A real estate company, Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited has connected electricity light for the indigenes and residents of Ijeun Ariobiologbo and Arowa in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State to the national grid after about six decades.
The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday with the representatives of the communities to connect them with electricity using its transformer that serves its estate located about 200 metres away from the beneficiary communities.
The Chief Executive Officer, Pelican Valley Estates Dr. Babatunde Adeyemo, said the project was considered for funding and execution as part of the firm’s corporate social responsibility to mark his 44th birthday.
Adeyemo hinted the first phase of the intervention would give 20 houses access to electricity while others would be accommodated in subsequent phases.
The Baale of Ijeun Ariobiologbo, Chief Rasheed Odewale, and Baale of Arowa, Chief Akeem Raheem commended the firm for coming to their rescue.
Chief Raheem who spoke with our reporter through an interpreter, said the two communities have been without electricity for over 60 years, saying before now, people had been promising them light without fulfilling the promises.
Also, speaking Mrs. Amoke Alani from Arowa appealed to the CEO to provide them with borehole facility, lamenting that community’s stream which she claimed had been their only source of water has now been polluted due to flood.
She said the indigenes and residents risk cholera and other water borne diseases should they keep drinking water from the stream, especially during this rainy season.
As part of the activities to mark the day the realtor firm had a novelty match with Nigeria Correctional Centre Ibara Abeokuta Inmates which draws 1-1 respectively.
Dr Babatunde while addressing the inmates at Ibara correctional service located at Ibara Abeokuta hinted that he decided to celebrate his birthday with the inmates not because he wants to encourage them not to feel downcast because they are in where they are today but to encourage them not to give up on God.
He also advised them to change from crime committed that brought them to the correctional home. He urged them to see the place as a place to think and rethink about one’s life and not to see it as a place of death.
Speaking with journalists, the Deputy Correctional Center, DCC, James Ogunmoyede hinted that after Senator Ibikunle Amosun who came in January to donate to the inmates, Pelican is the first individual to visit the correctional home to give them support.
He however appealed to Nigerians to emulate the kind gesture of Dr Babatunde Adeyemo so as not to neglect the inmates because of their present situation but encourage them.
Other activities include a trophy with cash price of £20 to Best Player in NCC Emmanuel Nonso, Best Behaved Inmate Female: Blessing, Best Behaved Student: Olusolade Bamgboye.