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Retired Justice Adebajo Calls On LASG To Set Up More Recreational Facilities In Epe

Published

3 years ago

Dec 16, 2021.

Paul Mbagwu

LASG To Set Up More Recreational Facilities In Epe

By Babatunde Kaka

Retired Lagos Justice Adebajo calls on LASG to set up more recreational facilities in Epe
Lauds Gov Ambode for siting Lagos Theatre in Epe
Calls on Ministries to Back Growth of Facility

EKO HOT BLOG reports that a retired Justice of the High Court of Lagos State, Justice Ebenezer Adeniyi Adebajo, has called on the Lagos State Government to establish more recreational facilities in Epe.

He also praised former Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, for his decisiveness in locating the monumental recreational facility in Epe rather than in Lagos.

Justice Adebajo made this call in an interview with EKO HOT BLOG in Epe at the D’Quell Music Choir Christmas Carol Musical Concert tagged “Carol of 3 Lessons,” held in the Lagos Theatre on Friday 10th December 2021.

This online media platform recalls that Gov Ambode in May 2019 inaugurated the ultra-modern Lagos Theatre in Epe.

The Noforija born retired Justice, who was inspired by the musical performance at the carol, promised to use his connections to get sponsors for subsequent programs in the facility.

He also appealed to the Ministry of Arts Culture and Tourism to bring programs and events to the facility.

He said, “It is a praiseworthy decision of the former Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode. It was courageous to have thought of bringing something strange to the generality of Epe people and yet he thought he would give it a try.”

“I am going to appeal to the Government, the Ministry of Arts and Culture to give some support. I will do what I can to find sponsors to support the Lagos Theater. I appeal to the Ministry and department; they should do something and assist, if not at least in giving out programs to let people know that something is going on and it is only this that makes the place attractive.”

“When you make a town attractive, not necessarily because of its natural resources, but to give them a cause to say that the place is worth living in. So is every facility you can think of that would make up a wholesome town a wholesome place where people will be glad to be living in.”

“And when you are living, you are not only working but also have means of recreation. There must be recreational facilities; there must be a way of encouraging the younger persons to enjoy recreational facilities.”

“All these Olympics they talk about emanated from having recreational facilities. Take the Rowe Park in the Yaba area where my father was the Building Committee Chairman which was built in the 60s for instance, how many such facilities are being developed? So if you put those facilities here, the children will be happy to school here. People who would ordinarily say they are going away to school would be happy to stay back because facilities ranging from academic to recreational, to medical are here, there will be no reason to go anywhere else.”

The retired Justice further underscored the importance of recreational facilities in a community, as he called on Epe indigenes all over the world to visit their ancestral home with friends.

“If you check history, Epe was the second most important commercial hub in Nigeria. After the ships have brought the goods to Lagos to distribute them, the next stop is Epe and after Epe is Ejinrin because goods were moved by water at that time. You will find that in the 40s, there was a telephone in Epe. Epe had a telephone link to the world but where is it all now?

“This is Because those facilities that would ordinarily make a town to develop and to grow, that would encourage the citizenry to stay within it are not present there. If what they are enjoying 50 miles away is the same thing we are enjoying now, there is no need to pack my bag and move 50 miles away.

“Epe is my home, so I brought my family and friends home. I am asking those who have not been to Epe before to come and see a little bit of Epe and that would encourage them and the other people to come. The road being reconstructed now is quite a nice road and that is encouraging,” he said.

In his message to youths who ply their trade in the arts, culture tourism and entertainment sector, he said, “the ultimate is to be the best in whatever they are doing. If they can, there would be an avenue of reward. Every profession has a reward, not basically by owning a Private jet or putting a Rolls Royce on the road. No, but you’ll have your reward and the reward is that you’ll have your daily bread.”

See Pictures of the Retired Justice Adebajo at the event: