By Kebba Ansu Manneh
The Yoruba Community in The Gambia has laid the first ever Yoruba Community Town Secretariat foundation stones in The Gambia at a ceremony witnessed by three Diaspora Yoruba Kings who came from Liberia, Netherlands and Ireland including their host HRH Oba (Rtr) Moshood K.B Abolade (JP) Ariwajoye 1 of Yoruba Community and Royal Father of Nigerian Community in The Gambia.
Speaking at the ceremony, Royal Father of Nigerian Community in The Gambia, King Abolade expressed joy and happiness in witnessing the laying foundation stones of the edifice, adding that the laying of the foundation stone of the first Yoruba Community Town Secretariat is a dream comes through to be witnessed during his tenure.
He disclosed that the secretariat will cost the community ten million dalasi (D10million) to construct within the shortest possible time, and it will host a visitors center, indoor sporting facilities, offices for secretariat staff, a community hall among other facilities.
“As I take the steps to cut this ribbons for the official laying of the foundation stones of this first ever Yoruba Community Town Hall here in The Gambia, I want to pledge one thousand dollars ($1000) towards the cost of construction.
I want to appeal and encourage all the members of the Yoruba Community to do their part in the realisation of this edifice for the benefit of generation yet to be born,” HRH Oba (Rtr) Moshood K.B Aboolade (JP) Ariwajoye 1 of Yoruba Community, disclosed.
HRM Oba Dr. Saheed Olamilekan Ibrahim Adafe, Ori Lobamise 1st Oba Yoruba, Republic of Ireland, called on all members of the Yoruba Community in The Gambia to take ownership of the project and contribute towards its construction.
He added that members can contribute through providing labour, masonry services, providing trips of sand, gravel and cement that are all needed for the successful completion of the secretariat.
Deacon Ajibade Olusegun, President Yoruba Community in The Gambia, said the initiative is a community own project that will be sponsored through contributions and pledges from the members of the Yoruba Community.
He disclosed that the Secretariat will serve as a one stop shop for the Yoruba Community in the Gambia in addressing their challenges and sought out opportunities for members.
According to him, the plans to construct the edifice has been derailed by the global Covid-19 pandemic, noting that now that restrictions have been ease there will be no more waste timing in accomplishing this project.
HRM Adoyaka Daso OBA Yoruba Community Netherland and OBA Emobolaji Dehua Gbadenolu 1 OBA Yoruba Community Liberia, elders and members of the Yoruba Community included women groups present at the event.