The quest for responsive and people-centred leadership at the grassroots has again come to the fore in Ibadan South West Local Government Area, where growing support is building around Alhaji Hasan Bello, popularly known as ‘Hassano’, as a frontrunner in the drive to reposition the council for sustainable development.
In a local government reputed for its population density, commercial vibrancy, and political consciousness, residents and opinion leaders say the next phase of growth must be anchored on proven community ties, youth inclusion, and a clear grasp of governance at the grassroots. For many, Alhaji Bello Hassano has over the years earned recognition for his accessibility and interventions in education support, small business empowerment, and community dispute resolution. Stakeholders maintain that his blend of experience and energy positions Ibadan South West for a better future.
With over 60 per cent of the council’s population under 35, youth development remains a critical challenge. Hassano’s blueprint, according to his associates, prioritises job creation, skills acquisition, and digital literacy through ward-based vocational centres and micro-grant schemes for small businesses, aimed at making Ibadan South West a reference point for youth productivity in Oyo State.
Alhaji Bello pledged an “open-door local government” where Community Development Associations, traditional institutions, and faith leaders will have direct input in project selection and monitoring. “We are not here to lead from the office alone,” he said. “Ibadan South West is too big and too important for one man’s idea. The future we want must be built by all of us, street by street, ward by ward.”
From market leaders to youth groups, the sentiment across the local government is that the next administration must move beyond rhetoric to delivery. For a significant section of the populace, Alhaji Hasan Bello ‘Hassano’ embodies the record, reach, and readiness required to steer Ibadan South West into that future.
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