OGBOMOSO: Seven breakthroughs of 2024
Femi OGUNLANA
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Ogbomoso witnessed some gains in 2024 in terms of physical projects and planting of seeds of progress and developments, which if well harnessed can be a pivot to and an enhancement of the fortunes of the city in the long run. Ogbomoso Insight in this piece highlights seven of the accomplishments, some which came at great efforts by individuals. We are focusing not on promises yet unfulfilled but on those actualized or being actualized. The sweetest seven triumphs of 2024.
1. Market development
Two important markets were brought to life in 2024, the moribund ultra-modern market opposite LAUTECH and the Kajola market opposite Ogbomoso South local government, Arowomole. The ultra-modern market is an Oyo state-owned market, whose construction was started by the administration of the (now late) Governor Lamidi Onaolapo Adesina (1999 – 2003) and commissioned by Governor Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja in 2007. But the market failed to take off as many who got shops allocation in the expansive business arena did not work towards its functionality, they just got shops and warehouses and locked them off. Though it is yet to fully take off, but its abattoir and meat selling section is now under use just as new shops have sprung up as a section was allocated for building of shops by private developers. The immediate past chairman of Ogbomoso North local government, Hon. Kabiru Akanji Ayoade, worked assiduously towards achieving this milestone. The installation of His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, as the Soun of Ogbomosoland, provided more stimulus for this as he encouraged the butchers to relocate to their section from the old rented land at Atenda, Oja-tutun just as His Majesty stepped in in the provision of facilities like generating set and stalls at the market. He gave pep talks to the butchers that softened their initial resistance. He also through his chiefs and aides in conjunction with the council oversaw the allocation of virgin lands to developers. The market has kicked to life. Similarly, the Kajola market at Arowomole was redesigned and rebuilt by the Ogbomoso South local government boosted by the Oyo state government. Onpetu of Ijeruland His Royal Majesty Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran Lagbami Osekun III, and the council’s chairman, Hon Oyedokun Oyeniyi Timothy, were major stimulus to the feat. The market has also roared to life to improve economic activities in the community.
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2. Appointment of Ogbomoso indigenes into important offices
2024 also witnessed appointment of Ogbomoso indigenes into important offices at the state and national levels. One of such is the emergence of an Ogbomoso person as the substantive Vice Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso. In its 34 years of existence, no Ogbomoso person ever emerged as the administrative head of the best state university in Nigeria and best institution to study engineering, which was a source of concern to indigenes. Various stakeholders supported and lobbied intensely for the emergence of Professor Rasak Olatunde Rom Kalilu, who previously served as Deputy Vice Chancellor and was Acting Vice Chancellor at the time, the efforts yielded fruit as Governor Seyi Makinde approved his emergence. Impressively, his tenure has been yielding positive results, it has retained its status as the best state university in Nigeria and is announced as the best university to study engineering in Nigeria.
There are other indigenes who have secured notable appointments such as the appointment of Engr, Muftau Open Salawu as Director General of Project Monitoring Agency in Oyo state; appointment of Hon Segun Odebunmi as chairman of Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (O-ORBDA) and another indigene, Ayo Oyalowo, as Finance Director; Professor Adeshola Adepoju as chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal College of Education, Ilawe-Ekiti, Ekiti state; Chief Sunday Dare as Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Public Communications and Orientation; Dr Debo Adedokun as DG of Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), among others.
It is believed these men will serve Nigeria meritoriously, leaving impact and going ahead to benefit their community in some ways to leave lasting legacies such as facilitating the completion of the 132kv power project at Temidire/Ajeja, completion of the remaining 5km Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin new highway in the Ogbomoso axis, establishment of cashew processing factories and/or research institute on cashew production, rail line through Ogbomoso, take off of police secondary school at Odanbon, resuscitation of Federal Medical Hospital at Pakiotan, takeoff of approved Federal Fire Service Office in Ogbomoso, rehabilitation of township roads and so on.
3. Educational triumphs
An Ogbomoso indigene based in Kaduna state, David Loola Alayande, emerged as one of three best students in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in 2024, scoring 367. The feat underscores the community’s DNA of academic excellence. Recall in 1985, an Ogbomoso student, (now Dr.) Dapo Ishola emerged best student in WAEC throughout West Africa. The tradition has been sustained. Also, as stated above LAUTECH was retained its status as best state university and recently was ranked as best university to study engineering in Nigeria beating many first generation and top private universities to the gong.
4. Rehabilitation of dilapidated Ogbomoso trunk A road
Actually, this shouldn’t have been recorded as a triumph if we are in a country where routine maintenance of infrastructure is upheld religiously. But the pain and inconvenience that arose from the terrible condition the road fell into in the year and the uproar and outrage that ensued made it a triumph in our estimation. A federal government road that is a major link between southwest and north of Nigeria, an economic lifeline, it became impassable because of wide gullies and humongous decay that became its lot particularly in the metropolis, throwing the inhabitants and motorists into intense agony, articulated vehicles were stuck in kilometres of gridlock, the battle for its repair became intense, social media battles were launched to draw government attention to it, federal government appointees and elected officials were dragged. It was an hectic period, relief only provided when Senator Fatai Buhari representing Oyo North Senatorial District announced that the President, Senator Bola Tinubu, had directed the Federal Ministry of Works to award the contract for its urgent repair, the Ogbomoso-Oyo section, starting from Ogbomoso. He mentioned Oba Ghandi Olaoye, the two other federal legislators from Ogbomoso Hon Lamiju Alao-Akala and Sunday Makanjuola as other major facilitators of the project. The project is now under execution.
5. Ogbomoso Cradle Carnival
It has been dubbed the largest social congregation of Ogbomosos in history. Such an all encompassing festival had long been sought to no avail. But the reigning traditional ruler of the town, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, brought it to pass in the year (December 19 – 23). It was a spectacle that attracted global interest. Its gains cannot be overemphasized, and building upon them will be a major elixir to reinventing Ogbomoso.
6. Reconditioning and remodification of Ogbomoso Palace
The palace of Soun in 2024 underwent a scintillating transformation in structure and aesthetic. Oba Olaoye spearheaded the renovation, getting some other willing individuals to support the project. The Ogbomoso Palace is now a masterpiece that has become a tourist centre. The building was commissioned in 1978 after the immediate past Soun His Imperial Majesty Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III JP, CON, CFR, mobilized citizens of the city to rebuild it.
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7. Commissioning of Ogbomoso-Iseyin road
Only few knew such a road existed, Ogbomoso-Iseyin road, though some said late Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala first mooted the idea of constructing it, but it did not become a reality. However, the incumbent governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, surprised many when he awarded the 76.6km road project. In 2024, it was completed and was commissioned by President Bola Tinubu represented by his deputy, Vice President Kasim Shettima. It was a major breakthrough in transportation for the town.
