Category: South West

Ondo State Government has said it is discussing with donor agencies to help it fight tropical diseases such as Guinea Worm, Elephantiasis and other Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) endemic in all parts of the state.

It said it had embarked on strategic innovation on how to fight and implement plans against NTD across the state.

The Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Francis Akanbiemu, made this known at a workshop in Akure where the agency and its partners reviewed mass administration of medicine for NTD for the past seven years.

Represented by the Director of Medical Services, Dr. Paulinus Kunle Omode, Dr. Akanbiemu listed the innovative approach to tackle tropical diseases to include proposal for the establishment of NTD clinic in the state, mapping of streams and water bodies to know where the vectors bred for easy elimination and building of a data bank for the housing of all conventional data.

He said the 2030 United Nation’s deadline for the elimination of tropical diseases in the world would be feasible if adequate funding were made available.

He said: “Tropical diseases are in all the local governments. What is delaying actual implementation is funding.

“In terms of funding, NTD management and elimination require huge amount of money. Billions of money are needed to fight NTD. It has caused disability in many persons. If we have more funding, the 2030 date will be a reality to eliminate NTD.”

A federal lawmaker, Jimoh Ojugbele, has trained 200 people in poultry and fish farming.

He also gave them money, materials and tools to enhance their take off.

Twenty-four people were assisted with job placements in the federal civil service.

Ojugbele, who represents Ado Odo/Ota Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, also empowered over 100 youths in his constituency with training in digital/social media.  Two hundred women were empowered with N50,000 each to boost their micro businesses tagged: ‘Owo Okowo Ojugbele’.

The lawmaker gave insight into his achievements yesterday through his senior legislative aide, Yomi Olojeloju.

He said: “The legislator has also empowered 100 women with N20,000 each as social fund, 200 constituents with N30,000 each as survival fund.

“He also facilitated 100 beneficiaries of the Federal Government 1,000 per local government Social Public Work (SPW), 200 constituents for N POWER of the Federal Government and 200 constituents for Federal Government Conditional Transfer.

“He empowered his constituents through construction of block of three classrooms at Araromi Orita via Atan Ota, a block of three classrooms at Odan Ejila, a block of three classrooms at Igbesa High School, a block of three classrooms at St Michael Primary School, Ota, a block of three classrooms at Konifewo, Ilogbo, a block of single floor of seven classrooms at Agbara and a block of single floor of seven classrooms at Male Comprehensive College, Igbesa.”

According to him, Ojugbele provided and energised 500KVA transformers at Temidire, Sango Ota, Abebi, Ota, Alishiba, Sango Ota, Onibuku, Ota, Otun Ota, Ewupe community, Ota and another at Onipanu community area.  He provided modern and functional boreholes with necessary back up items, including generators, at Igbesa, Ado Odo, Ilogbo, Abule Iroko, Onifade-Itele and Agbara community.

Ojugbele hailed Ogun State Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele for emerging as the “Woman of The Year, 2021”, saying it was an honour well deserved.

The award will be given today by the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Ogun State branch.

The planter of Christ Apostolic Church, Adamimogo World Outreach, Prophet Sam Olu Alo, yesterday handed over a well- equipped ultra-modern library to Ido-Ekiti, the headquarters of Ido/Osi Local Government of Ekiti State.

The library, which is furnished with tables, chairs, bookshelves, e-books and fans, has internet facilities and is stocked with textbooks, dictionaries, encyclopedias and research materials.

Presenting the facilities named: “The Light City Library”, to the town, Olu Alo said the development of the library was a project dear to his heart because he was instructed by God to develop a project that would be beneficial to youths.

He said the facility, which was built within 21 days, was aimed at promoting the reading culture, which he noted, was on the decline among students.

He said the library, which was built within 21 days, was to provide learning opportunities for students and teachers in the community, adding that the facility would encourage people to read.

The Chairman, Universal Basic Education Board in Ekiti State, Prof. Femi Akinwumi, hailed the cleric for the gesture, saying the project was in tandem with the government efforts toward improvement of reading culture among pupils and students.

Akinwumi, represented by a director in the board, Mr. Femi Dada, advised public-spirited individuals to support the state in meeting the educational needs of the citizenry.

The Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti, Oba Ilori Faboro, who commended Olu Alo for the project, promised to ensure that the students made use of the facilities.

The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission has introduced an initiative that will provide data for socio-economic development of the region.

This is to address paucity of reliable data to plan local and regional development.

It will also produce a book on Yoruba ethos known as Omoluwabi, which will be distributed to primary and secondary school pupils across the region.

The Director General (DG), Mr. Seye Oyeleye, disclosed this in a chat with The Nation.

He said the frustration of planners, policy makers and investors over the absence or unreliable data was inimical to the development efforts of state and local governments as well as other stakeholders in the region, adding that it was time to deal with it.

Oyeleye said: “The Southwest Sustainable Open Data Management System is a planned intervention by the DAWN Commission to address the challenge of paucity of data in governance and administration. The goal of the Sustainable Open Data Management System is to facilitate the creation of a harmonised data management system that will enable the production, assemblage, warehousing, analysis and broadcasting of statistical information for the sustainable development of Southwest Region of Nigeria.”

He disclosed the commission’s plan to launch regional investments promotion network next month.

The network, Oyeleye said, would enable investment promotion agencies to share experience for improved inflow of investments in the region.

“The need to present Southwest as a strong economic bloc has brought about the importance of establishing strong investment promotion network that will create opportunities for investment promotion agencies to share experience, lessons and challenges, while deliberating on the modalities to eliminate bottlenecks for foreign and local investment in the economy. In 2022, the commission is working towards facilitating the maiden edition of the Southwest Investment Promotion Agencies Conference,” he said.

The book on Omoluwabi is also coming in the new year. It will be distributed to primary and secondary school pupils in the region to reawaken the ethos in young people living in the region.

The DAWN boss said: “The Omoluwabi book is a project the commission was instructed to undertake by the Chairman of the Western Nigeria Governor’s Forum, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN). There is a rapid erosion of cultural values and norms and this is reflected in the moral decadence observed across the region and in Nigeria. The Omoluwabi book serves as a way of demonstrating the Omoluwabi ethos to youths with the belief that it will inspire them to imbibe the values of hard work, integrity, discipline and respect. It is a veritable way of promoting the idea of good behaviour as a catalyst for personal and national progress. The commission plans to distribute free copies of the book to primary and secondary schools, as it will be utilised by teachers as an instructional material for relevant subjects.”

The DAWN Commission is the development agency working for socio-economic development of Southwest Nigeria.

It facilitated the establishment of Southwest Governors’ Forum and operates its secretariat. It also came up with the regional security agency code-named Amotekun.

A foremost historian and leader of the umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, the Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof Banji Akintoye, has unveiled a mobile application designed to track kidnap victims and expose danger anywhere in Yorubaland.

The Mobile Application and Alert System, named Pajawiri, can also expose criminal elements wherever they are once the victims have the application installed in their phones.

The free-to-download app can function either online or offline, Akintoye said.

The security tool also has another system called Afinihan that can be used by those without android phones to link up with those with the full application.

At the unveiling in Ibadan, the Oyo-State capital, Akintoye, who joined the event virtually, said the emergence of Pajawiri is evidence that the Yoruba people are too intellectually sophisticated to be subdued.

“We have now proven to the world that we cannot be captured nor be subdued. We are too intellectually sophisticated to be subdued.

“It is these Innovations and intellectual powers that we will deploy to get ourselves out of the quagmires of Nigeria,” he said.

On the attendant benefits of Pajawiri, Akintoye, in a statement by his Communications Manager, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, said: “Every person in possession of the Pajawiri app on their telephone, will be able to activate the APP instantly, whenever they find themselves in danger.

“By activating the app, they will be able to alert their families, their friends and their neighbours that they are in danger and that they need help.

“In that way, no Yoruba person needs to be alone anywhere on their farms, schools, market places, shops and anywhere else.

“Any person who finds himself threatened by danger and who is in possession of Pajawiri will be able to alert other persons for help.

“In short, Yoruba people today, are able now to enjoy security individually and collectively through the use of the APP known as Pajawiri.

“The Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide owes our engineers who have “put this together an enormous debt of gratitude.

“The Yoruba people also owe a lot of gratitude to the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-determination groups, ‘Ilana Omo Oduduwa’ for all the encouragement and support that they have given to these engineers.

“The creators of this APP Pajawiri have magnanimously offered to put this app Pajawiri freely at the disposal of every Yoruba person for the next 30 days.

“That is, from now till January 21. This means that all Yoruba can have the protection of Pajawiri without paying any fees for the next 30 days.

“After that, those who choose to continue to enjoy the protection of Pajawiri will be able to do so with an affordable monthly subscription.

“That is for those of us who have Smartphones (android, iOS or IPhone). For those of us who do not have smartphones (android, iOS or iPhone), there has been designed a hand-held alert device named Afinihan to work equally as effectively as the Pajawiri on the IPhone.

“Afinihan is a tiny hand-held device that is able to perform wonders. This tiny device has been efficiently tested and will be available for purchase at a small affordable price.

“The purpose of all these technological provisions is that the Yoruba nation must carry all its people along in this provision of security,” Akintoye said.

On the ideal features and benefits of the app, the Coordinator of the Pajawiri Project, Ayobami Abolaji, an engineer, explained that the Pàjáwìrì App is a warning system for warning and protection through an alarm and alert system that will generate protective action for the community and each individual user.

The United States-based IT expert said: “The Pàjáwìrì app is designed to provide a technological solution or a system that allows people to warn others of impending dangers and arouse established response teams in the communities to stop and prevent various vices such as kidnapping, rape, armed robbery, arson, theft, accidents, murders and banditry against app users and their community members.

“The Pàjáwìrì App is technologically savvy information and communication application that alerts and locates the source and flashpoints of dangerous security breaches.

“The Pàjáwìrì App proffers a modern-day means of curbing or permanently alleviating the fears that has gripped the inhabitants of any geographical location and settlements once and for all.

“The Pàjáwìrì App was designed to be activated through a referral process only, in order to be able to know the identities of the app users and detect suspicious and criminal elements disguising as real users.

“It will be free to download by any user and will be operational after the referral activated the New user to have the referral identification.”

Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) has organised a pupils’ agricultural exhibition to promote agriculture and encourage farming among pupils.

It was held at the LASUBEB Multi-Purpose Hall, Maryland, Ikeja.

Commissioner for Agriculture Ms.  Abisola Olusanya said agriculture was an effective tool against hunger and poverty, adding that it was essential for industries.

She noted that agriculture was the catalyst of development and the bedrock of every profession.

Said she: “No nation can survive without food. The domestic production of livestock and farm produce is far below national demand, which results in importation of livestock.”

Olusanya urged teachers to introduce scientific methods of farming such as mechanised farming and other technical models in agriculture to EKOEXCEL pupils.

LASUBEB Executive Chairman Wahab Alawiye-King said 51 schools from 11 local government education authorities benefited from the agricultural training funded by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

He said the project was to promote agricultural skills among pupils.

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Iwo Federal Constituency, Osun State, comprising Iwo, Ayedire and Ola Oluwa local governments, have reaffirmed their support for the re-election of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

They made the declaration at a rally held at Oluwo Palace Square, Iwo.

It was attended by supporters of Governor Oyetola and the APC in the constituency.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Alhaji Gbadebo Badru, said the most important thing to do was to ensure that Oyetola was re-elected.

He said: “We have seen several things Oyetola has done for us. I assure you that everything you have been told Oyetola will still do, he will do.

“They have started again. They want to punish us in Iwoland like they did in 2018. We won’t allow this to happen anymore.

“Alhaji Moshood Adeoti was the Secretary to the State Government for eight years. Iwo-Osogbo road was abandoned. He was also the Chairman, Tenders Board for eight years, overseeing government contracts. He couldn’t do anything about our road.

“Adeoti did not resign or leave the party, until he was denied the governorship ticket. This is because of his selfish interest. But we won’t allow him to lead us astray in Iwoland. It won’t happen anymore.

“Iwo Federal Constituency has decided. We are standing with Oyetola. Adeoti should go and calm down and not bring bad things to us in Iwoland.

“Let all calm down. After Oyetola, then, we can talk about West by the Grace of God.”

Also addressing party faithful, Dr. Amidu Tadese, a former Chief Whip of the House of Assembly in 1992 and Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, said Oyetola was the first governor that loved Iwoland, adding that members of The Osun Progressives (TOP) were in government for eight years when the state was buoyant, but did not play any major role in Iwoland.

Said he: “The only road Aregbesola claimed to do in Iwo was done by Kamorudeen Alao’s local government administration.

“Oyetola has started works on Lawyer Atanda road. After this, he will build Odoori to Adeeke and two other major roads.

“In the last seven months, Oyetola has been sending us food monthly. Our water works was established in 1952. Since then, it has been abandoned. Now, Oyetola has awarded contract for its rehabilitation.

“Some people were there for eight years, they couldn’t do anything. Now, they are back. We won’t allow them to spoil Iwoland.”

Dignitaries at the event included Kamorudeen Alao, Osun APC Secretary; Alhaji Gbadebo Badru, S. A. Political to the Governor; Mumini Olabanji, S. A. Rural Development and Community Affairs; Rahman Lawal,  Chairman, Iwo East Local Council Development Area; Dr. Amidu Tadese, Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, among others.

THE Chief Medical Director (CMD), Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Prof. Adekunle Ajayi, has urged people to take responsibility to be part of the process of curtailing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

Ajayi, who advised Nigerians to embrace vaccination as a veritable way of protection, said: “Get vaccinated and observe other preventive protocols.”

The CMD, who spoke at Ido-Ekiti at the weekend after the facility’s Christmas Carol Service, as part of end-of-the-year activities, also enjoined governments and bodies on renewed emphasis on ensuring that citizens embraced preventive strategies to curtail the spread of COVID-19 and its variants.

He said: “COVID-19 is still with us. It does not seem it will leave so soon. It is for us to do what we are supposed to do to ensure that we defeat it. The government and other organs of the government needs to rise, re-emphasise and reiterate the same message that has been preached over and over so that we can all help ourselves.

“We need to come to a point of responsibility where all of us will make that personal affirmation that I want to be part, ensuring that the spread of this virus is curtailed. The battle is not yet over, the earlier we understand this, the better for all of us.

“It is important we embrace the protocols aimed at curtailing the spread of this virus. There is no reason we should at this point abandon the use of face mask. People appear to have abandoned this – wash your hands with soap and water, use sanitisers when necessary and maintain social distance.”