Raymond Tedunjaye, Lagos state
The Anago hall of the Apapa-Iganmu LCDA secretariat on Monday witnessed an unprecedented impactful multi advocacy stakeholders forum as the executive chairman of the LCDA Hon. Jimoh Olawale Saliu facilitated a 3-in-1 actionable developmental engagement for residents of the LCDA.
The engagement which centered on advocacy on Child Protection, Adult Literacy Education and Residents Registration, was held in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, aimed at enlightening and equiping community leaders and residents with vital information and actionable steps on three critical pillars of development enumerated above.
The well attended interactive and sightful programme had in attendance prominent leaders and members of the community notably the traditional leaders, market men and women, artisans, members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), League of Imams, representative of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Apapa Iganmu chapter, members of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), the physically challenged and among others.
Also in attendance were the vice chairman of Apapa Iganmu LCDA chief ( Mrs.) Fadekemi Otitonaiye, members of the legislative arm of the LCDA led by its leader Hon. Adigun Arogundade, members of the management team of Apapa-Iganmu LCDA led by the Council Manager Mr. Badmus Lateef Omokayode, the Community Development Committee (CDC) led by its chairman Mr. Azeez Okeola.
The all inclusive and encompassing stakeholders’ engagement was equally blessed with the presence of the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) amongst them the Apex leader Alhaji Moruf Gbadamosi, the LGA chairman Hon. Toyin Aweda, leader of the elders forum, Alhaji Lanre Bakare and the immediate past leader of the forum Hon. James Abifarin and some APC ward chairmen.
In a key note address, the LCDA helmsman Hon. Jimoh Olawale Saliu highlighted the importance of the engagement, stressing that it will engender a great benefit to members of the community.
According to him, the engagement marks the celebration of the shared commitment of his administration to foster growth, education and protection of every residents.
Speaking further, Hon. Jimoh emphasised that his administration has always centered on empowering the people through sustainable development and robust educational initiatives.
He expressed his profound gratitude to the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) for partnering with the LCDA, noting that its unwavering support in facilitating access to identity and resignation services is crucial.
The LCDA executive chairman equally commended members of the Child Protection Network for its relentless efforts in safeguarding the rights and welfare of the children.
On the Adult Education Campaign, Hon.
Jimoh emphasised that education is the bedrock of any prosperous community, stressing that it empowers individuals to secure better jobs, make informed decisions, and contribute meaningfully to society.
While making a presentation, the coordinator of the Child Protection Network, comrade David Daud Saurau warned parents against the menace of child abuse, force labour and non-enrolment of children in school, saying it is a punishable offence.
He urged parents to assist the government in the efforts of ensuring the safety and protection of the children and their education, and also implored them to report child abuse cases to the appropriate authority, adding that concealment of such information attracts jail term on conviction.
Director of the Lagos State Agency for Mass Education, Mrs. Ibukunolu Seriki emphasised the importance of literacy, postulating that it improves both social and economic status.
She called on the stakeholders to embrace the programme and cascade the advocacy to members of the community, adding that the services offered by the agency is free.
Noting that the agency has just two study centres in the area, she urged the stakeholders to provide more study centres, assuring that the government will provide the tutors and other learning items.
The duo of Omoyele Adisa and Ishau Adewale who spoke on behalf of LASRRA lamented the failure of registrants to pick up their plastic cards after several years of production by the agency.
They added that several efforts to reach the bearers of the cards through their registered mobile phone numbers had not yielded the desired result, calling on them to willing come for the collection of the permanent cards.
While responding to some of the concerned raised, the LCDA executive chairman directed those who expressed interest in providing study centres to liaise with the HOD Education of the Council for guardiance and direction on the process.
The programme climaxed with the presentation of an award of appreciation for exceptional leadership to the executive chairman Hon. Jimoh Olawale Saliu by the forum of APC Ward chairmen