Suliat Lawal
A businessman and philanthropist, Omooba Abimbola Onabanjo, and his wife, Olori Abayomi Onabanjo, have donated 20 boreholes to communities across Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, bringing to 32 the number of communities to benefit from the initiative in the past two weeks.
The latest intervention, described as the second batch of the water project, is part of a wider plan to provide 52 boreholes across different communities in Ijebu-Ode.
The boreholes, each equipped with a generating set to ensure uninterrupted access to water, are aimed at reducing the hardship faced by residents in accessing potable water.
The benefiting communities in the latest batch include Olode Isale (Imupa), Idepo (Ijasi), Obalende 1 (Porogun), Obalende (Seicko), Oju Koti, Alawa, Ojofa, Ita Osu New Market (Ikongba), Ayegbami (Idomowo Community), Ipamurin and Ishado.
Others are Imoru, Ariyo Street (Moborode), Eleru Gbeda (GRA Festac), Oniworo, Onirugba, Itaajana, Sabo 2, Idomila and Ijagun Road.
Speaking on Sunday at the inauguration and handover of the facilities in Ijebu-Ode, the donor’s representative, Funmilayo Ayanwusi, said the intervention was motivated by the need to address the persistent water shortage in the communities.
Ayanwusi said the project was a purely philanthropic intervention and had no political undertone.
She said, “Why a water project? Water is essential for everyone. It is a basic necessity not only for human beings, but also for animals and plants.
“Recognising the need within the community, he saw an opportunity to make a difference and decided to help alleviate the community’s water shortage.”
According to her, the facilities were designed to remain functional through the provision of generating sets for each borehole.
Beyond providing water, Ayanwusi said the project had also created economic opportunities for local artisans, with more than 100 welders, plumbers, engineers and survey personnel engaged in its execution.
She stressed that Onabanjo was committed to contributing to the development of his community without seeking political office.
“Omooba Abimbola Onabanjo is not a politician. He never was, he isn’t, and I don’t think he has plans of becoming one anytime soon. He is someone who always wants to give back to his community,” she said.
The Chairman of the Ijebu-Ode Council of Oloritun, Alhaji Adebisi Alausa, commended the philanthropist for the intervention, saying it would significantly reduce the burden on government.
Alausa, who said he would clock 89 on Friday, August 21, described the initiative as unprecedented in his lifetime.
“This has never happened before. I will be 89 on Friday, August 21. I have not witnessed this type of occasion before.
“With what Abimbola has done now, he has reduced the job of the government by a huge percentage,” he said.
While applauding the intervention, Alausa urged the Ogun State Government to complement such private initiatives by rehabilitating abandoned water infrastructure across the state.
He called for the revival of old water pipelines and reservoir systems, arguing that restoring the existing infrastructure would provide a more sustainable solution to the state’s water challenges.
The development comes amid longstanding concerns over access to reliable potable water in several communities across Ogun State, with residents increasingly depending on private and community-funded water projects to bridge infrastructure gaps.
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