Ijebu-Imusin community in Ogun State is one which prides itself as one that exists predominantly on self help for community development. And to inspire citizens to give back to the community, the town recently immortalized many of its own and included the late Nelson Mandela, by inducting them into the community’s Hall of Fame. YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE reports.
For many, celebration of their achievements, sacrifice and contributions to development is an incentive to do more. And it is against this background that the people of Ijebu-Imusin in Ogun State, came together recently to immortalize people, both citizens of Ijebu-Imusin and others from other parts of the world by placing on records their deeds and achievements in other to give incentives and inspiration to others especially the future generations.
Another driving force that gave rise to the Hall of Fame is a desire to have a place where information on great achievers can easily be obtained to be of advantage to rural dwellers like the people of Ijebu-Imusin. This led to the establishment of the E-library out of which the Hall of fame was created
Those inducted into the Hall of Fame were recognized by individuals who found them worthy and sponsored their nomination based on their convictions and appreciation of their achievements, in particular the roles that they played in the lives of people and humanity in general.
In his welcome address at the induction, the Oloko of Ijebu-Imusin, Oba S.A. Onafowokan stated that the objectives of the Hall of Fame include the desire to bring the community into global recognition and blaze a trail. “It is to provide an avenue for Ijebu-Imusin to honour and thank, in a very special way, the various people who had touched our lives in an impactful way – socially, technologically and economically.
The Ijebu-Imusin Hall of Fame is divided into five categories; platinum, diamond, gold, silver and bronze with the platinum category having three sub divisions which are parents and loved ones, mentor/ friends of Imusin and heroes category.
For the 2017 Hall of Fame, those that made the parents and loved ones in the platinum category are Pa Peter Basorun Omolayole, Mrs Theresa Olusegun Omolayole, Balogun J.A Sanni and Lady Dr Mary Omoyosola Owolabi (Nee Omolayole). In the category of mentor/friends of Imusin in the platinum category, awardees included the late Timothy Adeola Odutola, Dr Chris Ogunbanjo, Mr Henry Oni-Okpaku and a couple; Felix and Janet Ohiwerei.
Awardees that were inducted under the heroes section of the platinum category were Dr Nelson Mandela and Professor Stephen Oluwole Awokoya while in the diamond category, Barrister Sikiru Adesegun Adebayo and the late Mrs Omolara Adiat Kuti were the awardees.
Awardees in the gold category were Engineer Samuel Adewole Osobamiro and Alhaja Muibat Arogedola Ogunmowo while Otunba Felix Ayoola Adebola Igbodipe made the silver category and the late Jonathan Senbanjo Ayanfalu, the late Baale Martins Talabi Onafalujo and Mrs Elizabeth Iyabo Martins were awardees in the bronze category.
Speaking after the late Nelson Mandela was inducted; the Consul General of the Republic of South Africa in Lagos, Mr Darkey Africa, who stood in for the late Madiba thanked the people of Ijebu-Imusin for the induction of the late president Mandela into the Ijebu-Imusin Hall of Fame for heroes, describing the event as a great one for Nigeria and South Africa which would stand out in history as the most important day in bilateral relations as it consolidated the two countries’ commitment to shared prosperity as brothers and sisters.
According to him, it is a reinforcement of a solidarity steeped in history as Mandela and other Nigerian forebears like the Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, made sacrifices so that the future of the people will be free from hunger and deprivation
The Consul General who expressed appreciation at the support of the Nigerian people during South Africa’s struggle for freedom, added that “today, we are faced with new challenges which call on us to recommit to a new solidarity of brotherhood, mutual interest and mutual economic benefits.
“The legacy of Madiba demands us to plan together and work together to extricate ourselves from underdevelopment, poverty and inequality. We must all invest our capability for the welfare of our communities. This will be one of the greatest honours to Madiba – service to our people with integrity, sincerity and humility.
“Let today remind us of the values of sincerity, trust, humility, service and love which were central to Madiba’s life more than anything. Let us educate our children to serve humanity in perpetual remembrance of Madiba for he loved education. One of his favourite quotes on education states that ‘education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” he stated.
He concluded by calling on everyone not to relent in the pursuit of Mandela’s vision with even more vigour and be more determined to build the African of Madiba’s dreams which is Africa at peace with herself.
In his address, the Chairman of the Local Management Board, Ijebu-Imusin Community Hall of Fame, Major General S.A Odunsi (Rtd), stated that the celebration could best be described as the realization of a dream / vision fulfilled in line with the known culture of the community when it comes to self help development-wise, adding that this had been in existence for long in the community as exemplified severally by their forebears, whose courage, focus and steadfastness in the pursuit of their dreams faced many obstacles and never gave up.
“I salute their courage and passion for staying focused. This time, however, it is a vision which was fired by passion for the land of our birth – Ijebu-Imusin, by a great son of the land whose ideas, thoughtfulness, energy and drive, all combined to make the realisation of today’s event possible,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, M.O. Omolayole stated that the induction is the grand finale of a series of thoughts and actions which were embarked upon after the community E-library was opened on March 10, 2014.
According to him, the importance of sustainability for the community library to survive and flourish gave birth to the idea of establishing the Hall of Fame as part of the local management board. He noted that winning ideas and principles had given competitive advantage to the Ijebu-Imushin community.
He added that the Hall of Fame was an opportunity to unite the Ijebu-Imusin people locally and reach out to the international arena and also give opportunities to citizens to express gratitude to many people who had touched their lives in one way or another and to God.
And for the people of Ijebu-Imusin, self help is the key to development and sacrifices should be rewarded.