By Ayodele Abere
Despite paucity of funds that has always been the excuse and bane of many local governments and Council Development Areas across the country for the chairmen to carry out developmental projects in their respective domains, the story of the Chairman, Ekameta Local Council Development Area of Ekiti State, Dr.Oluwaleye Adeniji, seems to be different. This is on the basis that he has really distinguished himself by taking the bull by the horns.
He continues to toe the line of the State Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, believes in the welfare of the people by executing fascinating developmental projects that are of great benefits to the people of his Council area in Ekameta, comprising Erijiyan, Ikogosi and Ipole-Iloro Ekiti.
Within the space of one year of his administration as the Executive Chairman of Ekameta LCDA, Honourable Oluwaleye Adeniji, considering that Ekameta LCDA is the Tourism Hub of Ekiti State as the major tourist centres in the State are situated in the Council area, the Chairman explained that his administration has sponsored some international Hikers to Okelapa forest in Ikogosi Ekiti, the site of the first plane crash in Africa which occurred in 1942 during the second World War.
The exercise which the Chairman said was carried out in order to harness the Tourism potential of the site and showcase it to international investors. Other tourist attractions in the Council area include the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, Ikogosi Ekiti, Arinta Waterfalls at Ipole-Iloro, and Erin River at Erijiyan Ekiti.
In terms of Youth Development and Job Creation, Dr. Oluwaleye Adeniji-led administration has been able to sponsor female youths of Ekameta for the training of Adire fabric making at Adire Hub in Ado-Ekiti. Just as he equally purchased JAMB forms for students, Co-sponsored debates and quiz competition among students, as well as regular interaction with the youths and students.
In the area of Infrastructure and Industrialization, the building donated by sons and daughters of Ekameta for administrative use at the Permanent site of the Council has been completed. While the the left wing (first phase) of the Permanent Secretariat is being constructed. Others include drilling of motorised borehole at the Permanent site with renovation and completion of 24 unit open market stalls at Atiba Market in Erijiyan Ekiti.
With Agriculture as the main stay of an economy in this part of the world, the Council cultivated maize and cassava plantation aside the provision of free farm inputs in form of fertilizer, cutlasses and maize seedlings amongst others to farmers in Ekameta.
As if all these were not enough, the helmsman of the Council, Dr. Adeniji, has been able to organise seminars and workshops for the staff and political office holders in order to enhance their capacity and improve their job productivity. He didn’t stop as he went further to distribute exercise books to pupils and students of the Council area.
The council boss also provided school bags to both the pupils and students during the back-to-school programme to complement the WAOH pet project of Her Excellency, the wife of the Governor, Professor (Mrs) Olayemi Oyebanji.
In health sector, free medical services was extended to the people living in the farmsteads of the Council area. He went further to install solar lights to the health facilities in the three towns of Ekameta with fumigation of all the health centres.
Dr. Adeniji’s achievements over the last one year of his administration are not limited to the above-mentioned ones as they include; desilting of blocked drainage in Erijiyan, regular environmental sanitation exercise, repair and total overhauling of abandoned/unserviceable official vehicle, purchase of laptops, power generating set, office furniture, public address system, fan and other office equipment for official uses.
Others include; regular community engagement and interactions with community people, facilitation of combing of all forests in Ekameta to chase away criminals, regular clearing of all road verges in Ekameta, Design and Development of website for Ekameta, Cash empowerment to the widows, elderly and vulnerable people, payment of medical bills and other financial assistance to his people, Monthly payment of allowance and financial assistance to the staff.
However, Dr. Adeniji, said all the achievements wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of the political office holders and the career officers in Ekameta LCDA. While thanking them all, he also appreciated the Royal Fathers of the three communities in the Council area for their fatherly support and Royal blessings for his administration.