The people of Batake community in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State have lauded the Rotary Club of Ibadan-Jericho Metro for the donation of water borehole with generator.
Representative of Baale Batake, Mr Fatai Odejimi, in his remarks during the commissioning of the project last weekend said the residents of the community have been craving for potable water for years as they relied mostly on water from the stream.
He said the donation would go a long way in helping the community and its environs, adding that it’s a good development from the Rotary Club after several unfulfilled promises by politicians when they came to canvass for votes.
“We were very grateful to the Rotary Club for this donation because this is a good project provided us and we will forever be grateful to them. Rotary Club is a
God-sent to this community by providing us water borehole and powering it with a generator, no government has ever done this for us, we really appreciate this gesture, Odejimi said.”
In his remarks, Rotary Club President, Mr Samuel Kolawole, said that they chose Batake community for the project because they needed it more than people in the urban area.
He disclosed that the project was part of activities to mark the 10th anniversary of the Club.
“When I was planning my tenure as President of Rotary Club, we considered provision of water as part of the areas of focus. I was more concerned about the development of rural areas. Rotary has been providing boreholes for communities in the developing areas around Ibadan, but I felt that we need to go to places like rural areas and that was why we came this far.
“What gladden our hearts is the reaction of the people, they appreciate this gesture in no small way. This is a place where they have no water, they drink from the stream. In fact that we are able to provide this borehole here gives us joy too because they appreciate it more than we could imagine.”
In his response, District Governor of Rotary International D9125, Mr Ayoola Oyedokun, charged the community to take ownership of the project and maintain it so as to encourage Rotary to do more.
“I want to charge you to ensure that this project lasts. One of the things that you can give somebody is to ensure his survival and water enhances survival. This informed the choice of water project because we can survive without food but without water, we cannot survive.
“Rotary Club of Ibadan Jericho Metro have deemed it fit to provide water to Batake community in Ido Local Government Area, it is a wonderful thing that they have done and you can see the joy and excitement among members of the community.”
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