Good morning, honourable guests, and all of you our worthy friends in attendance, all indefatigable co-members of Oriwu Club.
I feel much elated to see people of great worth and value, cluster round us today. And, this reminds me of the simple fact that people are my apparel.
Once again, I extend my gratitude to all of you dignitaries present as my heart is filled with joy.
It is meet then that I welcome you all to this press briefing, to mark the 50th Anniversary of Oriwu Club, the foremost Club in Ikorodu.
We give gratitude to God Almighty who allows us to see this day. We give Him all the glory.
I deem it especially imperative to thank first of all, our amiable Grand Patron, Mr. Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, who often gives some portion of his time for others’ good.
This takes me to our Life Patron and our member, HRM Oba (Engr.) Kabir Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, and our Royal Father and member, HRM Oba (Engr.) Bashiru Aremu Shotonwa, the Sekumade of Ipakodo.
May the royal crowns be long on your heads, the shoes endure on your feet….I extend my thanks to the Board of Trustees, and to our Past Presidents, including the esteemed members of our Club, not leaving out our friends, our guests and gentlemen of the press for having honoured us with their presence, we thank you so much.
Today’s event is indeed a special one, in that it fosters our memory which is the receptacle of our past.
And, the past being refered to here, is the establishment of Oriwu Club, the process of which was set in motion in May 1973 by late ‘Somi Jaiyesimi, the first President and the only Chairman of Oriwu Club Ikorodu
To have lasted 50 years is a huge achievement.
We came into being to attain excellence in Ikorodu and in Lagos State at large, wherein an assemblage of professional qualifications is requisite: with disciplined intellect to suit subject to politeness, to imbibe a deep sense of morality, to preserve human dignity and foster a spirit of benevolence.
I believe that the history of Oriwu Club illustrates the state and progress of Ikorodu.
The very extension of the range of the Ikorodu community, in our vision, only increases the need for building up as never before, the social fabric of life, the home and the family, the neighbourhood and the metropolitan city.
Oriwu Club members themselves, are a set of trumpet creeper flowers. No wonder the world hears us all round.
At this juncture, I will like to express my profound appreciation once again to our Grand Patron, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the able Governor of Lagos State, and, of course our Life Patron, HRM Oba Engr. Adewale Shotobi, HRM Oba Engr. Aremu Shotonwa, and our donors for their consistent support.
It is crystal clear that we are a group leveraging the network of those lofty dignitaries who are around us, I mean those who open their hearts to help our course.
I must thank all past presidents, as well as the Executive Committees who did much of the work, and also the Club House Management Committees, Club House Building Committees, the Welfare Committees and not forgetting the role of our staff members.
At every step of the way, for half of a century, the distinguished members of our Club have been there.
The worth of Oriwu Club, in the long run, is the worth of the individuals composing it. These single individuals are the power and the might of Oriwu Club.
I am very happy and proud that our membership has grown steadily. One reason is that our Club’s major aims and objectives remain the same -to foster brotherly and friendly relationship and association among members, to engage in charitable activities and to promote the progress, and prosperity of Ikorodu in particular and Lagos State in general.
However, disagreeing in petty things but agreeing in giant ones is part of what Keeps up our oneness.
This keeps us ever growing and capable of indefinite expansion.
More importantly is our strength. which is embodied in our slogan, “Oriwu…Qgá!” as well as, The Club of Professionals”.
Ladies and Gentlemen, It is of great import that I mention some of the initiatives which our dear Oriwu Club, being a pivotal humanitarian organisation, has instituted in complementing the efforts of Lagos State Government.
After all, it is our watchword that the only worthwhile achievements of men are those which are socially useful to the populace.
Almighty God thus availed of us to bring the following into reality:
1. Donation of 5 tons standing Air Conditioners to Ikorodu General Hospital’s reception.
2. Donation of a brand new vehicle to Onyabo Vigilante Group.
3. Construction of the Main Gate to Shagamu Road Police Station.
4. Distribution of palliatives during Covid-19 pandemic.
5. Donation of thousands of face masks to Lagos State Government through the State Ministry of Health.
6. Grant of hundreds of undergraduate scholarships and bursary awards to indigent students from Ikorodu.
7. Annual financial support to IDPIL/G to build up Ikorodu Divisional Security Architecture.
8. Donation to orphanages.
9. Installation of street lights on Oriwu Club Road and Odofin Street to enhance security in our host community
Going forward, we shall not leave any stone unturned.
We want to do much more by collaborating with Lagos State Government and as partners to cover wider spectrum of the society.
In conclusion, the entire members of Oriwu Club, the pride of Ikorodu, are gratified to celebrate this 50th anniversary milestone as we remain true to our founding fathers’ dream.
May Almighty Allah keep us for another 50 years and far, far beyond.
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