Critical stakeholders of Ijan Ekiti extraction, Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State, have declared that they have set a target of N300 million endowment fund for community-driven development that can complement the government’s giant strides in all sectors of the economy.
This revelation came to the fore as thousands of residents, on Monday, trooped out to benefit from the free medical services that kick-started Ijan Day 2025 ceremony that will end on November 15, where they were diagnosed and treated for cases like hypertension, eye impairments, diabetes, among other ailments.
The Chairman of the Central Committee for 2025 Ijan Day celebration, Asiwaju John Ajayi and Chairman, Sub-committee on Media and Publicity, Mr Dele Morakinyo, revealed these, in a statement jointly signed and made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti, on Monday.
Specifically, Asiwaju Ajayi, commended the indigenes at home and in the diaspora for their stunning contributions to the town since the advent of Onijan of Ijan Ekiti, HRH Oba Lawrence Adebanji Aladesuyi ‘s reign three years ago, saying their patriotic zeal is gradually turning the town into epicentre of unity and development.
He stated that though government has been making some remarkable showings in provision of some critical infrastructures that have given the town a facelift, but contended that such can be uplifted through communal efforts, rather than depending solely on government.
As the event kicked off, Asiwaju Ajayi , said besides free medial outreach, other activities lined up to make the socio cultural fiesta more grandiose, include: sporting activities like inter quarter football match, Ayo Olopon, beauty pageantry contest, N300 million fund raising, award presentation, award and chieftaincy conferment, cultural display, age group display, among others.
The Chairman averred that the free medical services was conceptualised to bail out those who are suffering from treatable diseases, but lacked the financial wherewithal to seek treatments in medical facilities.
“Ijan Day began in 1986 with sole intention to unite our people and develop the community through communal efforts. But the 2025 event is unique, because we are launching a sum of N300 million to power community driven projects.
“Our quest is to have a befitting palace and we thank God that with internal contributions, we have been able to complete the palace hall, while the main palace auditorium is yet to commence.
“We deserve a befitting civic centre, mini stadium to develop the local talents in footballing and we want to endow a scholarship for our brilliant, but financially challenged indigenes to acquire higher education.
‘All these are in the pipeline and we shall achieve them with commitments from all well meaning indigenes of this great town”.
Applauding the indigenes for their past contributions, with expectation to do better, Asiwaju Ajayi, appealed to the youth to participate actively in all the programmes, while urging all illustrious indigenes to contribute bountifully to spiral the town’s development in all spheres.
“No town can develop when the indigenes are running away from participating in activities that can create a platform for financial contributions.
“Though our government has provided us with a smart school, Ekiti Knowledge Zone, construction of Ijan- Igbemo road, but we still have to look inwards and make meaningful contribution to scale up this developments”,Ajayi said.
Asiwaju urged the youth to always play the role of unifiers, by shunning divisive tendencies capable of ripping the town apart and create atmosphere of tension, discord and acrimony.