Category: South West

The Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) has held a one-day capacity building workshop for youths as part of activities to mark the 16 days of activism against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

Commissioner for Women Affairs Mrs. Cecilia Dada said the ministry organised the workshop to enlighten representatives of communities, organisations and groups on preventing the menace and defending survivors.

She said a rehabilitation centre was being built and equipped to accommodate survivors so that they could be helped to start a new life.

The Director, Domestic Violence Unit of the ministry, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olorunfemi, noted that the ministry started the advocacy with a walk at Ajegunle in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government.

“The objective is to create awareness that gender-based violence can no longer be tolerated in Lagos State, Nigeria and the world at large.”

Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).

LSSC Director General Mr. Lanre Mojola said the signing of the MoU had been long overdue, but expressed pleasure that the signing eventually happened.

He said as part of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to achieve a safer and an orderly Lagos, the commission had been engaging stakeholders to develop strategic partnership that would make the state record zero or no accident either at home or in the working environment.

The Chairman, Health Safety and Environmental Committee, MAN, Ikeja branch, Mr. Shola Ologun, hailed the signing of the MoU and praised the dedication and commitment of the commission.

Those who attended the event include Emmanuel Olufemi Okonah, Executive Secretary, MAN, Apapa branch; Miss Oluchi Odimuko, Executive Secretary, MAN, Ikeja branch; Mr. Shola Ologun, Chairman, Health Safety Environmental Committee, MAN, Ikeja branch; and Mr. Seun Awojobi, Technical Adviser, Lagos State Safety Commission.

A new cocoa processing industry in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Johnvents Industries Ltd, will generate direct and indirect jobs for the citizens, the Group Managing Director, Mr. John Alamu, has said.

He spoke yesterday at the inauguration of the factory.

Alamu said the company was an indigenous agro-business incorporated in 2016 to drive sustainable growth across the agricultural value chain, ranging from production to processing, manufacturing and distribution.

He quoted Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who performed the inauguration, as saying that the government would create an enabling environment for the company to thrive in the state and the country.

Alamu said: “It is an automated processing plant, which means the factory will operate at 98 per cent operational efficiency at full blast. With a capacity to crush over 15,000 metric tonnes of cocoa beans annually, this is one of the biggest cocoa processing factories in Nigeria.

“We are a believer in optimal performance and efficiency. As such, we have built into this factory a solid-fired boiler that generates steam and 33KVA electricity supply to reduce overhead costs by over 40 per cent, while also upgrading the factory from 14 pots to 16 pots to improve the efficiency of fat extraction and better processing yield.

“True to our vision of becoming Africa’s number one company for agricultural transformation and economic growth, Johnvents Cocoa Processing Factory is positioned to positively impact the economy of Ondo State in particular and Nigeria as a whole, through its contributions to job creation. It is projected that this factory will create around 300 direct jobs and over 17,000 indirect jobs.”

“We are confident that this project will enrich and bolster the agricultural value chain in Ondo State and Nigeria by making sure that the economic benefits of producing cocoa do not stop at exporting raw cocoa beans – a trend that has robbed us of the opportunity to milk out as much value as possible from being the producers.”

Akeredolu said: “This cocoa factory is very important to us in this state. We are the largest producer of cocoa in the country. We are not only the number one in cocoa producing; we are also moving to be number one in cocoa processing.”

The Deji of Akure kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, said he and his subjects were delighted at the establishment of the company in Akure.

 

Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has been crowned DAAR Communications Outstanding Leader in Public Service (Citizens’ Welfare) for 2021.

The event, tagged 4th DAAR Awards, was held at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja, and was attended by prominent Nigerians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Oyetola’s award was presented to him by Sir Steve Omojafor, former Chairman of Zenith Bank, an accomplished marketing communications and advertising expert, who chaired the event.

Omojafor, an alumnus of the University of Lagos, recalled the landmines the governor, who is also an alumnus of the university, had to overcome before “truth triumphed.”

He said he was proud of the governor’s achievements, adding that he was making alumni of University of Lagos proud by what he had brought to bear on Osun in terms of fiscal discipline and good governance.

Justifying the choice of the Osun governor for the award, the organisers said Oyetola was chosen for his outstanding performance and unprecedented achievements recorded in the area of citizens’ welfare.

The governor said he sees the award as an endorsement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and the current administration under his leadership, adding that the government would continue to live up to its billing as a responsive and a responsible administration.

Dedicating the award to the people of the state, Oyetola said: “I thank DAAR Communications for this award and I dedicate it to the people of Osun, who gave me the platform to prove that it is indeed possible to run a state like Osun in a depressed economy without necessarily inflicting additional pains on the people.”

Among those who accompanied the governor to receive the award were his wife, Kafayat; his son, Femi; former Deputy Governor Sen. Iyiola Omisore; exco members; members of the National Assembly from Osun State and other political functionaries.

 

The chieftaincy crisis at Ipele in Owo Local Government of Ondo State worsened on Monday night, as thugs unleashed terror on the community during a meeting of kingmakers.

Ipele has been without a king since 2015 when the last Olupele of Ipele, Oba Abel Alade, died.

It was gathered that four persons, Prince Rotimi Elebese, Chief Segun Aganun, Mr. Ige Alaaru and Mr. Abdul Haydi Balogun are in the race to become the monarch.

They hail from Ilano, the quarters, whose turn is it to produce the next Olupele of Ipele.

The Nation learnt that the hoodlums attacked some kingmakers and a contestant to the throne.

Sources said the meeting of the kingmakers was a prelude to tomorrow’s meeting when they would vote to select the next Olupele.

The sources named the kingmakers attacked as Chief Bosede Olofi and Chief Taye Alagha.

Three persons were reportedly injured.

The sources said: “The home of one of the leading contestants to the throne, Chief Aganun, was attacked.

“The thugs fired, but the victims miraculously escaped death.”

Residents are divided whether the selection process should continue or not.

One of them, Tajudeen Ahmed, called for suspension of the selection process pending when peace would be guaranteed.

He said the court is yet to rule on the suit of the eligibility of some kingmakers to take part in the exercise.

The Oloko of Oko Quarters, Chief Olumide Olowoshile, urged the state government to suspend the selection process until the kingmakers have reconciled their differences.

But the Secretary General, United Upele Development Association, Dr. Raman Abubakri, said the attacks were suspected to have been carried out by those “who are scared of failure and have hired thugs to intimidate kingmakers.”

He urged security agencies to investigate the matter and arrest the thugs and their sponsors.

Abubakri said peace had returned to the community and hoped that Ipele would have a new king tomorrow.

A chief, who preferred anonymity, said the people would be expecting a new king to be selected through a transparent process as promised by the government.

He described Monday’s incident as a propaganda from those who he said were scared of a transparent process.

Said he: “The best candidate the town wants is going to win overwhelmingly.  In an election, when you are sure of winning, you wouldn’t want the process to be breached.”

Police spokesperson DSP Funmilayo Odunlami said she was yet to be briefed on the incident.

 

 

 

 

All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in Ekiti West Local Government have endorsed Secretary to Government Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji for governor.

The former don at the University of Ado-Ekiti is from the local government.

They promised to mobilise for him during the primaries and governorship election next year.

In a motion by the Chairman of the Media Committee, who is also the Special Adviser on Media to the House of Assembly Speaker, Akogun Tai Oguntayo, and seconded by the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Femi Akinwumi, Oyebanji was adopted as the candidate.

Elected and appointed political office holders in the local government supported the motion.

The Coordinator of the Steering Committee that organised the rally, Tajudeen Akingbolu, described Oyebanji as the “son of the soil”, who has consistently been part of the development of Ekiti State in the last 25 years.

He urged the towns and villages in Ekiti West to be grateful to God for making Oyebanji acceptable to the party leadership and followership in Ekiti APC.

The local APC Chairman, Prince Olu Aladeloye, said in January next year, Oyebanji would emerge victorious as the party’s standard-bearer.

He said: “Oyebanji is known to everyone in the 16 local governments as a humble and a home-grown politician.”

Aladeloye urged the local government to join hands in ensuring that he emerges as the winner.

Party chieftains at the rally included Akingbolu, House of Assembly Service Commissioner Kayode Fasakin, former Regent of Erio-Ekiti and Special Assistant to the Governor Princess Adejoke Adetoyinbo-Ojo, a political leader from Erijiyan, Elder S. A. Ajayi and Aladeloye.

Others included the Chairman of Ekiti West Local Government, Karim Agunbiade; House of Assembly member Johnson Oyekola Bode Adeoye, the three newly elected chairmen of Ekiti West, Eka Meta and Okemesi/Ido-Ile LG/LCDA, Sesan Okere, Johnson Kayode Oyebola and Sunday Owolabi; the Secretary to Ekiti West Local Government and Vice Chairman-elect of Okemesi/Ido-Ile, Adeoye Ajayi, the Supervisor in the local government and Vice Chairman-elect of Eka Meta, Chief Ebenezer Adebusuyi, a political leader in Aramoko, Mr. Tayo Ojo, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media Mr. Kanmi Olatoye.

Others are Segun Asubiojo, a political leader from Erijiyan, Otunba Dayo Famoyegun, Commissioner in the Local Government Service Commission Mr. Segun Onaade; Senior Special Assistant on Political Surveillance Busuyi Ayorinde; Otunba Dayo Famoyegun; the Education Secretary in Ekiti West, Adegbaye Sunday; APC Vice Chairman in Ekiti West Taiwo Ibidapo; Mrs. Rabiatu Oderinde, 11 ward leaders in the local government, local government party chieftains, among others.

Secretary to Ekiti State Government Biodun Oyebanji has resigned.

The political scientist and former university teacher has been endorsed by stakeholders for governor on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Kayode Fayemi has accepted his resignation, wishing him success in his future endeavours.

The resignation, which was conveyed in a letter to the governor, dated December 3, takes effect from yesterday.

Oyebanji had cited his decision to contest the governorship election as reason for resigning.

Fayemi thanked the former SSG for his contributions to the administration since inception in 2018 and wished him well in his future endeavours.

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has directed appointees nurturing political ambitions in 2023 to resign on or before January 31, 2022.

He said nursing ambition for elective offices while occupying appointive offices could undermine the implementation of the “Building Our Future Together” agenda of his administration.

The governor said resigning now will enable such political appointees to pursue their dreams.

He conveyed the directive in a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kunle Somorin.

Abiodun said the directive became necessary, to avoid observed distractions and loss of focus in the discharge of their responsibilities.

“As an administration committed to delivering on its electoral promises, any activity that is capable of undermining the implementation of the ‘Building Our Future Together Agenda’ of this administration will not be tolerated,” he said

 

 

 

Former Lagos State Deputy Governor Sinatu Ojikutu has decried gender abuse, particularly against women and girl-child.

She said the assaults tended to tamper with the dignity of persons in contemporary society.

The Third Republic deputy governor frowned at female genital mutilation, rape against women and children, dowry violence, cast and caste system, banishment, segregation, ‘sexophobia’, forced prostitution, molestation and sex trafficking.

These vices were captured in a book written by a Federal Ministry of Women Affairs employee, Kabir Olayiwola, titled: ‘Stain on Humanity. ‘ It was presented at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

Ojikutu, the special guest at the ceremony, recommended the book to stakeholders and policy makers, saying it could herald reawakening in the society.

The book reviewer, Owoeye Adeyemo, said the 10 chapter book was a well- researched work of literature that treated topical issues that were pertinent to human existence.

“The book started by talking about noxious traditional beliefs, that is, some of those inhumane archaic and barbaric beliefs that are practised around the world.”

 

The lawmaker representing Surulere I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Olushola Elliot, has partnered Burden Lifters, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), to provide medical checks and treatment for about 500 aged members of his constituency.

He said he partnered the organisation on the outreach because there “is no point feeding someone who is not healthy.”

He said: “Health is wealth. There is no point feeding people when they are not healthy, and the earlier you know what the problems are, you can curb the situation ahead of time and this is what we are doing.

“This outreach is not just about medicals, we are also giving small bag of rice, sanitisers and food, just in trying to reach out to communities.

“This is a pilot scheme because in the early part of next year, hopefully towards my birthday, we will have surgeries in some hospitals here in Surulere. We will deal with serious issues like anaemia, lump in the breast, hernia and others. This will be done in conjunction with Resident Doctors Association stationed at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). We are working assiduously towards it to ensure we provide health care, in the least, to our people.”

The Chief Executive of Burden Lifters, Mrs. Helen Akinlade, noted that seeing many sick and hungry people motivated her to offer the little help she could.

“The need to give back to people drove me into this. I live in London and I belong to a group, which does food banking for indigents. However, I had to add medicals after seeing the dearth in Nigeria’s health sector. Some can’t even afford the barest minimum of health care so we thought to fill that gap in our own little way as we cannot do everything.

“We have all categories of medical personnel here today and beneficiaries have to go through the process of checking their vitals, seeing a doctor and taking medicine from the pharmacist. We also have two opticians on ground to check and administer eye glasses,” Akinlade said.

Some of the beneficiaries lauded the initiative, saying if such can happen regularly, the people will be better for it.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Surulere, Ajao Shakirudeen, noted that sickness will be checked if more public office holders emulate the good innovation.

He said: “If we’ve been having such privilege and opportunity in our local government and all around Lagos State, we will not have much ill people in our society.

“The process is orderly and there is enough medicine to go round. People even got medicines they ordinarily can’t afford themselves. I urge Elliott to do more of this. If it was done once in six months before now, it should now come up once in three months because we have more sick people at home.”

Another beneficiary, Mrs. Olatorera Calysto, urged the people to always embrace information as it could be beneficial to anyone.

“I didn’t know what was happening here, but I decided to come because I woke up not feeling like myself. And after checking my vitals, I was given the right medicine for my complaints.

“And to crown it all, I am also going home with some goodies, that is an added advantage. I say a very big thank you to Elliott for promoting health in Surulere. It is a very good initiative.”

Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun has said the government was intensifying efforts to boost tourism.

He made this known at the maiden edition of the Iyake festival, held yesterday at Ado-Awaye in Iseyin Local Government.

A statement issued in Ibadan quoted the commissioner as saying that 167 tourist sites had been identified, which would soon receive attention from the government.

Olatubosun said all the sites discovered would soon be exhibited.

He added that his ministry had embarked on the initiative to encourage tourism as an alternative means of revenue generation.

The commissioner said that the Ado-Awaye suspended Lake and Idere Hill were two of the most visited tourist sites in the state.

He said in view of this, the state government had resolved to look into the sector.

“We will not rest on our oars until we ensure our tourism potentials are showcased for the world to see,’’ Olatubosun said.

The monarch of Ado-Awaye, Oba Olugbile Folakanmi, thanked the government for promoting Iyake festival.

The member representing Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has facilitated a conflict resolution workshop for monarchs in the constituency.

The workshop titled: “Conflict Resolution Ethics and Values in Contemporary World”, was coordinated by Boarders Community Development Agent.

It was held at the Conference Hall, Niiman Hotel in Ikare Akoko, Ondo State.

Tunji-Ojo, represented by his aide, Thalis Apalowo, said the workshop became necessary to help traditional rulers in the constituency maintain peace and attract development.

He said: “No society develops without the presence of peace and relative cooperation of stakeholders.

“It is true that we have done a lot in the constituency, but we can lose everything in a minute if we fail to ensure peace.”

The Akala of Ikaram and the Chairman, Akoko North West Council of Obas, Oba A. O. Momodu, informed the house about the moves by monarchs from the constituency and other Akoko towns to help restore an enduring peace to Ikare Akoko.

He said the monarchs have agreed to support Tunji-Ojo’s second term ambition, as he has performed well.

Ikare Akoko has been embroiled in a crisis over the past few weeks, which has led to the disruption of economic activities in the town and neighbouring towns.

“We appreciate our son, Tunji-Ojo, for facilitating this workshop at this time. He has done well beyond our expectations and I believe all monarchs here will support his bid to serve a second term.

“We cannot continue to look while Ikare is on fire and say we are not affected. Ikare Akoko is like the centre of excellence for other Akoko towns and we must ensure that peace returns to the town.

“The monarchs from the four local governments in Akoko have been working hard to ensure peace and we are still on it.” We plan to set up a committee from both warring factions that will help find a lasting solution to the recurring crisis in the town. All Akoko monarchs are involved in this and we will make sure the issue of violence is erased in Ikare Akoko forever,” Oba Momodu said.

Reacting, the Owa Ale of Ikare Akoko, Oba Adeleke Adedoyin, appreciated the monarchs for their efforts to restore peace to Ikare and noted that he was not happy with happenings in the town.

He said: “I am not happy with what is happening in the town. I want peace to reign. The Olukare is my father; a friend to my father is also my father. I have expected him to call me to discuss the progress of the town and I am hopeful he’s going to do that as soon as possible. We will work to restore peace.

“I want the proposed committee to be set up very fast so we can agree on how to move Ikare forward. I will agree to whatever recommendations the committee is going to put forward.”

Also in attendance was the Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh (IV); Owa of Ogbagi, Oba Victor Adetona; Zaki of Arigidi, Oba Yisa Olanipekun and other traditional rulers from Akoko North East Local Government and Akoko North West Local Government.