Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi, the Okanlomo Oodua, has disclosed that more than 250 communities spread across Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, don’t have access to electricity and potable water.
The Ibadan-based businessman and renowned philanthropist said he has received intervention requests from the affected communities, seeking for his assistance in the provision of electricity and potable water.
Sanusi, who is the Chairman/CEO of Ilaji Sports and Resorts, Akanran, made this known when he received the newly-inaugurated executives of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, led by its chairman, Comrade Akeem Abas, at the resort, on Tuesday.
He stated in a statement by the Secretary of the Oyo NUJ, Dayo Adu, the growing number of requests reflected the hardship being faced by many communities, thereby placing increasing responsibility on wealthy individuals and philanthropists.
He, however, revealed that he was working tirelessly to provide succour to the affected communities, lamenting that lack of access to basic social amenities remained a major challenge confronting residents at the grassroots.
The Okanlomo Oodua further said he has successfully carried out interventions in 200 of the communities, while efforts were ongoing to reach the remaining 50 communities through his personal resources and connections.
Sanusi explained that his interventions in several communities were driven by the need to complement government efforts and ease the suffering of people at the grassroots level.
He revealed that intervention meetings are held with beneficiary communities on a quarterly basis to assess their needs, monitor progress, and ensure the sustainability of completed projects.
Chief Sanusi added that government officials are deliberately invited to the commissioning of intervention projects to expose them to the realities on ground and encourage swift government action in addressing community challenges.
The businessman lamented that there was a limit to what he can do to meet up with the requests of the people, and called on governments at all levels, critical stakeholders and good-spirited individuals to help to alleviate the sufferings of the people.
“What the people living in several communities are going through is very sad and appalling. Most of these communities lack access to basic facilities, including electricity and potable water.
“I have been reaching out to many communities, but I am not spending from the public purse. The little interventions that I have been able to do here and there were coming from my personal purse. Thus, there is a limit to what I can do to help the people at the grassroots level.
“It is in this regard that I will continue to appeal to governments at all levels, our elective public office holders, critical ministries, donor agencies and good-spirited individuals to help to alleviate the sufferings of the people,” Chief Sanusi stated.
Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the NUJ, Oyo State Council, Comrade Akeem Abas, congratulated Chief Sanusi on his recent installation as the Okanlomo Oodua by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
He acknowledged the numerous philanthropic gestures of Chief Sanusi in many communities, especially in Ibadanland, noting that he was appreciated by beneficiaries of his kind interventions.
Abas particularly commended Sanusi for his gestures to the NUJ as a patron and his commitment to journalism through the establishment of his radio station, Ilaji FM.
The Oyo NUJ chairman also solicited the continued support of the businessman for the Union and journalists in Oyo State.
