By Olasubomi Olateju
Government’s socio-economic infrastructural development efforts in any society can be supported through the contributions of the people.
It is against this background that the sons and daughters of Ilawe-Ekiti, the headquarters of Ekiti South West Local Government in Ekiti state are coming home from all parts of the world to celebrate the 2024 Ilawe-Ekiti Unity Day which has kick-started with a Press Conference on Monday, 18 November, 2024 at the palace of the traditional ruler of the community, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi.
According to the Chairman, Planning Committee, Femi Bankole, Esq. while briefing the press reeled out the programme of events as follows:
– Monday, 18 November, 2024, press conference
– Tuesday,19th November,2024, environmental sanitation,7.00 am -10 am
– Wednesday, 20th November, 2024, Youths Rendezvous at Agbajeola Hall, 9.00 am-6 pm
– Thursday, 21st November, 2024, Ilawe Unity Day lecture, 11.30 am-2.00 pm at Agbajeola Hall.
– Friday, 22nd November, 2024, Indoor games(Ago Olopon and game of draught) competitions, 9.00 am-1.00 pm at Agbajeola Hall
Jumat service- 1.30-2.30 pm at Ilawe-Ekiti Central mosque
– Saturday,23rd November, 2024, grand finale/launching of N500 million community support for the take-off of the Federal Teaching Hospital Annex, Ilawe-Ekiti.
The Chairman said the community is out to support the government by mobilizing its sons and daughters both at home and in the diaspora to contribute towards the provision of socio-economic facilities and improve the ones already on ground with a view to encouraging their proper use by the people.
He cited the poor state of the medical facilities in the town which requires some level of rehabilitation to raise their standard, stressing that part of the proceeds from the event would be channelled to this vital area of human concerns and other areas that will project the image of the ancient town and place it on national and global reckoning.
Bankole said dignitaries to the occasion include Ekiti state governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, as the special guest, Oba Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ile-Ife, as the royal father of the day, Arch. Oladapo Gabriel Ajayi, Chairman of the occasion, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, MON, as the Chief Launcher, among others.
Meanwhile, among those to be conferred with chieftaincy titles are Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, MON, Alhaji (Dr) Otunba Adesanya Abayomi Rasaq and his wife- Alhaja Hoalat Afolasade Adesanya.
Records of the last population census conducted by the National Population Commission and confirmed by the National Bureau of Statistics placed Ilawe-Ekiti as the third largest and most populous town in Ekiti state.
It is an agrarian community dotted by undulating hilly topography in some areas.
