In this week’s segment of YabaCitizen, we got to sit and talk with the Executive Vice Chairman of Yaba LCDA, Honourable Bola Aileru. He revealed a lot about his childhood, personal life, and his journey into his honourable service to humanity. Enjoy.
Tell us about your Childhood.
I was born in Alakoro – Marina in Lagos Island in 1959. I started my elementary education at Ijero Municipal in Ebute-Metta while my family was living in Mushin. We moved to Iwaya in 1969 where I completed my primary education at Fazl-I-Omar Primary School, situated just behind our house then.
I have been living in Iwaya ever since, which is over 50 years now.
Post-Primary Education
After my primary education, I went on to attend Christ High School in Ibadan, Oyo State. Afterwards, I went to Oro Grammar School for my Higher Level Certificate where I spent just a little over one year. During my second year, the government cancelled ‘A’ Levels in all secondary schools.
I came back to Lagos to attend the Lagos State College of Science and Technology (LSCST) now called Lagos State Polytechnic. I was one of the pioneer set who did their HSE there from 1980 to 1982.
In 1982, I came to the University of Lagos where I studied Psychology for my B.Sc. and Master’s degrees in 1988. After graduation, I did my mandatory youth service with the Nigerian Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Ikeja.
What did you do post-NYSC?
After my one year service, I joined the Nigerian Airport Authority (NAA) in 1990 and worked there for about 5 years. I left the NAA as a Security Officer. As a result of my diligence while working with the NAA, the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) requested for my service. So, I did a transfer of service to NAHCO to head the security unit there. I worked there for 12 years out of which I had my MBA degree from the Lagos State University. In total, I had spent about 18 years at the airport, serving in various levels.
Later Life.
Afterwards, I moved to England to attend Wesley College, where I studied Advance Level in Information and Communication Technology. I got married to my wife in the United Kingdom and we had our children there. They all still reside there till now.
Tell us about your journey into the world of politics.
I came back to Nigeria to join politics, become one of those who desire favourable changes in our society. I held the position of Supervisor for Environmental Services from 2012 to 2014. In 2017, I held the dual position of Supervisor for Environmental Services as well as the Vice Chairman of Yaba LCDA.
Do you have any regrets?
As much as I can remember about my early life, I have no regrets. All my life, I have always been led by God. I never thought I was going to leave Nigeria in the first instance. Nobody asked me to leave; I chose to. In fact, I left at a time when I had ascended to a managerial level at NAHCO. It was a decision inspired by God. He has always been my inspiration. So, I have no regrets at all.
Last remarks.
In this present administration of Yaba LCDA, we are doing our best to pool all our resources, materials, and otherwise, into the efficient running and execution of promises, and we hope that the people of Yaba see what we are doing and acknowledge them.
All the facilities we have built were done for them. I implore the people desist from vandalising these facilities, and to take care of them so they can last long. We use government money to do it all for them and they (the people) are the government. They should take good care of public facilities so that other monies that come in can be used to fix and satisfy other urgent needs within our communities.
Let me add that in the history of this LCDA, the Chairman and the Vice have never been the way we are in terms of transparency, accessibility, and association. In fact, Yaba LCDA has become a reference point among all the 57 Local Governments in Lagos. I give kudos to my Chairman and to myself too (laughs); we work together, we reason together; we can corroborate each other’s story even when we are apart from each other.
Our uniformity is what moves Yaba LCDA forward.
