The Lagos chapter of the Prison Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has graduated 78 students of its prisoner’s journey course at the Ikoyi Prison, Lagos.
Coordinator of the course, Femi Famoyide congratulated the students, wishing them a smooth journey in life after their release. He said the programmed was centered on the life of Jesus. On whether they had imbibed the rudiments of the course, the inmates said the lessons learnt from the course have made them new creatures and had certainly changed their world view.
The PFN Chairman, Bola J. Olawepo said: “We rejoice with you because this is the first section. I want you to take those things you have learnt into your life. After the programme, if you live your life the way you were, then it is a waste. Whether in the dormitory or in the church, the course must reflect in the attitude you portray. If you were fighting before and you still go back to fight, that means you have not been transformed.’’
Concerned about the deplorable state of roads in Agege Local Government Area and the difficulty the residents experience while moving from one point of the area to another, the council has undertaken some rehabilitation of some roads and other major infrastructure in the local government in order to lessen their predicament.
On what informed the rehabilitation work on Oshogbo Street, Samuel Ajayi Street and Bashorun Street, the Executive Secretary of the local government, Mr. Omofunmilewa Adejombo said the choice was based on their being link roads to other major busy roads in Agege.
Such roads, he said included Dopemu and Oniwaya roads. They will help in easing heavy traffic which motorist and other road users always experience almost on daily basis. During peak periods, traffic could be diverted from the major roads to the rehabilitated ones, thereby easing traffic flow.
Aside of this, the deplorable condition of the roads had made it to be totally impassable for the people in the community, particularly during rainy season during which the area become totally waterlogged. The situation poses a serious threat to children in the neighbourhood while going to school or other engagements.
The council boss said the rehabilitation of the roads would go a long way in enhancing the quality of life of the residents in the area and also improve their economic activities.
Some other projects carried out by the local government area aside road rehabilitation include renovation of the vocational centre, flooring of the computer centre and sinking of borehole at Coker Lane of Lewu Street.
The usually waterlogged surroundings of the primary health care centre were smoothened using paving stones and the purchase of new ambulance for adequate health care delivery for the residents.
A philanthropist, Hon. Semiu Ishola Karaole has donated educational materials and science laboratory equipment to schools and study centres in Mushin area of Lagos State. The gesture was borne out of the need to help the students prepare ahead of the General Certificate Examination (GCE).
Commending Hon. Karaole for his benevolence, the Director, Quality Assurance Tutorial Centre, Mushin, Mr Oladunjoye Joshua, said Hon. Karaole has shown his commitment to motivating and uplifting students at the grassroots level.
He said the gesture would impact positively on the lives of the students as well as prepare them to be self-reliant in future.
He called on other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate Hon. Karaole in making life meaningful for people at the grassroots . This, he said, would enable them to contribute to nation-building.
Responding, Hon. Karaole said his modest contribution was borne out of his commitment to impact positively on the lives of the students and to enable them to achieve their academic goals.
He also said the initiative aimed at supporting Governor Ambode and All Progressives Congress (APC’s) promises made to the electorate during the electioneering campaigns. The people were promised that the party would provide dividends of democracy for the people.
He said investing in the education sector is a way of ensuring strong foundation for the country’s future. He noted that any society that neglects the education of the youth risks underdevelopment since the youth are the future of any country.
This, he added, would eradicate some social vices which youths often indulge in. Such vices, he said, include thuggery, cultism, kidnapping, robbery and internet scam, among others.
He, however, pledged more commitment to sponsoring educational activities in his constituency. He appealed to the students to be serious in their studies and shun all forms of indiscipline that could hinder them from realising their potential.
Among the benefiting study centres were Concept Summer School, Quality Assurance Tutorial Centre and others. No fewer than 300 students benefited from the gesture.
Similarly, the member representing Mushin State Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Olayiwola Olawale, urged students in his constituency to shun violence, cultism, thuggery, rape and other social vices. These, he said, would tarnish their image, ruin their future by hindering them from achieving their academic goals.
Hon. Olayiwola spoke at St Judes’ Primary School, Ilasamaja, Mushin during a workshop on education he organised for secondary school students in his constituency.
He said it was time the youth made a re-think and engage in activities that would impact positively on the society.
According to the lawmaker, the career workshop aimed at preparing students towards securing their future. He said no fewer than 200 students have benefited from the programme during which he distributed free GCE forms and organised free coaching lessons. The gesture, he said, was part of his commitments to empower students and to guide them to realise their future.
Hon. Olayiwola said: “The time has come for students to feel the impact of government in their educational careers. This would help in reducing the level of illiteracy and eradicating ignorance which are the causes of youths’ restiveness.
The lawmaker said the idea of engaging students in such career workshop resulted from his 10-year experience as a teacher, which, according to him, will help the students when choosing their educational/professional careers.
According to him, he had been organising free computer/vocational training, donation of books and other study materials for many indigent members of the society. He urged the students to take their studies seriously, insisting that they must strive to be better citizens. This, he said, will enable them to contribute their quota to the development of Mushin community.
He appealed to public office holders to empower students and other youths at the grassroots to enable them to be useful to themselves and the society.
The maiden edition of the Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, (ZSF) Business Plan Competition has empowered over 20 people. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO reports that the organisation gave out a whopping N20 million to beneficiaries to enable them become self-reliant.
In order to encourage youths to strive towards self-reliance, the Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, (ZSF) has organised its maiden edition of Business Plan Competition during which 20 winners emerged.
The event, which held at Westwood Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, penultimate Wednesday, was part of the Entrepreneurship Development Project (EDP); a brainchild of ZSF. The ZSF was assisted by Jaiz Bank Plc and Al-Barakah Micro-finance Bank.
The project was divided into two categories; namely growth track and idea track.
According to ZSF, EDP intends to promote entrepreneurship skills among the youth to enable them to be self-reliant and become job creators instead of job seekers.
At the event, 20 out of 128 participants won N10 million.
The lucky 20 participants had earlier made physical presentations of their business ideas and models before a panel of experts from which the best four applicants from the idea track and the best four applicants from the growth track categories were shortlisted for final award.
•From left: Dr Ashiru assisted by Lagos State University (LASU) lecturer Hajia Muslihah Ajala to present a N500,000 dummy cheque and certificate to Mrs Risqat Olaiwon
The best four finalists in the growth track were rewarded with N1.5 million, N1 million, N750,000 and N500,000 for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions respectively, while the best four finalists in the idea track were rewarded with N1 million, N750,000, N500,000 and N250,000 for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions respectively.
The other participants received N100, 000 each as support for their businesses.
ZSF Executive Director, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib expressed optimism that the scheme would go a long way in tackling the endemic problems of poverty, unemployment and hopelessness confronting Nigerian youths.
According to him, ZSF is committed to tackling problems of poverty and unemployment among Muslim youths through its Entrepreneurship Development Project (EDP).
He enjoined the beneficiaries to utilise the seed capital judiciously for the growth of the businesses.
“We have fulfilled our own part of the contract; it is left for you to fulfil yours. Our monitoring and evaluation officers will keep a tab on you from time to time and we implore you to furnish us with progress reports regularly. Be reminded that we shall render accounts, so will you on the Day of Judgement,” he said.
Chairman of ZSF Advisory Board, Alhaji Umaru Abdul Mutallab praised the participants for believing in the foundation.
Alhaji Mutallab, who is also the chairman of Jaiz Bank said: “In line with the philosophy of our foundation, we are committed to providing opportunities for the teeming Nigerian youths endowed with various potential but lacking the required seed capital or having difficulty with gaining access to grants to expand their small and medium-size enterprises.
“In addition, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation is in partnership with Jaiz Bank Plc and Al-Barakah Micro-finance Bank Limited to complement the efforts of government in the area of job creation and employment opportunities for future leaders of this great country.
“It is against this background that we have gathered here today to reward some of the Nigerian youths that emerged best among their colleagues in the just-concluded competition with various cash prizes, certificates and plagues, among others. I am also very glad to inform you that we have a win-win situation for all the remaining contestants because they will be appreciated by the foundation in another way beyond this gathering.”
Leader of the team that selected the winners, Dr Lukman Raimi, a Senior Lecturer at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) enjoined the winners to keep in touch for continuous monitoring.
Ameerah (President) of Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) Lagos State chapter, Dr Sariyu Ashiru, praised ZSF for the initiative. She said it will play a major role in achieving one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the United Nations.
She expressed her regrets that government has failed to achieve some of its economic targets in 2010 and 2015, while it is currently pursuing the Vision 2020 agenda.
Ashiru, however, urged other stakeholders to emulate ZSF in a bid to eradicate poverty in the country through youth empowerment.
The grand prize winner, Dolapo Taofik Olalekan, on behalf of other beneficiaries, appreciated the foundation for the support, promising to utilise the fund judiciously for the growth of their businesses.
Over 500 casual workers of the Ibadan zonal headquarters of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) have appealed to the Federal Government to pay them salary arrears owed them. They also expressed their disappointment over alleged comments by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali concerning their status.
Ambassador Igali had told the Senate Committee on Power that those claiming to be casual workers of the defunct PHCN “are mere personal staff with no evidence to back up their appointments”.
He reportedly told the committee that there was no way they would be paid by government because their appointments were not regularised.
At a press conference held in Oyo town, Oyo State, the casual workers described Igali’s comment as “far from the truth”.
They described Igali’s position on their plight as “wicked and unreasonable”.
The more than 500 casual workers are from 22 districts of the zone; comprising Oyo, Ogun, Osun and part of Jebba in Kwara State.
The press conference was addressed by their president, Comrade Rasheed Olawunmi.
He urged the Senate Committee to disregard Igali’s position “because it was a lie”.
To him, contrary to Igali’s position, a meeting was held on October 31, 2013 between officials of the Federal Government and representatives of labour unions, including National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) to resolve outstanding labour issues ahead of handover of assets of the PHCN to private owners.
“At the meeting attended by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, it was unanimously agreed, among others, that a total of 2,500 were casual workers within the PHCN system nation-wide. This figure was identified by the Presidential Committee set up by the last administration. Not only that, the meeting also resolved that the issue of unclear casuals should be treated on compassionate basis,” he said.
Olawunmi further said that when the list of verified casual workers was eventually released to zonal headquarters for payment and regularisation, Ibadan zone alone had a total of 1,000 casual workers.
“But rather than comply with government’s directive, the then Chief Executive Officer of Ibadan zonal headquarters deliberately hand-picked only 500 names out of the 1,000 sent to him by the government for payment and regularisation of appointments. 500 casual workers are yet to receive their entitlements. All complaints and protests in this regard yielded no result.
“We were employed like every other employee in the company and placed on contract and casual basis. We were issued with appointment letters backed up with the promise of being regularised some day. We were interviewed in 2009, biometrically captured in 2011 and verified in 2012. Some of us were issued letters of regularisation of employment in April, 2012. The then management admitted to have omitted several names which it attributed to the delay in the release of the remaining letters. The error, as admitted by the then management, had not been rectified till today.
“What is more worrisome and disturbing is the denial of the Permanent Secretary before the Senate Committee that there were no identified casual workers entitled to any payments or benefits. The Permanent Secretary was a signatory to the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting two years ago.
“We, the concerned casual workers, were at the two chambers of the National Assembly before their expiration sometime last year to ventilate our displeasure over the unjust treatment meted out to us,” he said.
He revealed that since they began the agitation, no fewer than 15 of their members had died of various ailments due to inability to afford costs of treatments.
Olawunmi, therefore, appealed to the Senate Committee to ensure that the casual workers receive their entitlements.
Bothered about the rate at which crimes and other social vices increase in their communities, residents of Agbara community have donated a patrol van to the Agbara Division of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Ogun State Command.
The gesture was to help in strengthening its capability towards curbing crimes in the area.
The Managing Director, Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation (OPIC), Babajide Odusolu, who handed the vehicle over to the police said community policing is crucial to effective crime control.
Odusolu, who was represented at the ceremony by the General Manager, Agbara OPIC Estate, Taiwo Aridegbe, said security is a collective responsibility, even as it also necessitates corporate support to the security agency.
He added that the donation was part of OPIC’s corporate social responsibilities (CSR) towards combating security threat which has plagued development in the area in the last decade.
He praised the police for their partnership with the state government to foster peaceful environment, adding that part of the agenda of Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s administration was to secure people’s lives and property.
He said: “Government alone cannot face the business of policing in the state, either by way of personnel or equipment. So, if we cannot add to their personnel, we should help them with equipment. One of the cardinal programmes of Governor Amosun is to ensure safety of lives and property in Ogun State.
“In recognition of our plan to enhance the reach of district police station, the board and management of OPIC decided to donate a patrol vehicle for use by the district police post in patrolling OPIC Estate, Agbara.”
Responding, the Commissioner of Police, AbdulMajid Ali, who was represented by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Agbara Oyeniyi John, described OPIC’s effort as timely and commendable.
Also, the Baale of Igere community in Agbara Estate, Apostle John Bamidele, said a robust security network would enhance development and attract industrialists to the state.
The University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan has taken delivery of hospital equipment worth millions of Naira donated to it by Olajumoke- Akinjide Foundation (OAF). The donation aimed at enhancing its health care delivery services to the people.
The medical equipment and supplies that were donated included wheel chairs, electric beds, walking aids, paediatric examination tables, dental examination chairs, operating tables, trolleys, blood donors chair, resuscitation beds, consumables and thermometers, among others.
While receiving the equipment from the chairperson of OAF, Mrs Modupe Akindeko, the Chief Medical Director of UCH, Prof. Temitope Alonge, said that was the second batch of donation from OAF, adding that it would go a long way in addressing the shortage of medical equipment in the hospital.
“The doctors’ strike that lasted four months in this hospital paralysed our financial activities and we can’t even buy some equipment needed. But with this gesture by the foundation, tremendous health care delivery will be provided for the people.
“For instance, we were just thinking of raising money to buy the operating table which costs N5 million but OAF has just donated four to us.
“OAF is meeting the needs of the hospital by divine connection. Many politicians donate to where they can benefit during their political aspirations but this foundation and its founder, Oloye Jumoke-Akinjide is committed to humanity,” he said.
In her remark, Mrs Akindeko said OAF, which was established in August 2005, is poised towards giving back to the society and meeting people’s needs.
According to her, the foundation has positively impacted on lives in the state in areas of health, agriculture, capacity building, provision of potable water, relief materials to flood victims and construction of classroom blocks.
Akindeko said the foundation was assisting government in the areas of health and education, adding that such gestures will make the country a better place to live in.
For the elderly people in Shomolu Local Government Area, it was another time to feel nostalgic. Despite ageing gracefully, they proved that they still possess the dance skills that could daze even the younger folks and prompt them into endless applause.
•From left: Apex Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Shomolu/Bariga, Alhaji Moshood Oshiyemi; Hon. Orekoya; Mr. Oduguwa and a beneficiary, Mr. Wole Odubiyi at the event
The event was what has come to be termed “welfare package” for patriarchs in the council. The aged, from 60 years and above, looked forward to re-uniting with one another. They were grateful to the council chairman, Abiodun Orekoya for his generosity.
As usual, they sat in a roundtable manner and ate lunch with Orekoya who also ensured the patriarchs did not go home without some food stuffs and other items.
Aside playing various games which formed the preliminary aspect of the event, the dance contest was simply a spectacle. Three elderly females were paired with their male counterparts. In another phase, only the males took the dance floor; and then the females also had their turn, all amid thunderous applause as onlookers cheered the dancers for their dexterous dance steps.
Though the third edition of the event, Orekoya, nonetheless, has promised it would be a monthly exercise in fulfilment of the council’s resolve to assist the working class in taking care of their aged relatives.
“We take care of the aged in order to ensure that they don’t regret coming to life,” Orekoya, an engineer said.
“In developed countries,” he continued, “it is part of government’s social services towards taking care of the aged and the under-age. That’s the only way you can reduce the burden on the working class. At present, there is too much burden on the working class in terms of catering for their parents, grandparents and children. In the circumstances, therefore, the worker may be tempted to steal when he doesn’t have enough to take care of his responsibilities.
“If government at all levels can take care of these responsibilities, the working class will be in much relaxed frame of mind to work. This will help in immensely in achieving our goal of a corrupt-free society. You are afraid of going home because your mother, father or children have not eaten; you will want to go somewhere to do something bad. All those vices can be taken care of if the government takes care of the aged. Therefore, taking care of yourself with your meagre salary will not be a problem.”
He restated the council’s resolve to take care of 500 aged persons currently in its database, pending when the economy would improve and more aged can be accommodated into the programme.
“I’m a grassroots person, and identifying the aged in our communities was not a problem. We have wards and areas where we have a database of the aged, especially those above 60 years.
“But because we are not buoyant enough to take care of everybody, we have started with 500 of them and we will do it monthly,” Orekoya said while responding to the criteria adopted in selecting the 500 beneficiaries.
On what the council intends to achieve with the programme, the council chief added: “We want to get to the level when it becomes a norm for the council to be taking care of the aged. We already have their addresses and names in our databank and we will continue to update it.
“For now, we are managing 500 of them. We want to ensure that every month we give them something. So, we can boldly say that we have been taking care of these people. By God’s grace, feeding them will not be a problem.”
Orekoya implored the beneficiaries not to let their age be a hindrance to community policing, adding that the council prioritises security in its scheme of things.
The leader of the Community Development Committees (CDC), Mr Dapo Oduguwa, said he was impressed with the initiative.
Responding to the issue of community policing, Oduguwa urged his colleagues to always report any strange movement or objects around them to the police.
One of the elderly persons, Alhaja Sola Abimbolu, noted that the event was unique.
“This edition of the event is different from others we have been attending. We danced and ate. Our Executive Secretary sat with us to discuss issues bothering the community,” she said.
Authorities of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) have expressed confidence in the ability of President Muhammadu Buhari to transform the country within the shortest possible time.
The Church particularly praised the ongoing war against corruption in all sectors of the economy.
Through its President Worldwide, Pastor Abraham Akinosun, the CAC also pledged to support Buhari’s administration with prayers for his dreams about the country to be realised.
Speaking with reporters shortly after addressing the Pastor’s Conference at Babalola Memorial Miracle Centre, Ikeji-Arakeji Akinosun warned Nigerians against calling President Buhari “Baba Go Slow”, stressing that the President must be thorough in his efforts to sanitise the country.
He noted that but for Buhari’s emergence as the President and his stance against corruption; the nation’s economy would have collapsed as a result of high level corruption in most sectors of the economy.
Akinosun, who expressed confidence in the ability of President Buhari to deliver dividends of democracy, urged him to appoint credible Nigerians as ministers.
He also stressed the need for Buhari to ensure fairness in his administration’s fight against corruption, just as he advised him to avoid sycophants.
The CAC President, who commended the present administration on its resolve to fight insecurity in the country, called on the Federal Government to ensure the release of the abducted girls from Government Secondary School Chibok in Borno State.
Akinosun also called for the declaration of a state of emergency on violent crimes, especially armed robbery, kidnapping and assassination, stressing that “during the declaration, all arms in wrong hands should be mopped up.”
The cleric, however, urged the Buhari-led administration to revive the nation’s manufacturing industry through stable power supply, saying “power generation in sufficient volume is indispensable if we want to revive the nation’s economy.”
Akinosun enjoined all Nigerians to support President Buhari’s administration.
AN aspirant to the vacant Ooni stool, Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi from Ojaja Compound in Giesi Ruling House of Ife, has distributed 50 300 and 500 KVA transformers worth N200 million to communities in the town.
Represented at the distribution exercise by Prince Leke Ijiyode, the donor, however, told the beneficiaries that the gesture was not connected with his aspiration to the Ooni stool.
Ogunwusi, who noted that the beneficiaries are not to determine who the next Ooni would be, said he was moved by the challenges which various communities of the town are experiencing as a result of electricity problem.
He said the economy of the ancient town and its environs has been adversely affected because “many residents, particularly those who use electricity to operate their businesses, have suffered a great deal.”
Ogunwusi revealed that the the critical need of the communities informed the donation, saying the gesture was meant to support the government in alleviating the suffering of the people.
According to him, the communities to benefit from the gesture included Parakin, Fasina; NTA area, Fajuyi, Ondo Road Sawmill, Irebami, Oke-Ogbo, Lokore Odin, Lowa Ate, Ife City, Gulf Area, Ikoyi Celestial and Olasode, among others.
Saying his support for the people of Ife, particularly the poor would come in phases; he also disclosed that plans are on to provide succour for the people in the areas of youth empowerment, water supply and education under several initiatives and programmes.
Ogunwusi maintained that he had been supporting the people of Ife before Ooni stool became vacant. He said: “I have been assisting students who are indigenes of Ife and often donate instructional materials to schools to aid teaching and learning. The distribution of these transformers is not to induce anyone so that they would make me the Ooni. In fact, the beneficiaries of these transformers are not the people that can make me the Ooni because they are just members of the community and not the kingmakers.
“So, this gesture is not because of my aspiration to become Ooni. I am really committed to the development of Ife and I have been doing this even before the former Ooni died. We have challenges of epileptic power supply in Ife and this is a major problem.”
Sawmills operators in Ife and some of the leaders of the communities that benefited from Ogunwusi’s gesture, including Mr. Olalere ýOlanrewaju, Mr. Adedapo Olayode, Mr. Adebisi Adegilye and Mr. Titus Elewude said the socio-economic activities in Ife, no doubt, would improve when the transformers are activated.
