The children of late Ogun State politician Aina Taiwo have explained their decision to mark his remembrance with community service rather than a conventional memorial ceremony.
The family partnered with DLAP Academy to organise an environmental sanitation exercise and flash mob at Lusada Market in Igbesa, Ogun State, turning the occasion into a community-focused initiative.
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The children said the decision was inspired by their father’s commitment to grassroots development and his relationship with people in the community.
“Our father believed that leadership is measured by service to others. We are honoring him by doing something that benefits the community he loved. His legacy is not only in our memories but in every positive action inspired by his life.” the family said in a joint statement.
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The exercise brought together volunteers, youth leaders, traders and residents who cleaned parts of the market while raising awareness about environmental sanitation.
The programme also featured a flash mob by DLAP Academy and BADAGRY BOIZ, with dance and other creative performances used to engage members of the public and promote civic responsibility.
The late Aina Taiwo, who began his journey in Igbesa, was active in politics and served as a councillor. His activities, however, extended beyond public office, with the politician also involved in commercial activities and support for traders and families in the area.
He was remembered by associates as a grassroots politician who maintained close ties with ordinary residents and supported people through mentorship and personal assistance.
The family said the community outreach was intended to reflect that aspect of his life while giving young people an opportunity to participate in an activity with direct benefits for their environment.
DLAP Academy, a youth-led organisation involved in leadership development, community service and creative advocacy, said the collaboration showed how young people could contribute to community development.
The organisation said the combination of sanitation and creative performances provided an avenue to educate residents while making civic participation more engaging.
Some community members welcomed the initiative, describing it as a practical way of commemorating a man whose activities were closely associated with the grassroots.
For the family, the exercise was also a statement about how they want their father’s memory to be preserved.
Rather than limiting his remembrance to tributes, they said, the family wants to encourage actions that reflect the values he represented.
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The sanitation exercise at Lusada Market therefore served as both a memorial and a community intervention, with the organisers hoping it would encourage residents, particularly young people, to take greater responsibility for their surroundings.
For the late politician’s children, the choice of service over ceremony was ultimately about ensuring that their father’s memory continues to benefit the people and community he cared about.
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