Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has commissioned the reconstructed Odogbolu Legislative Council Chamber and the newly built Tunde Diya Sports Arena, both projects executed by the administration of Odogbolu Local Government Chairman, Hon. Babatunde Diya.

Governor Abiodun, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr Rotimi Olu Akinlesi, commissioned the projects on Friday, September 18, 2026.

The event was attended by an array of dignitaries, including the Member of the House of Representatives representing Ijebu Central Federal Constituency, Hon. Femi Ogunbanwo; the Member of the Ogun State House of Assembly representing Odogbolu State Constituency, Hon. Lukman Adeleye; a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Remmy Hazzan; the Vice-Chairman of the Local Government, Hon. Victoria Olusola Adeyinka; the Leader of the Legislative Council, Hon. Akeem Tunde Adesoye, among others.

In his speech, Hon. Diya said the Legislative Chamber was remodelled and reconstructed to deliver a “world-class facility” where the councillors can perform their constitutional duty “in an environment that inspires excellence and progress.”

He added that the sports arena was built to discover and nurture future sporting talents, noting that the local government had produced renowned athletes and sportsmen, including Tobi Amusan and Israel Adesanya.

He said, “This (sports arena) is not just a building; it is a sanctuary for our youth, a state-of-the-art facility designed to discover raw talent, keep our young people productively engaged, and bring sports tourism directly to Odogbolu.”

Hon. Diya, while giving his scorecard, said his administration had completed 22 projects since he assumed office 22 months ago, covering infrastructure, sports, education, healthcare, water supply, commerce and the modernisation of local government administration.

The Chairman said his administration has delivered 437 solar street lights, complete with 429 support pipes, which light the roads from Odogbolu town to Aiyepe, improving night security for residents.

Hon. Diya highlighted the provision of solar-powered boreholes that deliver clean, safe drinking water to residents of Iperin, Ibefun, Imodi, Abatiwa, Emuren, Jobore, Igbile, Ibido-Ogbo, and Ataba towns, saying that “no community should be made to trek for the water that sustains life.”

In the education sector, Hon. Diya said his administration has rehabilitated several primary schools, including the Christ African Church Primary School, Odogbolu; Imoru Community Primary School; St. Peter’s Anglican Primary School, Imosan; and Irepodun Primary School, Idagbo-Ogbo, among others. He added that 160 units of desks and benches have been provided to the refurbished schools “so that pupils learn seated with dignity.”

Hon. Diya, describing healthcare as a key priority of his administration, said the local government council has invested in procuring materials and equipment across several primary healthcare facilities.

He touted his administration’s health insurance scheme, ‘Iwosan Tunde’, which covers about 500 vulnerable residents, providing them with free healthcare delivery. “This is only the beginning, for quality healthcare must never be a privilege; it must be a right accessible to every resident of Odogbolu”, he said.

To boost the local economy, the Chairman said his administration had reconstructed lock-up shops and open stalls at the Okun-Owa, Omu, and Odogbolu markets, and constructed new lock-up shops and open stalls in Ososa and Idowa, saying the markets “are the engine rooms of the local economy and deserve to be treated as such.”

And in the seat of governance, the local government secretariat, Hon. Diya said his administration has renovated the Chairman’s office and Conference room, installed a solar energy system to power the secretariat, connected two additional electrical lines and procured three prepaid meters, ensuring that the business of the local government “no longer waits on darkness.”

The Chairman, while appreciating the political leaders, traditional rulers, legislators, career officers, appointees and residents for their support, urged residents of Odogbolu to take ownership of the projects and protect them from vandalism. He added that the commissioning “marks the end of a chapter, but the beginning of a greater era of development.”

Meanwhile, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ogun State Branch, presented the 2025 Most Outstanding Local Government Chairman Award to Hon. Babatunde Diya, in recognition of his achievements and projects, to the applause of guests at the event.

In his goodwill message, Hon. Femi Ogunbanwo said the projects executed by the Hon. Diya-led administration justify the call for local government autonomy, expressing confidence that local government councils in Nigeria will soon enjoy “full autonomy”, thereby bringing the dividends of democracy closer to the people at the grassroots.

Also speaking, Hon. Lukman Adeleye said Hon. Diya’s achievements highlight “the advantage” of having a local government politically aligned with the ruling party at the federal level, adding that the chairman’s projects complement federal and state government projects in Odogbolu Local Government Area.

Hon. Adeleye asked that a similar sports arena be constructed in Ibefun town, a request which the Chairman acceded to.

Other dignitaries and guests at the event include the Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Service Commission, Engr. Adenike Ogunbona; former members of the Ogun State House of Assembly from Odogbolu constituency, Hon. Adebowale Ojuri and Hon. Atinuke Bello; former chairmen of the local government, Hon. Tope Tokoya, Hon. Wale Shittu, Hon. Femi Onakoya and Hon. Adebayo Ladejobi; and the Secretary to the Local Government, Deacon Stanley Oluogun.

Also in attendance were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Arole Azeez Bello; the Director-General of the Ogun State Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Office, Barr. Dapo Oduwole; Senior Consultant to the Governor, Otunba Ronke Mulikat Kolade-Carew (Rontex); the Chairman, All Progressives Congress Odogbolu Local Government, Akogun Muyiwa Idowu; the councillors representing all 15 wards in Odogbolu; local government officials; traditional rulers and market leaders.