IJESAS IN DIASPORA EMBARKS ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OF HOMESTEAD
Omooba Risawe
Ijesas in Diaspora have embarked on various projects as part of their contributions towards the development of their homestead,Ijesaland.
The body known as Egbe Omo Obokun of Ijesaland Baltimore/Washington Chapter in this regards has constructed borehole in four of the six local government which comprises ijesaland.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Despatch, President of the association, Femi Oshobukola and Foye Adedeji
General Secretary also disclosed that in the same vein,it extended schorlaship to students back home.
The duo explained that,the body was established in 1994 by some Ijesa descedaants in the Washington metropolitan area of United States of America.
They further added that it was registered under 501(c)(3) as non-profit organization exclusively for charitable and educational purposes,adding that the aims and objectives were designed to cover all towns and villages in the six Local Governments namely Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Oriade and Ibokun.
‘The organisation was established with the goal of adding value to their native land, Ijesaland and improving the quality of life of natives and their descendants’,they emphasiised.
According to them, the body does not represent any political or religious ideologies,stressing that, membership is open to all Ijesa descendants, their spouses and children, living in the Washington Metropolitan Area of the United States of America which includes Ijesas living in the states of Maryland, Virginia and District of Columbia.
Speaking further on the mission, the President and scribe said it include; to be of service to Ijesaland,to promote and advance the common interest and welfare of Ijesa people in the US and Worldwide,to embark on programs that shall create and promote unity among all Ijesa descendants in the United States.
The mission also include;to improve quality of life for Ijesa people who reside in the United States,to motivate and assist eligible Ijesa people to avail themselves of various opportunities existing in United States,to promote and project a positive image of Ijesaland and her cultural values,to disseminate relevant information received from Ijesaland to its members.
‘So far the association has carried out a lot of laudable charitable projects both in the U.S. and in Ijesaland. We have provided Scholarship Awards to qualified Ijesa Students who attended tertiary institutions in Nigeria’.
‘Notable amongst successful projects were the completion and commissioning of four (4) boreholes in 4 out of the 6 local authority areas of Ijesaland’.
‘ The 1st and 2nd boreholes were sited in Ijamo, Ilesa West Local Government and in Oke Omi-Iru, Ilesha East Local Government. The 3rd borehole which was completed with Solar Power Energy was sited in Ibokun, Ibokun Local Government’.
‘This particular borehole was known to have served the local area and its environs even when there was drought in the area last year and all other boreholes and wells were dried up’.
‘The organisation has also contributed towards Hospitals by providing Hospitals in Ilesa with supplies and mattresses. It also carries out local community works and charitable activities in the Washington Metro area yearly.
‘We have also established a strong and creative Youth Wing within the Washington Metro area. With the help of God, the organisation is happy to announce the successful completion of the 4th Borehole Water System in Ijeshaland for the people of Isolo- Ijesa in Oriade Local Government on March 14, 2017’.
Meanwhile, records have it that, Egbe Omo Obokun of Ijesaland Baltimore/Washington is a member of The National Council of Egbe Omo Obokun of Ijesaland, North America with chapters in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Florida, Houston, New York and Richmond.
