Governor of Lagos Fashola commissions Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) retiree villa for retired civil servants in the state.

The  proposed total fund needed for the completion of the project was N285 million. The ceremony took place at the retirement villa at Lekki on Thursday 27th June 2013.

The project began in 2010 and was completed 2013. Very laudable development. Questions remain as to eligibility for owning or moving in to the villa. The concern is really whether it will get to the persons who need it most. We do hope its not wishful thinking that in the coming months and years we will the retirees occupy the villa with their families and not some government twisted bureaucratic move that will sabotage the efforts of Dame Abimbola Emmanuella Fashola and her peers.

The villa comprises of 12 guest chalets, a library, a clinic, a lawn tennis court with two changing rooms for male and female players, a swimming pool with two changing rooms, a 250-capacity multipurpose hall, a caretaker apartment, a shopping mall, a snooker room, a gymnasium, several administrative offices, water treatment plant as well as generator for regular supply of electricity.

In her opening address, the Lagos State First Lady as well as the Chairperson of COWLSO, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola described the dedication of the villa as the celebration of the biggest project in the history of the association.

According to her, the idea of the villa was conceived during the tenure of her predecessor, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, under whose leadership the site of villa was secured.

“What we are celebrating today is the actualisation of her idea, which I and other members of COWLSO are proud to be part of,” she said.

The First Lady noted that the contractor was mobilised in 2009 while phased construction commenced in 2010 with the funds generated from the COWLSO annual national women conferences between 2009 and 2012.

To her, the idea was conceived and executed to provide conducive environment and healthy opportunities for senior citizens who have contributed to the development of our country, particularly Lagos State.

“We believe it is a deserving way to appreciate their contributions to the growth and development of our society during their youthful years, “Dame Fashola said.

Commenting, the former First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu commended Dame Fashola for sustaining the vision, adding that the First Lady had performed beyond her expectation.

“This is the day the Lord has made. It is the Lord’s doing and it is marvellous in our eyes. I want to praise God almighty for making this vision come to life. I did not write anything down for this edifice to come to pass. The word of God says write the vision down so that the people will run with it. I only spoke and I want to thank her Excellency for listening and she did exceedingly and above my expectation. She had really brought this vision to life. I’m really glad my heart is filled with joy,” Senator Tinubu added.

In his view, the State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), said that the dedication and commemoration of the villa today is a greater course, an idea that had been revived by the selfless wives of Lagos officials.

As he put it, “The idea that gave birth to this building is an idea rooted in the heart and mind of the very First Lady of Lagos when it became a state, Mrs. Obafunmilayo Johnson; an idea to take charge while taking care; an idea that is now represented by the word COWLSO”.

“I think that idea is the one we gather to celebrate. Inherent in that idea is also the idea that we can serve without holding office and that is the strong message that this building represents,” the Governor asserted.

He explained that the villa also represented another idea to continue things that had been started, describing it as an idea to control one’s ego rather than allowing our ego to control us.

“The idea to take a torch and run with it, it is that idea that made Senator Tinubu to go and awaken an idea that was about forty years old and revive it. That idea is now what we have as COWLSO today. Of course, it is the same idea to continue with what somebody has started and run with it, irrespective of where it originates from, that has enabled my wife deliver this villa to fruition”.

This will no doubt take a little slice of housing deficit problem. Congratulations COWLSO!!!