The main hall of the Odiolowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, was packed full on Friday, 10th November, 2023, when the residents in their numbers: religious leaders, Community Development Associations leaders, CDC leaders, market men and women, students, artisans, youths and even security agents came to listen to their Chairman, Honourable Razaq Olusola Ajala, who had invited them to come as unveils what he has in store for them to enhance and improve their welfare and standard of living.
The atmosphere was almost carnival like because as one of the residents, “when Razaq Ajala invites you for this kind of events, you’re very sure that goodies will come out of it. He’s our Chairman and we love him. Whenever he calls, we hearken to his call”.
“We’ve called you here to contribute to the preparation of our Year 2024 Budget. Our focus is on good governance to eliminate extreme poverty, unemployment, valued disorientation and removing institutional/environmental decay,” the council Chairman informed his audience who listened with rapt attention.
He then went on to reel out programmes slated to take place between November and December designed to enhance the welfare of his people.
The programme started on Saturday, 11 November, 2023, when Ajala led residents particularly youths on an awareness fitness walk for the Odiolowo/Ojuwoye Sports Fiesta tagged, “Walk for Harmony and Prosperity”.
According to the welfare packages reeled out by the council Chairman on Friday, 10 November, 2023, Sensitization and stakeholders meeting for the 2024 Budget and distribution of palliatives to residents takes place on Friday, 17 November, 2023.
A week later, Thursday, 23 November and Friday, 24 November, 2023, students of tertiary institutions who reside in the council area will collect forms for bursary while artisans and other interested small scale business owners are also expected to collect forms trade assistance and loans.
Screening of applicants for students’ bursary, trade assistance and loans would take place on Tuesday, 28 November and Wednesday, 29 November, 2023 after they must have submitted their application forms on Monday, 27 November, 2023.
Skill acquisition programme for residents takes place between Monday, 13 November and Monday, 27 November, 2023 while the graduation ceremony takes place on Thursday, 30 November, 2023.
Quiz and debate competitions for public and private schools within the council area takes place between Monday, 27 November and Friday, 1 December, 2023, while the grand final takes place on Monday, 4 December, 2023.
The Trash for Gas programme where residents are expected to exchange refuse for gas cooker takes place between Friday, 1 December and Saturday, 2 December, 2023 at two centres.
Tuesday, 5 December, 2023, has been earmarked for the payment and presentation of the End of the Year packages and allowances for teaching and non-teaching staff in all public primary and secondary schools in the council area while the following day, Wednesday, 6 December, 2023 is the day for students in tertiary institutions resident in the council area when they are paid their bursary.
It’s the turn of the security personnel in the council area on Thursday, 7 December, 2023 as they are paid end of the year packages and allowances. Medical outreach for residents will take place between Monday, 27 November and Saturday, 2 December, 2023.
On Monday, 11 December, 2023, the vulnerable people in the council area get their palliative while on Tuesday, 12 December, 2023 will be for graduation and presentation of certificates for students who have graduated from the ICT training programmes.
The Christian Staff Fellowship Xmas Carol takes place on Wednesday, 13 December, 2023; the trade assistance programme takes place on Friday, 15 December, 2023, the same day the Councillors will have their day; the closing ceremony of the sports fiesta and presentation of prizes take place on Saturday, 16 December, 2023; the annual sale of subsidized festive chickens take place on Monday, 18 December, 2023; while the programmes climaxed with the payment and presentation of loans to the beneficiaries.