Head of the Fadugba-Ogunlewe Royal Family of Igbogbo, Prince Akinola Ajose Ogunlewe has disclosed that the legacies of their late patriarchs, Prince Amos Olugbosi and Oba Festus Molaja Ogunlewe in the educational development of Igbogbo and Ikorodu Division as a whole was the inspiration behind the donation of two units 100-Bed Hostel Building to the Lagos State Civil Service Model College, Igbogbo.
The octogenarian stated this yesterday during the 2-in-1 formal Handing-Over of the twin hostel building to the Lagos State Government in commemoration of his 89th Birthday.
Dr Ogunlewe further disclosed that, while Late Olugbosi was the first indigene of Igbogbo to receive formal education, Late Oba Festus Molaja Ogunlewe was the first educated monarch in Igbogbo and the entire Lagos Colony as a whole.
He said, ‘Our late parents were the vanguards of Western education in Igbogbo Kingdom and it is good to revisit some of the achievements in this regard. It is necessary to immortalise their worthy achievements by erecting edifice in their names for future generations’
‘Oba Molaja was also instrumental to the establishment of the Lagos Colony Teachers College, now Lagos State Civil Service Model College, Igbogbo where the dormitories are being built’, he added.
Speaking on behalf of the Governor of Lagos State, Commissioner for Basic & Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, who commended Fadugba Ogunlewe family for sustaining the legacies of their late patriarchs, through the huge investment in building the twin hostel building for the Lagos State Civil Service Model College, Igbogbo.
Balogun also expressed appreciation to the Ikorodu Division Royal Fathers, educational Stakeholders and Teachers for making District 2 the most outstanding among other districts in the State.
Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Constituency Matters, Otunba Dr Saheed Ibikunle who also doubles as a Permanent Member of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB) praised the Fadugba family for contributing to the human capacity development of Lagos State, through the twin hostel buildings.
Similarly, Rep Babajimi Benson, Chairman House of Reps Committee on Defence, who was represented by Alh Taiwo Odumbo, Principal, LASU International Secondary School poured encomium on the Ogunlewe family for supporting the efforts of Lagos State Government in producing excellent secondary school students.
Benson, who was ably represented by the Principal, LASU International College, Alhaji Taiwo Odumbo, said government cannot do it alone, therefore, there is need for more collaborative efforts from the people.
earlier, a former Minister of the Works and Chairman of Fadugba Ogunlewe Committee, Senator Adeseye Kingsley Ogunlewe noted that the hostel project was aimed at uplifting the standard of the school from local into national standard.
The elder-statesmen stated that with the newly built multi-million hostel facilities, the school can conveniently attract students from other parts of the country, thus making it a choice schools for students from other states of the federation.
The Executive of Igbogbo-Baiyeku LCDA congratulated the Fadugba Ogunlewe family for the great achievement. The Council boss recounted how he was told about the exploits of Oba Molaja Ogunlewe as the first educated monarch in Igbogbo and how the late monarch raised the stake of traditional administration of the town.
Daini explained that, many Igbogbo families were challenged to sponsor their wards to school due largely to the need to be able to relate with the Palace.
The host monarch and Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali and the Ayangburen of Ikorodu,.Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, in their separate remarks celebrated the patriarchs of the Fadugba-Ogunlewe Royal Family, Late Prince Amos Olugbosi and Oba Festus Molaja Ogunlewe, while commending their children for choosing to immortalize them with the landmark projects.
The event climaxed with the formal commissioning of the Hostel building by the Commissioner of Education, Mr Tolani Alli-Balogun while the Family Head, Prince Dr Akinola Ogunlewe performed the formal Handing-Over of the buildings to the Lagos State Government.
The historic event was attended by many of the Ogunlewes namely, Dr. Jaiye Ogunlewe, Aremo (Prince) Adesegun Ogunlewe, Barrister Moyosore Ogunlewe who is the Executive Chairman Kosofe Local Government.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Abolaji Abayomi and Tutor-General of Education District 2 Mrs Anike Adekanye also graced the occasion.
Chief Tajudeen Alade Onasanya, Odofin of Igbogbo Kingdom led other Igbogbo traditional chiefs to the event.
Other guests at the event were, Professor Ajetunmobi, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola, Hon. Nurudeen Saka-Sholaja, Chief F.O. Lasisi and Dr. Mobolaji Olukoya.
