The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Lawmaker gives bursary to needy students

    Lawmaker gives bursary to needy students

    No fewer than 780 students of tertiary institutions from Badagry Federal Constituency benefitted from the bursary allowance given by a member of House of Representatives, Hon. Rafeequat Onaba-miro, at the Badagry Grammar School, Lagos State.

    She said the gesture was to assist parents to reduce the hardship they face while training their wards at the higher institutions of learning.

    Onabamiro said, having faced with a similar challenges as a student, one of the ways to give back to the society is to assist needy students who struggle to receive education. She noted that the lack of access to education endangers the mind and exposes it to disease.

    She, however, expressed disappointment that her efforts to better the lots of people have not been well complemented. According to her, some structures she provided to make life better for them were compromised.

    She said: “It is with great sadness I report that despite all counsels given and promises made by recipients of three buses for commercial transportation, these young men have run them aground within a short time.”

    She advised parents to be more responsible in the growth of their wards. “It is very important that parents guide their children because if they are not well trained at home, it will influence their conduct in the public.”

    Onabamiro maintained that the beneficiaries of the bursary award cut across the 20 political wards in her constituency. They were chosen after a thorough scrutiny to ascertain that the students were actually in the institutions they claimed.

    “In the last two years and nine months, a number of economic programmes, financial and humanitarian services have been rendered for the benefit of our people. It is my hope that these programmes have bought about positive economic return to the beneficiaries.”

    One of the beneficiaries, Sule Sego said the bursary will assist most of the students because things were really difficult. “What our House of Representatives member has done is a big relief to some of us, who are struggling to remain in the school. She has demonstrated that the progress of Badagry youths is in her mind.”

    He urged other politicians to come to the aid of youths who deserve assistance not only in their educational pursuit but setting up small scale businesses as part of measure to arrest the escalating insecurity in the country.

  • Inside Aregbesola’s big dreams for public schools in Osun

    Inside Aregbesola’s big dreams for public schools in Osun

    When Governor Rauf Aregbesola began the implementation of the public schools reclassification, doubts were raised about the intent of the new policy. The government insists the new grade system will improve education. Two years after, how has the policy changed the state of education? Seun Akioye investigates

    It was 11:00am and preparations were ongoing at the AUD Elementary School, Isale-Osun, Osogbo for the mid-day meal. Meal times at this school are always a special time not only for the immaculately dressed food vendors but for the pupils, many of whom are from poor families. In Grade Two classroom, the children beamed with smiles as the vendors passed around a sizeable bowl of rice and vegetable, garnished with melon and chicken. A bottle of water was placed beside each student. Two pieces of banana completed the meal.

    The class teacher, Mrs. Mariam Aderinola, watched with glowing pride as the pupils performed this pleasurable duty of completing their meal. Everyday spent in that classroom, for her, was a reminder of what the school used to be and how in a spate of two years things have changed completely.

    “I used to teach in this school before the reclassification policy of the government, I was teaching this same class then known as Primary Two. Coming to school then was agony and we used to be fearful because the building had fallen apart and touts taken over the school,” she said, a small frown creeping to her brow.

    The teacher had a solid reason to be fearful. In 2011, AUD Primary School – as it was known, was a specimen of rot and mismanagement. The buildings, the ones still standing were dilapidated, while the roof in many places had gone off. According to Aderinola, the whole premises was overgrown with weeds and immediately the children left the school, touts took over the compound. “They will mess up the whole compound with faeces and we would see left over marijuana and drugs. Different things were going on here, the touts were sleeping here and in the morning we would cover our noses while we teach because of the stench,” she said.

     

    New policy, new challenges

    The state of AUD Primary School was a reflection of the state of education in Osun’s public schools, when the Aregbesola administration came into office says the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Oyelade Oyeniran. According to the state government, public education had been so badly managed that only pupils whose parents could not afford private schools were left in the public schools. Primary school pupils, especially, were poorly dressed and malnourished while performance at both internal and external examination dipped to an all-time low.

    But in February 2011, the state government convened an extra-ordinary education summit with the aim of finding a solution to the deep rooted problems. The summit paraded heavy weights in the education sector like Professors’ Wole Soyinka, former vice-chancellor of University of Lagos, Ibidapo Obe and Peter Okebukola of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

    The recommendations were far reaching and one of the vital points was the reclassification of schools, which implementation began in 2012. But the government knew the change will generate controversy so there were series of meetings with the stakeholders. Materials explaining government’s position were produced and distributed, while the Ministry of Education continued to engage with the public.

    Under the new school policy, the primary school system gave way to the grade system with the former Primary 1-4 with the age range of 6-9 years, merging into what is now called Elementary school, in Grades 1-4. Primary 5 and 6 and junior secondary 1-3 merged together to become middle school and now to be known as Grades 5-9 with the age range of 10-14, while the senior secondary students are grouped together in Grades 10-13, in what is now known as high school.

    In the new policy, the elementary schools will have a maximum capacity of 900 pupils in a purpose built state-of–the-art school. Other features will be provision of school uniform, books and balanced diet meals. The schools were designed to be within the neighbourhood for easy access for all students.

    For the middle school, the maximum capacity will be between 900-1,000 students, with the provision of state-of-the-art educational infrastructures and catchment to be between 2-3 kilometers, while the high school will have a maximum capacity of 3,000 students with hostel facilities. However, the curriculum did not change rather, what changed were physical infrastructure and more conducive environment.

    But fierce opposition began against the policy immediately it was announced. While the government may have anticipated some resistance, it probably underestimated how organised the opposition will be. Questions were raised about the merging of students from different schools and backgrounds under one roof, the loss of identity especially for mission schools and the problems of how workable the new “complicated” model will be.

    The government gave reasons for wanting to change the way public education is being conducted in the state, probably forever. According to Oyeniran, the new grade system is the global trend and approach to modern education for effective teaching and learning. In adopting the grade system, pupils of the same age bracket are grouped together with fewer students in classes.

    The government also claimed that multiplicity of schools had decayed infrastructure over the years, leading to poor funding, shortage of teachers and inefficiency. The new policy, the government said will reverse the rot and make quality education available to all children without discrimination making public school comparable to the private schools.

     

    The promise of new infrastructure

    On October 2, 2013, the state government rolled out the drums to celebrate the commissioning of the state-of-the-art new school infrastructure, The Salvation Army Middle School, Alekuwodo, Osogbo. It was not the fanfare or the presence of top government functionaries that became the center point of the event but the arrival of Governor Aregbesola, wearing a middle school uniform and beaming with smile as he commissioned the first mega school that would accommodate students of the middle school.

    There are lots of promises in the new education policy of the state government. In moving students from different schools together under the same roof, the government promised to build 170 mega schools throughout the state. While elementary will have 100 schools, middle will have 50, while 20 high schools will be built. These mega buildings will have laboratories, libraries, clean toilet facilities and ICT centers. These new infrastructures will complement other schools that would be upgraded to acceptable standards under the reclassification policy.

    The government also promised to feed all students in elementary school under what it called the O’Meal programme. About 3,000 food vendors have been contracted throughout the state and the students followed a regime of nutritional meals throu-ghout the week.

    Under the reclassification, all public schools in Osun State will be free while government will also supply books and uniforms to the students. But how much of these promise have been fulfilled and what has been the impact of the new education policy on students?

     

    Inside Aregbesola’s Grade Schools

    Passing through the busy Aleku-wodo road, Osogbo, the imposing Salvation Army Middle School is unmistakable. Built in a rectangle shape and painted in bright yellow colours, when viewed from the opposite direction without the benefit of the equally imposing signboard, one would believe the building is part of a new private university.

    Three members of the Osun Peace Corps movement mounted guard at the gate while students continued with their studies in the classrooms. No student loitered around and an examination of the entire classroom revealed that the students were all studiously engaged. There were no blackboards but white boards and instead of the chalk, markers were used to write on the boards. The students sat two in a seat and none of the classroom had more than 40 students.

    At the same time, Eunice Yaya, the Head Teacher at AUD Elementary School was having her first classroom inspection in the morning. Like the middle school, AUD is recently commissioned as a mega school, which catered for Grade 1-4 students of six primary schools. The students in Grade Two, on perceiving a visitor sprang to their feet in greetings, welcoming the visitor to the classroom and ending it with a prayer for God’s blessings on the visitor.

    “The difference is clear to what we used to have,” Yaya said as she exited the classroom. “We have a very conducive atmosphere for learning and our children loves to come to school because there is free feeding,” she said.

    Yaya also said the reclassification of schools has improved the education standards. “Now we have teachers commensurate with the students unlike what we had before. This is a far better system than what we used to run.”

    The AUD Elementary School also boasts of some world class infrastructures. “There are 12 toilets and bathrooms, electricity and running water and we have toys for the children. We have a multipurpose hall that can sit 200 pupils at the same time and we educate our children on how to use the facilities because we are determined to preserve and maintain it,” Agbelekale Serifat, the facility manager said.

    Currently, 39 mega schools have been completed across the state and many are still under construction. At the CAC Araromi Middle School, work was about 40 percent completed when The Nation visited. But the old school built in 1998 by Theophilous Bamigboye’s military administration had been refurbished with the leaking roof replaced and temporary chairs provided for the students. One teacher who spoke anonymously said: “As you can see, work is going on our new school but the government has given this one a face-lift. It is not what we want yet but we will get there.”

    Also, at former Osogbo Grammar School, work is ongoing for the construction of a 3,000 capacity Model High School. While that was going on, the old building has been refurbished and given a face-lift. But questions have been raised about the distance of the high schools which has been mitigated by the purchase of 100 Omoluabi scholar buses, which according to a government official would be strictly for the students. The Nation can also verify that these buses are currently at the state Ministry of Finance.

    The impact of the new educational policy has also been generating interesting permutations among the residents of the state. More than 90 percent of the people sampled by The Nation agreed that the policy has changed the landscape for education forever. “I have two children in school. I withdrew my son from a private school where I was paying N60,000 to join a public school. Now the money is back in my pocket because he attends school free and the facilities are better than the private school. I have a small girl in a private school, as soon as she is old enough, I will take her to a public school,” Toyin Barry-Ogwu, who works at Diamond Bank said.

    Barry-Ogwu said the reclassification and reforms in the education sector has changed the face of education. “In Osun State, no child is forced to go to school, the children are looking fine when you see them coming from school, everyone wants to be part of them now because they are well fed,” she said.

    Lolade Olanipekun, whose daughter attends AUD Elementary School, may have had a tiring day but the mention of the new school system brightened his face. “That is one reason I am happy. My daughter is in Grade Two, she talks everyday about how good the school is. She said they eat food everyday and they have this car that goes round to play with,” he said enthusiastically.

    On the education standard, he said she is showing more promise. “I am so happy that she is even writing. Her handwriting is not too fine now but she is improving every day. She wants to go to school almost every day of the week, I have seen the school myself and it is a very good environment,” Olanipekun said.

    Aderinola, Grade Two teacher at AUD Elementary School said, a child came from one of the private schools and sat in her class. “She had a different uniform and she sat in the class. We inquired and found her school but she insisted she wanted to stay in our class. She must have been attracted by our facilities here and that is to show the improvements that have happened to this school, even the teachers are also looking very fine,” she said beaming with smile.

    One parent who declined to be named said: “You will not know what the governor has done if you don’t know how bad things used to be. I have a shop here and I used to see the students begging for money in the traffic or hawking, when they should be in school, but can you see any child on the road today?” he asked.

    The policy has also had a reverberating effect on private schools. According to investigations, many parents are withdrawing their children from private to the public schools, while to counter the Opon-Imo policy. The private schools are now selling a similar device to their high school students. The President of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Osun State, Prince Wale Oyeniyi, who is also the proprietor of Mustard Seed School, Ode-Omu, told The Nation that while the new school policy is a welcome development; it should also incorporate students of the private schools. “I want to say the reform in schools is good but I must caution that the government must maintain the standard so that it won’t become a distortion in the end. There has to be a balance too, so the other sector of the state won’t suffer,” he said.

    Oyeniyi denied that private schools are losing their pupils. “I see no difference throughout the state, we have a symbiotic relationship, there is no problem. But I should say that government should also treat private school pupils the same way. They are all citizens and we too are electorate and we vote, all the children are the same, so they should all enjoy the dividends of democracy,” he said.

    But the situation was slightly different at International School, Abere, Ede North Local Government. The principal, Babaremi Olusola, acknowledged frankly the educational reforms had affected his business. “To be candid, this is affecting us, I have seen parents withdrawing their children to public schools because of the free education and uniform and food.”

    Olusola also had knocks for the government: “The way they are going about it, it’s like they don’t want us to exist, look at everything they are doing, and we should be partners in progress. We also employ people here and we are voters too. He also implore the government to grant private schools tax reduction and give them what he called special grants to also upgrade their own facilities.

     

    “We want our mega high school”

    At 2:00pm, members of the Christian students fellowship at St. Daniel High School 3, Ode-Omu, began a session of prayer. They prayed for progress of the state and also for a new high school. Outside the old building where they met, three of their teachers sat huddled together.

    “We are not happy because our school is split into three when we should all be in the same compound. Our buildings are not to be compared with the other schools, we are waiting for the government to build us a mega high school because we really need it,” the teachers said.

    About 150 meters from the high school is an imposing new building that will house St. Michael Elementary School, Ode-Omu. Inside the compound, workers put finishing touches to the painting. “We have 22 classrooms here; we have modern toilets, hall, playground and even a projector. But the best part is that it is dry construction, no brick was used, fire cannot affect it and if we need to move it away from here we just dismantle it and set it up somewhere else,” one of the workers said.

    Besides the new building is the old school refurbished by the state government, but compared to the imposing new building, it looked like materials made ready for the museum. The teachers of St. Daniel, while praising the new building insist they deserved it more. “That should have been our school, we need it more but they gave it to the children.”

    At the sound of a signal, students of AUD rushed to the playground where several toys have been provided. They played on the see saw, the swing and other toys provided by the state government, Elizabeth Ajala, the second Head Teacher stood by watching. “We will maintain this standard, we are determined. This is the only way we can show our appreciation,” she said with a smile.

  • Senator empowers constituents with N120m tools

    Senator empowers constituents with N120m tools

    The senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Ayoade Adeseun, has given out several items, tools and equipment worth N120 million to his constituents.

    The empowerment, which was held at the Durbar Stadium, Oyo, set the ancient city agog for most hours of the day.

    Among the items distributed were 60 vehicles, 200 fridges, 200 grinding machines, 200 motorcycles, 200 hair-dressing equipment, 200 sewing machines and 15 cows.

    Adeseun said the empowerment project was one of the ways to thank voters for their support in the last election and thereafter. He added that more of such were on the way.

    According to him, constituents deserve as much empowerment and appreciation as possible because they have been supportive all these years.

    A former governor of Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, who chai-red the occasion, commended Ade-seun, saying he is a kind person, particularly so because unlike some other politicians he described as insincere, he does not blow the trumpet of his charitable deeds to his people.

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, also commended the senator, stressing that he has proved to be reliable since he won his first election as a member of the House of Representatives. The monarch advised beneficiaries to put the items into good use.

    To Adeseun, splashing N120 million items on constituents was nothing big.

    He said: “There is nothing novel about what we are doing today. To some, it may be rather surprising or unusual. Most of my colleagues know that over the years, I have been embarking on programmes such as this. The idea is to thank those who supported us in the course of our electioneering efforts and when somebody has done something good, it is only normal that you come back and show your appreciation to them. That is what we are doing. The scale, of course, is unusual and that is very much like me.

    “Half of the recipients were presented by the party in all the local governments. The other half are individuals and other stakeholders. This is just a token for people to know that we did not just go there to represent ourselves alone. This is also in addition to the various developmental programme we have been doing over the years. We have trained over 50 people in each local government in several skill areas and empowered them. More of developmental and empowerment programmes are still coming.

    “In the course of service, we have had opportunities to facilitate employment into federal and state establishments for hundreds of our people. This is a kind of investment that you will reap in 10 to 20 years time.”

    Beneficiaries cut across the 11 local governments in the district with others from other local government areas in Ogbomoso land, his birth town.

    At the event were state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Akin Oke; Senator Kamoru Adedibu, local government chairmen and party leaders in the state.

  • ‘Our literacy level has improved’

    ‘Our literacy level has improved’

    The reclassification of schools in Osun State has led to an improvement in the literacy level in the state according to the permanent secretary, Ministry of Education, Oyelade Oyeniyi

    Is school reclassification the only way to reform education in the state?

    When we had our education summit, reclassification was one of the cardinal recommendations of that summit. We have engaged various stakeholders and came up with the grade system against the former primary system. This allows for effective management of resources, where we had more teachers than students, the grade system has rectified that. The grade system is also the global trend and we ensure that it matches UNESCO recommendations.

    When the schools were merged, what criteria were used to select students?

    We didn’t use a single point. The policy is, there is no single sex school in the state, we moved 1,920 students from Fakunle Grammar School to the former Baptist Girls High School, which is a stone throw from each other. We considered the land mass of the school, the nearness to the student’s residences. We considered the logistics and the furniture available in the schools, the year of establishment. We did our homework well in fixing students into a particular school. For the elementary, it’s all in the neighbo-urhood and for high schools, we have purchased school buses to be used solely by students, so it was very tight and we have no problem.

    What are the facilities on the ground now to accommodate this gigantic dream?

    We have gone really far in that. We plan to build 170 schools, 100 will be elementary, 50 will be middle and 20 will be high schools. Where we will not build new schools, government will upgrade existing infrastructure. We have about 40 new schools now and many are under construction. There will be six high schools in Osogbo and they are under construction now, Fakunle will be in Unity road. It is under construction.

    There are so many issues about insensitivity to religion in the reclassification exercise.

    No, religion is not against reclassification because we don’t want to set any religious tension, we took cognisance of that and all the stakeholders were carried along. When schools were taken over by government, it didn’t classify any school as religious. But what we are doing will not affect religion, all the schools retained their names like The Salvation Army and AUD schools.

    What have all these done for educational standards, because this was the primary reason for the reforms?

    Our literacy level has improved. Osun has the highest elementary school enrolment because of the O’Meal. We are meeting and breaking standards and a model for many countries. Opon-Imo has also changed the way our students read and we believe that our educational standards cannot remain the same.

  • Budgeting for more development

    Budgeting for more development

    He has a budget of over N1 billion for the year but beyond the cash, chairman of Ikeja Local Government Area, Lagos, Hon. Wale Odunlami has an iron-cast will to make the Lagos State capital better than ever before.

    Presenting the expenditure estimates to the legislative arm of the council, the chairman said his sole aim is to provide more infrastructures which will further boost the living standards of the residents.

    Odunlami also stressed that his administration will transform the education, health, and agriculture sectors, among others.

    The council leadership has tackled pressing challenges, some of which are roads, health facilities and school infrastructures. For instance, the administration has rehabilitated the Oba Akran Road as well the Otigba Street, Computer Village and contained flooding by constructing drainages and culverts to channel off water in low-lying areas.

    The health profile of the area has been boosted with the completion of a primary health centre at Obafemi Awolowo Way and Onilekere. Public schools at Ikeja area, classroom furniture including desks and benches have been provided.

    The administration equally moved to enhance sanitation and healthy living by building prototype public toilets facilities. Pupils are regularly assisted with free aids, including power-generating sets, computers and exercise books. Every year, free GCE and JAMB forms are given to candidates. Security is also improved by providing the police with logistics support.

    The recently inaugurated multi-storey building with 300 units of shops at Obafemi Awolowo Way has provided traders better options. So, have the 150 units of stalls at Onipetesi night market.

    But, Hon. Odunlami said the budget of transformation will be his financial instrument to further improve the living standards of the people in the council, in the 2014 fiscal year.

    Part of the expenditure estimates, he said, will be devoted to capital bills, overheads, and personnel wages, among others, but the council chairman added that his administration is determined to do more for the people this year.

    He appreciated the legislative arm of the council for the subsisting support his administration has received from the council lawmakers, which he said has helped driving growth in the council.

    The budget presentation coincided with a boost in school infrastructure in the council, as the Odunlami administration provided educational and other instructional materials to school pupils.

    The council handed out exercise books, pens and other writing materials to pupils during the annual Quiz Spelling Bee competition.

    The gesture was part of the education development project aimed to promoting unity among contestants and schools, identifying career prospects in the pupils, inspiring the young ones to cultivate the habit of healthy competition through intellectual, mental and physical contests.

    Eight schools participated in the competition which held at the council hall.

    In a welcome address, the chairperson of the Ikeja Local Government, Mrs Folasade Odunlami, praised the effort of the council leadership to give education, which is one of the prerogatives at the millennium development goal, a priority.

    She said: ‘‘I want to appeal to our children to bear in mind that you are future leaders and as such get yourselves prepared for the great task ahead by excelling in your studies. You can only become useful to yourselves and the society at large if you are obedient and well behaved at home and at school and the society at large. You should truly cherish the sacrifices being made by your parents to giving you a Brighter Rewarding Future (BRF).

    “l, therefore, appeal to the  leadership of this great local government to make provision for a befitting library and reading room for better and proactive education development. The competition is all about spelling fast and accurately.

    A pupil of Agidingbi Nursery and Primary school, Favour Ewuche, won in the Nursery and Primary School category closely followed by Airat Bioku and Femi Oguny-emi of Tokunbo-Alli Primary School and Shogunle Primary School, respectively.

  • Lawmaker empowers 500 in Ikorodu

    The Ikorodu Town Hall, last weekend, came alive with political activities. Before a large crowd of residents and the All Progressive Congress (APC) leaders, member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, donated various items, including cash and equipment to empower hundreds of people in her constituency.

    Visibly excited by the gesture, the beneficiaries, among who were physically-challenged person, were full of prayers to the lawmaker, praising her for giving them opportunity to be useful in the society.

    The beneficiaries beamed with smile as they stepped forward to receive the items from the former Lagos Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, who chaired the occasion. Ogunleye advised the recipients to make good use of the items to justify the lawmaker’s confidence in them.

    Other dignitaries at the event included the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba S.A Oyefusi, represented by Olori Taibat Oyefusi, Ranodu of Imota, Oba Ajibade Agoro, former Secretary to Lagos State Government, Chief Olorunfunmi Basorun, member representing Ikorodu constituency II in Lagos House of Assembly, Hon Sinai Agunbiade and Iya Kalo Kalo.

    To the lawmaker, empowerment of constituents should be a continuous programme for elected officers to reduce poverty in the society. Hon. Dabiri-Erewa, who noted that the empowerment programme was the biggest she had held, said: “We were surprised with the kind of assistance people needed when we received requests from people that filled the empowerment forms. We found out that some people just want to sell soft drinks, some want to sell beers, while some just needed wheel barrows to make a living.”

    She added: “Through my party, the APC, we want to help the people of Ikorodu, especially the women, no matter how small. The idea is just to have a positive impact on the lives of our people here in Ikorodu. And we want you to know that APC is the party that cares about the wellbeing of the people irrespective of race or religion.

    The lawmaker, who said she could not quantify the amount she spent on the empowerment programme, said the event was about touching the lives of the people she is representing. “I cannot calculate how much we spent to do this empowerment. I don’t even want to bring it down to naira and kobo, but the most important thing is that we must touch the lives of people that voted for us,” she said.

    Basorun, who described the lawmaker as people’s true representative, said he was gladdened that Ikorodu people supported Hon. Dabiri Erewa to represent them at the National Assembly. He said the lawmaker’s periodic empowerment and her decision not to abandon the people at the time of need was an indication that Ikorodu possessed people who could govern the state.

    He said: “It gladdens my heart that this empowerment programme is taking place at a time when poverty is wrecking havoc in the society. Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has shown to us that elected officials don’t have to run away from the people, who voted them in. We are here today because we want to leave Ikorodu better than we met it. She has performed and carried people along. We are happy that the people’s support for Abike Erewa is not misplaced.”

     

  • Who killed this varsity student?

    Who killed this varsity student?

    The murder of Taiwo Shittu, a 500 Level Fisheries student of the University of Ibadan, in her apartment in Ibadan (UI), three weeks ago has increased concern about security of lives and property across the country, writes BISI OLADELE

    When charming Taiwo Shittu came home early to catch a nap on Wednesday, February 19, after the day’s work, little did she know that it would be her last, as she was hacked to death with a machete in her room by an unknown assailant after being sexually assaulted.

    The 27-year-old, 500 Level Fisheries & Aquaculture student of the University of Ibadan (UI) lived off the campus with her elder sister around the Bola Ige International Market on New Ife Road, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    Taiwo had gone to school in the morning and returned at about 2:00pm on the fateful day to take a rest after a tedious practical session with her colleagues somewhere in the city. But a yet-to-be-apprehended killer went into her room in a two-room apartment with a cutlass and hit her on the head severally until she died in a pool of her blood one hour later.

    The police are still working hard to fish out her killers who are thought to have assaulted her sexually before macheting her to death. She was found naked in the room with only her underwear hanging on her thigh with blood all over her body. The cutlass was laid beside her.

     

    Who killed Taiwo?

    Taiwo’s sister, who rented the two-room apartment in the building that contains two other mini flats, gave details of the events that preceded Taiwo’s death.

    The woman, who did not want her name in print, recalled: “Around 7:00am on Tuesday, February 18, I heard a knock on the gate and I attended to the man. He introduced himself as a gardener engaged by the landlord to weed the compound. So I let him in. He went to the backyard and started preparing to start work. I left home to work at 7:15am and my sister went to school. She returned around 2:00pm. I met her at home when I returned in the evening.

    “The following day, the gardener returned at the same time. I opened the door again and returned to my room. I went to work again at 7:15am, leaving my sister behind. At about 9:20am, I returned home. By then, Taiwo had gone to school.

    “Shortly after I entered, the landlord entered the compound and checked all the apartments in the compound. I came out of my apartment and greeted him. He asked if I was the only tenant left in the compound and I answered in the affirmative. I also informed him that information at my disposal suggested that another tenant had paid and would soon move in.

    “Then he assured me that he would soon install a pumping machine in the well. After saying that, he went out of the gate and later came in with an Aluminum technician, who had worked on the building before. He faced that man and expressed surprise that he earlier told him that another tenant had moved in. But the man said he did not know. Then all of us went out of the gate.

    “I asked him to give me his phone number before he left so that I can be discussing with him directly. He said he was not leaving yet but still gave me the number. He said he would hold a meeting with the agent at about 3:00pm or 4:00pm later in the day. He discussed that over a telephone call with somebody.

    “Then, I withdrew into my apartment. I planned to leave for work around 2:00pm but I left before 2:00pm. I didn’t see any of them while leaving the compound. When I met my colleague at work, she asked why I left my phone at home because my sister picked it when she (my friend) called me at 2:15pm.

    “On getting home at about 5:30pm, I tried to open the gate but it was difficult. I eventually opened and later also opened my apartment. I thought my sister was sleeping in the room. When I went into the room, I met her naked with her underwear half removed with machete cuts on her head.

    “Out of fear, I ran outside the gate to the nearest building which is a Cherubim & Seraphim church, adjacent the building and raised the alarm. But they refused to follow me. They told me to invite the police.

    “Frustrated, I moved to another nearby building. The occupants screamed and all of them followed me into my apartment. Then I went back to work and my bosses followed me to the police station at Adelubi, behind Nigerian Breweries plant. The case was later transferred to the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CID), based on request by the University of Ibadan (UI).”

    She described her sister as “very gentle, cool and easy-going.” The bereaved said that the landlord sometimes visits the building.

    The Oyo State Police Command has since arrested the landlord and the gardener. It was learnt that the cutlass that the gardener was using was the same found beside Taiwo’s corpse.

    Narrating his ordeal, the landlord, Mr Oyawola Lawrence denied any involvement in the sad incident.

    The 65-year old retiree said: ”On February 18, I gave the gardener a clearing job in my yard. I have always engaged him for the job. So he is used to the premises.

    “There is a carpenter I have mobilised to fix the doors with an advance payment of N35,000.

    That same morning, he went from home to the site. I told the carpenter I was coming to pay him. The house is managed by an agent.

    “That 19th, (following day) Taiwo’s sister came out when we were there and we discussed. I promised to buy another pumping machine. She collected my phone number, saying the agent was not treating them well.  Then I left with the carpenter after noon.

    “Later in the evening somebody called me that something happened in my house, adding that the landlords (in the area) had gone to lodge a report at the police station. When policemen came, they could not gain access into the room because the door to the room was locked. They went back and got instruction to force it open. Then we saw the body.

    “The agent, two landlords and I went to the police station. The police said they learnt that somebody was cutting grass in the house. We made statements. They took the gardener to the house to show them where he kept the cutlass. He showed them but I don’t know the location. When we were leaving that day, policemen asked me to leave my number and I did. Then, on Saturday, they phoned and asked me to report at their station on Monday, 24th.

    “I have never met the girl in question. I only met the sister that day. I only said I would meet the agent in the evening to talk about how to buy pumping machine and I didn’t go back there that day.”

    The gardener, who simply identified himself as Azeez, is an imbecile. The 33-year old accused the landlord of killing Taiwo but his claims were full of contradictions and incoherent.

    While the Police are working on other leads that could help track down Taiwo’s killers, her classmates recalled a dutiful and easy-going friend.

    One of her closest friends, Dorcas Awosemo, described Taiwo as “cool, calm and easy-going.”

    She said: “We were very close and we’ve been relating since 100 Level. I don’t even know how to describe her. She was so cool, calm and easy going. I miss everything about her – meekness, gentleness – I miss everything about her. I miss her indeed.”

    She recalled that they went for a practical work at a stream in Ikolaba, area of the city, adding that they planned to meet the following day.

    “I was in the library. I couldn’t even believe it when Jumoke told me. She received a message. Immediately I saw her shaking, her hand was shaking and I asked her what happened. So she now showed me the message. I think it was a message on Whatsapp. I saw that Taiwo was murdered. I couldn’t believe it. I said it can’t be. I think the day the incident happened we went for a group assignment. So we both departed from Sango and I sent my regards to her sister and we planned to meet on Friday because that was on Wednesday so that we can finalise the practical assignment. Hearing the news on Thursday, that she had been murdered, it was unbelievable.

    “Taiwo was always available and whatever she found doing, she did. She was very good. She participated in the assignment. She was even the group leader. After the whole assignment when we were going, we were joking, smiling and not knowing that would be the end.”

    To Dorcas, the most striking qualities Taiwo possessed was dedication and discipline.

    Another close friend of the deceased, Olajumoke Akanmu recalled that she saw her a day before she was hacked to death.

    She said: “We had a class and we were given assignment. It was a practical assignment and she was the leader of her group and I was the leader of my group. So we discussed on how we were going to do the assignment. She told her group mates that they would be meeting the following day and that assignment was to look for a river. So I was even telling her they can use the river in Orogun for their own assignment. On that day, she even called me. She called to know if I had the equipment to be used for the assignment. That was my last encounter with her, it was on Wednesday, she called me in the morning.

    “Taiwo was a very quiet person, disciplined and principled. She was not a trouble maker. She would come to the class and greet everybody. She was very brilliant. When the lecturer was dictating, it was her note people used to borrow to fill in the gaps.

    “My friend was very caring, very nice. Because we were in the same group for the pro ITP, we went to Niger State together. We used to do things together. We cooked together. We would go to market, lectures and everything like that together. She was ready to assist and help any time.”

     

  • Ibadan fish consumers, mongers protest import ban

    Ibadan fish consumers, mongers protest import ban

    The Federal Government’s restriction on fish imports is causing a lot of hardship for sellers and consumers in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as prices of this main source of essential protein for the people have gone up almost beyond their reach. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports.

    These are hard times for residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital who have had to go without fish in their diet for some time now due to a sudden sharp increase in the prices of the food item, which serves as their major source of protein.

    When they first noticed the price increase about four months ago, most residents, especially housewives thought it was temporary, probably caused by unscrupulous traders, who created artificial scarcity to force the price up. But they were wrong, the price hike seems to be here to stay as the prices have continued to soar reaching an all time high

    A carton of sardine fish that used to sell for between N3,000 to N4,000 few months ago now sells for N9,000, while a packet of mackerel fish sold at N5,000 not too long ago now sells for N8,000. Also, a sizeable mackerel fish that sold for N150 before the hike is now N300, while one sardine fish which was formerly sold at N90 is now N150.

    The development has left both the sellers and buyers lamenting, wondering what has happened to the only commodity described as the “poor man’s food.” And they are worried that in the absence of fish in their diet, what becomes of the common man, who could not afford beef or goat meat.

    There were very few traders, who could afford to sell the commodity, while many consumers seeking to buy fish could not buy them because they could not afford the price.

    At the various markets visited in Ibadan and environs, many consumers could not explain the reasons for the increase in the price. At Dugbe, Oje, Bodija, Apata, Omi-Adio and Mokola, Ibadan markets the situation was the same. Those who have great taste for fish were found groaning and lamenting the situation.

    In fact, not even some fish depot operators could adduce reasons for the price increase which has caused many fish traders to abandon the once bubbling business. It took them up to one month before they learnt of a government restriction on fish import, which explains the scarcity and the attendant price increase.

    Initially, there was mass protest in Ibadan among fish sellers against the import restriction. This was later followed by a strike action which lasted for about three weeks, without drawing the sympathy of people in the corridors of power.

    Noticing that their protests have fallen on deaf ears, the aggrieved traders after some time decided to call off their strike when they could not sustain the action and went back to their shops.

    Describing the situation as unacceptable, one of the leaders of fish traders in Ibadan, Mrs Serifatu Oladimeji, who has her shop at Omi-Adio market said, it took the traders weeks before they were informed that there was restriction on fish importation into the country.

    “Such uninformed decision by the government was not only wrongly conceived, but the way it was planned was also wrong. I felt we are the stakeholders I mean the traders, the people, the consumers and the depot operators and so on.

    “Before implementing such a policy, the government should ensure that all stakeholders were carried along. Besides, before restricting the importation of such an essential commodity, the government should have thought of a possible replacement or an alternative to cushion the effect on the consuming populace. It shows the kind of leaders that we have at the helm of affairs. Are they really responsible to the people, and whose interest are they even protecting?” Mrs Afolabi Abosede, a consumer asked.

    In her argument, Mrs Sariyu Bolaji, another fish seller at Omi-Adio market described the restriction as anti-people, noting that such a staple diet common among the poor should not be restricted at all no matter what it takes the government. She said since the crisis in the fish industry, many Nigerians hardly eat food with anything because they cannot afford to buy meat.

    “You know, our common food here in Yorubaland is Amala (yam powder), Lafun (cassava powder) and Iyan (pounded yam). And we can’t eat this without a good soup cooked with fish because that is what majority can afford.

    “And when there is fish in the soup our belief is that we have a complete diet and good food. Although, we can add ponmo (cow skin) if we like, but fish is what majority will not do without,” she said.

    Another fish seller Mrs Sadia Wasiu, appealed to the Federal Government to reverse its decision on the restriction, adding, that Nigeria was not ripe for such an action.

    Sadia further called for government incentives for local fish producers so that there will be enough local production before placing restriction on fish import.

    At an interactive session with some stakeholders last week in Abuja, the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, defended government’s decision on fish import, stating that Nigeria spends an estimated N125.38billion on fish importation annually.

    The minister, who promised to reposition the fishery sector with a view to achieving fish sufficiency said that current situation in the sector is totally unacceptable.

    “Nigeria spends an estimated N125.38 billion importing fish every year,” the minister said.

    He further explained that total demand for fish in Nigeria is 2.7million MT but Nigeria is producing about 800,000 MT locally with the deficit of 1.9million MT being met by imports.

  • Deji’s stool: Six princes, deposed monarch battle for throne

    Deji’s stool: Six princes, deposed monarch battle for throne

    Six princes of the Osupa ruling house and the deposed Deji of Akure have entered the race to succeed the late paramount ruler of Akure land, Oba Adebiyi Adesida Afunbiowo, who joined his ancestors on December 1, 2013.

    The battle for the Deji’s stool is, however, causing crisis among the princes and princesses of Osupa ruling house, whose turn it is to ascend the throne. The royal family has broken into two with different set of leaders, each calling for expression of interest from any of their princes to become the next Deji of Akure.

    Following the passing on of Oba Adebiyi Adesida, his first daughter Princess Adetutu Adesida, has been installed as the regent in accordance with tradition a position she would hold until the next Oba is installed.

    There are two ruling houses recognised by law that can produce the Deji of Akure – Ojijigogun and Osupa. Late Oba Adebiyi Adesida came from Ojijigogun ruling house, hence the turn of Osupa ruling house to produce the next monarch of Akure land.

    Although, the Lisa of Akure Kingdom (Prime Minister), High Chief James Olusoga, in a recent chat with The Nation said succession to the Deji’s stool had not fully started, he stressed that it is the ruling house, whose turn it is to produce the next monarch that has the major responsibility of selection, after which the kingmakers will ratify.

    He pointed out that there is no time limit for the regent to be on the throne, saying if it took five weeks or five years for the ruling house concerned to be ready with the list of the contestants to the throne, the kingmakers would wait for them and will only do all other traditional rites including the consultation of Ifa oracle to pick the best from among the princes presented to them.

    The Ojijigogun ruling house had dominated the throne for more than 100 years aside the short reign of the deposed Oludare Adesina, between November 2005 to 2010 (five years), who is from the Osupa ruling house. He was accused of assaulting his wife publicly and was dethroned by the state government, though the deposed monarh denied the act.

    The six princes jostling for the throne for now are Wole Aladetoyinbo (US-based businessman), Kayode Adegbite (Akure businessman), Oluwole Ogunsuyi (Commissioner in Ondo State Judicial Commission), Femi Adejuyigbe (Akure saw miller), retired Air Commodore Leye Alabi (Lagos Businessman) and Kayode Abewajoye (popular television presenter with OSRC).

    However, the deposed Adesina, who is presently in United Kingdom (UK), is also fighting hard to return to the throne.

    Already, he had urged the Appeal Court to restrain Akure Kingmakers and the Ondo State government from filling the vacant stool in the ancient town.

    Adesina had approached the Court to plead that his case and application for relief which were struck out by an Akure High Court presided over by the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi, should be re-listed in the court list.

    The respondents in the suit are Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Akure Chiefs and Late Oba Adebiyi Adesida.

    Lawyers including Olalekan Ojo, Folorunso Ahmed and Olaniran Oladapo appeared for the Appellant, while F. A. Salami and Kayode Dare appeared for the Respondents.

    At the recent session, none of the Appellant and Respondents appeared in person before the court. The absence by the respondents was said to have been prompted by the death of the late Oba Adesida.

    Counsel to the chiefs, Kayode Dare pleaded that four of his clients (kingmakers) are dead and therefore nobody could appear for them until the stools are filled with new chiefs.

    Earlier, counsel to Adesina had prayed the court to extend the time within which to compile and transmit the record of appeal for proper transmission of the case.

    In her ruling, the presiding Judge, Denton West, ruled in favour of the deposed monarch, stressing that the counsel to the parties should choose a date and notify the court.

    According to her, the counsels should let the dead be and those alive should move ahead with the case.

    She added that the dead could not stop the case from being decided, urging both appellant and respondents to settle with concerned parties in order to restore peace.

    Justice West observed that if they should continue to pursue the case, it might take longer than expected especially now that no date has been fixed for hearing and the development might affect the processes for the installation of new Deji.

    In the crisis rocking the Osupa ruling house, the former Dr. Adebimpe Ogunleye and his secretary, Adebanjo Adeleye were reportedly removed at one of the royal house’s general meeting held on January 26.

    A member of the House, Toyin Aladetoyinbo, in a statement said a new head of the family and the secretary have been appointed and gave the names of Bishop Aladeyeye Aladegbaye and Michael Adeniyan as the new head of the family and sSecretary respectively.

    However, it was the sacked Ogunleye’s leadership faction that released the names of the contestants who filled the forms of intent for the vacant stool of Deji of Akure.

    But Aladetoyinbo has described Ogunleye’s action as null and void, since its leadership had been removed by the Osupa ruling house.

    According to him, any contestant to the Deji’s stool that obtained forms or wrote letter of intent to Ogunleye leadership was doing so at his own risk.

    Meanwhile, in an effort to ensure reconciliation within its ranks the ruling house has set up a committee headed by the Olu of Ilu-Abo and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae to settle the dispute within the royal house.

    Other members of the Committee include former Commissioner for Information in the state, Prince Olu Adegboro, Adeuya Oluwatuyi, Kayode Ajomale, Adebanjo Adeleye and two other personalities.

    In a chat with the new secretary of Osupa ruling house, Mr. Adeniyan said the leadership of Bishop Aladeyeye has been approved to run the affairs of the ruling house.

    According to him, the ruling house at its meeting in Akure at the weekend sent a letter to Governor Olusegun Mimiko to give a directive to Aladeleye’s leadership to commence various processes leading to the filing of the vacant Deji’s stool.

    A source within the Osupa family, who spoke in confidence on the chances of the deposed Adesina returning to the throne he forcefully vacated said this could only be possible if his banishment was lifted by the state government.

    Meanwhile, the regent, Princess Adetutu is intensifying efforts to ensure peaceful kingdom while her reign lasted.

  • Council promises people-oriented programmes

    Council promises people-oriented programmes

    Mindful of the need to further enhance both social and health needs of residents of his council area, Chairman, Oriade Local Council Development Area, Hon. Ibrahim Babatunde Sanusi has said the focus of his administration this fiscal year is to ensure that policies and programmes that would touch the lives of the people in more rewarding ways are evolved.

    He also promised that his administration will complete all ongoing projects both at the riverside and upland areas of the council before the end of the year.

    Hon. Sanusi made the promises after he and Leader of the council’s Legislative arm, Hon. Akeem Agbelega signed the 2014 budget proposal of N2,290,000,000 into law at the council’s secretariat.

    He said his administration remains committed to improving the well-being of the people, adding that the council will embark on more people-oriented projects this fiscal year. “Any part of the council that never benefited from our development drives would get one development project or the other,” he said.

    Expressing his happiness over the successful signing into law the budget proposal, Hon. Sanusi thanked members of the legislative arm for their speedy and critical approach to the budget proposal by the executive arm, saying it was an indication of their individual and collective commitment to the progress of the council.

    He said, the budget estimate comprises capital expenditure of 55 per cent and recurrent expenditure of 45 per cent, noting that his administration is committed to completing all ongoing infrastructural projects before the end of this tenure.

    On implementation of the budget estimate, the council chief noted that the council recorded about 95 per cent success in implementing last year’s budget, even as he promised that his administration intends to surpass that record this fiscal year.

    He said that as the level of government that is closest to the people, the local government system strives towards improving the well-being of the people. The local government, he said, takes care of the needs of the people at the grassroots by providing the much-needed necessities of life, emphasising that “all efforts made by the council are geared towards improving the lot of the people.”

    “We have to provide good and motorable roads, healthcare centres, water, rural electricity, schools and well equipped libraries and welfare for the senior and retired citizens.

    “Our commitment to the health of the people, especially those of women and children, is such that the council has decided to site primary healthcare centres in each of the wards in the council. We are determined to achieve this because the tenure of this administration is about coming to an end. We have established such in six out of the seven wards in the council. Before we leave office, the seventh one will be established. This administration will ensure that by May, all the primary health centres must be functional,” he said.

    Commenting on the budget estimate, the Leader of the Legislative arm of the council, Hon. Agbelega thanked the executive arm for proposing a non-cumbersome budget as, he said, the executive had in mind the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

    “As their representatives, our duty is to give them the best which has been captured in every aspect of the budget presented to the legislative arm by the executive for scrutiny. I, therefore, advise that the budget estimate should be judiciously implemented so that at the end of our tenure, we will be proud to say we have all done our best for our communities,” he said.