On Monday, June 17, 2024, the Ibarapa region of Oyo State achieved a historic milestone by producing its first-ever One-Day House of Representatives Member.
This unique initiative, a product of the Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North Federal Constituency, was spearheaded by Hon. (Dr.) Adebayo Adepoju.
The One-Day House of Representatives Member programme aims to engage young minds, foster future legislators from the federal constituency, inspire children to succeed regardless of their socio-economic background, and incorporate youth-driven initiatives previously overlooked. The programme also seeks to develop intellectually minded young leaders for the constituency’s progress.
The Igboora High School hall was packed with attendees eager to see the competition’s outcome. The event attracted traditional rulers, academics, eminent individuals, political officeholders from local, state, and federal levels, religious leaders, and numerous constituents.
The grand finale, which coincided with the lawmaker’s one-year office celebration, was an extension of the Ibarapakan Essay Competition. This competition spanned the five principal towns of the federal constituency and concluded with an emotional Oladosu Peace Oluwaseyi, a native of Idere and student of Favourland College, Igboora, emerging victorious.
Finalists were evaluated on presentation (oratory skills), essay writing (writing proficiency), and spelling bees (spelling and pronunciation accuracy). The judging panel included Barrister Lekan Awolusi, Senior Legislative Aide to the lawmaker, along with Dr. Feyisitan Ijimakinwa and Dr. Chidinma Danjibo from the University of Ibadan.
The winner’s benefits include free return flight tickets to Abuja with her parents, a day of decision-making for the constituency, witnessing a live House of Representatives plenary, sitting in the lawmaker’s official seat, gaining practical legislative knowledge, meeting the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and staying in a five-star hotel.
Hon. Adepoju also awarded N50,000 to each finalist. Additionally, he released a 54-page account of his one-year in office, expressing gratitude to the constituency for their support. His report detailed job opportunities in various federal agencies, numerous constituency projects, Bills, Motions, social responsibilities, and pioneering initiatives within the constituency.