We raise funds at annual Iragbiji Day to consolidate development, says Aragbiji

Foremost traditional ruler in Osun State, Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi Odundun IV, has said that his community raised funds at the Iragbiji Day anniversary celebration to strengthen human, capital and socio-economic development of the ancient town.

The monarch’s speech made in preparation for this year’s Iragbiji Day anniversary coming up next week Saturday, November 15, was contained in a statement issued by the community Spokesperson and Head of Media and Publicity sub-committee for the Day, Dr. Jimoh Olorede, and signed by the Chairmen, Iragbiji Development Association (IDA), and 34th Iragbiji Day Planning Committee, Dr. Lateef Raheem, and Mr. Remi Agboola, respectively.

According to the statement, Iragbiji, whose existence as a community predated six centuries, has been undergoing tremendous progress in the last 17 years of the ascension of Oba Olabomi to the throne as the 15th Aragbiji, whose currently Pro-chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta.

Oba Olabomi in the statement said: “Iragbiji has recorded many achievements since I became the Aragbiji owing to our dedication and commitment to changing the age-long narrative from autocracy to traditional democracy that is development-driven with participatory governance, community engagement and collaboration with government and non-governmental organizations.

“Our investments in human development have obviously yielded bountiful harvest as evident in the socio-economic and structural development of Iragbiji. The ongoing construction of our “Civic Center” for recreational activities, which has gulped hundreds of millions of naira, is a testament in this instance.

“We built an administrative monumental complex for both High Court and Magistrate Court solely by community effort without receiving a penny of contribution or donation from the government.

“Also with our community effort only, we built a state-of-the-art, ultra modern palace, which today remains one of the most-aesthetically constructed palaces in South-west Nigeria.”

Furthermore, the statement added that the commitment of the community stakeholders to development was what attracted the attention and consideration of the federal government of Nigeria to establish in Iragbiji a federal University, whose takeoff was sponsored by the Iragbiji Indigenous Development Association led by the monarch, and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, and Chaired by Dr. Lateef Raheem.

Consequently, the statement appealed to invited guests, dignitaries, government officials and other prospective attendees to donate generously at this year’s annual Day celebration for consolidation of development of Iragbiji.