I feel highly delighted and honoured to welcome you all to this historic and epoch-making event in the life of our great Club; Abeokuta Sports Club (1904). Historic in the sense that we have never had anything close to this kind of a gigantic project which can be best described as a monument, sponsored wholly by our beloved Patron- The Odole-Oodua of the Source, Sir (Dr.) Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu for the benefit of our dear Club and other stakeholders.
In our elation, I, on behalf of our Grand Patron, His Excellency, The Governor of Ogun State, Prince (Dr.) Dapo Abiodun MFR, Life Patron, Oba (Dr.) Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Okukenu IV, Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland; The Executive Committee, Registered Trustees, Patrons, Vice Patrons and the entire members of our great Club hereby offer eternal gratitude and heartfelt prayer to the almighty to recompense our dear Baba both humongously and immeasurably.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I request that we please rise in his honour and give him a resounding applause and chorus a big THANK YOU SIR for this Legacy Gift, which many have tagged as: “The Erinlakatabu Project” Unarguably the first of its kind in the club. Thank you.
I cannot but also mention his able representative, Aare Kola Oyefeso who has been very prudent and parsimonious about the successful completion of this project. Out of his busy schedules, he will always find the time, energy and above all go out of his way to make resources available. We cannot thank you enough sir, but pray that the Almighty will grant you more health, vigour and vitality for an all-around victorious life in all your endeavours. The many contributions of Asiwaju Femi Somolu (our Vice Patron-Elect) are worthy of mention and cannot be over-emphasized. We are very grateful for the role he played right from the conceptualization of the project to the execution stage. We are particularly fascinated by his fatherly role in bringing turbulent situations under perfect calm during the construction stage. Hence, among other reasons, he will be decorated as a Vice Patron of our great Club, today. Our vice patron and Past President, The Osi of Owu Kingdom, Chief Iyi Adegbenro, we appreciate the fatherly role you played at the conception stage of the project.
We would like to express our gratitude to our mama, Alhaja Chief Mrs Adebisi Edionseri, Iya Suna of Ogun State and Vice Patron (aka Cash Madam) for being a big source of influence to this project and to me in person. Let me sincerely appreciate the efforts of Engr. Mutiu Adebowale whose many sacrifices, resilience, doggedness and long-suffering made the project a reality, we are all witnessing today. MT as he is fondly called stood tall to defy all obstacles even at the detriment of his health, family relationship and personal finance in seeing the project to fruition in the truest essence of the Omoluwabi that he is noted for; combining speed, expertise and quality. It may interest you to note that this project was started and completed within six (6) months. He will be honoured with an Award of Excellence later in the evening.
Our special appreciation also goes to Hon. Chief Oluwole Adeyi made himself available all through the project to make the project a success. Today, by Jehovah’s grace, we shall be;
•Commissioning the Sir Dr Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu 1250 Capacity Legacy hall •Inaugurating the Olusola Egbesola led executive committee. •Inducting new members into the club. •And investiture of Vice-Patron.
1 want to specially recognize and thank my Campaign Team (Transparency 2021), other members of our club for the confidence reposed in us (by electing me as the 30’hand the youngest President in recent times). I also acknowledge and appreciate my fellow contestants Hon. Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo and Alhaji Tunji Kalejaiye for the spirit displayed during and after the 2021 presidential election.
Also worthy of my recognition and appreciation is the Immediate Past President of the Club, Deacon Bolarinwa Atilade FCA and his Executive Committee, in which I served as the Treasurer, for their courage and consistency and with the manner with which they piloted the affairs of the Club so as to give our Administration a good head-start to hit the ground running. It is, therefore, imperative to state that the Immediate Past President conceptualised the idea of this Hall which is now a reality (shall we give him a round of applause). We shall also honour him with an award of excellence later this evening.
Recently, in the life of this Administration, we celebrated 100days in the office with some remarkable achievements that are worthy of celebration within the short period we took over the mantle of leadership of the club. Notable among them are; •Implementation of staff salary increase, •Renovation and upgrade at the Chalets, •Turning of the sod of this hall, •Purchase of 6KVA Power Generator as a buffer for regular water supply within the club. •Reclamation and expansion of the main field to compensate for the space utilized for the construction of the hall, •Renovation and beautification of the Club’s Legacy House, Refurbishment of the 250KVA Power Generator. •Provision of waste bins around the club in ensuring a cleaner environment etc.
I will like to also state that we shall follow the dictates of our manifesto to the letter and make sure that all promises made are kept and in good time too. There are three things I would like you to imagine with me. Firstly, imagine Abeokuta Sports Club where all the members feel like they really belong – a Club where all the members are fully engaged and understand the workings of the Club. A Club where the members foster relationships with one another and share a meaningful sense of community and a Club where the members feel that their individual contributions are appreciated and where innovation and creativity are welcomed and valued. A Club where diversity of opinions, perspectives, talents, abilities and capabilities are not only respected but are also sought after and as a result, the Club offers a richer experience to everyone and is better able to make a positive difference in the community and the world at large.
Secondly, imagine Abeokuta Sports Club that includes newer members whose membership reflects the professional community, striving towards developmental sustainability for a more vibrant and creative environment. Also, their collective understanding of other cultures is enhanced, and it embodies one of the objectives of Abeokuta Sports Club which is to: promote sports and sports administration. This Club is an example to other Clubs about how inclusiveness benefits everyone.
Earlier today, we have had a good session of sporting activities to welcome our new inductees to the sporting Club on this part of the globe. We have attempted to introduce the Club to the new members with strong perspectives of positivity so that they can appreciate the numerous sacrifices made by our founding fathers and current esteemed members. We also emphasized the numerous advantages of becoming a member of the Club as well as to let them know the extraordinary importance of participating in sports in that; •Sports participation is key and germane for keeping us healthy and fit. •It offers a change from the monotony of daily life. •Sports play a very important part in developing our body and mind, and •It also leads to well-balanced mental and physical growth. tones UP muscles and strengthen the bones.
For members of this noble Club, participation in sports is both constitutional and compulsory. In the words of Mark Twan; Laws control the lesser man………..right conduct controls the greater one”. I urge our members, especially the new ones to be well guided by this vital aspect of their membership.
Presently, we have nine Sporting Sections while the tenth one which is the Swimming Section (whose swimming pool) is still under construction. We also have five Social Sections; therefore, we must keep improving and developing our facilities to meet the interest of all members.
Finally, imagine an Abeokuta Sports Club where all the members contribute to the Club and ask themselves what’s needed and what can I do personally to make the Club stronger, more welcoming and more inclusive, and how can I express my appreciation for the contributions of my fellow Club members.
On this note: I lay to bare some of our needs that require urgent attention:
(1) A befitting 18 seater bus for the club 26,500
(2).300 KVA Power Generator to replace the old and the impaired one 25,000
(3) The completion ofthe swimming pool project 50,000
(4) Covering of the Oba Lipede Garden 25,000
Total 126,500
Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby solicit your financial support when called upon today especially our Chairman, Life Patron, Grand Patron, Vice Patrons (Old and new) and Past Presidents to keep assisting us with money and money’s worth to enable us raise the sum of =N=126,500,000.00 (One Hundred and Twenty Six Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only) to execute the above amiable projects among others. To our special guests, we plead and crave your indulgence to kindly donate generously towards this noble course of developing our great Club to an enviable pedestal.
I cannot but remember my late parents AREMU & LYDIA EGBESOLA Summing up my parents’ life, I keep coming back to one thought. Never will you meet a man and woman who more faithfully lived their values. My parents taught by example.
My father was strong in body, spirit and in commitment. He was a self-made man and self-reliant. I will forever miss my parents till we meet in paradise. To my immediate family members, Dr. Olufemi, Anuoluwapo, Abimbola and Joseph, I thank you. My Sister inlaw- Oluyombo Ayoyemi Sangosanya, may God Continue to strengthen you. To my alma mater and IGS family (lganmode Grammar school 93 SET), I love you all. Finally, let me sincerely appreciate my better half, my heartbeat: MORIYIKE, OWOOTOMO, OLUMUYIWAOLA AJUMOKE and my lovely children for managing and accommodating my excesses. Sweetheart, thanks for loving me the way you do; you make me want to be a better man. May Jehovah God continue to keep you all safe and in good health. Let me leave you with the words of Henry David Thoreau: “I cannot make my days longer, so / strive to make them better”
Once again, I sincerely welcome you to this great occasion and thank you for your attention. Thank you and God bless you all.
Long Live Abeokuta Sports Club! Long live Ogun State! Long live Nigeria!
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDE T, ABEOKUTA SPORTS CLUB, MR. EGBESOLA OLUSOLA FCIA, FNIM, FCIRCM AT THE OFFICIAL COMMISSIONING OF SIR KESINGTON ADEBUKU OLA ADEBUTU LEGACY HALL, I AUGURATION & SWEARI G IN OF EW EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, INVESTITURE OF VICE-PATRON & INDUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS.
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