In a dazzling display of civic celebration, kakalistiq.com reports that the Epe Division Community Annual Awards (EDCAA) 2023, orchestrated by the esteemed Concerned Nation-Builders Initiative (CNI), reached a crescendo on Wednesday, November 22, 2023. The fourth edition of this prestigious event, a beacon for acknowledging exemplary service and dedication to community development, unfolded with electrifying moments that resonated across Epe Division, Lagos, Nigeria, and even the diaspora.
The highly anticipated announcement, delivered via a Google Meet seminar by the erudite Education District IV Tutor-General and Permanent Secretary, Prince Segun Osinaike, brought an end to a three-week marathon of intense online campaigns. Nominees vied passionately for recognition, utilizing every available social media platform to muster support.
The 2023 edition distinguished itself with an innovative twist, allowing participants to engage in real-time discussions and providing an unprecedented avenue for opinions and feedback. This interactive element added a layer of excitement and anticipation, setting the stage for future editions to incorporate valuable insights from the community.
Controversies arose in specific categories as voters expressed dissatisfaction with certain winners. In response, the organizers asserted their inability to influence the outcomes, emphasizing that the awards were determined solely by the voting process, with winners determined by the highest number of votes received.
A moment that held the audience spellbound was the announcement of the Elejinrin of the Ejinrin Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Babatunde Balogun, as the champion in his category, securing a remarkable 1,000 votes. The Olu-Epe of Epe Kingdom, Oba Dr. Shefiu Adewale, narrowly missed the mark with 999 votes, adding an unexpected twist to the proceedings.
Victories were not limited to traditional rulers, such as Epe Grammar School, Epe Girls Junior High School, Epe Federal Constituency, Epe Local Government, Dr. Hakeem Shittu, Otunaba TJ Abass, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and Yeye Iyabo Osifeso, emerged triumphant in their respective categories, facing minimal opposition.
However, the categories of Youth Influencer of the Year, Media Company of the Year, Most Influential Woman of the Year, Leadership in Community Service, Epe Ambassador of the Year (Male), and Best Public Primary School of the Year witnessed fierce competition. The close voting patterns highlighted the significance of the awards, spotlighting individuals and organizations pivotal to the division’s growth.
Commending the organizers for their foresight in incorporating technology for a transparent voting process, the participation of voters was emphasized as a vital avenue for acquainting themselves with personalities and organizations actively contributing to the government’s growth agenda in the Epe Division. As a competitive platform, nominees are spurred to actively engage, ensuring the EDCAA remains a catalyst for recognizing excellence and fostering community development.
The triumphant individuals will be presented with their accolades during the main ceremony scheduled to take place at the Lagos Theater in Epe, Lagos, on December 7, 2023. Below is a list of winners after the announcement:
1. EPE DIVISION MAN OF THE YEAR
1. RT. HON. ADEYEMI IKUFORIJI – WINNER
2. CHIEF BODE OYEDELE
3. ALHAJI DENGEL ANIFOWOSHE
4. HIGH CHIEF CHARLES KESHINRO
2. MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMAN OF THE YEAR
1. MRS. OLAYINKA OLADUNJOYE
2. ALHAJA ADETOUN BALOGUN
3. MRS. MOSUNMOLA ADEFUYE
4. CHIEF MRS. ‘BISI AKINDELE – WINNER
3. EPE AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR (MALE)
1. ALHAJI SERIKI BAMU – WINNER
2. OTUNBA ADISA OSIEFA
3. HON. ODEYEMI WASTAB
4. ALHAJI GANIYU ADIO AKINTOLA
5. DR. TOLA KASALI
6. ALHAJI BODE ALAUSA
4. EPE AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR (FEMALE)
1. YEYE CHIEF IYABO F. OSIFESO – WINNER
2. ALHAJA MOPELOLA RAHEEM
3. PRINCESS OLAITAN OLAYEMI
4. CHIEF MRS. BOLA ADEKOYA
5. ROYAL PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
1. OLU-EPE OF EPE
2. OLOJA OF EPE
3. ALARA OF ILARA
4. ALADESHONYIN OF ODO-NOFORIJA KINGDOM
5. ALAYANDELU OF ODO-AYANDELU
6. ONIBEJU OF IBEJU
7. ONITEDO OF OKE-ODO IWEREKUN
8. ELEJINRIN OF EJINRIN – WINNER
9. GBADEWOLU OF ARAROMI KINGDOM
6. MOST PERFORMING LOCAL GOVT OF THE YEAR
1. IBEJU LEKKI LG
2. EPE LG – WINNER
3. EREDO LCDA
4. IKOSI-EJINRIN LCDA
5. LEKKI LCDA
7. MOST PERFORMING CONSTITUENCY OF THE YEAR
1. EPE FEDERAL CONSITUENCY – WINNER
2. IBEJU-LEKKI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY
3. EPE CONSTITUENCY I
4. EPE CONSTITUENCY II
5. IBEJU LEKKI CONSTITUENCY I
6. IBEJU LEKKI CONSTITUENCY II
8. YOUTH INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR
1. MR. ISMAILA WAHAB
2. MR. OGUNBANWO IBRAHEEM
3. MR. YUSUF ADEGBOYEGA KASSIM
4. HON. FATAI ALONGE
5. MR. OMOBORIOWO SAHEED
6. MR. KAKA BABATUNDE – WINNER
9. EDUCATION SUPPORT PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
1. DR. MORUFDEEN ADENIYI SHITTU
2. DR. HAKEEM SHITTU – WINNER
3. PROF. BASIRAT OLADIPUPO
4. PROF. SOLA FOSUDO
5. DR. KAZEEM OLUWAKEMI OSENI
10. PHILANTHROPIST OF THE YEAR
1. BARR. OLALEKAN ONAFEKO
2. OTUNBA T. J. ABASS – WINNER
3. HON. AHMED SERIKI
4. ENGR. ABIOLA OKANLOMO OLOWU
5. CHIEF MRS. OLUWAFUNMILAYO OGUNLADE
6. MRS. OPEOLUWA BALOGUN
11. LEADERSHIP IN COMMUNITY SERVICE
1. NAT. YOUTH COUNCIL OF NIG. (NYCN), EPE – WINNER
2. LEAGUE OF EPE DIVISION YOUTH AND STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (LEYOSA)
3. LAGOS COMMUNITY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (LCYDI)
4. EJINRIN YOUTH ORGANIZATION (E. Y. O.)
5. EMERALD BLAZIER
6. CONFERENCE OF COMMUNITY YOUTH LEADERS (CCYL)
7. NAT. YOUTH COUNCIL OF NIG. (NYCN), IBEJU-LEKKI
12. MEDIA COMPANY OF THE YEAR
1. EKO HOT BLOG – WINNER
2. EPE NEWS
3. ALARO TIDES
4. KAKALISTIQ MEDIA
5. LAGOS TREND
6. ARIYA MEDIA
13. BEST PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR
1. EPE SENIOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL, EPE – WINNER
2. LAGOS STATE SENIOR MODEL COLLEGE, IGBONLA
3. IBEJU SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, IBEJU-LEKKI
4. MAGBON ALADE SENIOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL, LEKKI
5. IWEREKUN COMMUNITY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, LAKOWE
6. AJEBO SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, EJINRIN
7. ODO-OBARA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, EPE
8. ALARO COMMUNITY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, EPE
9. ST. PATRICK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, EREDO
14. BEST PUBLIC JUNIOR SCHOOL OF THE YEAR
1. EPE GIRLS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, EPE – WINNER
2. OKEMAGBA JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, MOJODA
3. GOVERNMENT JUNIOR COLLEGE, KETU
4. COMMUNITY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, LEKKI
5. COMMUNITY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, AKODO
6. COMMUNITY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, DEBOJO
7. ARMY CHILDREN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, EPE
8. OGUNMODEDE JUNIOR COLLEGE, EPE
9. LAGOS STATE JUNIOR MODEL COLLEGE, AGBOWA
15. BEST PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR
1. A. U. D. PRIMARY SCHOOL, IBONWON
2. R. C. M. PRIMARY SCHOOL, EJINRIN
3. LUPETORO PRIMARY SCHOOL, EPE
4. ST. MICHAEL’S ANGLICAN PRIMARY SCHOOL, EPE – WINNER
5. A. U. D PRIMARY SCHOOL, ODO-EGIRI
6. COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL, IBEREKODO
7. R. C. M. PRIMARY SCHOOL, AWOYAYA
8. R. C. M. PRIMARY SCHOOL, IBEJU
9. OKEGUN PRIMARY SCHOOL, OKEGUN, LEKKI
