Category: South West

EDFUA Homes Limited recently held a ceremony to explore opportunities in the sector and how to bring innovation and comfort to the sector.

The colourful ceremony brought experts and stakeholders in the sector together to look at ways to constantly provide excellent products and services delivery during the launch of the estate at Lekki, Lagos.

Speaking during the event, Chief Executive Officer of Edfua Homes Limited, Mr. Edwin Ikpefua, said the company has a primary engagement in property development and investment.

“We have a remarkable record over the years because we are dedicated to quality. This is obvious when you assess what we have done from start to finish. We also have a passion for unique designs. This is the reason we have continued to deliver award-winning, high-quality, state-of-the-art residential and commercial properties to our customers. We have also established a deep relationship with key players in the real estate sector, including consultants, contractors and state authorities, to enable us to continue satisfying our customers.”

He revealed that the latest project, Eden Prime Gardens 1, located in Ikate,  in close proximity to other estates, is made up of 27 units of semi-detached four-bedroom houses and terraces.“These apartments are fully serviced houses that are in a well-secured area with CCTV cameras.”

He said the facility management officer that allows for easy maintenance of the terraces, electric fence, and special fire alarms services to ensure safety and a whole lot of features are what make the apartments special and the project a masterpiece.

THE Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins has underscored the need for politicians to engage in selfless service to masses.

He also urged them to learn from the altruistic life  lived by the first indigenous Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. John Kwao Amuzu Aggey.

He spoke during a press briefing to announce the activities for the 50th memorial anniversary of his demise organised by Archbishop JKA Aggey Foundation and the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.

“He lived a life of service from his priestly ministry. He served in the lowliest of places, in the most difficult terrains. They should be sensitive to the plight of masses. A life of service and deep-rooted honest service are what our modern day politicians can learn from his life,” he said.

He noted that leaders should be close to masses, rather than just distributing money and food when elections draw close.

Speaking at the briefing, Chairperson, Archbishop John Kwao Amuzu Aggey 50th Memorial Anniversary Committee, Mrs. Abimbola Isiyemi Haastrup, said various activities have been lined up for the anniversary in Nigeria and Diaspora.

A socio-political organisation, the Yoruba Ronu Group, has urged traditional rulers in the Southwest region to support the presidential bid of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Chairman of the group, Prince Diran Iyantan, said supporting Tinubu would be a payback time for helping traditional institution gain a place of pride in the scheme of things in the country.

Prince Iyantan said Tinubu has helped to elevate many Nigerians to high pedestals, adding that none of the supposed presidential aspirants in the South has made as much sacrifice as Tinubu towards the growth of the nation’s democracy.

According to him, “By simple assessment, none of them has a good chance of clinching the APC ticket in the primaries than Asiwaju Tinubu does. He has built a strong political coalition across the thirty six states of the federation and Abuja. This is a hefty task difficult for other competitors to have attempted.”

“By this said zoning of the APC, the question is ‘who is better qualified than the Asiwaju of our time?’ Tinubu has sacrificed much for this country, the Yoruba race and his party.”

OONI of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has challenged Nigerian youths to rise up and take over governance, as Nigeria needs their tact, skills, resilience and tenacity of purpose to make it a great nation.

Ogunwusi said this at the 16th edition of The Future Awards Africa held recently at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos.

Themed: Celebrating Challengers and Builders, the awards sought to recognise those who have challenged the norm and made noteworthy contributions in their respective fields.

A Nigerian-Canadian fashion designer and founder of Eponymous women’s wear brand born Andrea Iyamah, won “The Young Person of the Year Award.”

Iyamah emerged winner ahead other contestants like Mohammed Salah from Egypt (29), Angeline Makore (32) from Zimbabwe, Jerry Mallo (27) from Nigeria, and Lelise Neme (29) from Ethiopia.

Other celebrities at the event include activist and co-founder of the #BringBackourGirls movement, Aisha Yesufu; talented Disc Jockey, DJ Nana; entertainer Denrele Edun; actors Toyin Abraham and Ini Edo; comedians and media personalities, Debo ‘Mr Macaroni’ Adedayo, Bukunmi ‘Kie Kie’ Ilori, Josh ‘Josh2Funny’ Alfred, Emmanuel ‘Mr. Funny’ Ejekwu, Chioma ‘Chigul’ Omeruah, Julius Agu; fashion designer, Mai Atafo; CEO, Flying Doctors, Dr. Ola Brown, and others.

According to the Ooni of Ife, “Nigeria needs its finest and ever dedicated young demography that is rich in creative culture, governance and leadership, innovation and technology, entrepreneurship and academic excellence.”

He noted that young people must stop criticising the system but stand up and get involved in politics.

“One thing I will say is to get involved in politics. Politics has great influence. I am appealing to you. You may be successful in your private initiatives but rise up and get up and save this country from its present state and take the bull by the horn. You have the numbers, get the best among you and position them in leadership positions in government”, he said.

Promising his support, the Ooni added, “If you have any issue, feel free to knock on my door and I will be there for you….”

Other awardees at the event include The Future Awards Africa Prize for Acting, Bimbo Ademoye (30), The Future Awards Africa Prize for Law, Oyinkansola ‘Foza’ Fawehinmi (29), The Future Awards Africa Prize for Journalism, S.I Ohumu (26), The Future Awards Africa Prize for Advocacy & Activism, Wilson Atumeyi (29), among others.

PERSONNEL of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Lagos State have seized 117 kegs loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) suspected to be product of vandalisation en route Benin Republic.

The operation was busted on Friday by the marine and anti-vandal team of the Badagry Division during a routine surveillance and patrol, following intelligence about activities of suspected vandals at Alakoto-Meji, Badagry.

The seized product is reportedly worth about N500,000 (five hundred thousand naira).

A statement by the Corps spokesperson, Seun Abolurin, said: “About 02:15 of Friday, March 4, 2022, we arrested some suspected vandals who attempted to siphon 117 25litre kegs, loaded with petrol, from Alakoto-Meji, Badagry, to Republic of Benin.

“Divisional Officer of the Badagry Division, Akinyemi Ayodeji, who led the operation, said the suspects fled on sighting the officers.

“The patrol team searched the area, discovered the vandalised products, and evacuated it to the Corps office at Ibereko.

“Preliminary investigation had begun and State Commandant, Eweka Okoro, has ordered that the products be evacuated to the state command headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, for further investigation. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has also been contacted for proper evacuation of the products.”

A Lagos-based socio-political activist and critic, Chief Adesunbo Onitiri, has asked the Federal Government to do something about the current economic hardship Nigerians are going through.

In a press statement in Lagos yesterday, Onitiri said this suffering must stop and the government must live up to expectations.

He frowned at the frequent travelling abroad of President Muhammadu Buhari when there are urgent salient national issues and concerns to be attended to.

He explained that the president should have attended to the issues of fuel scarcity, the ASUU strike, bad economy, unabated insecurity problems and several others confronting the nation before travelling abroad.

Although the issue of personal health is important, it should not look like a proverb that “Ciserio is partying when Rome is on fire,” Onitiri emphasised.

He said the current fuel scarcity in the country is totally unacceptable, because it “has almost crippled the economy and further impoverished our citizens.”

“Not only that, there is imminent world war knocking at our doors and thousands of our youths and other citizens are stranded in the Russia -Ukraine war zone.

“Ironically, some of them are refusing to come home. They prefer to die in Ukraine. This is the time Nigerians need the president to give us, succour,” he stressed.

A non-governmental organisation, Hacey Initiative, has presented award to five winners of an essay competition aimed at eradicating the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and cutting, especially in the Southwest.

The effort, according to the organisers, is to test the level of information, knowledge and aware of the impact of the practice of FGM and the imperative of bringing it to a halt.

The award ceremony, which held at the Conference Room of the Oyo State Ministry of Education, saw five students from five different secondary schools in Oyo State emerging winners as a result of their outstanding performance in the Hacey Essay competition.

Speaking, the representative of the organisation, Mr Bamidele Oyewunmi, said the essay competition was in commemoration of the International Day for Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.

He noted that over one thousand entries were received from Oyo, Osun and Ekiti states and that after the entries were screened, the best five were picked. Incidentally all the five winners including the overall best came from Oyo State.

He said “Hacey Initiative is a developmental organisation focused on improving the health and productivity of women and girls in our communities. One of our priorities and major intervention is this “Stop Cut” project, to ensure that every woman in Southwest Nigeria is free from Female Genital Mutilation.

“Research has said that over 2million women are at risk of being mutilated every day. Now older generations have the idea because it seems to be a traditional practice and we understand that older generations have this idea and we want to educate and orientate the coming generation; that is why we have included boys and girls in our intervention.”

He said over 1000 entries were received, after which interview were conducted for the shortlisted ones to verify their authenticity.

While speaking on the aim of the essay competition, Mr Bamidele said, “Young people are now more informed about ways to end female genital mutilation. They have more knowledge about laws and policies….”

In his remarks, Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Mr Abdulrahman Abdulraheem, said he was not surprised at the emergence of Oyo students as winners, adding that Oyo state is a pacesetter.

“When you talk of Oyo State, you talk of pacesetting achievements and today I’m happy we are recording yet another milestone in our journey towards being the best not only in Nigeria but in Africa generally….,” he said.

In her address, the overall best student, Miss Awolowo Elizabeth from God’s Blessing Private School said she wants her voice to be heard across Nigeria that female genital mutilation is evil.

The students were all presented with gifts while the overall best was presented with a cash gift of N50,000 and a brand new HP laptop.

The member representing Ikorodu Constituency 11 in the Lagos House of Assembly, Hon. Nurudeen Saka-Sholaja has commissioned 12 Boreholes projects in his efforts aimed at providing portable water for residents in Igbogbo/ Bayeku, Ijede and Imota Local Council Development Areas.

The water project located in front of the Chief Imam of Igbogbo’s house was first to be commissioned after which others located in Ibeshe, Ilado Odumade Baiyeku, Igbe Laara, Ebute Olowo in Ijede, Igbopa, Aje street in Imota, Ajegunle, Itun Opopo among others were commissioned.

The event was witnessed by council chairmen and chieftains of the All Progressives  Congress(APC) including Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun; Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe; Asipa Kaoli Olusanya; Olusesan Daini of Igbogbo /Bayeku LCDA, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo-Alogba of Ijede LCDA, Omo’ba Wasiu Agoro of Imota LCDA.

Sholaja said: “I embarked on the project in a bid to ensure that access water is available to my constituents; that is why I am commissioning additional 12 boreholes to the existing ones across my Constituency many of which are still very much active.”

Member of the House of Representatives, representing Ayedire, Iwo and Olaoluwa Federal Constituency in Osun State, Amobi Akintola has empowered about 780 constituents.

Speaking during the empowerment programme held at United Methodist High School, Iwo, Akintola disclosed that he had initiated several intervention programmes for communities by providing 8 transformers, facilitating the installation of solar street lights and constructing over 20 classrooms in the 3 local government areas.

He said, “Today, 434 farmers who are here today will benefit from 500 sprayer machines and 250 cartons of herbicides to boost their production. 105 motorcycles, 53 sewing machines, 40 freezers, 47 Generator sets, 60 coolers, 100 gas cylinders and 47 hairdryers will be distributed to entrepreneurs aside from 137 beneficiaries  who have been trained in soap making, beads, Kampala and weaving.”

Two buses were also donated by the lawmaker to the campaign organisations of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for the 2022 gubernatorial election. Similarly, 13 vehicles were equally distributed to community leaders.

The Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji commended the lawmaker, saying, “With this empowerment programme of today, you are complementing our economic drive of empowering our youth for sustainable development.”

The Commander-General of Osun Harmonised Vigilante Group, Ridwan Hussein on Saturday sought for the intervention of Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola to curb the incessant killings and destruction of property in the Ede Community.

It will be recalled that over 10 people have been recently killed including a student of Federal Polytechnic Ede and houses razed over rivalry fight among groups in the community.

Hussein, a traditional chief of the Ede town denied allegations made by Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Lawal that his group was involved in killings and violence in the community.

Speaking during a press conference in his residence at Yah Salam area, he said: “I am for peace and development of Ede community. I don’t know anything about the ongoing unrest in Ede, nor my officers.

“I got involved in security affairs of Ede community in 1999 when cultists were on loose and I was called upon as a security expert to tame it. I used my resources to fight is to stand still. I arrested bank robbers with their loots and restored peace to the community. These earned me a traditional title of Mayegun of Ede.”

He noted that some people are painting him in a bad light after rivalry cultist groups in Ede are attacking each other and his security group made arrests which some elites are not happy with because they use some of them for a personal venture.

“I called on Governor Oyetola to intervene so that the perpetrators can be brought to justice, the situation in Ede is so sensitive that I can’t take steps to curtail it.

“My group work hand in hand with Odua People Congress (OPC) being led by Gani Adams on one side and Frederick Faseun on the other side. We also have a good working relationship between my group of security officials with the local hunters in Ede.”