The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • AAAN 46th AGM/congress to hold in Asaba

    The Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) will hold its 46th Annual General Meeting (AGM)/Congress from July 11 to 13 at the Best Western Plus Elomaz Hotel, Asaba, Delta State.

    The AGM/Congress, themed: “War Within: Solutions for Survival”, will be opened by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. Captains of industry, top business leaders and policy makers within and outside the marketing communication industry are expected at the congress.

    AAAN President Ikechi Odigbo said the association aims to use the AGM as a platform to engage in intellectual and critical discourse on the challenges facing the business and practice of advertising in Nigeria, as well as advocate unorthodox solutions in rebuilding and rebranding the industry.

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    Chairman of the Planning Committee Doyin Adewumi said the association decided to invite its distinguished senior members to lead the discussion, adding that the discourse will be beneficial to delegates and members of the Association.

    Dignitaries expected at the event include Vice Chairman of Troyka Holdings Jimi Awosika; Group CEO, X3M Ideas Steve Babaeko; CEO, Brandzone LLC Mrs. Chizor Malize and CEO, BBDO Igbo Amadi-Obi.

  • Reps to investigate Edo House of Assembly crisis

    The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the crisis in the Edo State House of Assembly.

    The ad hoc committee has one week to report back to the House.

    The resolution follows a motion of urgent national importance, titled: “Urgent Need for intervention in the Edo State House of Assembly Crisis”, sponsored by three members – Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Peter Akpatason and Johnson Oghuma.

    Ihonvbere berated “the clandestine and nocturnal inauguration of the seventh Edo State House of Assembly on June 17, wherein nine of the 24 members-elect were purportedly sworn in without the knowledge of the other 15 members”.

    He said: “At the so-called nocturnal inauguration, some of the members were improperly dressed. The lawmakers complained about the illegality against the growing security challenges in Edo State.

    “No normal legislative business can take place unless the proper procedure for inaugurating the lawmakers is done as envisaged and guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal of Nigeria, and security provided.”

    Read Also: Edo Speaker to Reps: Don’t be dragged into illegality

    The motion was passed after a long deliberation and voting.

    Thereafter, the Speaker constituted a fact-finding committee headed by Abdulrasak Namdas for the assignment.

    But Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye, has called on the House of Representatives not to be used for personal interests.

    According to Okiye, the Edo House of Assembly was duly inaugurated on June 17, and the business of law-making has been going on without any hindrances.

    He said: “May I state that aside the fact that the Assembly complied with the Constitution in the inauguration of memebrs, there also exists a court order that ational Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police in Edo State, APC Publicity Secretary Lanre Issa-Onilu, all defendants, their servants and agents, not to interfere, disrupt or obstruct the constitutional duties of members of the Edo House of Assembly.

    “We welcome the decision of the House of Representatives to investigate issues surrounding the inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly. We are confident it would not find anything contrary to the provisions of the constitution. We humbly advise the lawmakers to be guided and not get involved in petty politics to fan the ego of an aspiring Godfather.”

  • Edo hospital conducts first stem cell transplant

    The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) said it has successfully conducted its first stem cell transplant on a patient with blood cancer (multiple myeloma).

    It said the operation was carried out by a team of doctors using a latest Optia Spectra machine.

    Consultant Haematologist and Coordinator of UBTH stem cell transplant centre Dr. Bazuaye Godwin, who led the doctors in collaboration with Celltek Healthcare in Benin City, said the patient is currently in the isolation room and responding to therapy.

    Bazuaye said the collaboration with Celltek Healthcare has helped to recommence transplant and have successfully conducted six stem cell transplantation for sickle cell disease.

    Read Also: FG commences environmental, social impact assessments for Edo Modular Refinery

    He said: “In collaboration with Sudabelt, Terumo BCT and global blood funds, we successfully carried out the first stem cell harvest with the latest Optra Spectra machine on July 4.

    “We successfully transplanted the stem cells to the patient with multiple myeloma. This is the first record of a successful stem cell transplant for patients with blood cancer in Nigeria. The patient is currently in the isolation room and responding to therapy.

    “Celltek Healthcare medical centre became operational in December 2017, and it is the only functioning stem cell transplant centre in the entire Sub-Sahara Africa, except South Africa and some North African countries.”

  • Ogun Speaker makes case for training in legislative business 

    Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly Olakunle Oluomo has said a virile, diligent and purposeful legislature could only be achieved through adequate human capacity development.

    The Speaker spoke at the one-day orientation for lawmakers in Abeokuta. Oluomo, who opened the workshop, noted that only well trained lawmakers would be guided at ensuring diligence and vibrancy at achieving a legislature that could complement other arms of government to develop the state.

    Read Also: Abiodun picks Soname to head Ogun Sports commission

    He noted that the vision of the Assembly at ensuring judicious use of public fund would be achieved with vibrant and competent legislators, who needed to be equipped for the enormous tasks ahead.

    The Speaker acknowledged that resource persons had been carefully selected to deliver lectures on areas that would give an overview of legislative business in line with international standards

    Oluomo, who reiterated his resolve to ensure adequate welfare and training of the Assembly’s workforce, enjoined participants to use the training to broaden their horizon on legislative procedures.

  • Obaseki: I am sustaining Oshiomhole’s legacies’

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has said he is sustaining the legacies of his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, especially as it relates to the state’s relationship with the World Bank.

    According to him, the government’s engagement with the World Bank since 2010 has been productive.

    Obaseki, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Taiwo Akerele, spoke in Benin City at a one-day workshop organised by Edo SEEFOR, themed: “Sustainability of Social Accountability in Public Sector”.

    According to him, the World Bank was not ready to work with any state that does not have the political will to implement its policies such as the Open budget system. He added that Edo was the first state to publish any contract above N10 million on its website for public scrutiny, and to ensure accountability.

    The governor reiterated that over 30,000 jobs have been created through the World Bank intervention in the last seven years. He added that he approved N6 billion to complement activities of SEEFOR as financing from World Bank is gradually drying up.

    Read Also: Obaseki is not playing politics of accommodation, says Osagie

    Obaseki said all hands must be on deck to do the needful to promote voluntary accountability to consign corrupt practices to the dustbin of history.

    He said: “The Edo State government has generated over 50,000 jobs through the intervention of SEEFOR in the last seven years. The state is the first to publish, on its website, all contracts above N10 million. With the support of SEEFOR, we have been able to pass into law the Public Financial Management law, the Auditing law and others.

    “We also hail the Federal Government for making Edo benefit from the European Union (EU) component of SEEFOR which is to complement the World Bank assisted funding for the employment of youths.”

    Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Benin (UNIBEN) Prof. Eddy Eragbe noted that positive change was happening in the state. He urged the people to monitor and query whatever project the government was doing.

    The Project Coordinator, Edo SEEFOR, Tony Onaiwu said the workshop was to further enhance public knowledge and accountability in government.

  • Suspected kidnapper of OAU lecturer arrested

    A suspect among the abductors of the senior lecturer of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Prof. Olayinka Adegbehingbe, has been arrested by the police.

    Adegbehingbe, an orthopaedic surgeon, was kidnapped at Apomu junction along Ife/Ibadan expressway, identified the suspect, who was brought before the lecturer by the police.

    The lecturer spent two days with his abductors after he had paid N5.045 million ransom.

    According to the Police Commissioner Mrs. Abiodun Ige, the suspect, whom she did not want his name in prints for security reasons, was apprehended by the police through information from the people in the community, where the incident had happened.

    Read Also: Shittu’s suit: Court grants NYSC’s application inviting OAU

    Addressing reporters after parading some suspects of other crimes, including armed robbery and burglary, said: “The command through the operation Puff Arder, in collaboration with the community support, got a reliable information that led to the arrest of some hoodlums who have been terrorising the Ikire axis and particularly the kidnap suspect of Prof. Adegbehingbe and one Alfa Sure from Niger State, who was wandering around along the Ikire axis.

    “The police carried out an identification parade on the suspect and the professor identified one of them.”

    Among the suspects paraded for various offences include Hussman Ladan from Sokoto State, Samaila Gede, Kemu Rejuli and Jubril Momhammed from Niger Republic.

  • Abiodun names seven advisers

    Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has named seven people as key advisers to him.

    The new appointees, according to his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Kunle Somorin, in a statement are; Chief Economic Adviser Dapo Okubadejo; Senior Special Adviser on Political Affairs Tunji Egbetokun and Special Adviser on Information  Modele Sarafa-Yusuf.

    Others are Special Adviser, Government House Babatunde Olaotan;

    Special Adviser on Job Creation and Youth Empowerment Mr Lekan Olude; Special Adviser on Housing Jamiu Akande Omoniyi and Senior Special Assistant on New Media SF Emmanuel Ojo.

    Okubadejo is a Partner & Africa Head of Deal Advisory & Private Equity at KPMG.

    Read Also: Abiodun picks Soname to head Ogun Sports commission

    He is an expert on Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A),  Project Finance, Investments, Private Equity and business transformation.

    With about 28 years of professional experience, he has acted as Corporate Financial Adviser to many foreign and local investors in Nigeria and across Africa.

    Egbetokun was Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly between 2008 and 2011. He had also served in the capacity of Senior Special Adviser, Political and Intergovernmental Affairs between 2011 and 2014. Before then, he was Secretary to the Obafemi Owode Local Government.

    Mrs. Sarafa-Yusuf is an award-winning media practitioner with a cumulative 32 years of experience in journalism and Marketing Communications. She has varied experience contributing to, and leading, corporate marketing and internal communications.

  • Traditional rulers to partner Osun govt on security

    Traditional rulers in Osun State have pledged their full support for the government to battle insecurity.

    They gave the assurance following a request by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola during their visit to rejoice with the governor over his victory at the Supreme Court, which last Friday reaffirmed his election.

    Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi; Secretary to the State Government Prince Wole Oyebamiji; Chief of Staff to the Governor Dr. Charles Diji Akinola; Head of Service Dr. Festus Olowogboyega, were among top government officials who joined the governor to receive the royal fathers.

    The Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode Oyesosin, who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers, said: “The purpose of our visit is to congratulate our governor on behalf of the Osun State Council of Obas over his victory at the apex court.

    “We were commissioned by the Chairman of the Council, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to pray and wish Mr. Governor a fruitful tenure in office.

    “I want to reassure our commitment and determination to continuously support the governor and the government most, especially the security agencies to keep our state save.

    “Though God is the ultimate security, but on our part, we will do the needful, we will discuss ways to be of help to secure our state.

    Read Also: 10 facts about Osun State Governor Oyetola

    “The issue of security is not a thing to be discussed in public, but we will come up with workable strategies to actualise security plan.”

    Oyetola, who urged the Obas to support his government, pledged equitable delivery of democratic dividends.

    He added that the people would be involved in the decision on what projects to site in their communities.

    He said: “As much as I appreciate your visit over my victory at the Supreme Court so also that I want to seek for your unflinching support and cooperation to move our state to Promised Land.

    “We need your support in all aspects most importantly on security.

    “As a government, we are not resting on our oars but rather working so hard to free our state from all forms of crime and illegality, and this dream can only be actualised with your support.

    “We have worked on a modality to involve all particularly the traditional rulers in the fight against insecurity in the state.

    “So, I am appealing to you to support us and support our security agencies particularly the vigilance groups at your various communities to combat crimes and criminality.

    “I want to assure you that we remain resolute to ensure the security of lives and property of all citizens and as well bring to the people, the dividends of democracy.”

    Other monarchs on the team are: Aragbiji of Iragbiji Oba Abdul-Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi; Owamiran of Esa-Oke Oba Adeyemi Adediran; Olowu of Kuta Oba Hamed Adekunle; Orangun of Oke-Ila Oba Adedokun Abolarinwa; Adimula of Ifewara Oba Hezekiah Adeniyi and Alasipa of Asipa Oba Mufutau Babawale.

  • Makinde bans collection of illegal fees in primary, secondary schools

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has placed a ban on illegal fee collections in all state owned primary and secondary schools.

    The directive was contained in a circular released by the Head of Service, Mrs. Amidat Agboola. It directed Permanent Secretaries and heads of Education related agencies to ensure strict compliance of the governor’s order.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa  noted that the governor, while giving his inaugural speech on May 29th, 2019, directed that all forms of payment in public schools, primary and secondary, should cease with immediate effect.

    Read Also: Assembly backs Makinde on sack of Oyo council chairmen

    The statement reads: “Therefore, collection of fees/levies in all public primary and secondary schools, including Technical Colleges across the state is hereby prohibited.

    “I am to emphasise that collection of fees under any guise in public schools across the state remains illegal and any violator of this directive will be treated as a saboteur; heavy sanction awaits violators of this directive.”

  • Oyo Assembly okays sack of council chiefs

    The Oyo State House of Assembly on Tuesday unanimously approved the decision of Governor Seyi Makinde to dissolve the state Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC).

    The lawmakers also declared the election conducted into the 35 local council development areas (LCDAs) by the state electoral umpire on May 12, 2018, as “unconstitutional, ultra vires, null and void”.

    Justifying the decision, the lawmakers held that “the election negated the provisions of section 4(a), part II, third schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which recognised conduct of election into local government areas”.

    The plenary was presided over by Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin.

    The Assembly also held that the election contravened Section 5(a) of the OYSIEC law 1999, that empowered the electoral commission to organise elections into local government councils and not LCDAs.

    Consequently, the Assembly averred that Makinde’s dissolution of OYSIEC was in public interest and in preservation of the sanctity of the nation’s 1999 Constitution.

    The positions of the lawmakers formed parts of the day’s resolutions from a matter of urgent public importance presented by the House Majority Leader, Mr. Sanjo Adedoyin, entitled, “Need to review the activities of OYSIEC over conduct of local government and local council development areas election in conformity with provisions of the laws”.

    Read Also: Oyo governor tasks NYSC members on nation building

    Majority of members also voiced loud “ayes”, asking the executive to urgently reconstitute the OYSIEC to organise fresh elections into local government councils.

    They argued that the power of the OYSIEC was limited to conducting election into local government councils alone and not LCDAs.

    Contributing in the ensuing discussion, Mr. Dele Adeola (Iseyin/Itesiwaju constituency) maintained that section 201 of the constitution recognised only 33 local government areas in the state, hence conducting election into 35 LCDAs amounted to illegality.

    He added that conducting election into the LCDAs amounted to legalising illegality which should be corrected.

    Consequently, Speaker of the Assembly, Ogundoyin announced the setting up of an eight-man ad hoc committee headed by Mr. Ademola Popoola (Ibadan South East II state constituency).

    Raising objection to the resolutions, Minority Leader, Asimiyu Alarape, argued that the Assembly had in 2002, during the Lam Adesina administration, approved the creation of additional local government areas and its nomenclature was only changed to LCDAs during the Eighth Assembly.

    To this end, Alarape said the law creating the LCDAs had not been repealed, hence its creation should not be rubbished.

    After a series of argument, lawmakers Ayotunde Fatokun (Akinyele 1), Mabaje Rasaq (Ido), Babatunde Ganiyu (Akinyele II) and Abiodun Fadeyi (Ona Ara), in their separate contributions, held that the dissolution of OYSIEC should stand.