His Royal Majesty, the Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti,The Council of Chiefs,
And the good people of Ijero-Ekiti at home and in the Diaspora.
Your Majesty, Kabiyesi, and esteemed Chiefs and sons and daughters of Ijero,I write with a heavy heart to convey my profound sympathy and condolences over the devastating whirlwind/storm that struck our beloved Ijero-Ekiti on 11 February 2026, leaving widespread damage to homes, places of worship, livelihoods, and cherished community landmarks.
While we are grateful that no lives were reportedly lost, the scale of destruction is deeply painful, and the emotional toll on families—especially children, the elderly, and those suddenly displaced—cannot be measured.
As Professor (Prince) Kayode A. Familoni, and as a grandson of the great Princess Adekusibe of Ijero-Ekiti, I stand in solidarity with Kabiyesi, the Council of Chiefs, the Ijero Development family, and every resident and indigene—wherever you may live—at this moment of communal distress. Please accept my heartfelt prayers for comfort, strength, and swift restoration.
May the Almighty uphold Ijero-Ekiti and grant our people the resilience to rebuild with hope and unity. Recommendations to prevent or minimise the impact of future disasters.
Immediate relief, care, and coordination. May the traditional institution, the Local Government, and community associations strengthen coordination for emergency relief: temporary shelter, food and basic supplies, rapid assessment of the most affected streets/quarters, and special support for vulnerable households.
Community-led support systems—faith groups, youth associations, women’s groups, and Diaspora networks—can quickly bridge gaps while government relief is mobilised.
People-centred early warning and preparednessIjero can significantly reduce future harm by strengthening local preparedness:
• Establish a simple, reliable community alert system (town crier, WhatsApp/SMS broadcast lists, radio announcements, and siren/bell points where feasible).
• Partner more deliberately with relevant agencies for early warning information and ensure it reaches residents quickly, in clear language, with practical safety steps.
• Identify safe community locations (schools/church halls/mosques where appropriate) as temporary shelters and practise basic community response drills.Build back safer: safer roofs, safer structures, safer public buildings.
As rebuilding begins, it is vital that repairs and new construction follow safer standards—especially roof-to-wall connections, quality materials, and competent workmanship. Community leaders can champion a “build back safer” approach by encouraging:
• Rapid structural checks on schools, clinics, markets, and other public buildings before full re-occupation.
• Guidance for homeowners on wind-resilient repairs (done by qualified artisans/engineers).
• Stronger oversight to discourage substandard rebuilding that may fail in the next storm.Environmental restoration and land-use risk reductionLong-term safety also depends on restoring natural protection around Ijero:
• Launch a town-wide tree planting and windbreak restoration campaign, prioritising streets, schools, and exposed corridors. • Strengthen controls around land degradation and erosion-prone areas (including drainage maintenance, gully control, and protection of waterways).
• Ensure that extractive activities and land-intensive projects are properly assessed, monitored, and regulated, with community participation and transparency.Community governance, funding, and accountabilityTo sustain these actions, I respectfully recommend:
• An Ijero Community Environmental & Disaster Resilience Fund, with transparent governance, to support preparedness, mitigation projects, and rapid response when incidents occur.
• A small Resilience and Recovery Task Team under Kabiyesi’s leadership, drawing from the Council of Chiefs, professionals (engineers, planners, environmental experts), youth/women leaders, and Diaspora representatives, to coordinate preparedness, standards, and project delivery.
Kabiyesi and our esteemed Chiefs, Ijero-Ekiti has a proud history of strength and dignity. With unity, wise leadership, and practical prevention measures, this painful episode can become a turning point toward a safer, greener, and more resilient Ijero.Please accept my deepest condolences once again.
I pray for divine restoration upon every affected household and for renewed hope across our land.
With profound respect and sympathy,
Professor (Prince) Kayode A. FamiloniAtlanta, GAUSA.
