Four key markets in Ibadan, capital Oyo State - Ojoo Meat Market/Ojoo Lagos Park, Bodija Market Iwo Park Garage, Agbowo Park/ University of Ibadan (UI) Student
Residential Area, and Apete Market, Close to Apete Garage/Poly Ibadan Student Residential Area, respectively - erupted with jubilation last week as more functional water borehole facilities and newly renovated of public toilet facility provided by global sports betting and casino brand, 22Bet.ng, were commissioned.
The provision of the water borehole and renovated public toilet facilities, done in partnership with Oyo State Gaming and Lottery Board, are part of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of 22Bet.ng whose portfolio includes Esports, 22Bet Casino, 22Games among others, to ensure its betting services caters for all punters. The facilities will, no doubt, provide the needed succour for both the market men and women as well as residents of the communities.
It would be recalled that in September this year, the global sports betting and casino brand, 22Bet.ng provided functional water borehole facilities to two key regions of Ibadan - Moniya Market and Gbagi International Market, a popular market in the heart of state capital, respectively.
Commssioning the borehole facilities which included brand new generators (one for each of the four facilities, respectively), the Director General, Oyo State Gaming and Lottery Board, Hon. Olajide Boladuro, commended 22Bet for the facilities, adding that it is something that they've always wanted.
"Oyo State Gaming Board is the agency of Oyo State Government, Nigeria, charged with the responsibility of regulating betting, lottery, pools and all gaming activities for the purpose of accountability, improve transparency in the industry, stakeholder's confidence, revenue generation, and utilising proceeds earned towards good causes and community development. And 22Bet.ng happens to be one of those that are licensed to operate betting or lottery activities in the State.
22Bet.ng has been different, they have really separated themselves in the sense that in the area of corporate social responsibility (CSR) to the community and to Oyo State, it has been doing the most. This is not the first project - water borehole and toilets - in Oyo State we are commissioning this year. We have earlier done in Moniya Market and Gbagi International Market, respectively, and they continue to do it. So when they came and told us that they want to provide more water boreholes and renovate more toilet facilities, it is a welcome development for us. A government cannot always do everything; so as a form of support, it is a laudable and commendable project,"Boladuro said.
He noted that provision of the facilities to the market is very significant because of the environment and sanitisation of the market communities.
"They identified markets that have water borehole and toilet facilities challenges. This project is very significant to the market communities.
Also, in this administration, one of the things that we are promoting is discouraging open defecation. If we have public toilets where people can use as convenience it will reduce the menace of open defecation. That is one of the reasons why I am happy to see that they have also renovated toilets here, and they are doing it in other places as well."
On maintenance, he said: "Like I was telling the leaders of the market, one thing that we have challenges with in Nigeria generally is our maintenance culture. So, the maintenance has to be topnotch. 22Bet has paved the way, they have even given them buckets and mops to take care and maintain these facilities. So, we implore and appeal to them to maintain the facilities so that they will continue to serve the people the way they are meant to do.
"We want to use this medium and opportunity to reach out to all other operators, all other corporate organisations that are licensed like 22Bet to follow suit because government cannot do everything.
Also speaking at the commissioning, leaderships of the four markets were full of praises and prayers for 22Bet.ng for the facilities.
"We thank 22Bet for providing this water borehole facility and brand new generator. We also thank our able governor of Oyo State for this laudable and important project. God will continue to bless them abundantly," Abdulazeez Musibaudeen Ojasope, who representer the Babaloja of Ojoo Market, Alhaji Abdullai Akanbi, said.
He also thanked the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for the facilities.
Speaking with journalists, the Iyaloja of Ojoo, Alhaja Fausat Oluwakemi; Akowe Oja, Deaconness Olaide Nureni, and other market leaders, were full of praises and prayers for 22Bet.ng, saying that 22Bet has shown that it is committed to the socio-economic development and well-being of the people and the communities.
22Bet restated it's commitment to continue it's corprate social responsibilities to the region of Oyo and all other parts of Nigeria. This was stated through it's Country Manager/COO West Africa, Mr. Fikayo Ogunfuye.
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