Ikenne Development Association (IDA)

Secretary-General Ikenne Development Association Ereke Multipurpose Hall Annex Obafemi Awolowo Square P. O. Box 55, Ikenne-Remo. Ogun State. NIGERIA. E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 00234-8037198965 /0023437630572

OR: President (Barr. S. O. Laiyemo) on 00234-8037140129/ 00234-1-8149825

The IDA, established since 1977, is the representative body of the people of Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State of Nigeria, through which the indigenes organise themselves for holistic approach to the social, physical infrastructural and health development of this small community with a human population of less than 0.400 million. To be very specific, Ikenne-Remo is a community reputed to be 'second to none' in the sphere of Community Development in Ogun State of Nigeria. Her volumes of developmental activities earned her the seat of the Ikenne Local Government in 1991, regardless of its small size.

It is symbolic of the IDA to set aside the last week in October and the first week in November of every year to celebrate development in the town. This is a period during which all indigenes converge at home to commission the projects executed through self-development efforts of some notable public-spirited indigenes during the year. The first Saturday in November marks the grand-finale ceremony of the annual events tagged “EREKE DAY”.

Since 1977 to date, the IDA has successfully executed, donated and dedicated for use the following health and physical-social developmental projects:

1. A Community Hospital, which has now been upgraded to a General Hospital by the Ogun State Government. 2. Equipment and drugs to the Ikenne Local Government Primary Health Care Centre & Maternity Ward. 3. Some bore-holes in some quarters where the problem of access to portable water is hitting hard on the indigenes. 4. Ikenne Community High School in 1980, which has now been taken over by the Ogun State Government. 5. Facilitated the relocation of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences of the Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University to Ikenne, by single-handedly providing the land, executing the construction and donation of all the building complexes, access roads, electricity transformer and boreholes on the Ikenne Campus of the university. 7. An ultra-modern building complex for use as the Ikenne Divisional Headquarters of the Nigeria Police. 8. Classroom blocks in all its four (4) public primary schools. 9. An ultra-modern Post Office Complex & Post-Master's Quarters. 10. An ultra-modern Multipurpose Hall for the Community 11. Rehabilitation of street lights and some roads in the town. 12. A modern Banking Complex now being used as the Community Bank

It needs be put on record that none of the above-listed projects had any external backing by way of joint financing or grants, neither from the organised private sector nor government and not even from any foreign investors. Without mincing words, I can vouch for the credibility of the members of the Executive Committee of the Association, currently ably led by Barrister Samson Omololu Laiyemo.

Major Challenges

Times are hard no especially due to the economic downturn in Nigeria, which makes it difficult to get volunteers of projects. More so, the indigenes and residents are always not happy that the government rather than come to establish, often take over projects executed by the IDA.

Finally and without any hesitation, I am confident to nominate IDA, known as ''The First and Best in Community Development'' as a model on such issues as community-centric development in Nigeria.

Further enquiries could be sent directly to the Secretariat of the Association, using the address below:

OR: President (Barr. S. O. Laiyemo) on 00234-8037140129/ 00234-1-8149825

Submitted by Ayo Onatola ((Former Secretary-General, IDA until December 2004 when relocated to the United Kingdom) [email protected]