Category: South West

The Owa of Idanre kingdom, Oba Fredrick Aroloye, has tasked the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, on the need for traditional rulers in the Southwest to fashion out means to tackle insecurity in the region through unconventional means.

Oba Aroloye who spoke when the Ooni of Ife visited him to join in his 45th coronation anniversary said the Ife Monarch has a vital role to play in mobilising other traditional rulers.

According to Oba Aroloye, “It is documented that you, Ooni of Ife, are the Arole of Oduduwa. I have many documents here with me to prove that.

“ You have many vital roles to play now at this point in time. There’s insecurity in Yorubaland. We need to tackle this the unconventional way.

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“Before the coming of the colonial masters, our fathers had their own way of tackling insecurity. We still have these things with and in us. We haven’t thrown everything away.

“We, all Yoruba obas, should begin to have meetings to see how we can protect our land and brainstorm on different salient issues bothering our people.

“It is high time you began to organise meetings of Obas in Yorubaland. We all sons of Oduduwa must begin to have meetings from time to time.”

The Ooni of Ife who agreed with Oba Aroloye promised to address the issues. He promised to return to the town to climb the popular Idanre Hill which harbours several tourist centres.

Among the sons and daughters of that were installed as chiefs of Idanre kingdom were Dr. Anthony Omolola(Otunba Tuluse of Idanre), his wife, Mrs. Maria Omolola(Yeye Meso Tuluse of Idanre), Engr. Benson Ajisegiri(Otunba Atayese of Idanre), Olori Yetunde Esther(Otun Yeye Oge), Mr. Fadayomi(Gbobaniyi of Idanre), and Moses Olayera (Otunba).

A Nigerian activist, Olasupo Abideen, has been honoured with the outstanding integrity award at the 5th Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards.

At the event held in Lagos, Olasupo won the category for refunding the 2,397 USD dollars that was mistakenly paid into his account by a foreign organisation he consulted for.

The award, presented to him by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) was organised by Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre.

Olasupo who is the Executive Director of Brainbuilders Youth Development Initiative, (BBYDI), emerged winner of the award category ahead of few other nominees.

Olasupo dedicated the award to his parents whom he said, instilled a culture of honesty and transparency in him.

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He said, “When I was a young, my mum always checked my bag when I came back from school. I never knew why until I was in secondary school and challenged her, she said she wanted to ensure I didn’t mistakenly pack anything not mine. My Dad always tells me and my siblings not to ever take what doesn’t belong to us, that we have a duty to always protect the name of our family,” he said.

The young entrepreneur and climate justice advocate who disclosed that he had had reasons to reject contracts because of kickbacks, said “when I got the over 2,397USD erroneously paid to my account, I never thought it twice to return it because it is not mine and I know mine will surely come.”

The Gani Fawehinmi Awards was instituted by HEDA Resource Centre with the support of MacArrthur Foundation in honour of the late human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

The traditional institution in the Badagry Division of Lagos State has reiterated its continued support for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The 30 monarchs in the division pledged their commitment in a communique issued after a parley with APC state chairman-elect Cornelius Ojelabi and other political leaders in the area.

Assistant Secretary, Badagry Division Leaders’ Forum, Tolani Sule, who read the communique, said the monarchs thanked the party National Chairman, Bola Tinubu, for finding their son, Ojelabi, worthy to be the party’s chairman-elect.

The communique reads: “The entire kingdoms in Badagry Division recognise and appreciate the goodness in the choice of our son, Cornelius Ojelabi, as chairman of APC in Lagos State. We are strongly behind the APC. The entire traditional leaders in Badagry Division pledge our continuous support for the party.

“We are grateful for all the development projects ongoing in our division, and ask for more. We also ask that a meeting like this should hold at least once every year, while there should be unrestricted communication between the Obas and government, to be facilitated by the political class.”

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Some of the monarchs who spoke after the parley promised to mobilise support for APC ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The Onijanikin of Ijanikin, Momodu Afolabi-Ashafa, said the meeting availed them the opportunity to understand deeper things about the party and the government.

Ashafa, who called on the ruling party to do more for the people of the Badagry, stressed that the Lagos-Badagry Expressway should be completed.

The Oniworo of Iworo, Oladele Kosoko, expressed confidence that Ojelabi’s experience and prayers of traditional rulers would help him to excel.

Apex leader in Badagry Prince Rabiu Oluwa, noted that the party would be better for it in coming days with Ojelabi as chairman.

Former Lagos Deputy Governor Adebisi Sosan said the royal father had to support the party since the party’s topmost seat is from the division. ‘The division will outshine in future elections,’ she noted.

Ojelabi, who thanked Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and party leaders for the mandate, said he needed the support of all, including the traditional institution.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said that the 38 kilometre long 4th Mainland bridge is now at the final stage and it’s expected to be the longest bridge in Africa.

Gov. Sanwo-Olu said this at the 3rd Nigeria Public Private Partnership Network (NPPPN) Forum 2021, a 3-day Conference tagged : ‘The Role of Public Private Partnership in the 2021-2025 National Development Plan’ organised by Public Private Partnership, Lagos in collaboration with Lagos State Government and held at Bon Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

The Project, Gov. Sanwo-Olu said is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project and other PPP projects include the World Class Trailer Park which is to manage the existential challenges of being Nigeria’s Haulage Hub.

“Other PPP projects include Major investment in the development of new maritime channels for commercial operations of modern water transportation, housing, Institutional investment in Radiology/Laboratory Testing Equipment – all using the PPP framework as an effective tool” said Gov. Sanwo-Olu.

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The theme Sanwo-Olu pointed out is timely considering the economic challenges being faced by Nigeria presently.

“The newly approved National Development Plan (2021-2025) rest on six pillars namely: Economic growth and development; Infrastructure; Public administration; human capital development, among others” said Gov. Sanwo-Olu..

The PPP initiatives according to the Special Adviser, PPP, Lagos State, Mr. Ope George, is aimed at increasing private investment into the PPP infrastructure markets and the core infrastructure sectors.

“Most of our agencies and technical support for project preparation and advisory service to develop commercially viable PPP transactions” said Mr George.

In his presentation on PPP, the Acting Director General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Barr. Mike Ohiani said the ICRC is Nigeria’s main PPP unit with a key objectives to foster investment in the country’s national infrastructure through private sector funding.

It was a homecoming of sorts for the old boys of St Finbarrs College, as they rallied round to lift their alma mater exactly 30 years after becoming the pioneering students of 6-3-3-4 educational policy change in the country.

To mark their passing out, the old boys of 85 to 91 set of the Saint Finbarr’s College Old Boys Association (SFCOBA) amongst other things donated 30 sets of IGCSE special school furniture to their alma mater.

Justifying the gestures, the Chairman, SFCOBA 85 to 91, Mr. Kayode Kerakue, said it was their own modest way to giving back to the school that made them.”Beyond this donation of 30 sets of chairs and tables we will do more as time goes on. Every set works as an autonomous body, but we have a national body and they have contributed immensely with respect to building a new hostel for the school,” he stated.

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Meanwhile, receiving the gift on behalf of the college, the Assistant Administrator, Saint Finbarr’s College, Assistant Administrator, Reverend Father Toye Andrew, noted with thanks that it is usually a thing of joy to have old boys come around.”This is what we mean by standing on the shoulders of giants. Great men have successfully emerged from this school and it is great to have them come around to say thank you to the school that gave birth to them and we thank them so much for this donation.”

Going down memory lane, Chairman of the 30th Anniversary Committee for the SFCOBA 85-91set, Babs Fagade who led other members of the set to renowned home in the state, Modupe Cole Memorial Childcare and Treatment Home, expressed nostalgic feelings at remembering how he used to be a classmate from the college to the home. The Vice Principal Administration, Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home School, Mrs. Cole Adejoke who received the guests, expressed gratitude over the donation of cash and food items.

Traditional rulers in Ikorodu division of Lagos State have urged the state and local governments, as well as the people of the area to support the annual Asa festival being promoted by the Ikorodu Rebirth Foundation (IREP), under the guidance of the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Oyeniran Agunbiade.

They made this known when they played host to members of IREP in their various palaces during the week. The cultural promoters visited the royal fathers to remind them of this year’s event taking place next Thursday at the Ikorodu Town Hall. According to IREP, Asa – the man on the stilt stick, is synonymous with the Ikorodu people of Lagos State, hence the need to keep the culture alive by celebrating the festival annually.

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Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, while appreciating the efforts of Agunbiade and IREP, declared that the lawmaker’s love for Ikorodu cannot be denied. “He is a lover of Ikorodu. This is a proof that he is a reliable representative of our people. I know he will still do more. Our culture needs to be preserved and that is what he is doing. I call on government and the people to support Agunbiade and IREP.

Speaking to the team in Imota, the Ranodu of Imota, Oba Ajibade Agoro, described Agunbiade and the IREP team as messengers of God. The Obateru of Egbin, Oba Adeoriyomi Oyebo and Oba Semiu Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, congratulated the team on the success of previous editions of the festival and urge them to continue to do more in the area of cultural preservation while the Sekumade of Ipakodo, Oba Bashir Shotonwa, prayed for the success of this year’s festival.

An office for free legal services has been commissioned in Ogun State.The project was part of activities to celebrate the 2021 International Human Rights Day on Friday, December 10.

Akinruyiwa of Owu Kingdom, Chief Olumide Aderinokun joined Headfort Foundation in launching the  lawyers’ office in Ogun Central Senatorial District for free legal services.

The lawyers’ office tagged ‘Lawyers without Borders’ is located inside the Magistrate Court in Isabo, Abeokuta South Local Government Area and it will provide free legal assistance to indigenes of Ogun Central Senatorial District and the state, at large.

Prior to the launching of the office, a seminar was held at the Ago-Egun Community Hall and in attendance were Chief Aderinokun alongside traditional leaders, officials from the correctional centres in Ogun State, representatives of the Ministry of Justice and Department of Public Prosecution.

Chief Aderinokun, in his message for the Human Rights Day, stressed the need for every Nigerian to have access to equitable justice irrespective of financial status and background.

He also called on relevant authorities and the government to work on decongesting the correctional centres that have stretched beyond limit.

Ladipo Auto Market Association, Mushin, Lagos has commended the state Commissioner for the Environment Tunji Bello for his giant strides in the sector.

The association’s Chairman, Environmental Sanitation, Mr. Nonso Chiufo, gave the commendation during the market’s cleaning on Friday. He described Bello as “a friend of the market” because he is concerned with it’s activities, especially it’s cleanliness.

On the association’s outlook for next year, Chiufo said it would be better as they planned to clean the market day and night.

The association’s General Secretary, Prince Africanus Ogudoro listed their challenges as prompt refuse disposal due to their volume occasioned by  market’s largeness.

While commending Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for expanding the link roads to the market, Ogudoro urged him to work on the dumpsite at the marketplace.

He advised the traders to clean the market regularly, noting that business can only thrive in a clean environment.

The market’s President, Mr. Jude Nwankwo, said one of his programmes is the sanitation of the market. He noted that the auto spare parts market being the largest in the West African Sub-region, should  be clean at all times.

On the recent fire incident in a part of the market, Nwankwo, who felt sad about it, said steps were being taken to avert a recurrence. A meeting had been held with unit and warehouses heads on the way forward, he said, adding that traders had been sensitised on the need to switch off electrical appliances and keep safe gas equipment.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with a non-governmental organization, Action Health Incorporated (AHI) has trained lawyers and law enforcement agents in Osun State on strengthening legal responses to Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, especially Female Genital Mutilation.

The UNFPA Gender/FGM Analyst, Uzoma Ayodeji, said the training was to strengthen their capacity in handling cases of violence against women and girls, including FGM, saying that VAPP law would make their job easier.

Ayodeji noted that the sensitization training on VAPP law was significant to addressing the issues of violence against women and girls in the state. She encouraged participants to get copies of the VAPP law, so they can familiarize themselves with it.

The AHI Program Officer, Arinola Alabi said the training was aimed at popularizing the VAPP law among the duty bearers so as to curb Gender-Based Violence in the state.

Participants at the training include Police Officers, operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, (NSCDC) the Peace Corps, officials of the State Ministry of Justice, members of the Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA) and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Lagos Council, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (aka MC Oluomo) has hailed Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his positive impact in resolving the crisis in the union.

According to him, the governor displayed a father-figure act while interfacing with the union members.

At an emergency state meeting of the union held at the state secretariat, Oko-Oba, Agege, Akinsanya assured Governor Sanwo-Olu that he would do everything in his capacity to ensure peace continue to reign in the union.

He stated that the union members will continue to support the state government’s action in making the state peaceful for all.

The NURTW chief called on union members to be security conscious in their various motor parks as the festive period approaches.

He urged all officers to put in place appropriate security measures that would safeguard the lives and properties of the passengers as well as the bus operators.

He frowned at the spate of violent confrontation amongst some members, reminding them that the union under his leadership will not tolerate acts of hooliganism.