100 Years After, Ogun Community Gets Potable Water

ABEOKUTA - For more than 100 years, residents of Baale community in Igbedu, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, have struggled to wake very early in the morning, trek to stream in distance communities in order to fetch water for their daily use.

 But after 100 years of agony, Baale community, a suburb town in Obafemi-Owode Local Government of Ogun State, have finally gotten succour with the sinking of a borehole that would address their water needs.

Residents penultimate week thronged out in their hundreds to appreciate the effort of a philanthropist, Yeye Olabisi Aduke Ogunnaike and a Non-Governmental Organization, The Grassroots Aid Initiative (TGAI) came to the rescue of the age-long community.

Baale Village, a predominant settlement for the people of Obafe who majorly in farming. The village is the homestead of a former Commissioner for Information in Ogun state and the Proprietor of the first private radio station in Ogun state, Rockcity FM, Mr. Niran Malaolu.

The age-long community is where the popular Juju musician, Ade Royal, Mr Adeolu Akinyetun and the former Consultant on local government affairs to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Yeye Olabisi Aduke Ogunnaike originate from.

The borehole was provided by The Grassroots Aid Initiative Foundation, whose founder, Mrs. Khadijat Kehinde, said will reduce the sufferings of the residents. 

                                                

She said she was moved to embark on the project having realized it was what they needed during her inspection visit to the community.

Khadijat Kehinde, who spoke during the unveiling of the project which had three pumps, two over-head tanks and a generator to pump the water, said it was important to make an impact wherever a need was identified.

She advised political leaders and state government to always take development programmes to the rural areas, saying every single member of the community should feel the impact of good governance despite the political inclinations.

"Everyone should be carried along. Whether they voted for you or not, it is your responsibility to cater for them," she said.

When The Encounter News visited the community, it was observed that the only stream serves both the residents, animals and even cattle rustlers. Animals such as Cows, dogs also drink from the stream.

The facilitator of the project, Yeye Olabisi Ogunnaike said residents of the 100-year-old community have had to trek over four kilometres daily to stream to get drinking water.

Mrs. Ogunnaike said she was baffled when she saw dogs and cows drinking water together with the people. Mrs Olabisi Ogunnaike promised the people that she would make arrangements with the help of TGAI foundation.

She said, "Words cannot define how happy we feel today. Our children would no longer suffer to get water from far streams. We were all suffering before now, but with this borehole a lot of load has been taken off our shoulders."

Also, Ibukun Moses, primary school pupil in Igbedu community, said she alongside her contemporaries normally wake up as early as 5am daily to trek a distance of not less than four kilometres to fetch drinking water from stream.

She lamented that despite the early rise, most pupils still got to school late, adding, "I thank God I would not be waking up very early in the morning to go to that far stream to fetch water every morning before going to school.

"We use to go to a stream and other neighbouring communities to be able to get water clean enough for domestic use. What makes it even more strenuous is that we to do it several times.”