AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
The Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank Group, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, has urged stakeholders to show increased commitment towards the Ibadan development agenda in a bid to leapfrog the city to a place of pride.
Adeduntan, who is also the ApesinOla of Ibadanland, gave the charge recently at the 90th birthday banquet held in honour of Chief Bode Amao, at Ibadan House, Oke-Aremo, Ibadan.
The Executive Director, FirstBank Group, Tosin Adewuyi, who represented Adeduntan, the Guest Lecturer on the occasion, stressed the importance of Ibadan as a vast city, lying close to Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve-centre.
In a paper titled, ‘Leadership in Ibadanland: Prospects and challenges,’ the lecturer stated that the growth and transition of Ibadan into prominence in Sub-Sahara Africa confirmed its relevance and impact, despite the opinion by some critics that the creation of the city was circumstantial.
Among others, he saw the location of Ibadan at the fringe of the forest, its accessibility to Lagos, vast land mass and military strength as major advantages which aided its status beginning from the advent of colonial rule up to independence and even beyond.
Harping on the impacts of the strong and purposeful leadership that Ibadan enjoyed since the pre-colonial era till the modern time, Adeduntan listed the establishment of leading institutions, including the premier University and the teaching hospital, as a major boost.
He stressed, “Ibadan with its much lower cost of living should be primed as a location for remote workers seeking to avoid the high cost of living in other parts of the country. This remains a goldmine that has remained untapped.
“Investment in tourist attractions will also allow it tap into the large Lagos market as the expected completion of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway coupled with the impact of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway will facilitate smoother travel between both cities. Cultural events such as Annual Ibadan Week should be repackaged and better promoted to attract Tourists into the city.
“Presence of large swathes of land can enable the creation of investment zones which could serve as a manufacturing hub serving the Lagos market and other parts of the South-West. The presence of an overarching vision for the city which its indigenes and other inhabitants believe in and buy-into will be the catalyst for the transformation of the city.
“Realisation of this potential will require surpassing its existing challenges.”
He listed some of the challenges besetting the city to include inadequate housing, overcrowding, dearth of quality basic infrastructure such as road, good waste management and sanitation, movement of youth to other parts of the country, low domestic and foreign investment.
He said, however that “These challenges can be overcome through strong leadership, clarity of purpose, teamwork and determination. How do we get the 11 local government (councils) in Ibadanland to strategize, plan and execute a joint ‘Greater Ibadan City’ projects with the active support of the state government?
“It will require leaders across public and private sector, established and fledging entrepreneurs, resident in the city, country and diaspora working together towards its realisation. I firmly believe, Ibadanland has all the talents in place to make this a reality.
“A development blueprint detailing the vision and a credible plan for the city will have to be
devised which provides clarity for investors on the opportunities and incentives for following through with investments. A council of accomplished professionals with roots in Ibadanland can be put in place to work with the relevant authorities to put such a plan together.”
Adeduntan, who described Amoo as a truly exceptional individual, a seasoned Industrialist by all standards, a mentor to many, father and grandfather to all, said, “I choose to be optimistic that we can change the trajectory of the city and put it back on the course to prominence in our nation and continent again. The leadership of the CCII working with Olubadan-in-Council and the chairmen of the 11 local government areas in Ibadanland should be adequately resourced to undertake the strategic planning required.”
Amoo, while addressing the gathering, expressed his love and devotion towards the development of Ibadan. Stressing that the city could not continue to dwell on past glory, he said, “We cannot fight (physically) anymore. Education is the means with which we can struggle to attain a great height.
“Don’t let us trust the Chinese; they may enslave us. Let us invest in education. It is a tool with which, if we come together, we can develop Ibadan. If we develop Ibadan, we would be the envy of others. We want Ibadan to change. The change is not from anywhere but from us.”
Former Oyo State Governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, who expressed joy on the 90th birth anniversary of Chief Bode Amoo, described him as a legendary giver of far more than 50 years.
Ladoja said, “Chief Bode Amoo has always been a cheerful giver on anything concerning Ibadanland and Ibadan people. He has given so much to so many people.”
Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, described the celebrant as a philanthropist of note, an icon in every material and a benefactor to many, while Alhaja Asabi Toyin Alaka said it was a huge advantage for whoever had the opportunity to meet Chief Amoo.
