Entrepreneur provides 32 boreholes for Ogun communities

Residents of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, are set to enjoy improved access to potable water as the second phase of the Omooba Abimbola Onabanjo Borehole Project officially kicked off with the inauguration of 20 new boreholes.

The new additions bring the total number of completed and functional water facilities under the scheme to 32, following the initial inauguration of 12 boreholes two weeks ago.

Some of the benefiting communities are Olode Isale (Imupa), Idepo (Ijasi), Obalende (Porogun), Obalende (Seico), Oju Koti, Alawa, Ojofa, Ita Osu New Market (Ikongba), Ayegbami (Idomowo Community), Ipamurin, Ishado and Idomila, among others.

Speaking on Sunday during the inauguration and handover of the borehole projects to community leaders at Obalende, Ijebu Ode, the Director of Projects for the scheme, Funmilayo Ayanwusi, disclosed that the initiative targets a total of 52 boreholes across various parts of Ijebu Ode.

Ayanwusi emphasised that the project was strictly a philanthropic gesture driven by the benefactor’s deep commitment to his roots, dismissing any political undertones.

She said, “Omooba Abimbola Onabanjo is not a politician. He never was, he’s not, and I don’t think he has plans of becoming one anytime soon. He is someone who always wants to give back to his community.”

Quoting the iconic musician Fela Kuti’s popular lyrics on the importance of water, she noted, “Water is for everybody. It’s free, like air, and essential for every human, animal, and plant. Omooba Onabanjo saw a need in the community and decided to help alleviate it.”

She said, “We are here to inaugurate 20 more boreholes. It’s the second phase of the Omooba Abimbola Onabanjo Borehole Project in Ijebu Ode. We initially inaugurated 12 boreholes for the first phase two weeks ago, and now we’re inaugurating 20 to make a total of 32.

“The target is actually 52, so we still have 20 more borehole projects. They are being supplied with generating sets and free fuelling. It is simply a way of giving back to the community.

Omooba Onabanjo and his wife have always believed in giving back to society, especially in supporting their roots. They have, from time to time, been supporting the people with cash, food items, among others.”

Ayanwusi said the donor would also maintain full management and fuelling of the facilities for a minimum of six months before officially handing them over to the beneficiary communities.

She explained that, in addition to addressing water scarcity, the project had stimulated the local economy by engaging over 100 artisans from Ijebu Ode, including welders, plumbers, engineers and survey personnel.

Ayanwusi, therefore, urged the benefiting communities to take ownership of the water facilities and make judicious use of them so as not to defeat the purpose of the humanitarian gesture.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of the Ijebu Ode Council of Oloritun, Alhaji Adebisi Alausa, commended the donor for the intervention, describing it as unprecedented in the town’s history.

“Today is a special occasion. For the first time, I am seeing a man trying his best to satisfy the majority of people in Ijebu Ode. It has never happened before. I will be 89 on Friday, August 21, and I have not witnessed this type of gesture before,” Alausa remarked.

While acknowledging that public water supply remained a primary responsibility of the government, the traditional chief noted that the donor’s intervention significantly reduced the burden on state infrastructure.

He urged political leaders to restore the old water-piping and reservoir systems to permanently address water challenges across the state.

culled from punch