Ile-Oluji Kingdom Spends N1.3b on Self-Help Projects, Unveils 10MVA Transformer

Residents and indigenes of Ile-Oluji, headquarters of Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area of Ondo State have so far spent over N1.3bn on community development projects without government intervention.

The Lisa of Ile-Oluji Kingdom, High Chief Johnson Fagbamiye, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists on activities lined up for the 10th coronation anniversary of Oba (Dr) Olufaderin Adetimehin, the Jegun Olu-Ekun and Paramount Ruler of Ile-Oluji Kingdom

According to him, the projects were funded entirely through communal efforts and contributions from residents and indigenes of the town.

“I have to say that these projects have been funded by direct labour, and the source of funding was from the community, and there is no government intervention in all the projects that I have mentioned.

“The community raised the funds, execution was done by the community, and provision was done by the community. Altogether, about N1.3 billion has been spent on these projects,” he said.

Fagbamiye said one of the major projects was the installation of a 10MVA transformer to improve electricity supply in the community.

He explained that while the transformer was donated by an indigene and valued at about N200m at the time, installation and related works raised the total cost of the project to about N750m.

“The transformer itself was donated by one of our indigenes, and the cost at that time was about N200 million. But when it came to installation, the cost had risen so much that the total was about N750 million. This is money from the community.

“More houses have been built, and these are special buildings that can be compared with what we have in Lekki or even abroad. Such houses require air conditioners and other gadgets that consume electricity.

“We also need electricity for businesses such as salons, hairdressing centres, welding workshops and many other small-scale enterprises. The 10MVA transformer will boost the power supply to support all these activities,” he stated.

Fagbamiye said projects to be inaugurated during the monarch’s anniversary celebration include two blocks of two-storey student hostels comprising 40 self-contained rooms donated to the Federal Polytechnic, Ile Oluji, eight blocks of modern agricultural and livestock market stalls, and the 10MVA transformer.

He also highlighted ongoing road projects within the kingdom and said the monarch had continued to support education through scholarship awards to brilliant and indigent students in public schools across the community.

According to him, about five students from each of the 14 public schools in the kingdom benefit from the scholarship scheme annually.

The anniversary celebration will feature a carnival procession, student rallies, youth empowerment programmes, cultural exhibitions, sports activities and the distribution of cocoa seedlings to farmers.