Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.

Engineer Afisu Olabimtan, a United States based engineer and investor, gave back to his roots a lifelong personal mission driven by love, memory and responsibility. On Saturday, December 27, that vision took physical shape in Ilaro, Ogun West Senatorial District, as the Yewa Frontier 102.9FM Radio, Amusement Park and Cinema were formally inaugurated by the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle.

Olabimtan, President of Dallas-based APM Engineering Firm and owner of the Yewa Frontier Hotel, described the project as a fulfilment of a promise he made to himself nearly five decades ago when he left Nigeria at the age of 20 in search of education and opportunity. According to him, the desire to return value to his homeland has always remained strong, despite living comfortably in the United States for almost 50 years.

“This is prompted by love for my people,” he said. “I always knew that one day I would give back to my roots. That has been my motivation.”
The inauguration of the radio station and leisure facilities, he noted, has already proven to be a long-awaited intervention in the community. During the test transmission of Yewa Frontier FM, Olabimtan said he listened closely to public feedback and was deeply moved by the appreciation expressed by residents. “Each morning I hear what people say, and it uplifts my spirit. This is not just about doing something; it is about meeting a real need,” he explained.

Despite growing public attention and political speculations, the engineer was emphatic that his interventions have nothing to do with politics. “I am not cut out to be a politician, and I have no intention of becoming one,” he stated firmly. “My purpose in life is engineering and innovation. Let nobody mistake this for political ambition.”

Olabimtan revealed that the projects in Ilaro are part of a broader master plan conceived years ago, leveraging his professional background and private investments, particularly in Lagos. He explained that proceeds from earlier developments have helped fund the Ilaro initiatives, stressing that profit is not his objective. “I have never profited from anything I have done in Nigeria. My return is the fulfilment and appreciation I get from the people,” he said.

Beyond infrastructure, the investor used the opportunity to reflect on Nigeria’s developmental challenges, arguing that the country’s major problem is not corruption alone but poverty driven by poor planning and weak infrastructure. Drawing comparisons with China and India, he lamented Nigeria’s failure to match population growth with sustainable development and visionary leadership.

He also spoke passionately about the historic marginalisation and stigma faced by Yewa land, recalling childhood experiences when Ilaro was dismissed as a “bush” area. According to him, reversing that narrative requires deliberate investment and belief in the people. “My goal is to create opportunity and show that development can thrive here,” he said, adding that projects like the amusement park featuring a rare Ferris wheel are designed to place Ilaro on the national map.

For Engineer Afisu Olabimtan, Yewa Frontier is more than a radio station or leisure hub; it is a statement that diaspora investment, when driven by purpose rather than politics, can become a powerful engine for community rebirth and dignity.