OLUSHOLA ODETUNDUN, MEMBER REPRESENTING IREPODUN CONSTITUENCY, KWARA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, ON THE OCCASION OF THE SECOND-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE 10TH ASSEMBLY. Rt. Hon. Speaker,

SPEECH BY HON. OLUSHOLA ODETUNDUN, MEMBER REPRESENTING IREPODUN CONSTITUENCY, KWARA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, ON THE OCCASION OF THE SECOND-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE 10TH ASSEMBLY.

Rt. Hon. Speaker,

Hon. Colleagues,

I rise today with profound humility and a deep sense of fulfillment to express my gratitude to Almighty God, the good people of Irepodun Constituency and this Hon. House as we commemorate the second anniversary of our legislative journey in the 10th Kwara State House of Assembly.

Two years ago, we were entrusted with the responsibility of representing the interests, hopes, and aspirations of our constituencies. We were elected to be catalysts for change, development and the consolidation of democracy. Thank God, we have not deviated from doing that.

Mr. Speaker, permit me to reflect briefly on our journey thus far. As the representative of the ever vibrant and historically rich Irepodun Constituency, I have remained steadfast in upholding the principles of accountability, inclusivity, and people-centered governance. In collaboration with my colleagues, I have supported and contributed to the passage of impactful laws, debates and resolutions on motions, matters of general public importance and other legislative interventions that have positively transformed the lives of Kwarans across the state.

At the constituency level, significant progress has been recorded in key areas of development. Permit me to mention a few of them:

 Renovation of classrooms and distribution of learning materials to enhance educational infrastructure, including the renovation of two classrooms at Araromi Ijan in Esie-Ijan Ward.

 Empowerment of schools to promote digital literacy through the donation Computers to some schools in Irepodun.

 Sustained support for education through the payment of monthly salaries to some PTA teachers and donation of football jerseys to students of Kwara State College of Education, Oro.

 Strategic effort to address water scarcity and provide sustainable water supply solution through the provision of well water, repair and construction of  boreholes at over 10 Locations in Irepodun.

 Improved sanitation and business conditions at Oro Central Market (Oro Ward 2) through the reconstruction and renovation of public  toilets and collection to IBDC to address power supply issue.

 Economic development bolstered by the construction of ten (10) shops at Arandun General Market and financial assistance to Arandun youth during the commissioning of their market.

 Agricultural productivity supported with the distribution of fertilizer, seedlings, and agrochemicals to local farmers across the constituency.

 Strengthening of security with the donation of a motorcycle to Agbamu Police Station (Ajase Ward 2) to boost rapid response.

 Improvement of power supply with financial support for transformer repair at Oloro Way, Oro Ward 2 and donation of power generating sets to some communities.

 Institutional support provided through the donation of fifty (50) bags of cement to the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Irepodun Branch and Donation of solar light to NURTW Motor Park, Oro.

 Installation of solar-powered streetlights in several towns and villages to enhance security and support commercial activity.

 Distribution of palliatives to all wards and targeted financial assistance to vulnerable residents in response to economic hardship.

 Direct cash support ranging from ₦10,000 to ₦1,000,000 extended to over 1000 individuals and groups for personal, communal and enterprise development initiatives.

 Enhanced healthcare access through the donation of cash to some hospitals in  Ajasse ward II as a revolving fund for drug procurement, ensuing availability of essential medications.

These modest achievements stem from extensive consultations, attentive listening to our people, and an unwavering commitment to quality representation. However, we are not complacent. The road ahead is long, and the needs of our people remain significant. We must continue to strive, legislate, and advocate with renewed vigor.

Mr. Speaker, I commend your leadership and the unity that defines this House. Our shared sense of purpose has been pivotal to our collective success. I also salute my colleagues for their dedication, maturity, and commitment to the progress of our dear state.

I also extend my sincere appreciation to His Excellency, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, CON, the Executive Governor of Kwara State and Chairman of Governors forum for his visionary leadership and relentless efforts to ensure that the people of Kwara, including those in Irepodun, continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy. His governance and investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and youth development have laid a solid foundation for sustainable growth in our state.

Notably, His Excellency’s investments in Irepodun are evident in the construction of the Oro-Esie– Agbonda – Arandun Road, Ajasse to Oke-Iya Road , Omu-Aran– Oko Road  and Agbamu–Ila Orangun Road. These critical projects are enhancing mobility, boosting economic activities and opening up our communities. Additionally, the partnership with Thomas Adewumi University (TAU) to upgrade and utilize the Omu-Aran General Hospital as TAU’s official teaching hospital is a transformative initiative. This forward-thinking collaboration is elevating the facility into a tertiary healthcare center, improving service delivery in Kwara South and providing practical training for the next generation of medical professionals.

To the good people of Irepodun Constituency, I thank you once again for your trust. I pledge to continue serving with integrity, transparency, and empathy. I will remain your voice, tirelessly bringing your concerns to the floor of this House until they are addressed.

As we embark on the second half of our tenure, let us do so with renewed determination, unwavering commitment and a clear vision for a more prosperous and inclusive Kwara.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me the opportunity.

Hon. OluShola Odetundun

Member, Representing Irepodun Constituency,

Kwara State House of Assembly.