Symbol of Excellence: Ogun council renames road after Tobi Amusan

Femi Fabunmi

Babatunde Diya the Chairman of Odogbolu Local Government, has honoured world record holder Tobi Amusan by renaming Old Benin Road after her.

Diya made the announcement while hosting a delegation from the Ikoto community, led by elders and stakeholders, during a courtesy visit to his office.

He described Amusan as “a shining symbol of Yoruba resilience, discipline, and global excellence,” adding that her achievements reflect hard work, courage, and honour that continue to inspire the nation.

According to him, renaming the road is not just to celebrate her success but also to immortalise her as a beacon of hope for the younger generation.

The Ikoto delegation had earlier commended the chairman for his people-focused leadership and presented three key requests: rehabilitation of Old Benin Road, recognition of Amusan as a proud daughter of Ikoto, and resolution of boundary disputes with Ijebu North East Local Government.

In his response, Diya promised to notify the Ogun State Government on the road rehabilitation request, stressing that the route is vital as a link to other communities and serves as an alternative access to the Ijebu Ode–Mojoda–Epe Expressway.

He also revealed that his administration had created new offices, including Arts, Culture and Tourism; Lands and Boundaries Matters; and Public-Private Partnerships, to drive development across the council.

Amusan, who is currently preparing to lead Team Nigeria at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, remains the reigning world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles with a time of 12.12 seconds set in 2022.

She is the first Nigerian athlete to both win a world title and set a world record in athletics.