By joshua 
10th Year Coronation Anniversary Speech of His Royal Highness,
Olu Apata, Oba Amb. (Dr.) Fredrick Durojaiye Balogun F.CIBMA, JP.
Protocols.
(1) Permit me to humbly welcome Your Excellency and other very important dignitaries to my 10th year Coronation Anniversary. This anniversary remains significant to the Apata Community, particularly that we have as a Community recorded several milestones working collectively with sincerity of purpose.
(2) Ladies and Gentlemen, my Ascension to the throne of my forefathers in 2014, emerging from the Lagedu Ruling House, has remained a watershed in our traditional history as it was a product of long years of prophecy made for me and the unanimous decision of the people who found me worthy and not a prayer point.
(3) Let me use this medium to return the Glory to The Almighty God who like my name Fredrick, a name given to me long before I knew myself, and connotes a Peaceful ruler. I have had the singular privilege to have led my people peacefully in the last 10 years. I also make bold to State that the Community under my reign has experienced peaceful cohabitation and tremendous development in leaps and in bounds.
(4) As you may all recall, I ascended the throne of my forefathers precisely 7th October, 2014. Since my assumption, the Apata Community has been witnessing all round peace, tranquility and remarkable developments on all fronts.
(5) Before I continue with my speech, let me State that, it is with a heavy heart that I on this occasion, announce the unfortunate passing away of my late father, High Chief Pius Ologbonyo Balogun, the Obajemu and the leader of Ipatun kingdom, who crowned both Bajana of Obajana and my humble self. He had loved and looked forward with nostalgic feelings to witness this epoch making occasion. Recalled that the event was earlier scheduled to hold on 7th December, 2024 before the postponement due to some circumstances beyond our control.
(6) Unfortunately, My late father is not alive to witness this day. He passed on to rest to be with his forefathers on the 24th of January and was buried on the 31st January 2025. May his gentle soul continue to rest in Peace.
(7) Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Apata, has remained one peaceful and accommodating community. I make bold to state that, Apata as at today, is a cosmopolitan town, that accommodates different tribes, individuals and organizations who consider the Community for the establishment of their businesses. Let me use this medium to reassure investors and businesses seeking to invest in Apata that, the vantage location of our peaceful community guarantees quick returns on investment. I assure all well meaning individuals who are seeking to invest in Apata that they would have no regret. This is largely because; our community is at the centre of Nigeria, and on a Trunk “A” Federal road linking the North and FCT to the South West. We have a culture, tradition, beliefs and the people that believe in supporting people and strangers residing in our Community. This is because, we believe in development.
(8) Presently, Apata Community plays host to the Dangote Group of Industries; made up of the Dangote Cement PLC, Dangote Cement Transport, Dangote Packaging and Dangote Academy. Other Company hosted by Apata Community includes; Maccrassa Milling Company, Crest Agro Farms Limited, just to mention but a few.
(9) Ladies and Gentlemen, permit me to also use this medium to appreciate the good people of Apata kingdom for their unwavering support and communal effort at the growth and development of the Community this past 10 years. This togetherness has largely accounted for the level of quantum leap development our Community has witnessed in the last ten years under my reign. This singular and collective efforts of our people have enabled us to make ground breaking achievements in infrastructure development amongst others, is another testament, that so much can be achieved when a people are united in purpose.
(10) Let me State that this communal efforts which I spearheaded upon my assumption to the throne of Olu Apata, has seen unprecedented success that is in no small measure. It is my firm believe that if we continue in this spirit, just like we have remained a positive reference, our Community will continue to be an envy in terms of rapid transformation, expansion and Development.
(11) Upon assumption to the throne, I made the Security of lives and properties of our people and Community a top priority. This effort was buttressed when I led in the building of a police Post in 2015.
(12) Similarly, through my efforts at galvanizing the people, our Community was able to build a block of four classrooms for L.G.E.A. Primary School. We can not but also acknowledge the immense contribution of late Engr. Isaac (Lebanese) who built an international standard one block of two classrooms, office, and toilet. Also through our collective efforts in tackling insecurity, we were able to provide an Office for the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps.
This Community under my reign, spearheaded the phase lift of the Old Oba’s Palace building which was handed over to the Kogi State Ministry of Justice as Chief Magistrate Court ll which was Commissioned by the former Chief Justice of Kogi State, Justice Henry Olusuyi, in the year 2022.
(13) It is important to State that, our Community under the administration of former Governor , Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, his dogged commitment to the upliftment of the living standard of the people, saw Apata Community witnessing peaceful coexistence and tremendous development.
In 2017, his administration built for the Apata Community a Primary Health Care Centre, 2 blocks of classrooms each at our UBE and L.G.E.A Primary School, Apata and a Chief Magistrate Court which helped created employment opportunities for some of our youth. We are grateful sir.
(14) Let me without mincing words, pay glowing tribute to the administration of Gov Usman Ahmed Ododo who’s intervention in Apata Community is in no small measure. Gov. Ahmed Usman Ododo is on record to be the first Governor of the State to have stepped his feet on our soil. Precisely on 15th December 2025, His Excellency, Gov. Usman Ahmed Ododo was in Apata Community to flag off the construction of a 19.5km road. This is unprecedented show of love for Apata Community and we remain eternally grateful.
(15) Furthermore, the administration of Gov. Usman Ahmed Ododo has helped in no small measure in ensuring the security of lives and properties in Apata Community. The administration has thus far engaged some of our young men as Vigilantes. He donated a Patrol Van and Motorcycles for the purposes of securing lives and properties.
(16) Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the immense assistance and contribution of Alhaji Dr. Aliko Dangote, President, Dangote Group of industries in Human and Capital Infrastructure in Apata Community remain unparalleled. Through the Dangote Group’s Establishment in our domain, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has in no small measure helped in providing employment for our teeming Youths, as well as providing scholarships for our students. The Company has consistently trained our children in the Dangote Academy, and has also empowered our women with many of them trained in several skills and supported with start up packs to help improve their means of livilihood.
In the area of electrification, the Dangote Cement PLC was solely responsible for the illumination Apata Community, Donated several transformers, constructed motorized boreholes, built blocks of classrooms for both Primary and UBE Schools, constructed bridges, provided access roads, constructed culverts and drainages. I must not fail to mention that the Dangote Group of Company has equally helped Apata Community in the area of Security. It is therefore without sounding immodest to State that the Dangote Group of Company has contributed immensely to the growth of Apata Community under my reign.
(17) Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, while the support of the Kogi State Government to Apata Community remains immeasurable, like Oliver Twist, permit me to use this medium to call on the State Government to complete the Primary Health Care Centre located in the area. This request has become very expedient in view of the astronomical population growth the Apata Community is witnessing and the prospects for the further expansion that is expected in the coming days. The PHC Centre when completed, will be the biggest, allowing it to offer services to residents from Zariagi in Adavi Local Government, Jakura, Oyo, Obajana, Iwa, Oshokoshoko in Oworo District and beyond. This is because the Health Care Centre will be the most viable when completed for prevention, treatment, and for our women when in labour. This health Centre is so dear to our hearts. It is important to State that patients living within and around Apata Community most times do not have the choice of where to access health Care services but to travel to Lokoja, not minding the urgency.
(18) Let me use this medium to inform His Excellency, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and all our visitors here today that as a community, we have marked out several lands reserved for the purposes of Development. To this end, I humbly call on the State government, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (The Saree Atayese), and other well meaning individuals to take advantage of the opportunity to reside or establish businesses in Apata Community. Presently, Apata Community has marked out a vast land of over 10km by 5km that is located by the road side to be allocated for public use and for development purposes to interested persons.
(19) We also strongly appeal to the State Government to see reasons in view of the window of opportunity inherent in Apata and consider bringing in investors to the area. The Vast Land in Apata, is blessed with Untapped and undiscovered Mineral Resources. We therefore want to solicit government’s intervention in attracting and bringing investors to Apata land.
(20) Permit me to also inform His Excellency, that the Apata Community has graciously provided a Land for the purposes of the future expansion and Development for the Nigerian Korea Friendship Institute. The place of Vocational and Technical Education in the present circumstances will afford for conducive teaching and learning.
(21) We are equally using this medium to appeal to the Kogi State Government to concentrate on Apata Community because of the vast land which if well harnessed will help to decongest Lokoja. We therefore call on the State Government to consider the building of Housing Estates, establishment of: *International Building Materials as we have in Deidei, Abuja, and Spare parts in Apata. We have since made our appeal through the Kogi State Bureau of Lands. This development we believe if achieved, will greatly decongest Lokoja, particularly that Apata, is just a stone throw away from Lokoja and can be accessed easily due to the newly constructed Lokoja -Zango and House of Assembly roads. This initiative if achieved, will greatly help to open up Apata to people who hitherto travel to Abuja to buy building materials as well as create jobs for our teeming unemployed Youths and revenue to the government.
(23) Your Excellency, the Apata Community is a dispersed Community. To this end, we humbly request the intervention of Government for the provision of water in each of the community’s by sinking more motorized boreholes in each of the Community that makes up the Community.
(24) Let me use this opportunity to once again reiterate to the administration of Gov Usman Ahmed Ododo that the people of Apata Community have been mobilized to continue to support the present administration. While I wish to commend His Excellency, Gov Usman Ahmed Ododo on his unprecedented one year of purposeful leadership in the State, it behooves on citizens to join hands in building a virile Kogi State.
(25) It is my fervent and sincere promise to the Government and people of Apata Community that, I will continue offer leadership that will ensure that in another ten years, the Community becomes the Dubai of Nigeria.
(26) As you Journey back to your respective destination, I wish you Journey mercies.
Thank you and God bless Kogi State.
Signed.
His Royal Highness,
Oba Amb. (Dr.) Fredrick Durojaiye Balogun F. CIBMA. US, JP