Onigbongbo LCDA Partners with Brampton on Youth Development

Jonathan Eze

Moyosore Adebanjo, Chairman of the Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos State, has announced a partnership with the City of Brampton in Ontario, Canada. The collaboration aims to foster innovation, youth development, environmental sustainability, and economic growth in Onigbongbo.

The partnership was formalised after an Onigbongbo delegation visited Brampton at the invitation of Mayor Patrick Brown.

The delegation was led by Legislative Council Leader Francis Nkwo Banwuzia and included Council Manager Abiodun Osineye.

A council statement said the visit resulted in the establishment of institutional links between the two municipalities, opening avenues for cooperation in governance, innovation, and community development.

One major outcome was Brampton’s pledge to collaborate with Onigbongbo LCDA on innovative recycling projects and knowledge‑sharing programmes designed to improve waste management.

Delegates also met with officials from BHive Brampton, the city’s business innovation and startup incubation hub, to discuss opportunities for young Onigbongbo innovators and entrepreneurs to access mentorship, incubation programmes, and technology exchange initiatives.

BHive Programme Manager Yogananth Gopalakrishnan and Coordinator of Innovation and Technology, Economic Development Uche Okugo, expressed readiness to work with the council to broaden access to innovation ecosystems for young people.

During another session, senior Canadian government official Shafqat Ali voiced support for municipal development initiatives and expressed interest in deepening ties with Nigeria through future partnerships.

Discussions also examined possibilities for Onigbongbo LCDA to join Canadian‑backed programmes focused on artificial intelligence training, digital exchange initiatives, medical intervention partnerships, and environmental sustainability projects.

The delegation met with Erica Henry‑Jackman, Manager of Investment Attraction and International Relations in Brampton, where they explored investment opportunities and economic development, including the potential of Onigbongbo’s Cane Village.

The visit also opened the door for legislative cooperation, with Brampton’s legislative arm offering to host members of the Onigbongbo Legislative Council under an exchange programme aimed at sharing best practices in lawmaking and local governance.

Speaking about the visit’s outcomes, Adebanjo described the engagements as a strategic step toward attracting opportunities that would benefit residents of the council area.

He added that the partnerships would support the council’s vision of building a more innovative, sustainable, and prosperous community.