Epe Development Association Honours 5 Illustrious Sons

Aare MD Ekemode ACP (Rtd), the President of EDA speaking while addressing the gathering

By Babatunde Kaka

Epe Development Association honours five illustious sons of Epe Division blazing the trail in their various careers
Alhaji Ekemode described the club as an ancient club that was birthed in Ibadan in 1973, he reiterated that the club’s utmost concern is the development of human infrastructure for the progress of the Epe Division

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Epe Development Association (EDA) has honoured five sons of Epe for tremendously blazing the trail in their various careers across the Division.

The awardees who graced the occasion include Mr Rotimi Sheriff Seriki (The first-ever Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, in Epe Division); His Eminence, Fadhilat Sheikh Alhaji Sa’adallah Rahman Abiola Aliru (The Grand Chief Imam and President-General, League of Imams and Alfas Epe Division); Alhaji Chief Yusuf AO Araromi (Vice-Chairman and Member, Lagos State Muslims Pilgrims Board); Barrister Olayinka Amuni (The Registrar and Secretary to the University Senate, Lagos State University, LASU); and Associate Professor Nosiru Onibon (Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University of Education, LASUED).

The landmark event which took place at the Epe Development Association permanent site was well attended by members of the Club under the astute leadership of Alhaji MD Ekemode, a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police.

In his speech, Alhaji Ekemode noted that the awardees deserved to be celebrated and honoured because “they have distinguished themselves in the society and in their professional careers which have elevated and brought pride to the Epe community both in Lagos State and Nigeria.”

While he described the club as an ancient club that was birthed in Ibadan in 1973, he reiterated that the club’s utmost concern is the development of human infrastructure for the progress of the Epe Division.

“Let me seize this opportunity to inform you that the membership of this club is open for all credible and diligent sons of Epe Division. Let us join hands and work together for the development and better achievement of our community,” he said.

Reacting on behalf of the awardees, the Grand Chief Imam of Epe Divison, Sheikh Sa’adallah applauded the founding fathers of the club for their foresight and dedication to community service.

“I give kudos to our forefathers for their humility, faith, unity and liberal dispositions in establishing this association. I envy their selflessness and submission to community service. The situation of Epe has been ordained by God as He did to some communities in the Holy Quran. I charge everyone, especially our leaders, to be more devoted in prayers and stand with the Almighty Allah firmly which will grant us the greatest triumph over our challenges,” he said.

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the event, Alhaji Saliu Okulu, former Comptroller of Customs and the Baameto of Epe Kingdom, corroborated previous speakers by applauding the association for bestowing honour on the awardees while also showering encomiums on the humility, benevolence and selflessness of the president in service to the Epe community.

“This is the time for EDA, Ogunmodede Club and others to be united. Our notable leaders need to eschew personal gains for community progress to combat unwarranted existential threats.”

“Areas such as Abeokuta, Ibadan, Ijebu-Ode and others created at slight variance with Epe have been existing peacefully with dichotomous communities and ours shouldn’t be an exception.”

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“However, our being liberal and intellectually savvy shouldn’t be a yardstick for suppression and oppression,” he lamented.

According to one of the founding fathers of the club, Alhaji R Oba Seriki aka King of Boys, he noted that it was high time all sons and daughters of the Epe community rise in unity to surmount the ugly trend of dichotomies which has its negative spiralling effects on growth.

See pictures from the event: