making his Agboyi-Ketu LCDA a hallmark of development for the 774 LGAs in Nigeria. The erstwhile den of criminals around Mile 12 has been transformed into highbrow estates. He has also built stadium, schools, health centres, bridge, and roads to provide infrastructural facelift. In the area of human development, the savvy administrator supported the educational progression of indigent students with purchase of forms, supported MSMEs with grants, and provided skills empowerment and business support for youths and women, all of which has deepened the peace, stability, and tolerance which reigns in the local council.
Speaking about the multifarious achievements at the presentation of NGN 50,000 grants to 1500 MSMEs owners in the Council Secretariat yesterday, the great grassroots mobilizer, Mayor Dele Oshinowo hinted about the WeLift Empowerment Scheme, ‘This is not just another event in our calendar, it is a continuation of a promise and reaffirmation of a commitment. When we envisioned the WE LIFT empowerment initiatives, it was never about numbers or headlines, it’s about impact. It is about crafting a deliberate response to the silent struggles around us. This is not a photo-op. It is intentional. It is sustained and it is deliberate.’
‘Last year alone, we disbursed 200 million in direct grants under our WE LIFT Umbrella. From WE LIFT 450 to WE LIFT 400, from our hospital senior care outreach to Relief 1000. And the WE LIFT Training and Graduation Accord. We have gone deep into the community, served our people, and offered more than the world. We offered action, empathy, and empowerment. What we do here is more than governance, it is care, responsibility, and love.’
‘WE LIFT is about the single mothers who are selling by the roadside, the elderly who still stretch their bones to earn a living, the youth with dreams but no seed to sow. It’s about finding them and listening to them. Today, we write yet another chapter in that history with WE LIFT 1,500 as 1,500 of our residents receive 50,000 Naira each. That is 75 million Naira being pumped directly into the local economy, into the hands of real people, in real time, to make real change.’
‘For me, 50,000 might be too nothing but for some, it’s a big deal, it means a lot to them. Go out there and ask those petty traders, what is the value of your stock? They will tell you, 20,000 Naira, 30,000 Naira, we can show you videos of our research. Yet, out of that 20,000, 30,000 Naira, they still thrift every day, some save 1,000 Naira every day in a month. And they will feed and send their children to public school. You see, that’s motivation for me. Nothing is too small.’
Praising the giant strides of the Senator representing Lagos East senatorial district, Sen. Tokunbo Abiru which has furthered his impact in the LCDA, Mayor Dele Oshinowo said: ‘None of this would have been complete without acknowledging a pillar of consistent support, our leader and partner-in-progress, Distinguished Senator Tokunbo Abiru. We are immensely grateful for your presence today and for your commitment to the growth of our people. In a long list of ways, you continue to stand with us, believe in us, and invest in our mission. Your generous support of 5 million Naira to this event is just one more example. On behalf of every man, woman, and child whose life will be touched by your kindness, we say heartfelt thank you.’
‘The most distinguished, the digital senator has actually redefined the political system of Lagos State and Nigeria. Personally, I know that most of the senators at the Red chamber have visited the SAIL Innovation Lab.’
‘He supported us with 5 million Naira for this WE LIFT and that’s the reason why we are having 1,500. Also recently, he said that I should pick some roads so that he can lobby the federal government. He has given us food, street lights, renovated schools, given us primary health care centers, and I can tell you that Agboyi Ketu is favored in Kosofe, he has actually contributed more to us.’
Appreciating the political leaders and stakeholders who have come before him in the LCDA, the local council administrator, Oshinowo noted: ‘It started far back 2003 and today, we can proudly say that Agboyi Ketu is the only LCDA that has been named the grassroots development LCDA, we have done so well from Otunba Yetunde down to late Hon. Durosimi to Alhaji Lamboye, and now, I. Everybody knows Agboyi-Ketu because we have actually established what LCDA should be in Nigeria. Our footprint is everywhere.’
In the same vein, Oshinowo tasked his successors to continue the developmental process and do better than him. ‘For those people who are planning to take over from me as Chairman, you need to put Agboyi-Ketu first. It is very important. Whoever emerged should know that Agboyi Ketu is the most important thing in your life. You need to distinguish yourself. You need to surpass me. That’s my advice to you.’
‘From constructing over 67 kilometers of roads since my inception in 2017 to date to building the modern schools, housing estates, healthcare centers, state-of-the-art ICT hall And now, I can tell you that the best school building will be in Agboyi-Ketu soon, they are almost done with the POP and screeding. What we will give Agboyi-Ketu will beat many private schools in Agboyi Ketu and Kosofe as a whole. We will commission our sporting facility soon.’
‘If anyone is still asking what local government can do, I say come to Agboyi-Ketu LCDA. We were recently named the Grassroots Development Icon of the Year for the great things we have been doing by Vanguard newspaper. This award is not only for me but for the people of Agboyi-Ketu, for APC, and for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The award is dedicated to our President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our governor, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the people of Agboyi ketu as a whole.’
”The award is a powerful reminder that the real impact begins in grassroot. We have chosen to be a model of governance that is people-centered, transparent, proactive, one that sees the vulnerable, empowers the traders, uplifts the artisan, trains the youth, and cares for our elders. We celebrate hope, resilience, we celebrate the community. This vision will not dim and the pace will not stop.’
Some dignitaries present at the event gave their goodwill messages to the Chairman. They included the Sen. Tokunbo Abiru; Hon. Femi Saheed representing Kosofe Constituency 2 at the Lagos House of Assembly; former Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Otunba Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke; and the Alaketu of Ketu Kingdom.
The Lagos East Senator, Sen. Tokunbo Abiru remarked: ‘The Chairman is a major source of pride to all of us in Lagos state. This is his second term and he is adored by everyone as one of the best performing LGAs/LCDAs Chairmen in Nigeria. He has put Agboyi-Ketu on the map of Nigeria. I recall my colleagues during a retreat were asking me, that, we saw what the Lagos State Government is doing with the commissioning of estate and I told them it’s not Lagos state but a LCDA Chairman’s project. They were stunned that such projects.in their State, they will call the President to come and see what the Governor is doing. So for me, Agboyi-Ketu is a clear example of what an LGA/LCDA should represent.’
Using his experience to encourage the recipients of the NGN 50,000, the LSHA member, Hon. Femi Saheed recalled: ‘I started a business with 30,000 Naira which I borrowed in 1997 which I used to buy a small freezer which goes for 28,000 Naira in Ladipo warehouse. I bought that freezer for my personal use but when I got home, someone liked it and bought that freezer 40,000 Naira immediately. Then I went back to buy two of such freezers and sold it next day. I bought about four more freezers and sincerely within 90 days, I can boast of 360,000 Naira. Within one year, I bought a Mitsubishi space wagon and a small pick-up and everywhere, people will call me FemiCool. I realized up to 1.2 million Naira and used the proceeds to enroll for my Masters in Business Administration. Here I am today as your Honorable Member.’
‘There is no amount of help that is too small. This is the fifth section of people benefitting from WE LIFT. God will still give you the enablement to do more and more. On this note, I want to support you now with 1 million Naira’, Hon. Saheed concluded.