Interviewwith the Convener of WEGEC, Hon. Opeyemi Akindele

As a way of giving back to the community that has given her so much, the immediate past two-time Vice Chairman of Mosan-Okunola LCDA, Honourable Opeyemi Akindele distributed books to the four primary schools in the LCDA. Abesan News caught up with her and asked her a few questions. Please enjoy;

AN: You recently distributed books to the schools in the LCDA, can you give us an insight into what it is all about?

Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: I’m an educationist to the core; I did that as part of my pay back to the community. As a professional teacher, I have been involved in the development of education in the LCDA. Though I live on my salary alone, I floated an N.G.O that has been assisting people in various capacities including education, health, empowerment and many more since 2006 because of my love for people and their wellbeing.  The books’ distribution to the four schools is my way of lifting a little burden off the parents of the pupils. We distributed books in Abesan Primary School, Estate Primary School, Housing primary School and Mosan Primary School.

AN: So how will you rate the standard of education in public schools in Mosan-Okunola?

Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: I think with the good performance of His Excellency Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, you can see that education is improving and things are getting better from the performance of the students. In Mosan-Okunola, there is this competition that comes up annually called Spelling-Bee. It was started by the then First Lady of the State and present Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Pupils in the 57 LGs and LCDAs go to compete. A pupil from Mosan-Okunola emerged winner and that is to show that we are doing really well as far as education is concerned. The students at secondary school level are also doing excellently well.

AN: Did you distribute the books in your capacity as Vice Chairman or as WEGEC convener?

Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: As both…as the convener of WEGEC and as the Vice Chairman. WEGEC, Women Empowerment and Gender Equity Center care for the less privileged, especially the young girl-child but because of the name “equity” in WEGEC, the Board of Directors decided we should touch education in Mosan-Okunola. As a Vice Chairman also, I decided to give back to the community. Though the Local Government did theirs, the one I did is in my personal capacity.

AN: Tell us about WEGEC

Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: I have two mentors who made me register the NGO, these are Dr. Abiola Akiyode, the convener and Director of Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre and Chief (Mrs.) Olabisi Olateru-Olagbegi, the Executive Director of Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON). Also, the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, that’s the late wife of Abiola (MKO). I had interest in Politics from school and joined to contest as a councilor then. Though I didn’t have much as a teacher, I contributed by buying GCE forms for people. I ran to these people and they supported me by printing postal, fliers, T-Shirts and so on. I thought if women could do this, I can also be a part of development to the community. If you look at it, you will see women are more but they end up singing and staying at the background with nothing really tangible for them. I source for money to assist them by training them in Fish farming, Bead making, paint making, decoration, Fashion designing, catering and many more. So WEGEC was set up to assist people, especially the women.

AN: You were part of the immediate past government of Mosan-Okunola, how would you rate the performance of the administration?

Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: It’s been ok, nobody is perfect you know, and there is no government that can finish the work of a community. Our children unborn are still coming to rule the Local Govt. With the little resources we had, we tried our best to deliver in Education, Health, empowerment, security and many more.

AN: People in Abesan Estate in particular have complained that they did not feel the impact of Mafe’s administration which you were the Vice Chairman, what do you have to say to that?

Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: (smiles) they won’t say that, like I said, a government cannot finish the work of a community, we have two Wards in Abesan, I and II. Formally, the roads were not ok but now, the roads have had a facelift. Primary Schools were refurbished, about six blocks were constructed by the administration, there is an on-going Mini Health Centre going on and will be completed soon. What I believe Abesan needs most because it is a well developed community, is a good drainage system. The administration has tried in the health sector, youths and sports too. I made the Jerseys for the final match they played during the world cup competition involving Germany and Argentina. Like I said, no government can finish everything, the people of Abesan should be patient, when continuity starts, they will feel the impact more.

AN:  We are hearing rumour you might be contesting the chairmanship of Mosan-Okunola LCDA

Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: It’s not a rumour, I have interest. I have been Vice Chairman for two terms now, I have gone through training and I know I have what it takes to be chairman so as to continue where Mafe stopped.

AN:  In the last administration which you were part of, the relationship between the administration and the people of Abesan was not too cordial, if you eventually become the chairman, will it change?

Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: Cordial in what sense?

AN: Policies, contribution to the Estate among many others

Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: I have been in the Estate since 1983 and I got married in the Estate. I won’t open my eyes to see that Abesan is not being developed at all. Interestingly, I was the Chief Education officer in Abesan Estate Residents Association for two or three administrations. If I become chairman, Abesan will definitely feel the impact very well. I am a good administrator and I know what it takes, I was a Principal of a school for five years and I taught for seventeen years in total. There is no doubt that my administration will be the best ever.

AN: Do you have plans for the youths?

Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: Oh my God! They are my constituency; they are the brain behind any politics. The youths and the women will be at the forefront. They are the ones that go around during elections, they sing your praises and run around for you, they make things happen. If you are a good politician, you know you can’t joke with the youths and the women because during elections, they are readily available for you. The youths in Mosan-Okunola will not regret having me as their chairman, I promise you. I will surely pay them back through empowerment programmes, trainings, employments, and so on.

AN: Talking about empowerment programmes, some people are complaining it never gets to them. Whenever there is any empowerment, the party leadership hijacks it and it won’t get to the people at the grassroots.

Hon. Opeyemi Akindele:  That is not true, it’s not true at all, there is no how everybody will be beneficiaries, for example, if we have 2000 members in Mosan-Okunola and we have 20 slots, it will be by ballot and it won’t go round. This time around with my connection in the State, because I was the Chairman of all Vice Chairmen in the State, with that connection with commissioners and people in high places, I will assist the youths and they will never regret having me as the chairman. It is not everybody that will do white-collar jobs. I understand they also train youths in vocational jobs during youth service now, though I don’t know how true it is, but it is very good. Some of these trades give more money than full time employment. My administration will give direct and indirect employment to all youths.

AN: What’s happening to our roads, the Ayobo/Ipaja road to be precise?

Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: We have to give kudos to our governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN. We all know the challenges there. There is a pipeline that is causing delay there, and that is why the government had to contact the NNPC so they can work together to avoid explosion and loss of lives. If not for that, they would have finished it. They are trying, and it will soon be completed by God’s grace.

AN: What should the elderly people expect from your administration?

Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: They will also enjoy because they are our parents and we have to take care of them. Most of them are pensioners; we will take care of their health and welfare. We will reach out to them, and they will also benefit largely.

AN: They say women are better leaders because they are passionate, are we going to experience that when you become the chairman?

Hon. Opeyemi Akindele: I promise you.