By Damiete Braide
Traders, artisans, friends, family members and loved ones in their large numbers converged on Surulere Nursery and Primary School, Lagos, to witness the maiden inauguration of executive members of the Modern Automotive Spare Parts and Accessories Traders Association of Lagos (MASPATAL), Lagos Surulere Zone.
The occasion started with thanksgiving, praise and worship. Pastor James in his sermon titled “Let the word of God be invested in whatever you do,” urged the audience to allow God direct them in whatever they do to make all things possible in their lives.
The peaceful election was held last month with the emergence of Chinwike Ikenna Collins as president of the association after a long time of internal wrangling and discord. Other elected executives are Solomon Obabiyi, vice president; Okpefi Friday, general secretary; Nwankwo Joebrown, treasure; Fagbile Abolaji Taofeek, assistant secretary general; Nwosu Ifeanyichukwu, provost marshall; Oyibo Ikechukwu, financial secretary; Ogunta Anayo, public relations officer and Chidi Clinton Agbadike, welfare.
Board of trustees member, Prince Abel Chuwkuekem Nwankwo, urged the new executives to perform well as expected and they should do things in the interest of members.
In his welcome address, the elated president acknowledged the love shown to him and said he felt honoured and would not take the opportunity for granted. He described his being elected president as a privilege which he is grateful for.
He further said: “To whom much is given, much is expected. Having come from the campaigns and elections are over, it is expected that myself and my executives have to deliver without excuses.
“People believe in me that I can do the work and by the grace of God I am going to do it and I won’t disappoint them. It is easier when people make you their choice because the work will be easier for you to deliver but when people take the work or position by force, it becomes stressful. It is because I am the people’s choice, so they have made the work easier for me. When I call on members to do a particular job, they are eager to do it because that is exactly what they want from me.”
He disclosed that the association is making progress, especially in its relationship with residents, local government officials, community development association, vehicle inspection officers and other government agencies responsible for traffic management. “My members have been corporative and other artisans have equally followed suit, which is expected.”
Talking about his agenda for the association, Collins said: “My three point agenda for the association is peace, because when there is peace, there will be progress but where there is no peace, there won’t be any progress. We will continue to maintain a cordial relationship with our host community, Surulere local government area, because they have been kind to us and we are going to do what they expect us to do.
“Lastly, we will always keep our environment clean because Lagos State government does not joke with cleanliness of the environment and one of the things that makes the government not to be happy with markets is when their environment is dirty.”
Princess Mulikat Fehintola Sanni, matron of the association, also registered her satisfaction with the outcome of the election process. “I am highly impressed with the inauguration of new members after a peaceful election. My word of encouragement to the new executives is that they should be in one accord and collectively do their businesses and they shall make progress,” she advised.
