Report of the 2008/2009 Activities of The Ogbomoso Community Foundation
Presented at
The 8th Annual General Assembly (AGA) on Saturday, 14th November, 2009 by
The General Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Adebayo Oyegade, FNLA, CLN
VENUE: Ogbomoso Recreation Club, Ogbomoso
GOODWILL
Praise be to God for granting us all His Grace to be here today for the 8th Annual General Assembly of the OCF. It is an honour and a priviledge for me to report to this august gathering the programmes and activities of the Foudnation within the last AGA specifically from Saturday, 11th October, 2008 till today, Saturday, 14th November, 2009.
AGA FOLLOW-UP EVENT
Immediately after the close of the Annual General Assembly on Saturday, 11th October, 2008, the Leader, Asiwaju (Dr.) Sunday Adedayo Adewusi, IG (rtd) GCON led a ‘powerful’ delegate to the Soun’s Palace on a courtesy visit. Though, Alayeluwa Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III was out of the palace, his amiable wife, Olori Olaronke Oyewumi received the OCF representatives warmly. The visiting team was made up of the Leader, Asiwaju (Dr.) Sunday Adedayo Adewusi IG (rtd) GCON and Major General Oladayo Popoola (rtd); Chief A. A. Idowu; Prince Debo Gbadebo; Honourable (Chief) Adebayo Johnson Bankole; Alh. Abdul Ganiyu and three others from Ghana; Mrs. M. A. Martins (Hon.); Mr. E. A. Oyegade; Alhaji K. A. Kilani.
EXCO MEETINGS
It is delightful to report that more that 95% of EXCO members were ‘up and doing’ during the year, responding to calls for meetings and contributing meaningfully to deliberations at such meetings. During the year, eight EXCO meetings were held on the following dates as hereby listed.
- 27th Novem,ber, 2008
- 6th January, 2009
- 19th March, 2009
- 16th April, 2009
- 18th June, 2009
- 20th August, 2009
- 17th September, 2009
- 15th October, 2009
OCF SECRETARIAT
It is regrettable to report that progress could not be made on the Foundation’s efforts at constructing its Secretariat in the year. The papers for the land allocated to the Foudnation are yet to be perfected due to factors beyond the control of the Executive Committee. The issue remains in the front burner of EXCO as it is being followed-up with keen interest and vigour.
BLUE-PRINT FOR DEVELOPMENT
The committee that was set up to produce a Blue-Print for the development of Ogbomosoland generated six (6) papers in the areas of Water; Education; Roads; Power/Energy; Agriculture and Health Care Delivery. The various papers were made into a compendium and an Executive Summary was extracted from the compilation. The Executive Summary was presented during the year to His Excellency, The Executive Governor, Otunba (Dr.) Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala (JP) psc. Kudos to the Cdre S. O. Lawuyi N.N. (Late) led committee members that worked diligently and came up with a good compilation.
STATE CREATION
New Oyo State Forum (NOSFORM) has been the Forum discussing the interest of Oyo Zone, Ogbomoso Zone and Oke-Ogun Zone towards the creation of New Oyo State from the present Oyo State. Our representatives from Ogbomosoland have been attending meetings on the issue, contributing meaningfully to deliberations and monitoring developments. They are worthy representatives that are knowledgeable and capable in delivering the expected results. NOSFORM and the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) identified a common ground of getting a state created from the present Oyo State viz the creation of Ibadan State which invariably would lead to the creadion of New Oyo State. On Wednesday, 8th April, 2009, a joint press conference was held by NOSFORM and the CCII. To date, the ‘talk shops’ in NOSFORM on the issue of having the New Oyo State created continue and our members (representatives) are conscious of the need to keep the flag of Ogbomosoland flying at the deliberation table and beyond.
HOUSE NUMBERING IN OGBOMOSO
The report received is that the Ogbomoso North and Ogbomoso South Local Governments had worked on the House Numbering Exercise sometime ago. Albeit, because of its relevance to growth and development, all our Chairmen in the five Local Governments were called upon by EXCO during the year to re-visit the exercise since it is a continuous project.
HONOUR FOR GENERAL BENJAMIN ADEKUNLE (rtd)
A lecture titled “Ogbomosoland Heroes: Benjamin Adekunle, the Unsung Patriot” that was organized by the Ogbomoso Development Forum (ODF) under the auspices of the Foundation was held on Saturday, 11th April, 2009 at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. The 57 page lecture which was brilliantly and humourously delivered by Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo, OON, FNSE, former Executive Governor of Oyo State was well received by the quality audience that filled the 1,200 Seater Lecture Theatre of the Unviersity. The Chairman of the event was Major General Oladayo Popoola (rtd), OFR, mni while the Leader, Asiwaju (Dr.) Sunday Adedayo Adewusi IG (rtd) GCON and Dr. D. O. Ladipo, the President, ODF were the Chief Host and Host respectively. The lecture generated interest, became an eye opener with a positive “snow-balling” effect on the need to recognize our unsung heroes and as well be concerned about them afer active meritorious service. Kudos to Prince Abidoye Ayoola led committee that have generated so much interest and had worked with passion towards achieving the desired goal of ‘honouring’ and caring for General Benjamin Maja Adekunle (rtd.).
ELECTORAL GUIDELINES
During the year, EXCO examined and deliberated on a draft Electoral Guidelines for the OCF as prepared by Lt. Col. Bode Adewuyi (rtd.). Faired copies of the guidelines have been produced and each member’s copy is included in the AGA folder.
POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMME
The need to intervene by empowering our people to be self reliant economically at the grassroot was the focus of OCF on-going discussion with the Foundation For Development And Initiatives (FDI), an NGO that has Professor Akin Mabogunje as its Chairman; Professor M.O. Filani as its Executive Director and an array of experts/professionals as members . The success story of the poverty alleviation programme that was initiated and introduced to Ijebuland by the NGO was made known, thus the on-going discussion with the OCF to replicate the programme in Ogbomosoland for the benefits of our people. The initial budget of the programme which made it look difficult to embrace was drastically reduced to encourage implementation because of the relevance of the programme to the well-being of the grassroot citizens. It is the plan of EXCO to undertake this project in the new year.
OCF WEBSITE
I am happy to report that the Foundation’s website has bounced back to live after the agonizing experience of its almost getting out of the grip and control of the OCF. Members would recollect that three domain names of Ogbomoso.org; Ogbomoso.net and Ogbomoso.com were meant for the Foundation as earlier reported. It was later found out that Ogbomoso.com was not registered in the Foundation’s name while Ogbomoso.org became active. Regretably the yahoo boys took over control of the domain name making it impossible for OCF to reclaim. The persistent efforts of the Chairman, General Oladayo Popoola yielded the desired result of re-claiming and registering www.ogbomoso.net as the current domain name of the Foiundation. The efforts of our members in the diaspora particularly Mr. U. Akano; Mr. Tunji Mafolasire and Mr. Kale Oyedeji that intervened in ensuring that the website is back to live are commendable. The voluntary sacrifice to pay subscription on the website as at when due is welcomed and appreciated. Members are hereby enjoined to regularly visit the website (www.ogbomoso.net) as it will now be constantly up-dated.
MARKET STALLS
It was reported last year that ten market stalls made up of 5 type A; 4 type B and 1 type D were secured for our ‘sons and daughters’ residing in Ghana. However, the keys released for the stalls did not correspond with the stall types allocated as stated above. I am happy to report that the mistakes have been corrected and the right keys have been released to the lucky members.
FUND-RAISING
The plan to organize fund-raising activities within the year as envisaged could not materialize. EXCO was conscious the need to urgently raise fund for her programmes and activities. EXCO therefore constituted a fund-raising team made up of Chief (Mrs.) Tayo Sulu (the Coordinator) General Oladayo Popoola (rtd.); Alhaji K. A. Kilani; Alhaji S. A. Akande and Mr. E. A. Oyegade. Already, the committee had mapped out strategies for the exercise which the coordinator will reveal to members at the meeting today.
WORKSHOP ON HIV/AIDS FOR STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OGBOMOSO NORTH AND SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS
On Thursday, 16th July, 2009, the Technical Committee on Education of the Foundation organised a workshop titled “Peer education as a tool for the eradication of HIV/Aids among the schools’ Youths” involving students in Public Secondary School in Ogbomoso North abnd South Local Governments. The workshop was well received by the students and also equally well attended by the invited dignitaries.
THE PLANNED HERNIA HARVEST POROGRAMME BY THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
The meticulous plan of the Technical Committee for Health and Social Welfare to undertake Hernia Harvest surgery in all the five local government areas of Ogbomosoland in collaboration with the Local Government councils could not hold as the expected partners-the five Local Governments are yet to respond positively to the proposal. The project is therefore pending. It is hoped that the five councils would embrace the proejcts early in the new year for implementation.
APPRECIATION
I wish to seize this moment to thank all Ogbomoso Community Foudnation members for giving me the opportunity to serve the Foundation as the General Secretary for the maximum two terms (four years) that the constitution permits. I appreciates the former Chairman of EXCO Air Cdre Layi Atanda (rtd) and the incumbent, Major General Oladayo Popoola (rtd) for their understanding and for tolerating my lapses during this period in the spirit of brotherly love. I equally appreciate the Leader, Asiwaju (Dr.) Sunday Adedayo Adewusi IG (rtd) GCON for his support for the Foundation and for his unalloyed commitment to the development of Ogbomosoland. To EXCO members, I say a big thank you for the understanding and cooperation. “Ese pupo, Ogbomoso a gbe wa o”.
E. A. Oyegade,
General Secretary.