Ogun Community Embraces New Approach to Host Corporate Bodies

In a bid to foster greater understanding, cooperation, growth and development between community and corporate bodies, the Oloja Ekun of Igbesa Land, HRM Oba Abdulazeez Oluwatoyin Akinde has called for a new approach to relations between the Igbesa community and the host corporate bodies.

Speaking at a town hall meeting organized the monarch, urged adoption of more effective methods, such as dialogue and negotiation, to achieve mutually beneficial goals.

The meeting, held to commemorate World Public Relations Day, brought together community leaders, youth representatives, security agents, and corporate officials where Oba Akinde shared his experiences from a recent trip to China, highlighting the benefits of collaboration and cooperation.

According to him “I am proud that we have so many corporate organizations in my kingdom, which I believe create job opportunities and improve the well-being of my people. In the past, I noticed a significant gap between our kingdom and the corporate bodies around us.”

“I aim to bridge this gap for the benefit of both sides because when there is a crisis, it affects the profitability of these corporate bodies. In a manufacturing environment, even a few hours of protest can result in millions of dollars in lost revenue due to halted production.”

“From the community’s perspective, creating crises deprives others of the benefits of corporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR is voluntary, not a legal obligation for companies. To receive support from these companies, we must befriend them and allow them to achieve their financial goals. This creates a win-win situation, enabling both parties to thrive. Today, I am sharing my experiences from other places and comparing them to our current situation to help us build a better future.”

Oba Akinde, therefore, said he’s optimistic that the meeting will resolve and bring positive change to Igbesa community.

“The other side of the equation is my people, which is why I am addressing them today. We have formed committees to reach out and convey that our current methods do not yield good results. We should try other means, such as roundtable discussions, negotiations, and justifying our requests. I strongly believe that my people understand this message and are ready to embrace it, Oba Akinde concluded.

Also speaking, the Youth President of Igbesa Youth Council,
Comrade Adeshola Adeleye Idowu said he’s confidence that the discussion will yield a positive change with the approach adopted.

His words “This strategy will yield positive results because, in the past, community agitations often involved protests with participants carrying placards, moving from one part of the community to another, destroying properties, and sometimes attacking individuals going about their daily activities. However, now, the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone and some other companies has been magnanimous and has ensured that their door is always open for the community to approach them for roundtable discussions, which is part of what we are doing here today.”

On his parts, the Public Relations Manager of China Africa Investment, the management company of Ogun-GuangdongFree Trade Zone (OGFTZ) Mr. Tope Emmanuel Anthony hinted that the town hall meeting will no doubt strengthen the relationship between the host community and the company.

He said “Kabiyesi has traveled to China, and his report from China provides us with insights into the models used there to develop their country. We are incorporating these models into OGFTZ.

“OGFTZ has significantly benefited the community, ensuring sustainable development in our endeavors. This program is particularly meaningful as we use it to mark International Public Relations Day.”

“I believe public relations is extremely important. It involves how we relate to the host community and other stakeholders. As we say, the peace of the community is the peace of the zone. The peace of the community is also the peace of relevant stakeholders within the zone. By fostering harmonious relationships and cohabiting peacefully, progress becomes inevitable.”

The key points of our discussion centered around community development, outlining another pathway or blueprint to ensure that the development of the zone remains a priority. The company also used this opportunity to share its story: what we have done for the community, what we plan to do, and what we need from the community. As mentioned, we need individuals with technical expertise to help the youth strategically position themselves for future opportunities. The takeaway from this event is the strengthened relationship among relevant stakeholders in Igbesa land., Mr Anthony concluded.

The meeting had in attendance, HRM Oba Abdulazeez Oluwatoyin Akinde and his chief in council, Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone top managers, Registrar of Ogun State Institute of Technology Igbesa, Mr Ireti from Engeepet Ltd among other people from Igbesa community.