… At 2027 Town Hall & Budget Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum

The Executive Chairman of Ikosi-Ejinrin Local Council Development Area (LCDA), (Dr.) Akogun Wale Anomo, has unveiled a seven-pillar development agenda, THRIVES, as a strategic framework for the sustainable development of the council.

Anomo unveiled the agenda on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at the Town Hall and 2027 Budget Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum held at the Council Secretariat, Agbowa, where he also presented an account of his administration’s 2026 budget performance.

The Chairman also announced plans to convene an Eluku Economic Summit, which he said would bring together traditional institutions, professionals, investors, development stakeholders and sons and daughters of Ikosi-Ejinrin from within and outside the country to develop a long-term economic and infrastructure blueprint for the LCDA.

Addressing royal fathers, traditional chiefs, religious leaders, market men and women, artisans, youths and other stakeholders, Anomo said the previous budget consultation had contributed to the identification and implementation of projects and people-oriented interventions across the LCDA.

Among the interventions highlighted were the construction and equipping of the NSCDC Divisional Headquarters at Odo-Ayandelu, provision of patrol vehicles and motorcycles for security agencies, procurement of a revenue bus and grader, distribution of JAMB forms, procurement of a 40-seater staff bus, and provision of official vehicles for legislators and council officials.

Others include the construction and equipping of the Legislative Building, distribution of educational materials to public primary schools, procurement of an 18-seater Hiace bus for market men and women, construction of Aledo-Owu Road, upgrading of the Ejinrin Police Post, ongoing construction of the new administrative building, procurement of waste management equipment, and acquisition of an additional ambulance.

In a practical demonstration of the administration’s commitment to translating budgetary provisions into tangible equipment and services for residents, a major highlight of the event was the formal handover of two newly procured operational vehicles. In the company of traditional rulers, Anomo handed over the new waste compactor to the Environment Department to strengthen waste management and environmental sanitation operations, while a new Toyota Hiace ambulance was handed over to the Department of Community Health to enhance medical response and healthcare delivery across the LCDA.

Reflecting on his administration’s approach to governance, Anomo said listening to residents had remained central to his leadership.

“When I assumed office, I promised you only three things: to listen, and listen and always listen to you. This has continued to help me in changing the narrative.”

According to him, the introduction of THRIVES was informed by the need to establish a clear development framework that could transcend individual administrations.

He explained that the seven pillars are: T – Tourism, Technology and Digitalisation; H – Healthcare and Human Capital Development; R – Rural Transformation, Revenue Growth and Agricultural Development; I – Infrastructure and Institutional Excellence; V – Value Creation, Youth and Women Empowerment; E – Education, Environmental Sustainability and Economic Growth; and S – Security, Social Welfare and Sustainable Communities.

“The objective is not to choose one pillar; it is to make them reinforce one another,” he said.

On the proposed Eluku Economic Summit, the Chairman said the initiative was designed to harness the economic and intellectual resources of the wider Ikosi-Ejinrin community.

“My administration cannot do it all alone. Our royal fathers will need to call all their sons and daughters home and abroad in different fields of endeavour to come together at the Eluku Economic Summit and champion the course of better development for Ikosi-Ejinrin.”

Anomo explained that the outcome of the summit would be documented as a development template that could guide successive administrations of the LCDA.

He said the document would provide a common development direction and enable future executive chairmen to study and implement priorities agreed upon by stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the Chairman disclosed a number of initiatives being considered as part of the administration’s next phase of development.

These include the proposed Ikosi-Ejinrin Shopping Mall at Ketu-Ereyun, inauguration of Environmental Marshals to strengthen environmental sanitation and safety, development of low-cost housing estates across communities, and establishment of solar-powered ICT hubs in Agbowa, Itoikin and Ketu.

According to him, the proposed ICT hubs would provide digital skills training for secondary school leavers, youths and other interested residents, with the Itoikin centre expected to serve Itoikin, Orugbo, Ajebo and adjoining communities, while the Ketu centre would cater to residents within that axis towards Temu.

He also announced plans for the inauguration of the reformed Gbalule Vigilante Officers, provision of police officers’ quarters at Agbowa Police Station, and other security-related interventions.

The THRIVES initiative and proposed Eluku Economic Summit received positive responses from stakeholders at the forum, while community representatives also presented development requests and priorities to the Budget Department for consideration in the preparation of the 2027 Budget.

The consultative session subsequently provided stakeholders with an opportunity to contribute directly to the Council’s priorities for the 2027 fiscal year.