In recognition of his visionary leadership and tangible contributions to grassroots development, the Agbal’etu Association has presented an honorary award of excellence to the Ogun State Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives, Hon. Ademola Olasunkanmi Balogun. The prestigious award was conferred during the annual basic training program at the Social Development Institute, Shasha in Iperu, marking the first anniversary of the association’s official establishment.
Presenting the award, the Chairman of the Agbaletu Association, Prince Dr. Adebayo Adeboboye, who revealed that the honour was born out of deep gratitude for the Commissioner’s guidance and transformative administration, commended the visible structural and administrative improvements recorded at the Shasha Institute under Hon. Balogun’s stewardship, noting that the recognition serves to appreciate his continuous support while anticipating even greater achievements across the state.
Adebayo said Agbaletu Association was birthed following a four-day Advance Citizenship and ÿLeadership Training Course for community leaders held at the Social Development Institute in Iperu, revealing that the group was officially launched and endorsed under the supervision of Hon. Balogun on July 4, 2025, complete with an established constitution and a functional executive board.
The Chairman noted that driven by the motto, “ÌDÀGBÀS’ÓKÈ ÌLÚ WA L'OJEWALOGUN!”, the association functions as a strictly non-political, non-religious, and non-profit development body, with its core mandates that center on fostering unity, love, and socio-economic progress among residents, while strongly upholding civic discipline, moral integrity, and deep respect for elders within the society.
Speaking on the motivation behind the initiative, Prince Adeboboye emphasized that citizens must take ownership of their immediate environment rather than relying solely on government interventions, describing the formation of Agbal’etu as a strategic effort by community leaders to drive self-help initiatives, framing their active volunteerism as a practical wake-up call to encourage government institutions to expand their development interventions.
Dr. Adebayo appealed to the State government for official recognition and permission to actively participate in state-level community development activities, pledging the group's unalloyed loyalty and readiness to mobilize grassroots support for all developmental policies and programs enacted by the state administration.
Dr. Adebayo Adeboboye also announced that membership of the Agbaletu Association remains open to all community-minded residents across Ogun State, calling on residents to embrace voluntary community service and partner with the Social Development Institute, Shasha to build safer, more prosperous, and united local communities.
In his acceptance speech, the Commissioner expressed profound gratitude to Agbaletu group for the recognition, describing it as a call to deliver even greater service to the people of Ogun State, dedicating the award to community development associations, cooperative societies, and selfless volunteers whose daily contributions form the backbone of state prosperity.
Balogun emphasized that sustainable development cannot rely solely on government intervention, but thrives on vibrant public-voluntary partnerships.
The Commissioner further outlined recent milestones achieved by the Ministry, including expanded access to cooperative grants, micro-credit opportunities for smallholder businesses, and infrastructural interventions tailored to rural communities. He reiterated the state government’s determination to create an environment where local enterprise prospers and social safety nets remain resilient against economic challenges.
The ceremony concluded with a renewed pledge from both the Ministry and Agbaletu to deepen their collaboration on future community development projects. As Ogun State continues to serve as a benchmark for cooperative growth and grassroots mobilization in Nigeria, this honor stands as a testament to the power of shared vision, effective governance, and dedicated community service.