Yemie ADEOYE

AKURE– IN an effort to bring about national development in Nigeria through strategic regional economic development, the Ilaje Development Summit Group, IDSG,  has concluded and announced plans to hold the first ever Ilaje Development Summit, in Akure, the Ondo state capital, southwest Nigeria on the 23rd of November 2019.

The summit, which promises to address critical regional economic development issues of Ilaje land, a major oil producing community in Nigeria, will have as its keynote speaker, the executive governor of Ondo state, Arakurin Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and the theme of this inaugural summit is “Driving sustainable development through participatory partnership.

Chairman Board of trustees of IDSG, Asiwaju Yomi Ogunyomi,

Speaking on preparations towards the summit via a signed statement, Executive Administrator of the Group, The Rev. Sola Adebawo stated that the summit promises to have in attendance every sons and daughters of Ilaje nation both at home and in diaspora, especially those who have made their mark in their chosen field of endeavor and have the capacity to effectively participate in a regional development agenda that will be a booster for Nigeria’s national development in no small measure, especially when other regions take a cue from this citizens participatory effort and replicate it in their domains across the country.

Rev. Adebawo, stated further that the summit is a “citizen-led initiative to address the various development challenges confronting Ilaje as a people, and to recommend well articulated strategic solutions and properly structured roadmap for the sustainable development of Ilaje land, in support of the efforts of government and in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders”.

Also speaking, the chairman of the IDSG Board of Trustee, Asiwaju Yemi Ogunyomi, a former Clerk of the National Assembly, stated “it’s time for Ilaje as a people to take the lead in driving our own development as we cannot use another man’s hands to scratch our backs”. He therefore calls on all well-meaning Ilaje sons and daughters from all spheres of life to bring their knowledge and resources into developing Ilaje land.

Executive Administrator IDSG, The Rev. Sola Adebawo

The high point of the summit is the presentation of the Ilaje Regional Development Plan, which will spell our a roadmap for developing the Ilaje communities in a strategic way.

The IDSG concept is a novel approach to community development based on participation and partnership.

Explaining the concept, Deputy Executive Administrator of IDSG, Rev. Ola Judah Akinyomi says “the most effective way for any community to develop is to ensure its citizens participate and take ownership of the process of development, while collaborating with every key stakeholder in the development process”.

The activities culminating in this global Ilaje Development Summit began twelve months ago, with the formation of 8 Strategic Committees (StratComs) focused on key development sectors, such as: planing and infrastructure, education, health, economy and investment, leadership and governance, women/youth and gender mainstreaming, religion/culture and social renaissance and stakeholder engagement.

The StratComs; made up of professionals, academics, development experts, industrialists, politicians, business men/women etc; had a terms of reference to determine current state in each sector, determine desired state and evolve roadmaps for moving from current to desired states in short, medium and long terms. The works were largely based on research using both primary and secondary data.

Rev. Adebawo says “at IDSG, we want to be part of the solution rather than sit back to criticize. We want to work with government at every level, development agencies and every other relevant stakeholders to help change the fortune of our people in the long term”. He added “This is generational thinking… we are thinking and planing for generations yet unborn. And we believe that as opposed to piecemeal interventions and knee-jerk reactions, this approach will ensure Ilaje becomes great again!

The event will also feature a gala/award dinner, where deserving persons will receive recognition for various contributions to the development of Ilaje land.

The summit is organized by Ilaje Development Summit Group (IDSG), made up of the intelligentsia of Ilaje race with membership spread across different countries of the world and from different walks of life.