The Ijesa Community Development Assembly (ICDA) has taken a decisive step toward decentralised and inclusive grassroots development with the rollout of the Ijesa Development Fund (IDF), a ward-based funding framework designed to drive sustainable growth across Ijesaland.
This was highlighted on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, during the second day of the One-Day Training on “Community Needs Identification and Appraisal for the Ijesa Development Fund (IDF)”, held at the Iperindo Community Hall, Atakumosa East Local Government Area of Osun State.
The capacity-building programme featured a keynote lecture by Prof. Niyi Okunlola, a Professor at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, and a World Bank consultant, who stressed that meaningful development can only be achieved when communities actively participate in identifying their needs and when planning is guided by credible data.
The event attracted IDF Executives from all ten wards of the local government area, traditional rulers, officials of Polaris Bank, and other key stakeholders involved in community development.
In his welcome address, the Tirimi of Iperindo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adedeji Olusegun Ogunleye, Atobatele II, urged residents to cooperate fully with ICDA and support the Ijesaland Development Fund through regular contributions. The monarch commended Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi for his development-driven leadership and appealed for continued prayers and support for him and his family.
Explaining the rationale behind the programme, Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi, Asiwaju of Ijesaland and Chairman of ICDA, said the training was aimed at deepening stakeholders’ understanding of the IDF framework and strengthening community ownership of development initiatives.
Recalling the formal launch of the IDF on October 21, 2025, Asiwaju Fasuyi described the fund as a visionary, inclusive, and decentralised model that empowers wards to identify, prioritise, and drive their own development projects. He noted that previous development efforts in Ijesaland were supported by only about 615 contributors out of an estimated population of over 1.29 million people, a gap the IDF seeks to address.
He listed major projects executed through ICDA contributions to include the ultra-modern Owa Obokun Adimula Palace, the Ijesaland Geriatric Centre, scholarship schemes for indigent students, agricultural training programmes, and the Ijesaland Elderly Health Insurance Scheme.
Asiwaju Fasuyi also disclosed recent economic empowerment interventions, including a ₦100 million revolving loan scheme for cooperative societies facilitated through the Ministry of Cooperative and Empowerment. According to him, the scheme is backed by a ₦68 million counterpart contribution from ICDA and ₦32 million from the Owa Obokun. He added that Ijesaland is the first beneficiary of the initiative in Osun State, with wards expected to access the facility upon completion of cooperative registration.
Delivering his lecture titled “Concept of Community Needs Identification and Assessment,” Prof. Okunlola explained that community needs assessment is a structured and participatory process that enables communities to identify their challenges, determine development gaps, and agree on priority projects that can improve their overall wellbeing.
He said the approach ensures that IDF interventions are community-owned, realistic, and sustainable, adding that development agencies benefit from a clearer understanding of what communities truly need and how best to address those needs.
The professor identified felt needs—such as unemployment, poor roads, lack of potable water, and inadequate healthcare—and expressed needs, which are formally communicated through meetings, petitions, and repeated demands to authorities.
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He outlined key principles guiding effective needs assessment within the IDF framework, including participation, inclusiveness, objectivity, transparency, cultural sensitivity, and sustainability. According to him, these principles guarantee fairness in resource allocation, build trust, prevent elite dominance, and ensure long-term impact.
Prof. Okunlola also emphasised respect for traditional institutions and cultural practices, noting that development initiatives gain wider acceptance when aligned with local customs and leadership structures.
On sustainability, he urged stakeholders to focus on long-term solutions rather than short-term relief, stressing that IDF-funded projects must continue to deliver benefits long after initial interventions.
The lecture introduced practical tools such as standardised needs assessment checklists and ranking and scoring matrices, which will enable IDF Ward Executives and communities to systematically identify, verify, document, and prioritise development needs across sectors including health, education, infrastructure, security, livelihoods, and social welfare.
The session featured interactive discussions and a question-and-answer segment, reflecting strong engagement by participants.
The programme concluded with a presentation on the formation of ward-based cooperative societies by Mrs. C. A. Oluyide, Area Officer, Atakumosa East Local Government, Ministry of Cooperative and Empowerment.
The training continues on Wednesday, February 11, at Ijebu-Jesa Town Hall, Oriade; Thursday, February 12, at Osu Town Hall, Atakumosa West; and concludes at Obokungbusi City Hall for Ilesa East and Ilesa West Local Government Areas.
The event was attended by ICDA management members, including Dr. Adigun Adewoye, Chief Akin Olatunbosun, Chief Afolabi Igbaroola, Alagba Wale Idowu, Chief Mrs. Yemisi Falope, and Mr. Bukola Fadipe.
Traditional rulers from across Atakumosa East local government in attendance included Oba Ajilore Aseyori, Oloke of Temidayo; Oba Olasupo Olowu, Owu Ajegunle Ijesa; Oba A. O. Fagbami, Olomi Odo of Omi Odo; Oba Basiru Onigbogi, Olawada of Owada Ijesa; Oba Ademiju Omokehinde Adifagberu, Arogbo of Irogbo; Oba Adekanmi Ajijola, Olutedo of Oloruntedo-Ijesa; Oba Joshua Jegede, Agbagiri of Igbagiri; Oba Abiola Ilesanmi, Lukerede Onikajola Bowaje Ijesa; Oba Olufemi Olayinka, Oluodo of Odo-Ijesa; Oba Kehinde Adebowale Taiwo, Onitiye Adimula of Idado-Ijesa; Oba Oyebode Oluwaloni Aluko, Olusogo of Olorunsogo-Ijesa; and Oba Kehinde Samson Abejide Teniola (JP), Oba Samuel Adekunle Adelola, Akoromoja of Ikoromaja, among others.
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