Onabanjo, Wife Donate 20 Boreholes To Ijebu-Ode Communities

Onabanjo, Wife Donate 20 Boreholes to Ijebu-Ode Communities

Businessman and philanthropist Omooba Abimbola Onabanjo and his wife, Olori Abayomi Onabanjo, have donated 20 additional boreholes to communities across Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, in a move aimed at addressing water scarcity and improving access to potable water.

The latest intervention is the second batch of boreholes provided by the couple. It comes about two weeks after 12 communities also benefited from the initiative. The overall project is targeting 52 boreholes across different parts of Ijebu-Ode. Among the communities benefiting from the latest batch are Olode Isale, Idepo, Obalende 1, Obalende, Oju Koti, Alawa, Ojofa, Ita Osu New Market, Ayegbami, Ipamurin and Ishado. Others include Imoru, Ariyo Street, Eleru Gbeda, Oniworo, Onirugba, Itaajana, Sabo 2, Idomila and Ijagun Road. Speaking during the inauguration and handover ceremony, the donor’s representative, Funmilayo Ayanwusi, said the project was motivated by the need to provide communities with a basic necessity clean and accessible water. She stressed that the intervention was purely philanthropic, rather than politically motivated, describing Onabanjo as a community-minded individual committed to giving back to his people. Each of the boreholes is equipped with a generating set to ensure a reliable power supply for pumping water. The project has also created economic opportunities, with more than 100 artisans including welders, plumbers, engineers and survey personnel engaged in its execution. The Chairman of the Ijebu-Ode Council of Oloritun, Alhaji Adebisi Alausa, commended the initiative, saying it had significantly reduced the burden on government.

He, however, urged political leaders to revive the old water pipelines and reservoir systems across Ogun State, arguing that restoring public water infrastructure would provide a more sustainable solution to the state’s water challenges. The borehole project highlights the potential impact of private philanthropy in addressing critical community needs while also complementing government efforts to improve access to essential infrastructure.