You have more to do for Egba Land, Alake tells Egba in Diaspora

By Olufemi Orunsola

The Alake and Paramount ruler of Egba Land, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo has called on Egba sons and daughters, especially those in the diaspora, to accept responsibility for doing more community projects towards the development of Egba land.

The royal father made this call today at the Ake Centenary Hall while commissioning a modern, remodelled public toilet renovated by the Olumo Progressive Association of Canada (OPAC) in conjunction with their parent body, the Egba National Association (ENA), New York and New Jersey.

Oba Adedotun Gbadebo noted that the Ake Centenary hall located opposite the Ake palace in Ogun State is a significant historical hall which was built in 1930 to mark the 100th anniversary of the settlemento ofEgba people in Abeokuta in 1830 from their homestead, called Egba Forest.

The Alake further observes that the renovated toilet structure undertaken by the association will go a long way to add more value to the Centenary hall, which he described as an architectural delight and heritage which has not only served as an avenue for physical interactions and socialisation, among the Egbas from time immemorial but also served as a town hall where important meetings took place and still takes, among the Egba Nation.

According to the monarch, the surest way Egba land can sustain her tempo of civilization, exploits in education, blazing the trail in many fields of life and other traits that make Egba land progressive, is for sons and daughters of Egba land across the world, especially those in diaspora, to commit themselves to giving back to their roots in every way they can.

The royal father flanked by the Osi of Egba land, High Chief Bode Mustapha, the Aare Baasegun of Egba land, High Chief Odulate, among other traditional Chiefs from Itoko region of Egba land pronounced royal blessings on all sons and daughters of Egba land across the world in the spirit of the 37th Lisabi Festival which commenced with a press conference addressed by the king earlier in the week.

In his own remarks, the President of Olumo Progessive Association of Canada, Dr. Teju Oyewole who is the Asiwaju of Itoko, thanked the royal father for extending right hand partnership to them and assured the monarch that the association has it in mind to keep monitoring the use of the facility and also execute more community-driven projects targeted at preserving the cultural heritage of Egba land.

Similarly, a former President of the association who is the Bada Erelu of Egba land, Chief Mrs. Tokunbo Caxton-Idowu revealed that within the last five years, the association has executed no fewer than five(5) community development projects such as modern bore hole water system in different parts of Egba land, mostly in the rural areas in addition to giving scholarships to Egba indigent students over the years.