It was yet another moment of well earned and deserved commendations, prayers and praises for High Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya, SAN, the Odofin of lkorodu division and Chairman, Multichoice Nigeria, as he, once again, demonstrated his unflinching support and commitment to the educational development of lkorodu division, by doling out about 30 million naira to students across the division in various tertiary institutions.
The laudable and exemplary gesture by the successful lawyer and business man of International repute, was in fulfillment of the annual scholarship and bursary awards of the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited (IDPIL) which he chairs and finances solely.
IDPIL, though, was established by the traditional rulers in lkorodu division under the leadership of His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Kabir Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangure of Ikorodu, Odofin Adewunmi Ogunsanya has remained the major financier of the body, and has committed several billions of naira on various projects towards the attainment of the SHEER (Security, Health, Education, Environment and Road Rehabilitation) developmental agenda of the body. Notable among these projects is the ongoing construction of a Renal Centre at the General Hospital, Ikorodu, which will cost over a billion after it has been completed and equipped with necessary facilities, and the recent donation of a bus to General Hospital, lmota.
IDPIL has also installed solar powered street lights across the division, rehabilitated school buildings and also embarked on the construction of the biggest technical college in Africa, donation of generating set and air-conditioners to the Ranodu palace in lmota among other initiatives, and currently, the body is also embarking on construction of two palaces and one royal residence across Ikorodu among other initiatives.
On security which is the primary reason for its formation in 2022, IDPIL, fully backed by Odofin Adewunmi Ogunsanya’s financial muscle, has equally invested heavily to the tune of several millions of naira on security infrastructures, personnel training and salaries as well as establishment of IDPIL operational secretariat among others.
Meanwhile, since its inception four years ago, Odofin Ogunsanya led IDPIL has spent almost N100 million on scholarship and bursary awards.
This year’s event, which was the fourth edition of arguably the biggest educational support by a non-governmental individual in Lagos State, had a total number of 236 beneficiaries with 31 benefiting from the Scholarship award, 122 benefiting from Bursary 1 and 83 benefitting from Bursary 2.
Most of the beneficiaries received alerts for the payment of the scholarship and bursaries right at the venue of the presentation ceremony to the admiration of their parents who accompanied them and guests.
While the recipients of the scholarship award would benefit it through out their academic programmes proviprovided they can maintain the stipulated CGPA, those of Bursary 1 and Bursary 2 are to receive it once.
Leading scores of eminent personalities and guests to the event, which was held at the NS SHO Multipurpose Event Centre, lmota, were the duo of Oba Ajibade Agoro, Ranodu of lmota and Oba Semiudeen Kasali, Adeboruwa of Igbogbo.
Also at the event were Chieftains of IDPIL led by the trio of Otunba Ganiyu Abiru, Executive Secretary, IDPIL, Otunba Ayodele Elesho, and Hon. (Chief) Adebimpe Akinsola, Chairman, IDPIL Scholarship & Bursary Awards.
Notable among other guests were Basorun Babatunde Rotinwa, former Head of Service Lagos State, Dr (Col) Bolaji Onafowokan, rtd, and Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, the former Head of Service, Lagos State and the Chairman of the occasion. He donated one million naira to support the scholarship initiative. In the same vein, a donation of five million naira was also announced by the Ranodu of Imota, on behalf of Dr Oladega Adebogun, proprietor of Caleb University, Imota, who was absent at the event.
Also at the programme were two of the newly elected council Chairmen in lkorodu division – Hon. Sunday Benson of Imota LCDA and Om’Oba Hammed Aroyewun of IgboIgbogbo-Baiyeku LCDA, both of him commended Odofin Ogunsanya and IDPIL for making such humongous investments in the future of division through the annual scholarship and bursary awards, while also promising, on behalf of their other colleagues in the division, to equally support the initiative.
The commitment showed by the new council bosses is, no doubt, a clear departure from the nonchalant disposition of their immediate past predecessors who literally were in competition with the IDPIL, particularly on its security efforts.
Meanwhile, IDPIL Executive Secretary, Otunba Ganiyu Olusegun Abiru, speaking at the presentation, acknowledged the vision of Ikorodu traditional rulers for initiating the group which ge said has been contributing to the divisional developments in numerous ways.
“I am delighted because IDPIL has continued to bear testament to the crop of highly visionary and cerebral royal fathers in Ikorodu Division is blessed with, for envisioning the IDPIL as a strategic community based development vehicle for the security and overall development of our communities.
“Since inception in 2021, IDPIL has touched virtually all strata of our community from security to health, environment, street light installation and other numerous strategic interventions across the six local council areas in ikorodu Division.
“The IDPIL, which started primarily as a child of necessity to address the rising security challenges being experienced in communities across Ikorodu Division, has now grown to become a community-based development engine”.
He listed some of the achievements of the group in the areas of health, construction of royal palaces, donation of buses, donation of air conditioning and generating set, and installation of street lights among others.
While stating that the educational support is another bold step by the IDPIL, he also emphasised that the group is investing heavily in education because it considers it as a means of emancipation of individuals and the division.
“The 4th edition of IDIPL Multi-Million Naira Scholarship and Bursary Award presentations we are witnessing today, is another bold statement of our SHEER Agenda. It is not a mere acronym but a clear-cut strategy for the overall development of Ikorodu Division.
“We have identified Education as a tool for the emancipation and empowerment of the teeming Ikorodu Division youths, hence the humongous investment of the IDIPL, towards supporting the development of our youths, and by extension our entire communities.
“We have demonstrated this through the sustenance of this scholarship and Bursary Awards which started in 2022. Till date, we have invested over N100 Million Naira in the scheme”.
While appreciating IDPIL’s BOT Chairman, Odofin Adewunmi Ogunsanya, and its management team, Otunba Abiru also charged beneficiaries to make the huge investments in them worth the while.
“To all our beneficiaries, I leave you with the Biblical admonition, “To whom much is given, much is expected”. Ikorodu Division, through the IDIPL, has invested in your education, you owe it a duty to reciprocate this huge investment by studying hard and ensuring that you pass your exams in flying colours”, he said.
Hon. (Chief) Mrs. Adebimpe Akinsola, Chairman, IDPIL Scholarship and Bursary Award Committee, in her own remarks, described the initiative as a proud moment for the Ikorodu Division, in supporting its future development.
“Today marks another proud moment for Ikorodu Division, as we continue to support the education of our young people through this community-driven program. For the fourth consecutive year, the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative (IDIPL) is presenting scholarship and bursaries to hundreds of deserving undergraduates across various tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
“Over the years, many students: indigenes and non-indigenes alike, have benefited from this initiative. We are encouraged to see that past recipients have continued to excel in their studies and are making their families and our community proud”.
She commended the beneficiaries for scaling tests and interviews that they went through to be qualified for the award, and charged them on the need to continue to sustain their academic excellence.
While also thanking parents for their efforts in bringing up their children and wards with good education, she also charged them to focus on ensuring that they are well-disciplined and imbibe good values.
Mrs Akinsola equally urged the students to acquaint themselves with knowledge outside their academic pursuits,
Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, praised Odofin Ogunsanya for availing the less privileged, who are brilliant, the opportunity to excel through the annual scholarship and bursary awards.
“I appreciate and give kudos to Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya, the Odofin of Ikorodu, for initiating this life changing programme to assist the less privileged but brilliant students, in their education. Education is a foundation for freedom and progress. It is an undeniable means of tapping the talents deposited by God in every individual in the society. Without informal and formal education, those talents will be dormant in the individuals, this will invariably hinder peace and progress of the society.
“We, therefore, thank Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya for impacting on the lives of these young ones positively, in Ikorodu Division, Lagos State. The lesson, therefore, is that Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya is planting the seed of love in all of you who are beneficiaries of this scholarship programme as his neighbor in line with the commandments of God”, he said.
The two royal fathers at the event, His Royal Majesties, Oba Mudashiru Ajibade Agoro, the Ranodu of Imota and Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa, in their separate royal remarks, also commended the IDPIL and its Chairman for their impacts on the division.