Category: South West

Ekiti State Government has partnered Massachusetts Institute of Technology Governance Laboratory (MIT/GOVLAB) for improved health care delivery that will give more dividends to patients and service seekers.

The agreement was reached in Ado-Ekiti during the launch of a system called ‘Governance Innovation Lifecycle Challenge and Accelerator’, a programme designed to improve patient-driven health care services in Ekiti.

Speaking at the launch of the programme, Governor Kayode Fayemi said: “With this partnership, an Information and Technology platform can be provided where patients and those patronising primary, secondary and tertiary health institutions can make complaints on the qualities of services they are getting.

He added: “Health care as a core driver for human capital development is a key focus of my administration and we have demonstrated this by implementing a suite of high impact health interventions that address the needs of our people.

“We have done this knowing that investment in health is the most valuable returns. I am confident that the Governance Innovation Lifecycle Challenge and Accelerator will be a great complement to these investments now and in future.

“Under the accelerator programme, MIT GOV/LAB and its implementing partners, Gatefield and Co-creation Hub, will work with the quality of care and health security teams in the Ekiti State Ministry of Health to develop prototypes of governance innovations that will strengthen the state’s health system and resilience.”

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, said: “We have assessed our health system and recognised gaps in service delivery that need to be addressed.

“In view of this, we decided to put innovation at the core of driving solutions in the health sector. Working with our partners, two teams in the Ministry of Health, will use the human-centred design approach to develop a set of gender-sensitive monitoring tools, which allows the state to track citizen engagement, provide feedback on the state’s public health response efforts and establish a complaints-handling system that will address any health care-related complaints from members of the community.

“I look forward to the state going through with this challenge and coming up with ground-breaking solution that will transform health service delivery in the state.”

The Associate Director of Innovation at MIT GOV/LAB, Carlos Centeno, said that the accelerator would implement the methodology of its novel Governance Innovation Framework with the teams for an eight-month period.

Members of the Hassan Royal Family at Okoole in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government of Lagos State have urged Lagos State government to intervene in the chieftaincy tussle rocking the town.

Two prominent members of the royal family, Alhaja Waidat Hassan and Mr. Jamiu Hassan, at a news conference in the town, said the state government’s intervention would prevent the breakdown of law and order that would likely result from the imposition of an unpopular candidate as ‘Baale’.

Waidat said: “We are members of the Hassan Royal Family, which produces the Baale of Okoole. The stool is vacant. We have candidates who have indicated interest in the stool, but the family is yet to support and present a candidate. The family is not happy that some members are fighting over the stool.

“We want peace and development in our town. We don’t want disunity and crisis. This is why we are calling on the government under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene, in the interest of peace and justice.”

Jamiu said: “The Hassan Royal Family has four branches. All the lines of these branches have produced ‘Baales’, except the Shamsudeen line of the Bisiriyu branch. Therefore, if the royal family will do justice, in my own opinion, it should support and present Chief Adewale Hassan, whose line has never produced a ‘Baale’. “

“There were protests on this matter recently, precisely on November 24 and 25. They were meant to condemn the attitude of candidates fighting over the stool. I believe the government will listen to our cries for peace and justice.”

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is the special guest of honour at the end-of-year parley of Southsouth indigenes in Lagos State.

The event will hold on December 9 at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

It is under the aegis of Cross River, Rivers, Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa (CREDAB) Peoples Association.

Lagos State Budget and Planning Commissioner Sam Egube is the apex leader of CREDAB. Its logo will be unveiled on the occasion.

Southsouth governors are among the dignitaries expected at the ceremony.

 

 

Osun State Government has announced the recruitment of 1,000 teachers into public schools across the state.

This is contained in a statement yesterday by the Commissioner for Education, Folorunsho Bamisayemi.

The statement said: “The Ministry of Education informs the public, particularly applicants for the teachers’ recruitment exercise, that the list of successful applicants, who scored a cumulative of 50 per cent and above in the test and proficiency interview conducted, is ready.

Bamisayemi said: “A total of 11,068 applicants participated in the interview, out of which 3,170 applicants scored 50 per cent (cumulative) and above. To ensure the sustainability of remuneration, recruitment will be done in batches. Hence it is out of the 3,170 applicants that the first combined list of 1,000 most successful applicants will be drawn in six critical subjects of English language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Agriculture.”

He said the list would be out in the public domain by next week, adding that subsequent batches would follow later.

 

 

Dana Pharmaceuticals Limited yesterday explained why it donated drugs to the Lagos State Ministry of Health last June during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It said it hoped its small gesture went a long way to help curb the spread of the virus in the state, reputed as the epicentre of the pandemic in Nigeria.

The company, in a statement to mark the 25th anniversary of the introduction to the country of its flagship brand in antacids, ‘Danacid’, said the donation was part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR).

“As part of Corporate Social Responsibility efforts, DANA Pharmaceuticals donated Paradana formulations, LAM, XPEL and CPM Syrups last June during the COVID-19 pandemic to the Lagos State Government, Ministry of Health, Ikeja, a small gesture we came forward with in efforts to curb the spread of the virus.”

Dana Pharmaceuticals Limited, a part of Dana Group, is arguably one of the country’s foremost infusions and pharmaceuticals manufacturing company.

Dana Pharmaceuticals division operates three ISO 9001:2015 certified plants located between Ibadan in Oyo State and Minna in Niger State, serving the country’s geopolitical zones.

The statement noted the company’s motto of “a Commitment to Health Care”, adding that with “one of the best technologies in hand, Dana Pharmaceuticals is devoted to the production and marketing of genuine quality and effective products that are offered at the most affordable prices nationwide.”

 

Ondo State House of Assembly yesterday screened and confirmed the list of 14 commissioner-nominees forwarded to it by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Catherine Oladunni-Odu, had been sent to the assembly for the screening exercise.

The nominees had appeared before the selection committee of the house for the screening.

Deputy Speaker Samuel Aderoboye, who presented the report of the committee at the plenary, observed that the 14 nominees had been screened and found competent to serve as commissioners.

Aderoboye requested that the nominees be called to step forward for confirmation of their appointments.

The nominees were thereafter called outside for ratification of their appointments through a voice vote by majority of the lawmakers at the plenary.

Speaker Bamidele Oleyelogun congratulated the new commissioners, who he said were appointed on the basis of their track records.

He urged them to work with Governor Akeredolu to enhance the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people.

A commissioner-nominee, Pastor Femi Agagu, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, pledged to support the governor to impact positively on the lives of the people.

He said they would work with the current administration, add value to the instrumentality of governance and promise not to disappoint the legislative arm of government and the entire people of the state.

NAN reports that the newly confirmed nominees include: Fatai Olotu, Dr. Julianah Osadahun, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola Olateju, Adefarati Adegboyega, Dele Ologun and Mr. Sunday Adekunle Akinwalere.

Others are Razak Obe, an engineer; Dr. Banji Ajaka, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan, Mrs. Yetunde Adeyanju and Wale Akinlosotu.

 

 

The Coalition of Kwara All Progressives Young Stakeholders (CKAYS) yesterday hailed the recent moves by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to reconcile factions of the party in Kwara State.

The coalition, an umbrella body of youth groups and associations in Kwara APC, said Tinubu is a father figure in the party.

CKAYS was reacting to the recent attack on the personalities of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Asiwaju Tinubu by another group, the Kwara for Kwara Movement.

Kwara for Kwara said the move by Tinubu to intervene in the Kwara State APC crisis was borne out of personal political agenda of 2023.

Addressing reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara North leader of CKAYS, Ahmed Mohammed, said: “We are not giving up on reconciliation. So, we are calling on Asiwaju Tinubu to do more. He is always welcomed in Kwara State. He is a known leader of the APC.”

CKAYS urged Governor AbdulRazaq not to be distracted by the activities of the unknown and faceless group.

 

 

In fulfilment of his promise to give succour to vulnerable constituents, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries and the senator representing Lagos East, Adetokunbo Abiru, has made bank transfers to Batch ‘A’ beneficiaries in the 2,500 vulnerable constituents pool for 11 months consecutively.

The beneficiaries, who have been receiving direct credits from the senator since January 2021, were drawn from the 98 wards of the 16 local governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the Lagos East Senatorial District.

Beneficiaries include people with physical disabilities, unemployed youths, widows and other vulnerable people in the senatorial district.

Abiru, whose interventions and programmes are targeted at the larger number of people in the district, has been impacting lives in an unprecedented manner since he assumed office last December.

In less than a year, he has achieved so much to the astonishment of many in the district and beyond.

In less than six months in the saddle, he has sponsored a private member bill titled: ‘The Copyright Act Repeal and Re-enactment Bill, 2021’ that will replace the extant Copyright Act Cap C28 LFN 2004. In a record time, the Bill went through a public hearing that attracted creative professionals, intellectual property experts, policy makers and other critical stakeholders.

Concerned about the plight of constituents and other road users plying Ikorodu/Sagamu Road and Ikorodu/Itoikin/Epe Epe Road, the senator moved a motion calling on the Federal Government to intervene in the two critical roads.

The intervention, with necessary follow-ups, yielded positive outcomes. The Federal Government has included the funding of Ikorodu-Shagamu in the SUKUK Financing programme and included Ikorodu-Itoikin in the 2022 budget.

The Sukuk Financing Programme is an assured financing programme that will accelerate the completion of Ikorodu-Sagamu Road.

Read Also: Mirroring Abiru’s strides in Lagos East

Within the same period, he also facilitated four blocks of 24 classrooms with furniture and 16 toilets at Aga Primary School in Ikorodu.

At the Ikorodu campus of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), the senator facilitated 200 solar-powered street lights at the school. The building of a 30-bed health facility and a dental centre is under construction.

In Agboyi Ketu LCDA, Abiru  facilitated another 30-bed health facility at Mascara Health Centre. Another 40-bed is under construction at Isiu in Ikorodu North LCDA.

In Ibeju-Lekki, two blocks of six classrooms are under construction at RCM Primary School, Iwerekun, Ibeju-Lekki. In Kosofe Local Government, one block of three classrooms are also underway at Ajelogo Primary School.

In Epe, a 960-spectator capacity mini stadium is also facilitated for the people of the ancient city. The two-pavilion sport facility equipped with basketball and volleyball courts are also under construction.

Likewise, the popular Oluwa Fish Market in Epe is being remodelled. The remodelled market will have lock-up shops, open sheds and 48 toilets.

Six hundred brilliant but indigent students got bursaries from the senator. The beneficiaries were shortlisted in a transparent process drawn from higher institutions in Lagos State and beyond.

On November 8, Abiru organised a one-day business workshop for 1,000 MSMEs across the senatorial district to build the capacity of their businesses, and announced a N100,000,000 (One Hundred Million Naira) constituency intervention revolving loan at 6 per cent interest rate, which will be topped by additional N100million from the Bank of Industry. Participants were given knowledge packs, a pack of seven books covering subjects such as Taxation, Branding and Communication, Digital Technology, Financial Management, among others.

In addressing digital skills gap, the senator is setting up a Community Innovation Hub, in partnership with a renowned technology company in Lagos, to train youths in the senatorial district in relevant digital and innovation skills, and build the best entrepreneurs that can compete in the ever-dynamic global economy.

 

Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has approved N3.6 billion for construction and rehabilitation of selected township roads in Ikire and Ile-Ife.

A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, said that the decision was taken at the Executive Council meeting.

She said: “Osun State Government committed N3,628,024,923.76 to the project after a detailed procurement process by the Osun Public Procurement Agency. The project will be executed through Alternative-Project-Funding-Approach.

“The rehabilitation of Ikire township roads was awarded at a well-negotiated cost of N 1,100,418,479.47. The rehabilitation of selected township roads in Ile-Ife was awarded at a well-negotiated cost of N 2,527,606,454.29.  The quoted sums are inclusive of all statutory deductions.”

Read Also: Osun elders wade into rift between Oyetola, Aregbesola

Egbemode said the selected township roads for reconstruction and rehabilitation in Ile-Ife include Ife/Ede Road-Oduduwa Estate WASCA Road 7 (OAU Campus Gate); Road 7; Mukoro/Itagun Modi Road-Oke Isokun-Ilode Ifewara Road; Itaasin-Ita Agbon-Aderemi Road; Mukoro-Itagun Road with link to Olubukun; and spot rehabilitation of O.A.U. Ile-Ife – OAUTH Ile-Ife link road.

She said the selected township roads for reconstruction and rehabilitation in Ikire include Sango roundabout –Iyana Onimalu along Ikire- Odeyinka road; Sango roundabout – Obada, Ikire, Sango roundabout – Palace Junction, Ikire; Unity School – Sango roundabout, Ikire and Orita Onimalu – GT Hotel Agala Junction, Off Ikire – Odeyinka road, Ikire.

The commissioner said the rehabilitation of Ikire township roads will be undertaken by Messrs. Slavabogu Nigeria Ltd, while the rehabilitation of the selected Ile-Ife township roads will be undertaken by Messrs. Dejide Investments Ltd.