By Enitan Olukotun
Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Tokunbo Abiru, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Industries and the senator representing Lagos East senatorial district is a man with a midas touch. He is driven by excellence in all he does and strives for the best at all times.
Before his current assignment, Tokunbo Abiru had built a successful career in the banking sector; rising to the pinnacle of his career as Managing Director of Polaris Bank. He made his mark in banking before retiring in 2020 to serve his people.
He changed the narrative of governance in Lagos East senatorial district within two years that he assumed office. For the first time, many witnessed and attested to a purposeful leadership that truly cares about the people.
The Doing-Good senator, as he is fondly called, focused on three major areas: legislative role, empowerment/facilitation and endowment.
He delivered exceptionally to the satisfaction of the people within the district.
Shortly after his inauguration as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 15th December, 2020, Abiru commissioned an extensive NEEDS Assessments in order to gather empirical data and prioritize needs of the people.
His human-centred design approach brought the people into the decision-making mix and further endeared him to the people at the grassroots.
Outcome of the NEEDS Assessments formed the basis of his interventions across the 98 wards in the 16 local governments and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, constituting the Lagos East senatorial district.
He has sponsored over 13 bills at the National Assembly, notable amongst them are the Copyright Bill and Franchise Regulation Bill, which focuses on how to ensure greater economic value for entrepreneurs, especially young people in the creative, entertainment and business sectors.
In response to the agony of many households, especially vulnerable members of the Lagos East senatorial zone, who were badly hit by the devastating impact of the Corona-Virus pandemic, Abiru launched COVID-19 Financial Assistance Scheme for widows, the aged, the unemployed youth, persons with physical disabilities and women in the district. Not fewer than 2,500 vulnerable people are benefiting from direct credit transfers on monthly basis.
He also set up liaison offices in Epe, Kosofe, Ibeju-Lekki and Somolu to complement the main constituency office in Ikorodu for greater impact.
In the area of education, the #DoingGood senator facilitated provision of 24 classrooms with furniture and modern instructional materials in addition to 16 toilets and solar-powered borehole at Aga Primary School in Ikorodu.
In Ibeju-Lekki, RCM Primary School, Iwerekun, also benefitted from new blocks of classroom. Ditto for Ajelogo Primary School in Kosofe and Igbobi Junior High School, where an ICT center was facilitated.
Six hundred brilliant indigent students in tertiary institutions also benefited from a bursary scheme set up under Senator Abiru’s Foundation, Tokunbo Abiru Constituency Team, TACT.
In Epe, Senator Abiru facilitated a 960-spectator capacity mini-stadium, equipped with basketball and volleyball courts and he also rehabilitated the popular Oluwo market with increased number of shops from 259 to 319, comprising lock-up shops, open sheds and 48 toilets.
Senator Abiru also facilitated the construction of a 40-bed health facility and Dental Centre at the Ikorodu Campus of the Lagos State Polytechnic, LASPOTECH, now known as the Lagos State University of Science and Technology. The school was also equipped with 200-solar-powered street lights through his influence.
Another 30-Bed Health facility at Mascara Health Centre in Agboyi Ketu LCDA was also provided for the people; while a 40-bed facility is under construction at Isiu, Ikorodu North LCDA.
In the ancient city of Epe, the senator facilitated a 960-capacity mini-stadium, with the complement of basketball and volleyball courts and other amenities. He also facilitated remodelling of the ancient Oluwo Fish market in Epe, and the supply and installation of transformers in several locations across the Lagos East senatorial district.
To further spread prosperity across the district, he unveiled a N300-million Constituency Intervention Revolving Loan Scheme at a concessional interest rate of six per cent per annum for the benefit of MSMEs, artisans and tradesmen in Lagos East.
The legislator has also set-up the Senator Abiru Innovation Lab, SAIL, in partnership with a renown technology and social enterprise company, The Co-creation Hub, Cc-HUB, in Lagos to train youths in the senatorial district on relevant digital and innovation skills, with the aim of producing entrepreneurs that can compete in the ever-dynamic global economy.
Senator Abiru has earned the trust of the people by staying true to his core values of honesty and forthrightness. If we can have more people like Tokunbo Abiru at the helm of affairs, Nigeria will definitely attain the kind of greatness we desire.
Happy Birthday, distinguished Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA.
•Olukotun is the Media Aide to Senator Tokunbo Abiru.
