The Executive Chairman of Odiolowo Ojuwoye LCDA, Hon. Rasaq Ajala along with other notable dignitaries and leaders in the Odiolowo Ojuwoye community launched a new social intervention scheme for the senior citizens, widows, widowers, people living with disability and less privilege called "Odiolowo Ojuwoye Cares" yesterday, Monday, 23 September 2024 at a one day training and engagement hosted by the LCDA at Baden Hall, Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Charity, Mushin. 

The event has more than 600 guests from various stakeholders' associations within the LCDA engaged and trained on effective leadership and reawakened them to their responsibilities to the government and community at large. 

The Chairman, launching the social welfare scheme made it known that the administration of Hon. Yemi Alli as the first Executive Chairman of the LCDA started it and he's ready to continue it to resonate his administration mantra of "Common pool for common benefit" and three thousand residents who fall under the beneficiaries categories will be selected through their various associations and organizations. 

Notable dignitaries that joined the Council Chairman at the training and launching were distinguished Senator Ganiu Olarewaju Solomon, the  Mushin and Odiolowo Ojuwoye political apex leader and Lagos State Governor's Advisory Council member, Hon. Adeyemi Alli, member, Federal House of Representatives Mushin Constituency 1 and Hon. Nureni Akinsanya, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mushin 1.

Also in attendance were, the Kabiyesi of Odiolowo Kingdom, Oba Sikirulai Olamide Williams Apena, Council management and staff, the Council Councilors and Supervisors, the All Progressives Congress party leaders and members. 

Speaking with Mushines, the Chairman said the importance of leadership training and engagement like this can not be over-emphasized as it allows the stakeholders to know their responsibilities and services to the government and community at large. 

"The mandate I'm exercising today as the Executive Chairman of the LCDA is freely given to me by the people and for us to remain relevant we must continually engage them as feedback, telling them what we are doing and reasons behind it, also what we intend to do, and they tell us areas we mighty not be seeing because they are people at their various communities", He said. 

He added that the money belongs to them, and they need to be aware of how the government at the local council spends it. 

"What our people need to take home today from this engagement is to see themselves as parts and parcels of government and the process, taking ownership of projects done in their respective community, and to be responsible to their community and government so that we can continue to provide quality services and interventions for them". He said. 

On the new program launched, he said the local government is onboarding three thousand residents into the Council social intervention program called "Odiolowo Ojuwoye Cares", which subsequently the number of beneficiaries will increase, and I believe that subsequent government will carry on. 

Dignitaries present also shared their thoughts with the stakeholders while addressing them on how better the community can be if they utilize their platform as CDA very well. 

Distinguished Senator Ganiu Olarewaju Solomon described the event as a very good platform for the people to express their needs to the government and the government telling the people what they are doing in office. 

"If everybody is working together, the government and the governed, things will be better for us," The Senator said. 

The Federal House of Representatives member representing Mushin Constituency 1, Hon Adeyemi Taofeeq Alli, gave kudos to the Chairman for pioneering such a program to engage the CDA and others. 

"I give kudos to the Chairman for engaging the CDA, known as the fourth tier of government, so that there can be a smooth running of the LCDA for more development". He said. 

Hon. Nureni Akinsanya, the Lagos State House of Assembly member, Mushin Constituency 1, advised the participants to be awakened to their responsibility as CDA members because they are also the government in their own making. Without them, the government will fail to exist. 

"It is time to get the people, most especially the CDA members, educated on their roles in governance to have a robust synergy between them and the government, and a program like this should be held periodically" " he said. 

The Oba of Odiolowo Kingdom, Oba Sikirulai Olamide Williams Apena, shared the thoughts of other speakers who said the people should take ownership of government projects in their various communities. They should not see the projects as government projects but as theirs. 

"The government is not the one who will be using those projects but the people, and when they see those projects as government, they will feel less concern about its maintenance, and it is likely not going to last," Kabiyesi said. 

He added that the people should cultivate the habit of doing certain things for their community as projects, looking up to the government all the time for this and that. 

The guest speaker who did justice to the training, Mr. Bolaji Fanimokun, explained that the people need to understand the principle of leadership and government, relating vital information with the constituted authorities within their localities as they serve as the link between the government and the people. 

The All Progressives Congress party Chairman of Odiolowo Ojuwoye Chapter, Hon. Babatinde Kazeem aka Tunkas appreciated the Council Chairman for the training and assured the people that the hardship in the country now due to the subsidy removal will be over very soon and the country will be better than before. 
" I  want to appeal to us to be patient with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the current hardship in the country due to subsidy removal will be a thing of the past as the country will be better than before very soon," He said. 

Speaking on behalf of the participants, the LCDA Community Development Committee Chairman, Otunba Adebayo Adekunle, narrated how the program came to life by contacting the Executive Chairman known to be a very attentive and listening person. 

He highlighted the importance of the training and engagement which the Chairman gave his words and assurance of organizing the state-like training for the stakeholders within the local council. 

"I thought we could replicate what the State government is doing to educate the CDC on our roles to the community and government, which I found out that some of the CDA members in the council don't know the real meaning of CDA and their roles," he said. 

He advised the CDA members present to take whatever they have learned to their various communities and enlighten other members so that CDAs can be more effective in the community. 

It was fun and socializing for participants as they dressed in the Aso-ebi Ankara fabric used to celebrate their swearing-in ceremony last year, and certificates of participation were issued to the participants.