26/06/2022
BEING THE PUBLISHER'S NOTE PRESENTED AT THE OFFICIAL PRESENTATION OF THE BOOK ENTITLED IWO CITY HALL: RECONSTRUCTION AT LAST (1977-2013) HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, HELD TODAY, SATURDAY 25TH JUNE, 2022 AT IWO CITY HALL, IWO, NIGERIA
All protocols duly observed!
CHAPTERS: Eleven (11)
PAGINATION: 130 pages
AUTHORS:
Chief (Dr) Lanre AMZAT and Iwo Day Planning Committee
YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2022
PUBLISHERS: MURLAB SearchWisdom Educational Services
PRINTERS: More Blessing Prints, Iwo, Nigeria.
PREAMBLE:
Sixteen days ago, precisely on Thursday, 9th June, 2022, our publishing company - MURLAB SeachWisdom Educational Services - presented a book for official public launch here in Iwo. We had a rich turnout. Truly, Iwo people love their source.
INTRODUCTION:
Today marks a landmark in the history of this great city. We are presenting a unique compendium. The book is titled IWO CITY HALL: RECONSTRUCTION AT LAST (1977-2013). The publication has 130 pages. Each of the pages has great ingredients of academic and historical importance that can never be easily parted with.
THE MEAT OF THE PUBLICATION:
The story of Iwo City Hall is an important one full of fascinating developments and enduring lessons. Whoever reads the book will learn some of these lessons.
The book reinforces one's love to serve one's community. Even better. It cements one's belief that it is bad to cheat a fellow human being or any entity (a community inclusive). As a person, I abhor cheating. I detest corruption.
This book celebrates people who selflessly served Iwo Kingdom via the Iwo City Hall construction that spanned over three decades. I am sure that their children and children's children would be proud of their parents and forebears. A book is a permanent entity. It can be referred to at any point in the future. Even in 10,000 years time or more. Humans can die, but books can not.
EPILOGUES / PERSONALITY COMMENTS:
Dr Oluremi Ademola ATANDA, Eketa of Iwoland, on the 6th June, 2015 contributed an historical piece to this publication. According to the erudite scholar, 'Going down the memory lane, the idea to build a new Town Hall for Iwo - a typical traditional and sprawling 'City', was mooted by Chief I.O. ANIYIKAYE (also known as Bo se ga to, lo se mo - petesi aniyi), and without wasting time Oluremi ATANDA conveyed the idea to Chief Tunde BOLARINWA, Chief Kayode ADERIBIGBE (both now late) A.O. OGUNLEYE and Engr Tona ADEYINKA... That was at the occasion of the 1955 New Year Dance Party held at the old Iwo Town Hall, Iwo, the first of its type and organized principally by Iwo Students from Molusi College, Ijebu-Igbo, joined by others some of whom were: Engr Tona ADEYINKA, Chief O.A OGUNKEYE, some students from Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo - Chief (Dr) B.A ADIGUN, Engr Dele OLANIYAN, the Late I.A. ADISA, and of Offa Grammar School, Offa - Mr M.O. OJEDELE, A.O. ODENIYI, the the Late Professor Olasupo OJEDOKUN.
Unparalleled efforts of Oba Adiatu Omotoso ABIMBOLA, the Oluwoo of Iwoland (1958 - 1982), and Oba Asiru Olatunbosun TADESE, the immediate past Oluwoo of Iwoland (1992 - 2013) in the construction of the Iwo City Hall were robustly remarked by the authors.
It must be mentioned that a good proportion of these pioneers and other people who later joined worked tirelessly to build the edifice. Prominent among them were Alhaji (Chief) Salimonu Edunro SALINSILE, the Late Otun of Iwoland; Architect Adedapo (from Kuta); Prince Osuolale Akibu OGUNTONA; Prince Ayo AKANBI; Pa Anifowose (an Iwo based building contractor); Otunba (Lawyer) Abdul Ganiyu Adebayo AREMU, founding President, Iwo Board of Trustees, Iwo; Elder Nafiu AMUDA, first President of Iwo Development Council (IDC).
On the epilogues / personality comments, generally, I love all the articles authored by prominent Iwo legends. Nonetheless, the one written by the Late Chief (Engr) Dr Sabitu Oladepo AMUDAH (may Allah be pleased with his soul) won and warmed my heart a great deal. The former community leader and President, Iwo Action Council (IWAC) titled his piece: 'Because I am involved'. You need to have a copy of the book to appreciate what I mean.
The beautiful piece written by Professor Akanmu Gafari ADEBAYO, by my own estimation, can be passed for a book review. The work covertly digs into the history of the construction. The piece starts with the genesis of the building project and ends with vital recommendations to Iwo leaders on how best to tackle the community's future challenges.
Professor Lai OLURODE, a former National Commissioner of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and member of the Iwo Board of Trustees, through his paper, encourages Iwo people to always have the kingdom in their minds. Iwo first.
Comrade Isiaka AYINLA, a retired college principal and member of the Iwo Board of Trustees, states that 'the book is truly a great historical document'.
Deacon J. Adebisi AFOLABI, a former President, Iwo Development Council (IDC) stresses that 'The book has unique historical facts on the communal involvement from the demolition of the Old Building of Town Hall to the completion of the ultra-Modern Hall called City Hall. He praises the efforts of the authors for doing a good job.
My big uncle and Baba Iya mi, Chief Adunade AMOO, the Baapitan of Iwoland, remarks that this book can aptly be referred to as 'history of community participation with particular reference to the construction of the new Iwo Town Hall'.
In a joint article written by IWAC president and secretary-general, Alhaji Isiaka A. SOLADOGUN and Hon. Tunde AKINLAWON respectively, state: 'By this book, event has occurred, and history is made for academic, social and political comments'. According to them, the book 'epitomizes real evidences that are not easily controvertible - though not 100% perfect, the rest is left to human nature. The book can be best described as a compendium of doggedness, patriotism, love and commitment to the development of Iwo'.
Dr Olalere Oyetunji OLAEWE, Associate Professor, the University for Development Studies, Navrongo Campus, Ghana, in his editorial contribution to this book publication on the 27th September, 2014, described Iwo City Hall, as 'monumental edifice'. Going further, Olaewe says: 'The purpose of history, according to Herodotus of Harlicarnasus, is to put on record those as touching events so that great things done by men would not be forgotten'. This is what the authors of this wonderful book have done.
CONCLUSION:
The book is well researched.
The detailed finances of the construction were robustly tabled for everyone to see. The book is a reference. It shows how Iwo people laboured to have a fifty million Naira ultra-modern edifice called IWO CITY HALL. The intervention of Osun State Agency for Community and Social Development Project (Osun CSDP) facilitated by Alhaji Isiaka SOLADOGUN, the immediate past president of Iwo Action Council (IWAC), was timely.
In 2013, in an effort to secure a grant to top-up the finance of the construction of the city hall, the Iwo Day Planning Committee floated Iwo-Odidere Community Development Association that later merged with Agbajoowo Community Development Association, Iwo. Mr L.A.ADIATU of the Agbajoowo CDA became the chairman, Chief Lanre AMZAT was the vice chairman and the secretary was Prince (Alhaji) Suli ADIGUN.
On the 17th December, 2012 that singular effort drew in N5,755,484.50 to the construction of the hall. It must be noted that members of Iwo Day Planning Committee (led by Alhaji Bola Asafa) selflessly contributed counterpart funds to be able to access the said Osun CSDP grant.
The Agbajoowo (Iwo-Odidere) Community Development Association's remark on this book is: 'Now the history has been written. The battle has been won. The 34 years of heroic efforts to reconstruct the demolished Town Hall have been documented'.
The authors did not fail to eulogize Engr (Alhaji) Chief Fatai Akinade AKINBADE, the Oluomo of Iwoland, for roofing the large two storey building with a huge sum of money.
In a nutshell, those who refused to physically and/or financially partake in the construction of the Iwo City Hall had missed a golden opportunity to serve their community. I thank God, I had made a few donations during some Iwo Day celebrations over the years. Otherwise, I would have hated myself a great deal.
For us at the MURLAB Publishers, we say a big thank you to everyone who saw to the actual construction of the Iwo City Hall, which my lecturer and brother - Professor AG ADEBAYO - says can also be called 'Iwo Civic Centre'.
I would not forget to say a big congratulations to all authors on this beautiful historical book.
This book is a must-read. I, therefore, strongly recommend the book to all Iwo people, their friends or well-wishers, students, and researchers. The book must always be found on our individual library shelves, school libraries, state and national libraries, and the National Archives.
Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for the time and other resources you have invested in this book launch. I appreciate the love you all have for the authors.
Mr Chairman, permit me to hand over the book to its lead-author, Chief (Dr) Comrade Lanre AMZAT LAU, a former students' leader, labour union activist, and now renowned community leader, for the official public presentation of the book.
Thank you!
(c) High Chief Akeeb Adekunle ALABI, MNUJ, MNIM
(Justice of The Peace)
Publishing Editor/CEO,
MURLAB SearchWisdom Educational Services
Saturday, 25th June 2022
(+2348034064689).
