As part of his humanitarian services for the people, especially those in the rural areas as a result of less development of momentous infrastructure, Engr. Ayotunde Bally (an APC Chieftain) recently paid the counterpart fund for the construction of blocks of classrooms in Laje and a basic health care centre in Ilutuntun, along Laje road in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State, which was constructed by the Ondo State Community And Social Development Agency, under the (Ondo State COVID-19 Action Recovery And Economic Stimulus Programme).
The construction of the blocks of classrooms came into being, as a result of the exponential growth of out-of-school children in the community, due to the dilapidated structure of the school building, this has also led to the neglect of the school by teachers posted to the community as a result of the unconducive learning environment.
The former school building has become obsolete, and the habitat for reptiles has rendered teaching and learning practically impossible for the promising young school children in the community for donkey years without being attended to over lack of funds for the construction of a new edifice.
On the part of the constructed basic health care centre in Ilutuntun, along Lajo road, the residents of the community have been suffering from a lack of access to basic health needs, especially for their young children and expectant women, who are prone to various health maladies, who are at the mercies of self-medication as a result of not having basic health care facility, that is well-equipped with drugs for first-aid, before proper diagnoses for further treatment if the need arises.
The attention of Engr. Bally was drawn into these precarious situations by Alhaji Oluwole Bashiru (Bantolee), Secretary to the Ondo West Local Government, after he met with the Olojas of the affected communities and later instructed them (Olojas) to write to the Ministry, which he (Mr Bashiru) personally submitted the letter to the Ministry for approval in accompanied of two Olojas.
Twenty-four (24) letters were submitted, but only two got approval from the Ministry, one from Ondo West and one from Ondo East. After the approval for Ondo West, the Olojas then solicited Engr. Bally’s intervention(s) in payment of the counterpart fund concerning the two projects, as someone who has taken it upon himself to be giving back to his people, as a form of rendering humanitarian service to ameliorate the untold hardships people or communities are facing.
In his words, “I see this call as another opportunity for me to give back to my people, especially our young promising children who have been repudiated access to education which is their fundamental rights, and our aged parents, expectant women, children and most everybody that have been denied the access to a basic health care facility as a result of non-functional amenities of this magnitude in these communities.
“As for me, there is not a better time to come to your aid in payment of this fund than now, considering the primacy of these two facilities to human existence in life.
“I have seen the counterpart fund, and I am assuring you that I will take it upon myself to see that your demands are met, and actualised in due time for our children to return to school and for our people to start enjoying basic health care”. Engr. Bally said
In fulfilling the promise made, Engr. Bally paid the counterpart fund as promised for the Ondo West, and ODSCSDA mobilised contractors to the sites for the construction of the projects and today, blocks of classrooms, Laje Community Grammar School and basic health care facility, Ilutuntun, along Laje road are ready for commissioning and use, for the good people of Laje and Ilutuntun communities. This is evidence of a promise made and a promise kept.
Signed:
Sam Olofunfemi Jnr
SA to Engr. Ayotunde Bally
(Media & Publicity)
October 7, 2022
