A LEADER WHO WALKS HIS TALK: HOW HON. JENRIYI OSINOWO SETS THE PACE WITH MAIDEN SUMMER CAMP IN IJEBU NORTH

For five memorable days, Ijebu North came alive with enthusiasm, joy unspeakable and youthful energy as over five hundred (500) children converged for the maiden edition of the Summer Camp; a first-of-its-kind initiative by Hon. Jenriyi Osinowo.

The programme, which ran from Monday, September 1, to Friday, September 5, was beyond holiday engagement. Succinctly put, it was a deliberate effort to give schoolchildren, both at primary and secondary levels, an opportunity to unwind, bond, discover hidden talents and create lasting memories.

At the two designated venues - Imososi Methodist Primary School, Ago Iwoye and St. John Bosco Nursery & Primary School, Ijebu Igbo, the children participated in a wide range of activities including football, table tennis, scavenger hunt, ayo olopon, ludo and other recreational games. With the support of camp counsellors and medical personnel on standby, the camp witnessed a level of organization that impressed both participants and observers.

The grand finale at St. John Bosco Nursery & Primary School turned out as an epoch-making event, graced by top dignitaries such as Oba (Dr.) Abdulrasheed Abayomi Banjo, the Olokine of Ojowo, as well as representatives of distinguished Ogun East past senators, Olamilekan Mustapha and Adegbenka Sefiu Kaka.

For Hon. Jenriyi Osinowo, the benefactor of the initiative, the camp was not merely about games. “The major purpose,” he explained, “is to give children a platform to showcase their talents, make friends and share lasting experiences.”

The camp’s success has already been described by many commentators as a watershed moment in Ijebu North’s history. Never before had such an elaborate children-focused programme been organized at the local government level and its flawless execution underscored Osinowo’s ability to translate vision into reality.

Asides the fun and games, the closing ceremony offered a pleasant surprise with each child smiling home with a school bag, notebooks and other learning materials. This gesture, according to Osinowo, was his way of easing the financial burdens many families face ahead of school resumption. The move earned him standing ovations from parents and indeed, the general public, who hailed him as “a man with a kind heart” and “a leader who truly understands the people’s needs.”

For many, the summer camp is proof that Hon. Osinowo is a man who walks his talk. One whose leadership acumen is evident even without holding a political office. According to a parent, “If Hon. Jenriyi Osinowo could deliver this with his personal resources, I wonder what he would do when he has the mandate of the people and is availed with government resources.”

In his closing address, Osinowo announced that the Summer Camp would now be an annual event, a promise that drew thunderous applause from everyone at the grand finale. 

As the 2027 elections approach, the people of Ijebu North, Ijebu East and Ogun Waterside may well find themselves rallying behind a leader who has shown, through action and not words alone, that he is prepared for the mantle of leadership.

With initiatives like the Ijebu North Summer Camp, Hon. Jenriyi Osinowo is steadily proving that service, compassion and vision remain the hallmarks of true leadership.