Category: South West

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said at the weekend that the increasing rate of admission seekers justified the need to establish more private universities, to meet the high demand.

He spoke in Ilorin at a special prayer and fund-raising for Muhammad Kamaldeen Education Foundation (MUKEF), organised by Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria, held at the proposed site of Muhammad Kamalden University.

The governor donated N20 million to fast track the take-off of the university.

He described the project as a worthy investment in human capital development, urging wealthy individuals to support it.

The university is the initiative of the late Muslim sage and Grand Mufty of Ilorin, Sheikh Muhammad Kamaldeen al-Adaby.  He was also the founder of the popular Ansar-ul-Islam Society.

AbdulRazaq said: “This institution is a worthy investment that requires funds and other form of support. When we are counting the universities sited in Kwara State such as University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State University (KWASU), Al-Hikmah, Landmark, Summit, among others, this proposed institution also deserves inclusion.”

He hailed the vision and contributions of the late Kamaldeen al-Adaby to the development of Arabic and Western education in Ilorin and beyond.

The National Missioner, Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdulmumin Yusuf Ayara, said people were enjoined to take from their wealth to help humanity and support noble causes, adding that this would qualify them for multiple rewards from the Almighty God.

He thanked the governor for identifying with the masses and his investment to reposition the education sector.

Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will today screen aspirants for the National Assembly and House of Assembly seats.

This was disclosed yesterday in Ibadan in a statement by the Secretary, Wasiu Adeleke.

He said: “This is to inform House of Assembly and National Assembly aspirants that there will be screening tomorrow (today) at the State Secretariat, Molete, Ibadan.

“Aspirants should come with the original copies of their necessary credentials. The screening starts at 8am. Please give this information wide publicity.”

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the June 18 governorship election in Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, yesterday unveiled his six-point development agenda, with a pledge to bring a new lease of life to the citizenry.

The agenda is a framework that will provide direction, clarity and ensure consistency in the formulation and implementation of government policies.

According to the manifesto, job creation and human capital development are the top priorities of Oyebanji’s  six-point action plan with a pledge to tap the rich human resources the state is endowed with.

Other areas captured in the policy thrust include agriculture and rural development, infrastructure and industrialisation, arts,

culture and tourism and good governance.

At the inauguration of his manifesto in Ado Ekiti, Oyebanji assured the people that if given the mandate, he would consolidate on the achievements of Governor Kayode Fayemi.

He said the plans were designed following his engagement with segments of Ekiti people and promised to deepen the gains of the current administration. Oyebanji said he would build a viable and prosperous economy that would work for all and sundry.

“This is not a politician’s usual promise to a voting public, but a pledge from an Ekiti man to his people. This is a promise from me to you that we will build on our achievements as a state and strive for more.

“Our proposed strategic pillars of action are all interlinked. We are ensuring that there is a well-sufficient investment, and attention given to the specific areas. We believe we have the potential to create more opportunities, improve well-being and deliver sustainable growth for everyone.

“Our mission is to provide functional education and develop our knowledge zone in order to create jobs, new markets and attract financing for industrious Ekiti entrepreneurs to start or grow their businesses.”

The management of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, owned by the Ondo State Government, has donated 500 hectares for pilot project towards the development of a dairy village by the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu administration.

The Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, also donated 100 hectares for the project.

Senior Special Assistant to Governor Akeredolu on Agriculture and Agribusiness Pastor Akin Olotu, who disclosed this in Akure, said investors from the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK), Japan and across the country had indicated interest to invest in the value chain of dairy production.

He said the state was aiming to produce 10,000 litres of milk daily after it launched its milk collection centre.

Olotu said the state government collaborated with Friesland Campina in a Public Private Partnership to encourage interested private sectors to key into any of the value chain in milk production.

He said: “We are encouraging private sector and individuals to come in. All they have to do is develop their pasture. This is an open invitation to all who have interest in the business. We have investors from all over the country.

“The market is huge. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has restricted importation of dairy products and it has created a huge market in the sector. Let us embrace the opportunities. The governor is committed and I assure you that your investment is secure.”

The Managing Director of Friesland Capina Dairy Company, Mr. John Adekunle, said the firm planned to build 27 milk collection centres in selected local governments.

He said farmers had to bring their milk to the collection centres for quality control because many farmers in other states added water, noting that they did not follow hygiene procedure.

Adekunle said the project could create over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Youths of Ondo North Senatorial District, under the auspices of Agenda for Greater Ondo North (AGON), have passed a vote of confidence in the Senate Leader, Senator Ajayi Boroffice.

They said he had facilitated skill and empowerment programmes as well as other initiatives for the people of Ondo North since becoming a senator in 2011.

Speaking at a news briefing in Akure, the National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Adewale Aguda, carpeted a former Director General of Senator Boroffice Campaign Organisation, Mr. Tolu Babaleye, for saying Boroffice had failed Ondo North people.

Babaleye had alleged in an interview that Senator Boroffice had no empowerment project to show in the past 12 years.

Aguda said it was same Babaleye that was all over Ondo North four years ago highlighting the achievements of Boroffice.

He said: “While we believe this challenge will be taken up by the senator’s office when his re-election campaign fully takes off, we, as the representatives of the good people of Ondo Senatorial District, who are major beneficiaries of the projects facilitated and sponsored by Senator Boroffice, feel compelled to state some of them. Some of these were amplified by Babaleye four years ago when he was in the senator’s team.

“One wonders why Babaleye, a lawyer, will suddenly make a turnaround in his utterances on the performance of  Boroffice as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Is it because he has been paid to discredit the achievement of Senator Boroffice and now leading the campaign of an opponent of the senator?

“We are watching the development with keen interest and we are ready to engage Babaleye with facts and figures.”

Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, has concluded arrangements to hold a stakeholders’ meeting with intending pilgrims, officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board.

A statement yesterday in Alausa, Ikeja by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, said the meeting was scheduled to discuss increase in Hajj fare as announced by NAHCON in respect of the Y2022 Hajj to the Holy Land.

Elegushi said the meeting would come up shortly after the Eid-El-Fitr celebrations, adding that the date would be communicated to all concerned in due course.

“We implore intending pilgrims to attend this important stakeholders’ meeting when called, to clarify issues and clear grey areas. We assure them of continued better service and assistance in the course of carrying out this important pillar of Islam,” he said.

NAHCON said the increase was necessitated by increase in Foreign Exchange (FOREX) rate, Value Added Tax from Saudi Arabia and cost of aviation fuel.

One thousand four hundred and three intending pilgrims from Kwara State are expected to perform the 2022 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

The Executive Secretary of Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji AbdulGaniyi Ahmed, made this known yesterday in Ilorin during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said NAHCON had agreed on how it would distribute the 43,000 seats allocated to Nigeria out of the one million seats allocated to all the countries worldwide by the Saudi Arabian authorities.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday ceded Osun Central Senatorial District ticket for the 2023 general election to Osogbo and Olorunda local governments.

The party, in a communiqué at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting held at the APC secretariat in Ilobu yesterday, resolved that the House of Representatives seat for Osogbo/Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu Federal Constituency should be zoned to Irepodun/Orolu Local Government.

The communiqué, signed by local government executives, was read by the Secretary of APC in Osogbo Federal Constituency, Abayomi Oyedeji.

It said: “Party members will work day and night to ensure landslide victory for our party and Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in the coming governorship election in Osun State and other future elections.

“As partners and integral part of the federal constituency, we abide by the 2018 zoning arrangement of the two elected positions in the federal constituency. We support the zoning of the senatorial seat to either Osogbo Local Government or Olorunda Council and the zoning of the member representing the federal constituency in the House of Representatives to either Irepodun Council or Orolu Local Government, to ensure justice, fairness and equity.”

A body, Dapo Abiodun Mandate Group, has endorsed Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun for second term.

It has also raised N50million cheque for the purchase of the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination and expression of interest forms for the governor ahead of the 2023 general election.

The group, with membership spread across the three senatorial districts and 20 local governments of the state, said it took the step following its realisation that Prince Abiodun “enjoys approval from God and good people of the state.”

Addressing reporters yesterday at Iperu, the country home of the governor, the group’s convener, Biyi Adeleye, said Abiodun had corrected the wrongs of the past administration.

Adeleye, who is also the special adviser to the governor on political matters, said the current administration was running a practical policy of even development of the state, unlike what obtained in the past.

He added that Abiodun had taken it upon himself to complete the abandoned projects of his predecessor, knowing that government was a continuum.

“The Dapo Abiodun Mandate Group has decided to purchase the nomination and expression of interest forms for our principal, to endorse his second term, having made us proud as a silent achiever, who fulfils his promises,” Adeleye said.

The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has said it will begin disconnection of buildings and shops under electricity lines, from public power supply.

It said the action was to ensure that the residents relocated, to avoid danger.

BEDC spokesman Michael Barnabas made this known in a statement in Akure after four children were electrocuted, following a cable that fell on a container- turned-shop.

He said the firm lacked power to relocate people living or trading under electricity lines.

Barnabas said the disconnection would prevent recurrence.

The statement said: “Sadly, we received information about the electrocution of four children within our network in Ile-Oluji due to an 11kv line that snapped. As a company, we condole with the bereaved families because life is precious and should not end prematurely this way.

“According to information available to us, the children were in an iron container shop that was directly under an 11kv line that snapped, which led to their electrocution when they had contact with the wire. The deaths would have been avoidable if there was nothing within the 11meters right of way statutorily required for such line.”

Schools in Lagos resumed for the third term of the 2021/2022 academic session yesterday with low turnout of pupils seen in some primary and secondary schools monitored.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lagos State Ministry of Education had directed all public and private schools in the state to resume on April 25.

A correspondent of NAN who monitored the resumption in some schools within Alimosho and Ikeja axis observed low turnout of students early in the day.

Schools visited include Alimosho High School, Abesan Junior and Senior Secondary School, Ikeja High School and State Junior and Senior High School Alimosho.

Similar situation was also observed at Honeyland Schools, Daystar Montessori School and Sophem High School.

At Honeyland Schools, Ipaja, few parents were seen coming in to drop their children and the school security did not allow parents to wait behind after doing so.

Mr Oluyemi Faleke, Principal, Honeyland Schools, Ipaja said that some of the students had not resumed due to school fees.

Faleke said that some parents were also skeptical about resumption because they wanted to observe before bringing their children back to school.

A parent, Mrs Aminat Rasaki, said that she allowed her children to resume today because school was ready for the resumption.

Mr. Akintoye Hassan, Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State chapter, said that low turnout was not strange on resumption day in public schools.

Hassan said that another issue was the forthcoming public holidays, which might have made some of the students not to resume.

“During my monitoring this morning, I noticed the low turnout in some schools within Ikeja but majority of the teachers have resumed,” he said.

At St Gladys Private School and Grimes International College, Suberu-Oje, Alimosho,

however, the attendance of students was high.

Mrs Gladys Grimes, Proprietress of the Primary section, said the school, on resumption day, holds assessment tests, to ensure compliance.

She said that the measure had always helped to ensure compliance with the directive of the Lagos State Government.

“The school officially resumed today, being a directive by the state government, and as a government approved school, it is fundamental that we comply.

“ Almost all students in the primary and secondary schools resumed this morning because we always hold resumption test for the students, which is recorded in their continuous assessment,”  she said.