Residents of Ijebu Ode, Odoyanta, and Imosan in Ogun State turned out in large numbers over the weekend to express gratitude to Omooba Abimbola Onabanjo and his wife, Olori Abayomi Onabanjo. The communities celebrated the inauguration of newly donated boreholes, aimed at ending years of inadequate access to potable water in the region.
The water projects span various zones across the Ijebu Ode district. They were executed as part of the donors’ humanitarian services to give back to their communities and improve living conditions in rural areas.
Speaking at the ceremony, the donors’ representative, Funmilayo Ayanwusi, described the projects as just the tip of the iceberg. She noted that upcoming initiatives would enable Ijebuland to compete with cosmopolitan towns across the country.
According to Ayanwusi, 12 boreholes have been completed under the first phase, while the remaining 40 are currently underway. The completed boreholes are located in Mokorede, Aiyegun, Ijasi Oke, Olukokun Isale, Olumuroko,
Fusengbuwa, Ita Afin,
Fusigboye, Odo Esa,
Igbogun / Ilede, Imosan and Odoyanta.
She added that providing humanitarian aid remains a top priority and core mission for the donor as a way of giving back to society. Furthermore, she revealed that the boreholes are equipped with power generators, and the donor will fund both maintenance and fuel for a period.
The Chairman of the Olorituns-in-Council in Ijebu Ode, High Chief Adebisi Alausa, described the gesture as unprecedented. He remarked that this is the first time an individual has drilled 52 motorized boreholes for the populace within such a short period.
In his speech, High Chief Alausa commended the donors for using their hard-earned money to execute projects with a lasting impact. He urged residents to take ownership of the facilities, ensure proper maintenance, and protect them from vandals, stressing that well-preserved projects encourage others to do more.
During a separate commissioning event in Odoyanta, thousands of residents gathered to celebrate their new lease on life. They expressed relief that the donors had saved them from waterborne diseases caused by unhygienic water sources.
In his welcome address, the Regent of Odoyanta, High Chief Abdullahi Adekoya, prayed for Onabanjo’s continued success and elevation. He described the project as marvelous and unique, noting that no single individual had ever sponsored such an initiative in the area. He added that providing free fuel and maintenance for a year felt like a miracle. He assured the donors that the community would safeguard the facilities and continue to pray for their success.
Responding on behalf of the residents, High Chief Awonuga Titus, the Odoyanta Central Committee Chairman, expressed his gratitude and prayed that Almighty God would crown the couple’s efforts with success.
Residents across all the beneficiary districts turned out in droves to honor the donor, whom they described as a “man of the people.”
Concluding the event, the spokesperson for the Ijebu Ode Council of Olorituns, Chief Oluwafemi Kareem Adagojo, promised the donor that the community would keep him in their prayers, noting that “he who brings water brings life.”
