Karim Adeyemi Foundation has evacuated and expanded Temidire River at Temidire Bridge, Oje Market, the bridge that separates Ibadan North and Ibadan North-East Local Government Areas.
The effort is aimed at ameliorating a decade of devastating flooding that has claimed lives, destroyed properties, contributed to declining health, and disrupted economic activities in the ancient city.
The President of the Foundation, Mr. Abiodun Adeyemi, who also serves as Chairman of Adeyemi Football Club and is the father of German international footballer Karim Adeyemi, explained that the initiative was deeply personal to him.
“I grew up in this area, so I know first-hand how much this river has affected people’s lives and their health,” Adeyemi told reporters.
“The Temidire Bridge and river have always been critical to movement and commerce, but over the years, flooding has turned it into a nightmare for residents. This project is not just about flood control; it will restore livelihoods, enhance safety, and boost the local economy.”
He stressed that the intervention was part of the Foundation’s broader vision of community development and empowerment.
“This is not the first time we are intervening in Oje and environs. We have completed five borehole projects, and a modern toilet facility is ongoing. The expansion and evacuation of Temidire River is part of our vision to improve lives and create sustainable development in communities that need it most,” Adeyemi said.
Mr. Adeyemi also noted that the Foundation was collaborating with local government authorities to ensure continuity and sustainability.
“Ibadan North East local government has assured us of support to sustain projects like this and we hope to have Ibadan North local government on board also as Temidire is their constituency. Development cannot be left to one person or an organisation; it must be a collaborative effort,” he explained.
He further advised residents to take ownership of the project.
“Our people must play their part. This project will only succeed if the community helps protect it. I urge residents to stop dumping refuse in the river, to maintain a clean environment and to see this as their own project,” Adeyemi added.
Speaking at the site, the Leader of the House, Ibadan North-East Local Government, Hon. Adekola Abdulmajid, described the project as timely and life-saving.
“This evacuation and expansion of the Temidire River is very important because the situation has been terrible for years. We have lost many lives and properties to floods as the river gets filled with dirt, blocking water flow whenever it rains. The main road becomes impassable, restricting movement. This project will bring relief to the people of Ibadan North and Ibadan North-East together,”
Abdulmajid said.
He also commended the foundation for its consistency.
“Karim Adeyemi Foundation has been assisting us with borehole and modern toilets projects. This is not a one off project; they have been consistent in improving the lives of our people over the years and we deeply appreciate them,” he added.
Similarly, the Babaloja of Oje Market and the Companion Traders Association of Nigeria, Oyo State, lamented the impact of the flooding on local businesses.
“When the river is full, movement is restricted completely, and this has badly affected the economy of traders and residents in the area. Our people find it difficult to transport goods, and businesses suffer losses,” Olaosebikan said.
“We appreciate Karim Adeyemi Foundation for coming to our aid, but I also appeal to residents to support this initiative by keeping the environment clean and avoiding indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the river.”
Karim Adeyemi Foundation believes this effort has nudged Ibadan Northeast to also begin the excavation and dredging of their part of the river, and almost one hundred meters of river will be cleared again ”. This depicts the scale of the project and its long-term impact on the community. It will significantly improve public health and climate resilience in the area. Seasonal flooding and a polluted environment often leads to outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid, stagnant water also increases risks to child and maternal health, with infections and poor sanitation worsening mortality rates during the rainy season.
This intervention aligns with global efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by reducing open defecation, indiscriminate refuse dumping, and other practices that compromise hygiene. Beyond flood prevention, the initiative is regarded as a step towards building a more sustainable and safer environment for residents.
Meanwhile, as part of the activities marking the river expansion project, the Karim Adeyemi Foundation team also inspected the modern toilet facilities currently under construction in the community and visited the borehole projects already in use, all of which were sponsored by the Foundation to further improve sanitation and access to clean water for residents.
