The Nation Newspaper

Category: Grassroots

  • Akiolu to Nigerian: let’s preserve tradition

    Akiolu to Nigerian: let’s preserve tradition

    The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has urged Nigerians to continue to preserve culture and tradition.

    Oba Akiolu made this remark when he received the Seaman’s Schnapps team at his Iga Idunganran Lagos Island palace.

    The monarch praised the team for their deep-seated respect for traditional institutions and their continued dedication to preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage.

    He joined in prayer with Seaman’s Schnapps, invoking continued prosperity for Lagos State and Nigeria at large, while also blessing the success and prosperity of the company across its diverse operations.

    Oba Akiolu promised to support the company in bringing to live its expansion efforts in Lagos.

    Marketing Manager of Grand Oak Limited, Distillers of Seaman’s Schnapps, Gbemileke Lawal, thanked the monarch for his graciousness.

    Read Also: Tinubu greets Oba of Lagos at 80

    He reiterated Grand Oak’s deep respect for the rich historical heritage of Lagos, including its traditional stool and the plethora of pre-colonial narratives that distinguish the city.

    Gbemileke highlighted that the partnership between Seaman’s Schnapps and the traditional institution represents a harmonious blend of tradition, people, and progress.

    “Through this significant visit, Seaman’s Schnapps aims to express its deep respect for traditional and cultural institutions. The brand plans to extend similar courtesies to key traditional leaders in Lagos for prayers, progress, and prosperity,” he said.

    Senior Brand Manager of Seaman’s Schnapps, Mrs. Nnenna Uche-Onyenacho said: “Seaman’s Schnapps stands a symbol of tradition and reverence in Nigeria. With each sip, it evokes the essence of our cultural heritage, uniting communities in prayer and celebration. I take great pride in our commitment to upholding the highest standards of quality and authenticity.

    “Our legacy of excellence is not just a testament to our product but to the enduring spirit of our people. Through Seaman’s Schnapps, we unlock blessings, honour the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the future, one toast at a time.”

  • Palliatives for Apapa-Iganmu residents

    Palliatives for Apapa-Iganmu residents

    The Chairman, Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area, Alhaja Funmilayo Akande-Muhammed, has distributed palliatives packages to the residents.

    This gesture, she said, was done to reduce hunger in the council and support residents as they deal with the effect of oil subsidy removal.

    She lauded the actions of the Lagos State Government by giving out palliatives to the people.

    According to her, the food items include 2,500 semovita and 750 create of eggs.

    She said: “We are doing everything possible to enhance the goals of Lagos State Government by giving out mega palliative packages. We just concluded one of the palliative programs during the period of Easter,” she said.

    She further emphasized that there have been several empowerment programs created to help the citizens earn source of livelihood.

    Read Also: Deji Adeyanju’s law firm demands N100m from HURIWA over alleged defamation

    “We have also empowered our people in terms of vocational training such as shoe making, hairdressing, catering and confectionery, cosmetology, tailoring and fashion designing, barbing, photography, make-up and gele in which the graduation ceremony will come up soon.

    “We have presented free mini buses and tricycles to our people that are in the field of transportation, to earn livelihood. We also empowered small and medium scale businesses by providing POS machines with huge cash to kick-start their businesses. We gave out free freezers and drinks, vocational training tools, generators, financial assistance, utility vehicles to the stakeholders and so on.”

  • Council canvasses consistent clean environment

    Council canvasses consistent clean environment

    By Sofiyyah Abubakar

    The Chairman of  Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Olufemi Okeowo, has called for regular and proper clean environment among residents.

    He spoke at the Sensitization and Public Enlightenment program which was graced by dignitaries to sensitize the residents on cleaner surroundings as the rainy season approaches.

    According to Okeowo, it is the responsibility of all in achieving a cleaner and safer environment for healthy life. He added that good health is similar to wealth.

    The council boss talked on some of the palliatives and projects that the residents benefitted.

    He stated that 500 youths, 500 adults, 200 families are receiving N10,000 social intervention every month from the council.

    He added that N12 million were distributed to students, free drugs were given out to 200 residents with special ailments monthly and N50,000 were given to 100 petty traders every month.

    He also stated some projects done by him include roads and market expansion.

    The Head of Waste Management and Environmental Services Sanitarian, Ezekiel Obideyi urged the residents to dispose their waste properly at the designated place where the collectors could easily access them.

    Read also: Google opens applications for Startups AI Accelerator Africa

    He said that as the government is doing its best, it is left to us to ensure that our surroundings is clean at all time and proper personal hygiene is maintained.

    The Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Japheth Olugbogi, advised the people to patronise Primarily Health Centres (PHCs) near their houses.

    “Ifelodun LCDA is blessed with medical personnel; they are engaged to take care of your health needs, kindly patronize our PHCs. Whenever you fall sick, come for proper examination. Checkup is at no cost,” he stressed.

    The Council Manager, Azeez Abiodun advised the community members to take their personal health seriously because when one is healthy, one is wealthy.

  • Lagos SSG, council secretaries to fight drug abuse

    Lagos SSG, council secretaries to fight drug abuse

    • Seek inclusivity for PLWD

    The Lagos State Government has sought the cooperation of the Secretaries to the Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas in curbing drug abuse at the various local governments

    Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, during a meeting with ”Scribe 57” as the body is being called at Alausa, said more need to be done in that regard.

    She said: ”We are doing quite a lot in various communities, we begin to identify those who are on it. We are trying to send the council secretaries to their localities to educate the populace on the danger of drug abuse. They need to dissuade people from it.

    ”Schools are being taught the disadvantages of drug abuse, we are using education, we are using community people, we are using the CDAs, the CDCs, all hands are on deck.

    Read Also: Deji Adeyanju’s law firm demands N100m from HURIWA over alleged defamation

    ”Even the NDLEA, we hold meetings with them and we are insisting that once they get these drugs, we want to see how they are destroyed, so that they don’t go back into the society,” she said.

    Mrs Salu-Hundeyin also said the meeting agreed to ensure the availability of sign instructors/interpreters at hospitals to assist persons with hearing and speech impairments get medical attention.

    According to her, the state government would work with the body to ensure inclusivity of the hearing and speech impaired persons in government’s agenda.

    She said that having interpreters was a great way of ensuring that the impaired were not left behind in government’s interventions.

    According to her, it has been discovered that in some hospitals, a lot of persons with hearing and speech impairments, are unable to communicate effectively with the doctors, and that can lead to a lot of errors.

    She said: ”This, maybe, leads to giving wrong medications, things that are not right and all that.

    “So, they also deserve whatever any able bodied person deserves. If you are talking of disabilities, not just physical, as you see them, a lot of them have abilities in them, so we should not lose them.

    ”Having sign instructors is a great way to reach to the people. The THEMES+ agenda of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office, this administration, talks about inclusivity. The ”plus” there means inclusivity, first, then we have gender equality and youth development. So if we are going to run an inclusive government, nobody should be left behind. That is what it means.

    ”The fact that people cannot talk or they cannot hear, it does not mean; once they are human beings, they cannot be left behind. This is a determination, and this is a policy of this administration. No one must be left behind,” she said.

    The SSG said that the society appreciated them and the government wanted them to also live a healthy life, hence, the need for sign instructors who will be at the hospitals.

    Chairman of Scribe 57, Akeem Dauda, said that data remained the foundation of any policy in any organisation.

    Dauda, the Secretary to Ikeja Local Government,  said that the secretaries would be making data on the person with hearing and speech impairments from the local government areas available to the state government by Thursday.

    He also said that the Scribe 57 would also present its report on drug abuse to the SSG, while commending the security agencies for working with them to curb such menace.

  • Bariga building another road

    Bariga building another road

    The Chairman of Bariga Local Council, Kolade Alabi, has initiated the building of Igbehinadun/Ogunyemi Street.

    The pivotal project involves the development of a 463-meter thoroughfare, commencing from the Oguntona section and terminate at the Famous Bus Stop.

    The design features an open drainage system and street lighting, to enhance safety and visibility throughout the night. The significance of the project, Alabi said, is underscored by its location.

    He noted that Igbehinadun Street is not only a central artery of the community but also the site of the Bariga Local Council Secretariat.

    Read Also: Deji Adeyanju’s law firm demands N100m from HURIWA over alleged defamation

    “With a commitment to precision and adherence to the Bariga Local Council Secretariat’s aesthetic, the construction is anticipated to set a benchmark in quality. Upon completion, it will not only improve the infrastructure but also elevate the visual appeal of the neighborhood,” Alabi said.

  • Monarch seeks Sanwo-Olu’s intervention over territory invasion

    Monarch seeks Sanwo-Olu’s intervention over territory invasion

    The Gbadewolu of Araromi, Oba Lukman Adebambo, has called on Lagos State Government, Commissioner of Police and Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, to intervene and prevent further breakdown of law and order in his domain.

    Oba Adebambo was reported to have engaged in brawl with some masqueraders during an annual festival that featured a masquerade called Jigbo in Ibeju, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, Lagos.

    The clash resulted in pandemonium as policemen invited from the Elemoro Area Command and Akodo Division stormed the community, firing teargas and gunshots to contain the situation.

    Speaking with The Nation, Oba Adebambo said since he sensed that a crisis is brewing, he decided to petition the state and local governments and police.

    He said he even sponsor a paid announcement on radio to avert the crisis.

    The monarch said the masqueraders were not from his domain, hence their coming into Araromi was to foment trouble.

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    He said he had sent message to the local government authority to prevent the masqueraders from parading his comminuty.

    According to him, all his actions were rebuffed by the masqueraders, who later stormed his community.

    The monarch described their defiance to his instruction as an affront, saying that no community leader would watch as people from other community trampled upon his domain.

    “That’s why I faced those masqueraders and told them to leave my community. Instead of them to leave, they started causing crisis by attacking me, my secretary and residents. They destroyed my hotel and our community statue. It took the intervention of the police to calm the situation,” he said.

    Oba Adebambo urged the state government to prosecute the perpetrators and their sponsors.

    He insisted his community, Araromi is independent of Ibeju, hence warned community leaders in Ibeju to stop encroaching on their community.

  • Mushin holds leadership training

    Mushin holds leadership training

    By Ummusalamoh Kamorudeen, Ameenah Ilyas and Sahadat Jimoh

    Chairman, Mushin Local Government Area, Emmanuel Bamigboye has held a community development association(CDA) leadership training programme for the grassroots level.

    The programme with the theme:“Leadership training on capacity building at grassroots for CDA’s,” was aimed at impacting great knowledge and values, and change mindsets of the participants on better community relationships.

    Bamigboye, who was represented by his vice, Aruwe Tunbosun, said the training would aid CDAs members on improving attitude, ethical standards and behavioral expectations in the community.

    He urged the participants to work on the knowledge gathered from the training as it would impact the community greatly.

    Read Also: Tinubu approves routing of 20% palliatives through religious, traditional leaders

    “I admonish all participants to pay more attention, by taking all the keynotes that you have learnt to your various communities and we can jointly achieve a society that is free of rancour and animosity.Whatever knowledge they acquire here, they should impact it in the lives of the people they’re leading, because they are representing people. They are representing people in their communities, so whatever knowledge they acquire here should be impacted,” he said.

    Chairman, Community Development Associations (CDAs), represented by Marufeedeen Olayinka Alli, lauded the actions of the council chairman for organising the training.

    He added that the trainings gave opportunities for every CDAs to be self aware, thereby creating ways of cohabiting and creating communal bonds that is devoid of ethnic, religious or class diversity.

    “We appreciate the chairman, for giving us this opportunity to be aware and to be able to know the standard of every CDAs. We are very appreciative for this gesture. This training is a very nice one and for we representing each of our community, we are going to deliver any other news we had here to our community for them to know the history of the CDAs in our community.“ he said.

  • Council upgrades teachers’ skills

    Council upgrades teachers’ skills

    The Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State, has trained public school head teachers and private school teachers on Teaching Skills for  21st Century as well as  Project-based learning skills.

    The training, in conjunction with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) was anchored by Corona College of Education.

    The council chairman, Fatai Ayoola, said  ensuring and  providing  qualitative education for people of Ajeromi-Ifelodun is paramount to  him, hence the necessity to  train teachers both in public and private schools.

    This, he said, would make students and youths relevant as well as compete favourably with their peers within and outside  the country.

    Read Also: Tinubu approves routing of 20% palliatives through religious, traditional leaders

    Ayoola said his administration  has likewise built an ICT centre.

    He added that the training was to educate teachers on how to teach students to be solution providers.

    Senior Project Lead (Education) at Metacore PMC and The Founding Director of The Quiver Childrens Place Limited, Mrs. Josephine Isiakpona, said project-based learning is a way of teaching students in a way that will make them gain more insight and understanding.

    She said with the training, teachers will be able to  teach their students on building skills and competence needed to  identify and solve bigger national problems in the future with team spirit.

    A facilitator, Mrs. Nora Jegede, from Corona College of Education, said the training is needful for the teachers who will help groom the students for tomorrow’s leadership with effective knowledge and skills.

    She stressed the importance of  teachers understanding technological skills needed for the 21st century to train students in the 7”C” which include collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creativity, character and use of computer.

  • People’s welfare is my priority, says Abila

    People’s welfare is my priority, says Abila

    The Chairman of Iba Local Council Development Area, Jubril Yisa, has said that the welfare of the residents is his priority.

    He stated this during the distribution of palliatives.

    Yisa, otherwise called Abila, said the gesture would cushion the effects of hardship prevailing in the country as a result of fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    Read Also: Tinubu approves routing of 20% palliatives through religious, traditional leaders

    According to him, 1000 food packs were distributed.

    The palliatives, he said, included Cash Support Programme for Widows and Aged Women within the wards in the council.

     He assured them of a continuous exercise of Abila Food Bank. 

    He added that his administration will not stop in its efforts until hardship is phase out in his community.

  • Senator lifts constituents with educational materials

    Senator lifts constituents with educational materials

    Senator Wasiu Sanni-Eshilokun (Lagos Central) has presented cheques to 120 beneficiaries of the 2024 Wasiu Sanni-Eshilokun Scholarship and Education Scheme.

    Five primary schools got desktop computers and educational materials, while a hospital got equipment and materials.

    The presentation was done during the first town hall the senator held with his constituents, with the theme: ‘My Stewardship to my Constituents’.

    The lawmaker promised to provide over 100 street lights in Iga-Iduganran, Glover Street and many other estates in Eti-Osa, and rehabilitate Enuowa, Idumagbo Avenue, Lagos Island, Ayigoro, Sanusi, Bola and Ikate streets which fall under his constituency.

    Sanni-Eshilokun promised that beneficiaries of the scholarship award will be increased to 200 next year, and to provide over 100 street lights in Iga-Iduganran, Glover Street and many other estates in Eti-Osa. He would also rehabilitate some streets, build two jetties in Victoria Island, provide an 18-seater fully equipped boat clinic for riverine areas in Eti-Osa, among others.

    Read Also: Tinubu approves routing of 20% palliatives through religious, traditional leaders

    He added: “Beneficiaries of the scholarship award will be increased to 200 next year. I only urge you to study harder to improve on your current results. I wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

    “I also assure you all that I will not rest until life becomes more livable for you all. I am working towards facilitating some government intervention programmes to the five local government  areas and LCDAs in the Senatorial District.”

    Head Teacher of Akinlade Primary School, Okun-mopo community, Mrs. Tawakalitu Bakare thanked the lawmaker for his generous donations to the school.

    “I’m privileged to be one of the head teachers to benefit from this great initiative. I’m honoured and greatful to Honourable Wasiu Eshilokun for his generosity and being able to perform well as a great leader. I pray God would continue to strengthen him, give him more wisdom and knowledge to be able to do more than this.”

    Mrs. Bakare explained that the educational materials will assist the pupils in learning since many parents cannot afford to buy textbooks and educational materials for their wards.

    Eletu Suliat Kofoworola, who benefited from the  scholarship, lauded Senator Eshilokun for contributing immensely to education in Lagos Central through the scholarship scheme.

    “I feel excited because my efforts have been appreciated by the senator. I am a first timer, so I am very excited. I say thank you to Senator Eshilokun for contributing immensely to education in Lagos Central,” she said.