Breakfast with The Ayangburen is an engaging symposium aimed at identifying challenges to doing business in Ikorodu.
With the widespread growth experienced in Ikorodu presently, begets new challenges, while still trying to eradicate the old ones, it’s just the dynamics of life.
Held at the banquet hall of the palace of the Ayangburen of Ikorodu kingdom, Oba Engr. Kabir Adewale Shotobi, on the 12th of October 2022, the business community Breakfast with Ayangburen played host to community stakeholders, business owners and consultants, bridging the gap between factors that declines the progress of fruitful enterprises and key steps to growing brands in the waterbed region.
Comprehending that the prosperity of each business is the prosperity of Ikorodu, the impactful session was presided over by the king himself who encouraged all businesses represented in Ikorodu not to be far from the palace.
In an address by the chairman of Ikorodu Oga Development Association (IKODASS), Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo, IKODASS erected the forum as direct feedback means for community leadership with plans to achieve better responsiveness to ease of doing business in Ikorodu.
Erogbogbo explained, “Each time you are here, we’re expecting an accurate reply as per the challenges and obstacles hindering your business operation so that Ikorodu can serve you better”.
“Any difficulty we cannot handle shall be channelled to appropriate councils for their attention. One thing you can be sure of is that we would take it up”.
Erogbogbo further stated that the growth experienced in Ikorodu is food for businesses, assuring principals that the association will not fold its arms and let challenges fester.
“We will not allow your business to be endangered in any way. Some of the headway we’ve made so far has been summarised in the communique placed in your gift bags” Erogbogbo added.
Chairman of the symposium, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, ably represented by his special adviser on media & publicity, Mr Enitan Olukotun, reminded participants about the senator’s promise to institute a revolving loan scheme to help MSMEs in his constituency access funds for business, a promise he has fulfilled.
He explained how the senator embarked on a Legislation of creativity, introducing the franchise regulatory bill in the corporate environment to foster business growth.
Stressing that the constituency office of the senator has been extensively used to serve the good people of the Ikorodu division.
Mr Enitan continued, “It is no more a plan. It is now a reality because our distinguished Senator has mobilized 300 million naira for the scheme”.
“Small business owners can easily access between 50,000 to 1 Million naira loan at just 6% per annum”.
Enitan further expanded that the LSETF Liaison Office at Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat is where to access the loan.
“The Senator is passionate about the assignment given to him by the good people in Lagos East. Anyone that comes to him to initiate a business idea that will elevate the region, Tokunbo Abiru is always ready to listen and try it out”.
After the speech by Mr Enitan, IKODASS Chairman, Rotimi Erogbogbo applauded Senator Tokunbo Abiru for institutionally tackling issues rather than embarking on political tokenism and grandstanding.
Erogbogbo, subsequently brought participants up to speed with the upcoming edition of the Ikorodu Oga day celebration in 2022.
He proceeded, “Next month marks the biggest month in Ikorodu history. For the past 31 years November has become synonymous with Ikorodu”.
“This is so because it is in November that we celebrate Oga Day Festival every year. This edition holds larger promise and another opportunity as it is bigger and more inclusive. We are preparing to host well more than the 9000 people who visited the festival last year”.
“The festival consists of several expressions that would afford business owners deeper penetration into the Ikorodu market. This includes Walk for Fitness, Say No To Drugs; Table Tennis Tournament; Market Expo; Woro; Music Concert; Hair and Fashion Show; Miss Ikorodu Beauty Pageant; Medical Mission; and so much more”.
“As business people, you know, more than anyone else, that once people gather, there is money to be made. Do not be left out. Stands for Ikorodu Market Expo which runs for the duration of the festival are already on sale, plus space in the festival brochure for adverts and congratulatory messages” Erogbogbo asserted
Guest Speaker, and United Nations Ambassador, Prof. Adetunji Armstrong, highlighted the challenges of doing business in urban cities with Ikorodu as a case study.
Labelling Ikorodu as the next Dubai of Africa, Prof. Adetunji categorised Ikorodu as a province that possesses a strong leadership structure and the goodwill of the people.
Prof. Adetunji progressed, “With LASUSTECH, Caleb University, Ikorodu General Hospital, Ikorodu Maritime Port, Egbin Power plant and the coming of Imota rice mill which is considered the largest in Africa, Ikorodu is slowly becoming the juggernaut in infrastructure in the whole of Nigeria”.
“Ikorodu has met with major rudimentary steps to make a region great in development. What is needed now is more power supply across the division, fly-over bridges to create an easy road network in and out of the region and more fire service centres plus health centres”.
He augmented that the popular Ikorodu roundabout is sanitised to reduce the congestion of people hanging around the space, further giving kudos to Senator Tokunbo Abiru and Hon Babajimi Benson (MHR) for the construction of the road.
Complimenting the speech of the guest speaker, Majority Leader of the Lagos state house of Assembly, representing Ikorodu constituency 1, Hon. SOB Agunbiade, before moderating the question and answer session of the meeting applauded Rotimi Erogbogbo, referring him to as a human engineer due to his intellectual tendencies of bridging the gap between human reserves and material resources.
Agunbiade also expressed his sense of vindication with the news that Ikorodu had been declared the 3rd largest city in the southwest, which validated his fight against merging Ikorodu with Somolu and Kosofe.
On security, Agunbiade explained that despite measures put in place to combat insecurities in Ikorodu, a large number of people relocating to Ikorodu has made it uneasy for people to observe the level of security upgrade the region has provided.
Urging business owners to collaborate with IKODASS’s business initiative known as the market expo, to create effective synergy, Agunbiade noted that on security challenges, he will initiate a discussion with the Odofin of Ikorodu on the masterplan of the land, to enhance the security approach as the region continues to grow.
Otunba Ayodele Elesho briefly requested Rotimi Erogbogbo to create a sub-committee on ensuring that every contribution made by business owners is noted and acted upon to further effect positive change in the business sector of the region.
Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, Ayangburen of Ikorodu kingdom in his parting remarks stated that
Ikorodu is about inclusiveness, urging all quotas to continue to work together to take Ikorodu to the next level.
“We’re gradually working towards a security status that gives people the freedom to move freely at night because people are still afraid in areas of security”.
“Every question raised by business owners will be noted by IKODASS and enforced immediately. A megacity status requires a high level of security, we’re getting there gradually”.
Oba Shotobi added that he sees a time coming for Ikorodu to host the International Olympic Games.
Guests at the breakfast include; business owners, representatives from Caleb university, representatives from the Nigerian Bar Association (Ikorodu Branch), delegates from Ikorodu local government council etc.
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