Some Community Leaders at the grassroots that had distinguished themselves in quality leadership and services to humanity leading to the advancement of Ondo State and Nigeria at large have been honoured with the highest media awards in Africa.
In recognition of their efforts they were decorated and honoured as Pillars of Community Development in Nigeria by the Democrat News Magazine, a leading media organization based in Ondo State at a ceremony held on Sunday June 5, 2022 at NUP Event Centre, Oda Road, Akure, as part of her 4th Anniversary.
Some of the Community Leaders that were honoured at the occasion include, Oloja Robert Gbadega Akinduro, the Oloja Owena Ondo, Kabiyesi Sunday Adebayo, the Olu of Abo-Asakin Community, Kabiyesi Omodara Famatua, the Olu of Isagba, Princess Bosede Oluwatomisin Aderonke, the regent of Oke-Odu Community and Kabiyesi Akinyemi Olumuyiwa Isaq, the Olu of Ita-Oniyan were decorated and honoured as Pillars of Community Development in Nigeria.
Others are Engr. Olakunle Onajin, a Structural Engineer– as Pillar of Community Development in Nigeria, Pastor (Comrade) Sunday Adeosun, Chairman of Ilasun Community in Akure South – as Icon of Community Development in Nigeria and Mr. Ariyo Omodara Marcus- as Most Outstanding Event Manager in Ondo State.
Awardees according to the organizers, were carefully selected based on their contributions and impacts saying that they are n
ot money bagged people, rather they are people of impeccable characters and who through dint of hard work and selfless living earned themselves good names.
The chairman of the occasion Dr. Charles Akinde, the Osoore of Idanre Kingdom pointed out that the occasion is very timely as it would further create awareness about the roles of community leaders at the grassroots.
He therefore called on government to critically look out for the ways to support and position Community Leaders at the grassroots to be able to facilitate rapid development to the rural areas across the country.
The Publisher/Editor-In-Chief of the Media organization, Mr. Alaba Aliu said God has been giving the staff necessary courage and impetus to keep rolling out the magazine fortnightly, against all odds.
He noted that the management of the organization deliberately dedicated the 4th anniversary to Community Development based on his experience in the field of journalism as a community reporter for the past 17 years.
“I have seen unabated passions and dedications of some of these Communities’ Leaders towards the growth and well-being of their various communities in Ondo State.
“My interactions with them at different fora, showed that if they are well positioned in all ramifications they can galvanize more development to Nigeria Communities at the grassroots.
The publisher also used the occasion to call on well meaning individuals to support the organization to enable them achieve their Picture for the Future, which include floating of Digital Printing Press, Online Daily Newspaper, establishment of leading Public Relations and Advertizing Firm among other.
Saying that their basic needs are; desktop computers, laptop computers and direct image printing machine among others which costs N25 Million and that their contributions will be highly appreciated.
In his words: “Permit me to use this medium to appreciate some individuals who have been encouraging us to forge ahead against all odds. People like, Hon. Johnson Osunyemi, Dr. Charles Akinde, Prince Olusegun Omojuwa, Barr. Wole “Ademoyegun, Hon. Ajila Eric, Barr. Fola Amure, Engr. Olakunle Onajin, Kabiyesi Sunday Adebayo, the Olu of Abo-Asakin, Sanitarian Ayo Bello, Pastor Babatunde Owa, Pastor Yinka Williams, Pastor Comrade Sunday Adeosun and a host of others”.
He also charged the Community Leaders and others present at the occasion to be more dedicated in their services to God and humanity in order to be handsomely rewarded in the last day.
Earlier, the guest lecturer who spoke on the anniversary theme: “Proper Positioning of Community Leaders at the Grassroots: Apposite For Sustainable Development in Nigeria”, Sanitarian Ayo Bello stressed the need for more recognition of the Local Government system as the third tier of Government in Nigeria.
According to him: “It is only logical to say that if grassroots community development is indeed, an indispensable essential ingredient which is capable of triggering the macro-development of our country, the Local Governments must be constitutionally empowered and adequately funded.
In his words: “Community leadership is not a tightly defined concept but is also defined by the boundaries of the community within which it operates. In their various shades, forms, realms and characters, community leaders are an essential part of the society and have been playing indispensable roles at the grassroots level in the development of the community. Traditionally, community groups, voluntary organizations, charities, etc all produce services that have culminated in community development. Grassroots innovations are usually driven by social and sustainable motives and developed by social society groups. Experience has shown that community leadership can aid the development of grassroots innovations, which operate in niches and require nurturing.
He said Community leader is a designation, often by secondary sources, for a person widely perceived to represent a community saying that simple way to understand community leadership is to see it as leadership in, for and by the community.
Community is frequently based in place and so is local, although it can also represent a community of common interest, purpose or practice. Community leaders are not necessarily elected to their positions, and usually, some have no legal powers but they are often used by the society in determining the general feelings within a particular community, or acting as a liaison between that community and authorities.
He identified trust, integrity, courage, vision, collaborative planning and partnership, care about others and creativity and flexibility as qualities of effective leadership.
Mr. Bello said for properly position community leaders in enhancing grassroots development in Nigeria, the emergence of the leader, character, motivation and funding must be given adequate attention.
In his words: “It is not in doubt that leadership, when properly positioned plays a critical role in promoting grassroots community development in Nigeria. This paper has modestly taken consideration of the role of effective community leader in promotion of sustainable community development in the Nigerian context using community energy as empirical evidence. Poverty has bedeviled many communities resulting to under-development in the country.
“Sustainable development therefore, will mean that the leadership should be repositioned, take the bull by the horn and tackle many of the teething problems which have engendered our communities. Once he is trusted by the community members, he would be able to lead them successfully to sustainable community development.
“As a matter of fact and urgency, Nigeria should take a critical reappraisal of the quality of leaders and properly reposition them to ensure that the regressive, unsustainable conditions prevailing in the entire country will be reversed.
“At this juncture, let me reiterate that grassroots development is synonym with local development. For grassroots development to thrive, the Nigerian Government should take a cursory at into our Local Government system which is the closest to the grassroots where the community leaders are based and operate”.