By Peter Omopo
The Rotary Club of Omole Golden has commissioned and handed over a newly constructed four-unit modern toilet facility to the Iju Ogundimu Market community in Lagos, in a move aimed at addressing long-standing sanitation challenges in the area.
Valued at over N4 million, the facility—which includes separate toilets for male and female users—was officially commissioned on Tuesday. The project was entirely funded through voluntary contributions by members of the club.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Club’s President, Rotarian Babajide Ogunleye, said the initiative was a direct response to persistent appeals from the market community over the past four years.
“For years, this community reached out to us with letters and needs assessments requesting sanitation facilities. However, the timing always coincided with ongoing Rotary Year commitments. This time, they reached out early, and though our plans were already in motion, we resolved to make it happen once our initial projects were completed,” Ogunleye explained.
He noted that prior to the project, traders and residents in the area had to resort to using nearby bushes and drainage systems, posing serious health and environmental risks.
“There was nowhere for the entire community to relieve themselves. It was clear that the need was urgent and genuine,” he added.
According to Ogunleye, funding was sourced entirely from within the club through weekly donations. Contributions ranged from N5,000 to N100,000, reflecting what he described as a “collective effort driven by compassion and community spirit.”
To ensure the longevity and proper upkeep of the facility, Ogunleye announced plans to formalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the market community. The agreement will detail responsibilities for maintenance and repairs.
However, Ogunleye noted that the market leadership had already pledged full support for the facility’s upkeep. “The market chairman, who was present at the event, assured us that the facility would be properly maintained—even with or without a formal MoU,” he said.
The project is part of the Rotary Club of Omole Golden’s ongoing commitment to improving community health and sanitation through targeted, high-impact interventions.
