Author: The Nation

Prominent political scientist and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of the University of Ibadan, Professor Adigun Agbaje, is billed to deliver the keynote address at the 5th Idowu Sobowale Conference.

The conference, with the theme ‘Media, Public Opinion and Governance in Africa,’ is scheduled to take place  at the School of Communication, Lagos State University, Ojo, on March 30 and 31 with participants drawn from the academia and professionals in media and communications.

This year’s conference coincides with the 80th birthday of Professor Idowu Sobowale, a foremost journalism teacher.

Highlight of the birthday celebration is the unveiling of Sobowale’s autobiography, Unexpected Turns, on March 30.

Sobowale was at different times; head Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos; pioneer Dean of the Lagos State University School of Communication (LASUSOC) and two-term Special Adviser (Education) in Lagos State.

He also served as Commissioner for Education in the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration in Lagos State.

In a pre-event chart, Sobowale pledged to utilise the proceeds of his autobiography to institute a Professorial Chair in an aspect of Media and Communications Studies and to offer scholarships to budding communication scholars to attend local and international conferences.

Already, in recognition of the phenomena contributions of Professor Sobowale to scholarship and media profession, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State, has named its Faculty of Communication and Media Studies in his honour.

The first Idowu Sobowale International Conference was organised in 2009 to create the forum for regular dialogue on different aspects of intellectual and professional interventions of Professor Idowu Sobowale in media, journalism and public communication.

Notable themes addressed at past conferences include: “Media, Governance and Development,” hosted by the Department of Mass Communication, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, 2009; “150 years of journalism: telling the Nigerian Story” (held at Caleb University, Imota, 2011); “Globalisation, Media Entertainment and National Development” (Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria, 2015); and  Media, Integration, Peace-building and Intercultural Dialogue in Africa (Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leon, October, 2017).

The 2021 Conference provides unique opportunities for scholars, media professionals,  veterans,  contemporaries and academic disciples of Professor Idowu Sobowale to also  celebrate the legend as he marks his 80th Birthday anniversary (29th March 2021) and have his Autobiography (Unexpected Turns)  unveiled during the opening ceremony of the Conference on 30th March, 2021).  ZOOM ID for the Thanksgiving service for the 80th Birthday anniversary on 29/03/2021 is:  83939168852, with the Password (Pass Code): IDOWU.

The choice of the venue is equally spectacular because Professor Idowu Sobowale served both as one of the founding fathers as well as the pioneer Dean of the Lagos State University School of Communication (LASUSOC).

The opening ceremony of the Conference will be chaired by  Professor Abisogun Leigh, PhD, OFR., Fellow, Royal Statistical Society, former Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University, with  Professor Umaru A. Pate, newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State and President , Association of Communication scholars & Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) serving as Special Guest of Honour; Professor Nosa Owens-Ibie, Vice-Chancellor, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos who is also the Secretary-General, ACSPN, serves as Guest of Honour. The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Lagos

State University, Professor Oyedamola Oke, PhD, is the Chief Host of the event, while the new Dean of the LASU School of Communication, Professor Yinka Alawode, PhD, is the host.

By Damola Kola-Dare

The Community leader of Aboru,Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, High Chief Rasaq Akinde  has called on the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to  save the community from threats and persistent encroachment from alleged land-grabbers.

He made the plea during a press briefing in his palace recently. According to Akinde, they were seeking government’s intervention to avoid bloodshed which may arise from usurpation of parcels of land in Aboru community.

The monarch stated that he had informed Police authorities at Panti to checkmate activities of the land grabbers to no avail.

”Land grabbers have been on rampage in this town, selling land belonging to residents and attacking workers on construction sites. We have informed the Police, but nothing has been done.

Alhaji Tadujeen Akinde, Babaloja of Aboru, said the Akinde family secured a court injunction at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi in 2007 as the legal owners of  the hectares of land in the community. He, however, wants government to call the land grabbers to order for peace to reign in the community.

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

Lagos State Government yesterday announced that it would begin rehabilitation works on the failed portion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, (between Maza Maza and Signal Barracks), on the Mile 2 axis, on Monday.

The project, government said would be completed within eight weeks. It is expected to be delivered on May 31.

A statement by the Commissioner for Transportation Dr Frederic Oladeinde, stated that an elaborate traffic diversion plan is in place to ameliorate the sufferings of the commuting public on that axis of the state throughout the duration of the repair.

According to the commissioner, alternative routes have been made available with adequate traffic management measures in place to ensure movement despite the expected inconveniences.

Motorists heading towards Apapa from Maza Maza are advised to use the newly constructed slip road by the Total Filling station to connect the ramp and access Apapa, while traffic heading to Orile/Suru from Maza Maza will be diverted to the opening at Total Filling Station to link Toll lane and continue movement to Orile or through the opening at Signal Barracks to access the Service lane from toll lane to continue their journey.

Motorists going to Oshodi from Maza Maza are also advised to use the opening at Total Filling station to connect toll lane and drive down to the opening after Mile 2 underpass to utilize the opening before Signal Barracks and access the ramp with counter flow to Apapa -Oworonshoki Expressway to continue their journey to Oshodi.

Those coming from Oshodi to Orile would be directed to Mile 2 Oke to connect the ramp to Signal barracks and continue their journey to orile while those going back to oshodi should make a U-turn and continue their trip to oshodi.

Other motorists coming from Otto Wharf should use the opening before Signal Barracks and connect the toll lane and continue their journey to Alaba/Orile.

The Commissioner while assuring that the state’s Traffic Management Personnel (LASTMA) will be deployed to the axis to manage traffic, warned that, under no circumstances should they be assaulted in the course of duty, as anyone caught in the act will be dealt with decisively.

The statement reiterated that the State Government will continue to work relentless to ensure that movement within the metropolis is made seamless for the citizenry, stressing further that the cooperation of all and sundry is needed to achieve the set goals by the current administration in the transport sector.

By Precious Igbonwelundu

Lagos Police Commissioner (CP) Hakeem Odumosu yesterday paid a condolence visit to the family of one Jelili Bakara, who was shot dead by a Police Inspector last week.

Bakara was killed by Inspector Jonathan Company around 11:30pm on March 18, at Quinox Lounge, Sangotedo.

The Inspector who was attached to the Mounted Troop, Force Animal Branch, was said have opened fire on the deceased during an argument.

Although the killer cop fled the scene after the incident, he was eventually arrested by detectives attached to Ogombo Police Division from where he was moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, for proper investigation.

According to a statement by police spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Odumosu visited the family and was received by the Olori Ebi of the Bakara family in Ajiran Land, Eti-Osa Local Government of Lagos State, Chief Yekini Olawale, the mother, wives and children of the deceased.

“The team also paid a visit to the Oba of Ajiranland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Tijani Akinloye, in his Palace and expressed its heartfelt condolences on the demise of one of his subjects.

“The Commissioner of Police was accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, DCP Ahmed Kontangora, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, DCP Bassey Ewah, Deputy Commissioner of Police, CID, DCP Adegoke Fayoade, Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, Staff Officer Senior, CSP Vic Mulero and the Divisional Police Officers within the Area J Command, Ajah.

“The police boss has also ordered that the inspector be tried in orderly room and charged to court in no time as the family of the deceased deserves justice on the matter.

“The Commissioner of Police assured the public that the command will consistently uphold the core values and principles of policing so as to have adequate protection of lives and property in the state,” he said.

By Yetunde Oladeinde

The Suicide Research Prevention Initiative (SURPIN) has raised concern over rising suicide cases in the country.

Consultant Psychiatrist and coordinator, SURPIN, Dr. Raphael Ogbolu, informed that last year , the rate of suicide was high. “Most of the callers were young people. 62.4% were aged between 20 and 39.

Ogbolu is bothered about the rate of suicide, which he said is alarming.  “Last year was plagued with COVID- 19 just like other countries around the world and attendant uncertainty, disruption of previous normal way of living has tasked the resilience of people which led to other factors like suicide.”

Ogbolu said: “From the beginning, our crisis calls have mainly come from young adults, averagely aged 30 years, although the youngest caller has been 12years old and the oldest 71. We have received a lot of crisis calls from 29 states in Nigeria and Ghana.This is a worrying trend because these young adults are supposed to be the ones driving the economy now and leading the country forwards in the future.

“If they are suicidal then that is not encouraging. Being that depression was the commonest mental health condition among callers it also raises concerns because of the economic impact that depression has on the individual and the country. Depression suppreses personal economic growth and therefore will affect the larger economy. This has been proven through studies.

The consultant psychiatrist said that to mark this year’s World Suicide prevention Day, plans are in place to hold a national secondary schools debate with the topic focusing on the mental health bill. “As part of our plans this year we plan to have workshops on media reporting of suicide and for religious leaders. We also hope to begin online trainings via our website www.surpinng.com.

By Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

The quest for healthy beverages for the overall health of kids remains the drive towards the consumption of fruity juice drink, Capri-Sun, findings have revealed.

Against the background of a plethora of unwholesome kiddies’ fruit drinks that have saturated the market, mothers have become more observant about the nutritional value of beverages to ensure that only healthy fruit drinks with a ‘Clean Recipe’ like Capri-Sun make it to the snack boxes and meal tables for their children.

Mrs. Josephine Edet, a mother of three children, says she takes special interest in what her children consume, because of many unwholesome fruit drinks in the market that cannot pass the tests of quality and safety.

“As a mom, growing up, I enjoyed Capri-Sun. Because of its consistent taste and quality over the years, it is a brand I trust. Putting

Capri-Sun in my children’s lunchboxes is a priority because it is a convenient and healthy fruit drink that hydrates with a natural taste that appeals to them,” she stated.

Mrs. Gladys Ikechukwu, a civil servant and mother of two, noted that Capri-Sun appeals to mothers with its all-natural ingredient formulation.

“Mothers want their children to be healthy, but the labels on many fruit drinks are confusing and misleading, causing parents to think

they are providing their children a healthy drink when in actuality, they are not. Capri- Sun offers a healthy alternative with its all-natural ingredients,” she added.

By Precious Igbonwelundu

To further improve emergency response time in Lagos, plans are underway to locate ambulance points at all 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary (PS) Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, during a visit by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on strengthening pre-hospital care services.

Ogboye said there was an urgent need to have more ambulance points across in the grassroots, noting that it would reduce response time to emergencies and help in saving more lives during disasters.

He said the ministry would ensure patients get the best care possible, especially in the golden hour, adding that a committee would be constituted together with civil societies, to have a larger pool of first responders.

Ogboye said that establishment of the committee would help in reducing response time and ensure quicker access to medical services.

“The establishment of LASEMBUS has assisted our operations to save lives and this gave us an edge over other states in terms of emergency rescue, “ he added.

In his remarks, LASEMA’s Director General, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the partnership would enhance pre-hospital care system in the state, help on achieving targeted five-minute response time, as well as improve the referral systems.

He explained that agency was looking towards the establishment of Local Emergency Cadets, in all LGAs/LCDAs with 12 well trained and equipped responders each.

Oke-Osanyintolu said there would also be School and Market Emergency Management Committees, to enable the agency capture emergency from the grassroots and achieve the maximum  five-minute response time target.

“We want to ensure the use of technology in driving our hospitals, to make us have a holistic and comprehensive data of emergency casualties. The collaboration will reduce deflation of funds and will also reduce fatalities to the barest minimum.

Also speaking, Managing Director, OMARLINK Integrated Services Ltd., Mrs Tolagbe Martins, called for synergy with the hospital to reduce fatality rate in the state.