The Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, HRH Oba Abdul-Razaq Adesina Adenugba, has established Ago-Iwoye Club.
Oba Adenugba pronounced the establishment of the Club on Saturday, 26th October, 2024, while delivering his speech at a ceremony marking the 50th Anniversary of Club 50, Ago-Iwoye, which was held at WosAm Arena, Ago-Iwoye.
The Monarch said Ago-Iwoye Club was established to enable all sons, daughters, residents and lovers of Ago-Iwoye to socialize and bond together for progress and unity.
Great Achiever Magazine reports that the Royal Father also announced the emplacement of a Working Committee comprising of representatives of regberegbes, social clubs and other stakeholders in Ago-Iwoye.
Members of the Working Committee
1. Sir Col (Dr) Ademola Onalaja (Balogun of Ago-Iwoye) - Chairman
2. Prince Funmi Sipe - Vice Chairman
3. Barr Demola Badejo - Secretary
4. Dr Tosin Adeyemi - Assistant Secretary
5. Olootu Dipo Sofowora
6. Otunba Akin Ogungbe
7. Oluomo Femi Bakre (Oluomo of Ago-Iwoye)
8. Omooba Murphy Adekoya (Ogbeni Oja of Ago-Iwoye)
9. Giwa Murphy Adesegun
10. Yomi Ogunsanu (Publisher, Great Achiever Magazine)
11. Otunba Sesan Rufai
12. Dr Seye Awojobi
13. Otunba Kola Onakoya (World K)
14. Otunba Femi Oyebanjo
15. Mr Femi Ogunwomoju
16. Chief Sola Quadri
17. Mr Gbenga Obasan
18. Otunba Ramon Odunsi
19. Mr Akeem Alebiosu
20. Alhaji Musa Muritala
21. Hon Taiwo Ogungbe
22. Otunba Ajibola Ogundipe (Olutoyese of Ago-Iwoye)
The Working Committee, according to Oba Adenugba, is saddled with the responsibility of planning, organising events, promoting membership and fostering community engagement. The Committee will also raise funds for the Club, acquire land, put necessary structures together and consider a necessary meeting place to ensure immediate take off of the Club.
Immediately after the inauguration of the Working Committee, substantial funds were raised to enable the club take off on a strong footing.
Some of the donors were: Mr Tokunbo Talabi, the Secretary to Ogun State Government, who announced donation on behalf of Ogun State Government; Maj. Gen. S.A Awosanya (Baba Oba of Ago-Iwoye), Otunba Alex Onabanjo (Asiwaju of Ago-Iwoye) Oluomo Femi Bakre (Managing Director, Parallex Bank) Sir Col (Dr) Ademola Onalaja (Balogun of Ago-Iwoye), Senator Lekan Mustapha, Asiwaju Tele Ogunjobi (Wazeeru Muslumi of Ijebuland)
Meanwhile, Oba Abdul-Razaq Adenugba has congratulated members of Club 50, Ago-Iwoye on the 50th Anniversary of the Club.
Oba Adenugba said Club 50 is a pacesetter in Ago-Iwoye, noting that the Club's contributions to the progress and development of the town remain indelible.
He urged the Club to continue to stand out and be a role model to the coming generation.
Oba Adenugba paid glowing tributes to the current president and all past presidents of the club for their leadership roles which made the club to be a reference point.
He prayed that the club will continue to grow from strength to strength.
In his welcome address, the President of Club 50 Ago-Iwoye, Otunba Ayobade Obajimi, said the club deserves not only to celebrate its 50 years of existence, but also to roll out the drums for achieving the goals for which members came together.
He noted that the club which came into existence in 1974, and still vibrant after fifty years, when many contemporary groups have either died, forgotten or are barely existing, calls for a celebration, adding that "we are enormously grateful to Almighty God for keeping the Club alive and bubbling".
Otunba Obajimi said beyond existential outlook, the core objectives of Club 50 Ago-Iwoye revolve around members fellowship, welfare and the encouragement of affinity to Ago-Iwoye, which undoubtedly translate to its positive contribution to the upliftment of the town’s development and image.
Obajimi, while going down memory lane said, "For fifty solid years, through thick and thin, we have held our meetings regularly at the last Sunday of each month. Occasionally, when circumstances warranted it, we might have a shift, but it still held; even when the whole world was struck by Covid-19 pandemic, the fellowship still continued, albeit virtually.
"Our ever-conspicuous presence at each other’s events have been second to none, adorned with our customized caps which number has grown to seven over the years. From members’ weddings where we were mostly each other’s groomsmen and drivers, transiting to children’s weddings, parents’ burials, housewarming, awards, chieftaincies, etc., our financial and moral support have been steady.
"When much younger, we socialised with discos but as we aged, matured into family get together, with a special annual edition that encompass our wives, children and grandchildren.
"In all of these, we had a solid bond which refused to be broken in the face of very expensive banters! Sadly, being mere mortals, we’ve lost some members, to whom we bade decent farewell and have continued to support their widows, especially at an established annual event".
Otunba Obajimi disclosed that the Club's contributions to Ago-Iwoye started as far back as 1976 with the 1st Ago-Iwoye Economic Summit, and renovated the Post Office, despite the fact that many of the Club's members were still pursuing education.
He said the Club played active part in Ago-Iwoye Central Development Council (ACDC) events, especially the annual Iwoye Day, while it is on record that two of the Club's members (Otunba Yomi Bada and Late Prince Gboyega Banjoko) served as ACDC Chairmen, and some others as Chairmen of Planning Committee, Ebiripo night and Iwoye Day (Sir Kunle Ogundipe, Otunba Ayobade Obajimi and Otunba Tayo Okeowo respectively).
Four members of the club, according to Otunba Obajimi have been accorded the highest honour of Ago-Iwoye; the Distinguished Service Award, DSA (Otunba Ayobade Obajimi, Prince Olusegun Adesegun, Otunba Yomi Bada and Late Prince Gboyega Banjoko).
Recounting some of the Club's contributions to education in Ago-Iwoye, Otunba Obajimi said, an Education Endowment Fund was launched in 1995, while the club organised decades of quiz and debate competitions among secondary schools and presented Education Awards based on the Best JSCE and WASSCE results.
"We equally constructed the only foot bridge (Club 50 Bridge) across a swamp at the Olabisi Onabanjo University and endowed a prize for the Best Graduating Student in Social Sciences at the same University.
"We have been prominent at the palace, in advisory and resources capacity to all the Obas of our time".
Otunba Obajimi used the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the club to recognize and appreciate some distinguished personalities who have offered support to the club in one way or the other towards the success of the anniversary, particularly in the production of the golden anniversary compendium.
He said, "In this regard, let me specially thank the Kabiyesi, HRH Oba Abdul-Razaq Adesina Adenugba, the Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Otunba Alexander Onabanjo, the Asiwaju of Ago-Iwoye and Aare (Alhaji) Safiriyu Kazeem, Chairman, SAF Petroleum, for their remarkable reach out so far".
The Club's 50th Anniversary was well attended by dignitaries from all walks of life.
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