Hon. Segun Odunmbaku: Leveraging Partnerships For Sustainable Development In Ojodu LCDA

The Mayor, during his first term, has since established and distinguished himself by leveraging strategic partnerships for sustainable development and empowerment from WASH facilities with WaterAid/ PEPSICO in schools, healthcenters and markets to youth focused digital and vocational training with Flux Technologies and ETL Engineering Services, Women inclusion initiatives with ECOWAS FEBWE and SDGs, Solar energy training with Exceltrix Technologies, Free Interests SME Loans with Thrive Microfinance Bank and Staff Upskilling programmed with Sage And Artisans Limited, his collaborations have transformed Ojodu LCDA into a hub of innovation, growth and inclusive progress.

His recent participation at the 76th Anniversary Reception of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in Abuja provided yet another platform for him to seek collaborative framework with international partners attracting global expertise, resources and interests to work together  and reaffirm his administration’s commitment to innovation, collaboration and community-driven growth.

At the diplomatic gathering, Hon. Odunmbaku called for practical City-to-City and Firm-to-Local Council collaborations that can deliver quick and tangible benefits to traders, artisans and residents in Ojodu LCDA. He emphasized the need for Ojodu LCDA to explore Locality -to- Locality cooperation with Shenzhen, one of China’s foremost innovation hubs, focusing onand iurban management, e-permits and community safety.

Central to his proposals were bold, actionable initiatives, including the launch of ain  90-day Green Market Pilot in Ojodu LCDA featuring solar-powered lighting, cold storage facilities, shade canopies and waste-to-compost systems, an initiative aimed at transforming local markets especially the ongoing Eweoboja Market Redevelopment

into cleaner, safer, and more productive trading environments.

Similarly, the Harvard trained Mayor outlined a “Safe and Lights Up Ojodu LCDA Programme”, combining smart streetlighting and CCTV technology to boost security and extend trading hours, ensuring that commerce thrives beyond daylight for a 24 hour economy that would boost hospitality and creative industry in Ojodu LCDA.

Recognising the transformative power of technology, Hon Segun Odunmbaku, who had previously distributed interest free 20 Million Naira Loans to traders and artisans in partnership with Thrive Microfinance Bank during his first term has also unveiled plans for a 1,000-Trader SME Digitalisation Sprint. The local merchants will be onboarded to digital payment systems, e-receipts and micro-inventory tools.

This project, paired with the establishment of a Youth Tech and Repair Lab, will not only digitise small businesses but also equip young people with practical skills in device repairs, renewable energy and basic coding through a much larger platform and outcome than past partnerships with Honey Treat Academy and Algorithms Technologies that has trained Ojodu LCDA youths in such skills in the past.

His approach to urban governance is equally innovative. Through lean public-private partnerships (PPPs), Ojodu LCDA is opening opportunities for quick-impact projects such as drainage desilting, modern public toilets and waste transfer points. By offering sites and community liaison while partners provide technical expertise and operations, the council ensures efficient service delivery and shared responsibility for environmental conservation and management.

This forward-thinking spirit is not limited to international partnerships. Only recently, Hon. Odunmbaku hosted veteran Nollywood actor, Saidi Balogun  and Nigerian CatchBall Federation at the council secretariat, where discussions centered on collaborations with the sports and creative industry.

The Chairman reiterated the importance of sports, arts, culture and entertainment in the council’s HEYSRELOADED Agenda, stressing their value in driving youth empowerment, social cohesion and community pride as evident in past events like Ojodu LCDA Carnivals, which would be organized in a larger and more impactful scale while ongoing development of recreational centers for sport activities are underway in Ojodu LCDA.

Speaking with his characteristic optimism, Hon. Odunmbaku remarked: “We are committed to initiatives that positively engage our youths, empower communities and position Ojodu LCDA as a hub of creativity and development”.

From global partnerships with Shenzhen to local collaborations with Nollywood and Sport organizations, Hon. Segun Odunmbaku is proving that sustainable development is best achieved through purposeful alliances. By blending vision with pragmatism, he is positioning Ojodu LCDA as a model of inclusive, innovative and community-centered governance.

– Bello Akinkunmi Yakub (Development Economist and Public Relations Consultant).