Category: South West

There was palpable fear in Ede, the hometown of Osun State governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke on Saturday as sharing of election fund balance turned bloody.

The Nation gathered that some members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had a disagreement while deliberating on sharing the balance of 2022 governorship election fund.

The disagreement snowballed into a brawl during the meeting which resulted in one of the members slapping one of the aides of the Osun State House of Assembly minority leader, Adewummi  Babajide on the cheeks.

A source disclosed, “The brawl resulted in the crisis as some armed police led by one Omoyele intervened, two members of PDP were shot dead and a member of All Progressives Congress (APC) who is an ally of the PDP member was also killed.

“The killing of one of the members of APC angered other APC members as they mobilised to protest against PDP, it resulted in crisis and property were destroyed in Ede. The House of Minority Leader of Osun Assembly was razed down on Friday night. The destruction of property continued again today. We are in fear as I am speaking to you,”  a source said.

The Osun Assembly Minority Leader, Adewummi  Babajide in a short statement he posted on his Facebook page, wrote, “ The aftermath of the attack on two buildings belonging to my parents by thugs apparently sponsored by the APC. The arsonists burnt everything to the ground and the whereabouts of my father are still unknown. Losing elections should not be a war. This is barbaric and has no place in a democracy.”

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Osun Command, Olabisi Atanda disclosed that, “There was a meeting of PDP where misunderstanding ensued over money released for the last governorship election.

“There was an altercation among the people at the meeting and one of those in attendance brought police into the meeting to make an arrest.

“It was at that time that one person called Kuranga was hit by a bullet. I can’t confirm if he died or not. The incident led to a stampede in a market around the area as people ran in different directions. But peace has returned.”

Digital Marketing Skill Institute (DMSI) has  empowered selected women with digital marketing skills, matching them to high-paying jobs with access to mentorship, career services and also securing a better future and job security through decent jobs in the new digital economy.

This is in line with their mission to  break gender biases and stereotypes by giving women a voice in a male dominated digital marketing industry.In partnership with Challenge Fund for Youth Empowerment, they  launched the Digital Marketing Women Employability and Entrepreneurship Program (DM-WEEP) in 2021 with the goal of empowering unemployed young women within the ages of 20 – 35 years; affording them the opportunity to become either a Social Media Management and Advertising Specialist or a WordPress Website Development and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Specialist.

Alarming statistics of the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 1 in 3 women would be subjected to either physical or sexual intimate partner violence, or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. The 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (2018 NDHS) further showed that, 30% of females between 15 and 49 years had experienced sexual violence. During the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, cases of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) soared.

Advocates of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) have identified that one major reason many women stay in abusive situations especially by their partners is because they lack a means to cater for themselves.

Data from Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that about 40% of Nigerian Youths are unemployed, with women being the larger percentage.

In respect to these statistics, the initiative is not limited to specific social class and as such caters to women from all backgrounds who are unemployed and interested in developing skills that can enable them create a successful career or business in Digital Marketing. DM-WEEP offers courses designed for the students to get practical knowledge in digital marketing through a 2-week intensive online training which also enables beneficiaries build a professional portfolio from the assignments during the course.

CEO and Founder of DMSI, Mr. Tobi Asehinde stated that, “It has been an all-time goal of ours to see a world where women are safe, empowered and there are no gender or social class barriers and what better way than to create that world by ourselves. Therefore, in line with our organizational vision of empowering and helping 1 million people by 2030 to start, grow and scale wildly profitable businesses and careers using digital marketing across the globe, DM-WEEP, an initiative we launched in 2021 post covid, has empowered about 1000+ unemployed Nigerian Women already and still thriving”.

A delegation of business leaders in the Nigerian Energy Sector will embark on a journey halfway across the world to Central American Energy forte – Belize in a 4-in-1 event that will feature a full  International Energy Trade Mission.

The trade mission initiative  developed by executives of the  International Forum for Women in Energy, Oil, and Gas (WEOG) a formost international women in Energy group led by  Dr. Oladunni Owo, the National president, in collaboration with Belize Natural Energy LLC  founded by Ms. Susan Morrice who is also a Founding Member and Global Patron of WEOG /  and Chairperson Belize Natural Energy Ltd.

The goal of the entire engagement is to strengthen the energy trade relationship between Belize and Nigeria.

This  first of its kind Energy trade mission in  Africa and Central America  is scheduled to take off from Belmopan, the commercial capital of Belize  shall  feature meeting with the Prime minister, visits to  various national ministries including the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment, and Public Utilities, Belize state house,  the National emergency management organization, and many more.

The trade mission agenda also include a capacity-building tour of Belize Natural Energy LLC (BNE), with major representatives and high profile delegation from the Nigerian energy sector cut across both the public and private sectors. The tour shall feature strategic visits to BNE’s upstream, midstream, and downstream  operation facilities including a review of its Local content development strategies and implementation.

On a conference call session with the WEOG trade mission planning committee.

BNE has established itself as a Belizean Integrated Energy company with world-class standards and has achieved rapid success since inception by focusing first on developing its local content, with over 98% of its operations being marshalled primarily by Belizeans.

The mission, according to Dr. Dunni Owo, WEOG President has a national transformational goal and objective of fostering an increased Local content development and Energy sector entrepreneurship even  at the wake of global  Energy Transition and Nigeria’s decade of gas. In view of the above the mission shall host an array of International Energy Leader to a special roundtable session targeted as a platform to discuss trending and current Energy sector strategies, innovation , challenges and solutions.

The Oniku of Iku quarters in Ikare Akoko, High Chief Mukaila Bello, and three others who were abducted on Thursday have been freed.

Their abductors had demanded N50m and it was not clear, as at press time if any ransom was paid for their release.

Others abducted alongside Chief Mukaila were a former House of Assembly candidate for Akoke Northeast Constituency, Yeye Gbafinro, Mr. Adeiran Adeyemo, and Mr. Bashiru Adekile.

It was gathered that they were released on Saturday night along Owo-Akoko road and were immediately taken to the hospital for medical attention.

The Owa-Ale of Ikare Akoko, Oba Adeleke Adegbite-Adedoyin, who confirmed their release, said he was elated that his subjects have been released.

He thanked security agencies for their efforts to secure the release of the victims.

The victims were abducted on Thursday evening at Ago Panu axis in Owo Local Government while returning from Akure.

The driver conveying them was shot in the head and is currently receiving treatment.

Before they were released, the family members had asked for a reduced ransom but the kidnappers refused.

It was gathered that prayers were held in lkare for the release of the victims.

To participate effectively in the increasingly complex societies that characterize today’s world, the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Folashade Adefisayo has expressed the need to integrate 21st century curriculum schemes to enable Nigerian students to think critically, communicate effectively, collaborate with diverse peers and solve complex problems.

Adefisayo stated this at the weekend during an award ceremony for 110 Nigerian students from across 45 schools who came top in the June and November 2021 Cambridge examination series in Lagos.

She disclosed that the British Council office in the country and Federal Government are currently collaborating to improve Nigeria’s school curriculum, saying the effort is to inculcate the skills that could broaden the knowledge of students in Nigeria into the curriculum.

The commissioner noted that whatever students are learning should be integrated with skills such as creativity, problem-solving, innovative thinking, personal leadership, citizenship, teamwork, and digital literacy, among others.

Adefisayo who expressed excitement at the outstanding performances of the awardee students, revealed that Lagos state government had set out a scheme of works that integrated course skills across all subjects from nursery to senior secondary schools.

“We are doing our best to integrate all these skills into the curriculum because that is how a student will do well. You really cannot talk about academics alone anymore. Students must have depth and breadth across the whole gamut of education,” she stated.

Also speaking, Country Director, British Council Nigeria, Lucy Pearson, noted that Cambridge Assessment International Education supports young people in developing 21st-century skills.She revealed that all the top-performing students will receive certificates from Cambridge International in recognition of their achievements.Following their brilliant performance in the June and November Cambridge examination series, the beneficiaries secured 157 Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards.

No fewer than 55 cartons of Tramadol worth N1.375bn and disguised as kitchen utensils by importers have been intercepted at the Lagos ports by men of Apapa Customs Command.

According to the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Ports, Comptroller Malanta Yusuf, the hrad drugs were concealed inside a 1x20ft container and disguised as 272 cartons of stainless steel hotpot.

‘’The container No SUDU -7538656 manifested as 272 cartons of stainless steel hotpot, it was captured/declared as cooking appliances, , measuring/checking instruments, and furnace burners to evade arrest.

Malanta noted that a thorough examination of the items revealed that they contained 55 cartons of tramadol concealed in food flasks with a Duty Paid Value of N1.375 billion.

‘’ Each carton of tramadol contains 50 rolls, each roll contains 10 packs and each pack contains 10 sachets,’’ he said.

Malanta urged importers and agents to strictly adhere to import and export prohibition guidelines to protect the country’s economy and reduce insecurity.’’

Ogun state police command has warned owners of abandoned and recovered vehicles parked at Ogbere division to remove them within two weeks or forfeit them.

The vehicles are One Mercedez Benz BR 213 APP and one Toyota bus XU 803 EPE.

The National Industrial Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the Lagos State Speaker and Lagos House of Assembly not to obstruct, disturb or frustrate the Chairman Lagos State House of Assembly Commission (LSHAC), in the discharge of his duties.

The court ordered the speaker to stay the action pending when the motion exparte filed by Chief Wale Mogaji is heard by the court.

It would be recalled that the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly on July 14, 2022, pronounced in a voice vote at the plenary session the sack of Mogaji as the Chairman of the commission.

Justice R. H Gwandu in his ruling said:  Having looked at the processes before me, l hereby order that the defendants should halt any action within the matter pending the hearing of the motion on notice, the interim injunction is granted as prayed.

Justice Gwandu further directed that any disobedience to the court order shall be treated as contempt of the court.

He said that the claimant should immediately serve the defendants and put them on notice.

The case was adjourned to August 24 for a hearing.

The development of Ogun state will be enhanced if civil and public servants rededicate themselves and see their jobs as a call to serve the people of the state, Governor, Dapo Abiodun has said.

Abiodun gave this admonition on Friday while fielding questions from reporters shortly after he inspected offices at the State Secretariat, Oke-Mosan Abeokuta.

He noted that as the engine room of government and partners in the “Building our Future Together agenda” of his administration, workers have a lot to offer the state through hard work and dedication.

He said: “I have come here this morning to see how the workers are doing, check on their welfare, and familiarized myself with the office environment. I am happy with what I have seen, though there were a few things to be done.

“I have been to the offices of the Commissioners of Information, Finance, Budget, Permanent Secretaries of Ministries of Information, Political and Administration, Head of Service, and Secretary to the State Government, among others. They are the first line to propagate the message of creating an enabling environment for people to come and invest in the state and so it is important for me to go around and see how they are faring”

“The primary reason was to first check on them, check on their welfare, see how they are situated in their offices, and also get to familiarize myself with their office environment. And then, while doing that, see what facilities they have or they lack and just generally appraise myself with how they are.

We work together, they are always in my office and it had been a privilege for me to walk around and feel their pulses and see how they are.

“My advice for them is that they should continue to do what they are doing, we are all here to work together in building the future of Ogun State together”. He stated

The governor, however, promised that his administration would continue to hold workers in high esteem, adding that “from time to time, I will continue to go round. There are other ministries that I would touch on the ministry of transportation, women’s affairs, youths, and sports particularly. I will not announce it, I will surprise everybody”.

The Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, expressed surprise at the governor’s visit, saying that it would encourage and strengthen the cordial relationship with the workers and ensure bonding.

The Lagos State government yesterday unveiled a Whistle Blower scheme as part of measures to avail the public and especially staff of the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) the chance to report any wrongdoing, or fraud.

The Commissioner of Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, who launched the scheme yesterday, said the event was the culmination of about three and half years of efforts of the state government in its pursuit to ensure open governance. Lagos is the only state so far to launch such a scheme after that of the Federal Government in December 2016.

Olowo, who spoke after the opening remarks by the Executive Chairman of LIRS, Ayodele Subair, said the Whistle Blower initiative, among others, is a process for people to effectively discharge the policies of the government, promote citizens engagement and discharge the primary purpose of governance, adding that the scheme represents a channel for the staff to report illegal behaviour.

He said the scheme is an initiative of the Lagos State government, saying LIRS has “been chosen for this pilot scheme.”

Olowo said LIRS generates 75 percent of Lagos revenue, adding that “ it is only proper to use LIRS as a pilot MDA (Ministries, Departments, and Agencies).

He said: “People observe wrong doings and people are left with no option but to speak or complain. This is one channel being provided for people to engage and to speak about these incidences of misbehaviours and misdemeanors, or follow up on any negative stance. When people come up with any complaints, there will be no reprisals, Olowo assured.

He said the scheme will benefit the state as it would prevent fraud, check the culture of rascality and raise awareness of stakeholders regarding their responsibilities in tax collection and management.

He said the scheme will cut losses to the barest minimum and “give a voice to our stakeholders., and the opportunity to come up with reports.”