Obinna Gabriel, SPPG Pioneer Class 2021, grassroots advocacy, helped fix a dilapidated road in Ayegbami community in Kwara State. He also took up another project designed to keep Ayegbami clean, which he named #CleanUpAyegbami.
While studying at the School of Politics Policy and Governance, Gabriel Obinna was posted to his primary assignment (PPA) place — Iman Hamzat Model College in Ayegbami — in June 2021. After getting to the community, he observed that the major road was dilapidated. As a development-oriented person, he met with some residents to determine whether the road was a top priority to them. During his meetings with residents, including their leaders, he was let in on the effects of the bad road; two children were said to have died in a flood and economic activities crumbled due to inaccessibility to seven neighbouring communities.
Leveraging his education at the SPPG, Gabriel conducted a needs assessment; he knew that this particular problem existed in Ayegbami, but he needed to be very sure; he went around the community and met with people to understand the magnitude of the problem. He met with people who stay at home, people who sell things in shops, people in his PPA and community leaders. After meeting with the residents, they assured him of their support in proffering solutions to the problem. The community leaders also gave him a letter detailing the challenges faced as a result of the road.
In July 2021, Gabriel drafted a project proposal, including the estimated budget.
Gabriel sent letters to several non-governmental organisations and business enterprises to get support for the project. He equally wrote to media organisations to create awareness for the plight of residents of Ayegbami.
His initial plan was to crowdfund, but he changed gears after realising that raising the estimated budget for the road project would be difficult.
In August 2021, a member of the community advised him to reach out to Abdulganiyu Cook Olododo, the federal lawmaker representing the Ilorin East/South constituency. After contacting the lawmaker, Gabriel was invited to visit the constituency office to discuss the project.
Courtesy of Gabriel’s intervention and advocacy, the construction of the road was added to the list of projects for the constituency in 2021.
In September 2021, construction works started on the road, which brought excitement to the residents as their dream of having a good and accessible road was becoming a reality.
In January 2022, the construction was completed — and it was a dream come true for residents of Ayegbami as their biggest challenge was finally in the rearview.
Speaking about his motivation, Gabriel Obinna said he is always looking for problems to solve wherever he finds himself.
He believes he can always mobilise people to proffer solutions to daunting societal challenges. For Gabriel, the slogan is — to seek ways to solve problems instead of complaining. Gabriel did not stop at the advocacy intervention for road construction. He took up another project designed to keep Ayegbami clean, which he named #CleanUpAyegbami.
Gabriel designed the project after observing that Ayegbami was in a “serious environmental mess” as all open spaces were used as dumpsites.
For the project, he sensitised residents of the Kwara community on the importance of cleanliness and waste evacuation.
Although his work in Ayegbami thrust him into the spotlight, Gabriel’s knack for development advocacy did not start there. As a departmental president in UNIBEN, he established the first library in the institution’s department of mass communication and mobilised students to donate books to set up the library.
According to Gabriel, “I’m not the type who would rather complain than look for solutions,”.