Barely a week after an official groundbreaking of the Mini Mapo Hall construction when support for the project began pouring in, what looked like a bold statement of intent from the Oluyole Local Government Chairman, Engr. Akeem Olatunji, has quickly gained huge support from friends of the administration.
Yesterday, a fully loaded truck conveying 500 bags of cement moved into the Oluyole LG Secretariat as a donation from Muibi kehinde Hammed popularly called MKH, a close friend of Olatunji, who decided to back the project with the building material.
Workers on site said the gesture lifted their spirits, describing it as one of those moments that tells you the community truly understands the value of what is being built.
According to the Council boss who confirmed the donation, Chief Adegoke Adegboyega, Chairman of Solutions FM Ibadan, has also fulfilled the ten million naira pledge he made during the groundbreaking ceremony.
Olatunji, reacting to both gestures, spoke with a mix of gratitude and reflection. “Support like this comes from belief. It shows that people see the vision and want to be part of it. It tells us we’re not walking this path alone,” he said.
He thanked the donors for believing in the vision and integrity of his administration while assuring that such gesture accelerates grassroots development. He expressed gratitude to the Oba Ajibade led traditional council for their foresight and push for the project actualization.
For Olatunji, these early donations mean more than the financial weight they carry. They signal that the Mini Mapo Hall is already becoming what it was conceived to be which he said is a meeting point between heritage and modern governance and a place that brings the Oluyole Traditional Council closer to its people while also offering the local government a functional, revenue-generating event center.
Olatunji noted that the council still expects redemption of other pledges from friends of his administration who have also committed themselves towards the project execution in order not to have any delays or hiccups.
Recall that the Oluyole Traditional Council led by its Chairman, the Asipa Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade, had presented a recommendation for the construction of the edifice to enable royal fathers have a structural heritage to call their own.
Consequently, Olatunji alongside Oba Ajibade had mobilized their network of friends and partners of Oluyole local government to garner financial and material resources towards the project’s actualization.
Traditional leaders have been equally excited. A senior chief who attended the groundbreaking said the latest donations affirm that the project has struck the right chord.
“This hall restores dignity to our traditional institutions. The support coming in shows that people understand its importance,” he said.
Inside the secretariat, there is already a quiet excitement. Various groups have begun reaching out privately to ask how they too can support, Olatunji stated.
Meanwhile, the technical team handling the project has moved faster than expected as foundation work have already kicked off. With the new truckload of cement arriving earlier than planned, engineers on site say they can now accelerate the pace of the first construction phase.
Olatunji hinted that more announcements may surface soon as several other individuals have shown interest in backing the project.
He reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to the completion of the project. He revealed that his government will soon roll out other plans for the end of the year.
Olatunji however added that the Mini Mapo Hall, inspired by the century-old Mapo Hall in Ibadan, is meant to mark Oluyole’s own centenary in a way that blends culture, governance and community identity.
