The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Oyo community needs education facilities

    Oyo community needs education facilities

    There stands a decrepit block of classrooms with the roof partially detached. The walls are dotted with large clusters of algae, creating an air of desolation.

    This is the feeling one gets upon arriving at Methodist Secondary School, Fiditi, Oyo State, where only one block of classrooms serves a community of 70, 000 people. These conditions exist despite N15 million earmarked for its renovation in last year’s federal budget.

    However, the project in Fiditi, one of the major towns in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, is not the only one abandoned.

    In Ajaawa, Ogo Oluwa Local Government Area, millions of Naira was earmarked for a borehole project . The construction of this project is yet to begin, while in Jobele, Afijio Local Government Area, the residents have remained in perpetual darkness for over two years despite the installation of a transformer provided for the community in last year’s federal budget.

    Poor learning conditions in Fiditi

    In Fiditi, the residents lamented the dilapidated state of the classroom blocks and other buildings at Methodist Secondary School. While construction of Alaafin High School had been completed, the buildings at Methodist Secondary School had been neglected despite N15 million budgetary allocations for both projects.

    Ademuyiwa Adeyemi David, an Oyo State Project Tracking Officer for TRACKA, an initiative which tracks community projects in Nigeria, confirmed the approval and award of contract for the reconstruction of Methodist Secondary School, even as he could not explain why the project has not taken off.

    “I came to this town last year and I told an uncle that Oyo State government intends to build a block of three classrooms for the school. The uncle said he would relay the information to the principal of the school.

    “The project was supposed to be undertaken in two phases at both Alaafin High School and Methodist Secondary School. When we discovered that the other project at Alaafin School had been completed, while the one here (Methodist Secondary School) was yet to commence, we decided to write letters to the community’s elected representatives,” David said.

    Fiditi population relies on this school for its post-primary education. Fortunately, the school has been functional because of the contributions of the members and leaders of the community.

    Mrs. Aina Ogunnubi, a resident whose child attends the school, stated that it took the intervention of the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA), to maintain the only functioning block of classrooms.

    She said: “Look at the school’s surroundings; it took the efforts of parents to have this last block of classrooms standing. The roofs of the buildings fell off. Even the other buildings have become decrepit.”

    Her complaints were further corroborated by the Chairman of the Community Development Association (CDA), Mr. John Adebayo, who said the needs of the community transcend provision of classrooms.

    He noted that while education was a major challenge confronting the community, there were others challenges as well.

    With respect to the school, Adebayo said: “…the school buildings are in bad shape. Only one block of classrooms is available at Methodist Secondary School.

    “The rest have been destroyed by wind. Floodwaters come inside this classroom and if nothing is done in about a year, these classrooms will be gone.”

    He pleaded with the government to provide roads, electricity, jobs, and reconstruction of the schools.

    The schools are part of the constituency project attracted by Hon. Akeem Adeniyi, who represents Afijio/Oyo East/Oyo West/Atiba Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives.

    • Ilevbaoje is a Project Manager with Tracka/BudgIT Nigeria

     

  • Youths kick against restructuring

    Members of the Yoruba Youths Congress (YYC) have kicked against agitations for restructuring of the country, stressing that it is ill-timed.

    Besides, the group said the National Assembly can legislate on certain issues, especially, resource control to favour the state governments.

    The group said those yearning for regional government as a form of restructuring do not have the interest of the country at heart.

    National leader of the group, Wale Alake who spoke with reporters in Akure, the state capital, said there are more fundamental issues that needed to be addressed urgently before the issue of restructuring could be considered.

    Alake noted that there was need to restructure the minds of our leaders across the country so that the nation would have nationalists and selfless leaders as against regionalist and self-centred ones.

    He said instead of conceiving the idea of regionalism, there can be a referendum on some parts of the Constitution to be amended to address economic restructuring.

    The YYC national leadership said institutions must also be built and strengthened so as to be alive to their responsibilities.

    His words: “We believe that there is no challenge we face as a nation currently that cannot be overcome if various institutions of government are strengthened to work at optimum level.

    “Advocates of restructuring complain of marginalisation in government appointments in various agencies. There’s an agency of government to take care of such. If it were alive to its responsibilities, such lop-sidedness would have been corrected.

    “If the Code of Conduct Bureau was alive to its responsibilities, corruption would have been made unattractive and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would have had lesser jobs to do.”

    He accused some elite and the ruling class of being behind the clamour for restructuring, saying it is not for the benefit of the masses.

    He said: “The loudest advocate of restructuring are the manipulative elite and ruling class who manipulate the narrative to suit their selfish and parochial interests.

    “I have not seen or heard any one of them elucidating on how restructuring would benefit the suffering masses who, on daily basis, are confronted with various problems ranging from hunger to lack of basic needs of life.

    “This group of people go as far as cajoling the masses to take position that are even   detrimental to their own well-being.

    “If Nigeria is restructured, are we going to bring people from the Mars to run the system? Isn’t it the same ruling class that has almost ‘knocked” the engine of the vehicle of the present structure that will hold sway at the regional level?”

    The group said if the agitations for restructuring are not curtailed, it might lead to unconscious gravitation towards secession.

    It said the National Assembly is in the best position to address any issue of socio-economic, political and any seemingly structural imbalances.

  • Council preaches cleanliness

    Worried by the filthy environment which could cause health problems for the residents, the Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has begun the clearing of major streets of junks, kiosks and shanties. The exercise, it said, would also enhance smooth vehicular movement.

    Speaking during the exercise, the Chairman of the council, Comrade Kamal O. Salau-Bashua insisted that illegal structures, dumping of refuse in drainage and canals and such habit that can degenerate the environment would not be condoned.

    Kamal said residents must be prepared to adopt a cleaner and more environment-friendly attitude in line with the Cleaner Lagos Initiative. The council chief, who sensitised the residents to the health hazards associated with living in such deplorable environment, said such situation can cause epidemic if government did not take urgent steps to better such horrible condition.

    Leading other environmental officers of the council in the exercise, Salau-Bashua said apart from demolishing illegal structures, the council will also clear drainage and canals to avoid unnecessary erosion menace.

    Highlight of the exercise was the instant carting away of demolished debris and refuse which members of the Community Development Association (CDA), community leaders and officials of the state environmental task force on the environment participated.

    Appreciating the efforts of the council to ensure cleaner environment for the residents, Alhaji Moruf Babatunde Oshodi (Chairman, Epetedo Indigenes’ Association) said the exercise was very commendable and timely, especially as it coincides with the ongoing 155th anniversary celebrations of the Epetedo Community.

    Expressing his gratitude to the Epetedo Community for creating a unifying platform that will enhance the well-being of the council and its residents, the council chief implored other communities to emulate the exemplary initiative of Epetedo community, promising that the exercise will be a continuous one.

  • Foundation lifts family of eight out of poverty

    Foundation lifts family of eight out of poverty

    Hope Rising Homes Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, has brought succour the way of the family of Mr Peter Emmanuel, his wife, Blessing and their six children. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI reports.

    Life has become meaningful for a family of eight, after being homeless and in abject poverty since the last 10 months.

    Mr Peter Emmanuel, his wife, Blessing and their six children, Stephen, Ekene, Chukwuel, Ada, Taiwo and Kehinde were on September 15 treated to a surprise presentation of a two bedroom, fully furnished accommodation in Ikola Ipaja, area of Lagos state.

    The accommodation was presented to them by Hope Rising Homes Foundation, a non-governmental organisation.

    The flat was all tiles. The living room was furnished with sitting room chairs, centre tug and a centre table. Television, fan, extension box and freezer were also there.

    The children’s room had wardrobe and fan; two bed bunks, four mattresses with bed spread and pillows.

    The parent room had a large bed with matters and bed spread, four pillows covered with pillow cases, fan and wardrobe.

    The kitchen had gas cooker with cylinder; pots, frying pan, kitchen and dining cutleries and plates in a plate rack.

    It was also stored with food items including rice, beans, gari, semo, palm oil, groundnut oil, vegetables, cray fish and indamine, among others.

    As the Emmanuel family was brought into the flat, with their faces tied with handkerchief, they were surprised, seeing what has been done for them by the Foundation.

    Mr Emanuel and his wife, Blessings broke into tears of joy, even as they showered prayers on the Foundation for the kind gesture.

    Mr Emmanuel said he was astonished at what he saw. “Even though they told me they would give us accommodation, I never believed it would be this much and furnished. God has taken away my tears and shame. I thank God for Hope Rising Homes Foundation,” he said, as tears rolled down his eyes.

    He and his wife lifted their hands as they worshiped God. The members of the Foundation and some of Mr Emmanuel’s extended family members  joined them as they sang praises and danced. The Emmanuel’s children played around their new house.

    Mr Emmanuel told The Nation that his family had been homeless and in abject poverty since last November when their three-bedroom apartment in Elegushi, Ikate wàs demolished by the Lagos State government.

    Mrs Emmanuel said she also lost her shop where she sells food stuff to the demolition. As a result, she resorted to begging on the streets of Lagos, with her twins who were barely a month old then. She had to beg to feed her family.

    “Life has been difficult; I could no longer do the business, which I did in Lekki, and as a result of the demolition, three of my children who were of school age had stopped their education due to financial challenges,” Mr Emmanuel said.

    He thanked the Foundation for coming to rescue him and his family. He described the months of homelessness as terrible and unbearable, saying they lived in a small kiosk wood house at Oko Baba Sawmail in Ebute Meta since his house was demolished.

    Mrs Emmanuel said she is happy for the gesture. “The Foundation came to my family and changed the entire story of our life.”

    The Nigeria representative of the Foundation, Mrs Hekmot Alakija, who represented the Foundations Chairperson, Mrs Titilayo Lawal, said the gesture was their way of giving back to the society and relieving people who are in crisis.

    “Our aim as a Foundation is to raise people who are homeless up; give hope to the hopeless and God has been faithful. We thank God that this project  a reality.

    Explaining how the Foundation met the family, She said: “We had a programme last year at Teslium Baloogun Stadium (TBS) for vulnerable children and the less privilege. I saw Mrs Emmanuel with her twins, who were then less than a month old, with her first son in front of National Stadium asking for alms. It is quite unusual to see an Igbo woman begging for alms; this was what attracted me to her and I invited her for the programme which she did. After the programme, the Foundation  picked seven family which we would help; but out of them all, it was only Mrs Emmanuel that regularly picked my call, sent me text messages and told me all the problems her family was going through. She explained that she gave birth to her twins shortly after the demolition exercise; this affected her health, she could no longer concentrate on the children and this made her to start begging for alms.

    “I communicated with Mrs Lawal and we took it upon ourselves as a Foundation to help the family. While we were looking for an accommodation for the family, I on behalf of the Foundation took food stuffs to family monthly, while they stayed in Ebute Meta.

    “Their ply wood house had no address, no ventilation, and no space for the children to move round and was not conducive for the family. The children, we discovered had stopped going to school.

    “It was difficult getting an accommodation for a family of eight, but we thank God. The Foundation also got admission for three of the children into St Andrew Primary school, Ipaja. We got them the school uniforms, school bags, books, school sandals and socks among others. We did all of these for the family because of the children.

    “We have paid the rent for the accommodation, we will pay all other bills including NEPA and security bills, we will continue to provide the family with food items, small allowance and plans are ongoing to empower Mr Emmanuel in Keke Maruwa business.  We will continue to do all of these until we see that the family is financially capable and we would move to impact another family.”

    She urged the couple to focus on their children and set a bright future for them. “We expect them in the next few years to start giving back to their society,” she said.

  • ‘Lagos of our dream real under Ambode’

    Chairman Mt. Sinai Hospital Dr. Charles Fadipe has said the dreams of the founding father of Lagos State are becoming reality under the present administration.

    He recalled that the agitation for the creation of Lagos State in the late 60s was to rescue the Centre of Excellence from the slavery mentality that only foreigner had the magic wand to produce good things.

    He noted that the health sector now compares with some of the best in the world because the present administration has proved that the state does not lack credible leadership.

    Fadipe said the struggle for the creation of Lagos State resulted in what the people are enjoying now, recalling that he and other activists such as the late Aka Bashorun, Tunji Gomez (lawyers) and others founded a local newspaper called Lagos Pax to give impetus to the clamouring for the creation of Lagos State.

    He said: “During the civil war, I decided to return home to contribute my own quota to the development of Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general. On my return, I joined the Lagos State Ministry of Health where I worked in several hospitals, the last being Creek Hospital, Ikoyi.

    “I got drafted into the army as a Captain but rose to the rank of a Major. It was at the end of the war that I left the army, and subsequently, the services of Lagos State Ministry of Health. Thereafter, I established my own private medical organisation, the Ijora Industrial Clinic.

    “This became the first industrial clinic in Nigeria and from just one outfit, it spread to various industrial and residential areas of Lagos State before eventually metamorphosing to the now famous Mt Sinai Hospital and Clinics Group,” he said.

    Fadipe urged Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to recruit some of the best hands in the world to Lagos health sector, stressing the rapid development in the state needs to be matched by the transformation of clinical services.

    “There is no doubt that the development has been so massive. Development in Lagos State has been going very fast which is good. Lagos State health sector has moved as fast as it should be. You cannot compare the state’s health sector to that of many other states. I had an operation done in the Gbagada General Hospital and I was very impressed with the doctors there.

    “The Ministry of Health needs to scout for doctors who are very dedicated to their professions. They need to know what a life or soul can cost. No doctor should leave his work or post during holidays, they must be available. If it will cost the government to pay more, let them do so,” he said.

  • ‘We must have a say in how we’re governed’

    ‘We must have a say in how we’re governed’

    Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was again chosen as a place of history as many Yoruba leaders, including governors and traditional rulers, converged on the city penultimate week for a summit. At the historic meeting, similar to that of 1956, a common position was taken on the need for the restructuring of Nigeria and the model to be adopted.

    The summit brought several Yoruba socio-cultural and political groups together under one platform to tackle a common problem. For the first time in many years, for instance, members of Afenifere sat together with their peers in the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) and members of the two factions of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) sat together and spoke in one language.

    So were governors under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Members of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and Atayese also addressed the gathering. Former ministers, traditional rulers, activists, professionals, artisans, students, market men and women and others coalesced at Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba Ibadan to be part of history.

    After the meeting which lasted six hours during which frank contributions were entertained, the summit made what it described as the ‘Ibadan Declaration,’ urging the Federal Government to urgently restructure Nigeria along regional lines. They called for a return to the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with relevant modifications which gave more powers to the regions.

    The highlight of the summit was the participation and endorsement of the position by Southeast and South-south ethnic groups which were represented by their leaders.

    In his goodwill message, Chief John Nwodo, who led a delegation of the Igbo nation to the summit, expressed strong support of the Southeast people for the agitation for restructuring. He said the Igbo are clear in their agitation for regionalisation to allow rapid development.

    “I came here with a large delegation to show solidarity for this summit. Today’s event shows that democracy is growing in Nigeria. Since after 1963, Nigerians have not been allowed to have their say in the way they are being governed. The Igbo are saying it loud and clear that we must have a say in how we are being governed,” he said.

    While highlighting the potential of Nigeria in wealth creation and ability to become great, Nwodo referred to the example of Netherlands which he said earns about $18 billion yearly from its agriculture sector.

    According to him, the size of Netherlands is not up to the size of Niger State of Nigeria. With fertile land all across Nigeria, Nwodo said restructuring would allow each federating unit to untilise its resources for advantage.

    Chief Albert Hosefall, who led a delegation of South-south ethnic groups, also lent the support of his people to the agitation, saying the Yoruba are welcome to the move for resource control.

    “We thank you because you have caught the fire of agitation. We don’t want a federation run on unitary system of government,” he said.

    The contributions and support of the South-south and Southeast regions widened the scope of the agitation for restructuring in Nigeria. Observers believe that the wind of restructuring blowing across the entire three regions in Southern Nigeria is a call for change which is too strong to be defeated.

    However, the new position is a revival of the idea and move by former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2000. Tinubu had established the Southern Governors’ Forum in 2000 with a clear aim of making all the states in Southern Nigeria speak with one voice for the progress of the three regions in particular and Nigeria in general.

    The former governor, at the time, looked beyond political party affiliations by extending invitation to all the other 16 governors in the South. Tinubu also added a seat for the governor of Kwara, suggesting that the state is largely southern in composition given that over 70 per cent of those indigenous to Kwara State are Yoruba. Shortly after, the Northern Governors’ Forum was formed.

    Though the idea succeeded for a while, political factors and suspicion that Tinubu was trying to force himself as a leader on other governors made the project crumble. But the Ibadan Declaration, which came 16 years after, confirmed that the agitation has always existed in the deep part of the heart of southerners.

    This time, the summit, which was chaired by legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), issued a 16-point communique which emphasised the urgent need to practise true federalism. The communique also highlighted the details of the expected reform including fiscal analysis of a restructured Nigeria.

    Babalola, who set the tone for the summit, said many of the problems confronting Nigeria currently derived from the partitioning of Africa by the European colonialists for their selfish economic interests.

    Tracing Nigeria’s development, the legal icon recalled that the country witnessed its greatest development under the 1963 Constitution.

    He said: “Our country’s history is replete with the incontrovertible fact that Nigeria witnessed her greatest and fastest economic, political, social and educational development during self-government and the First Republic. Each of the regions was fairly autonomous and could legislate over a number of items which have, at present, been taken over by the Federal Government. It was during this period that each region began its own regional developmental efforts. There were mutual healthy rivalries to compete for development.”

    Drawing the gains of the 1963 period over the current system in a thorough comparison, Babalola said the next generation of Yoruba children will condemn their leaders’ silence if we refuse to speak out and take the right position now.

    He emphasised the imperative of restructuring, stressing that the wind of restructuring is blowing over Nigeria.

    The lawyer posited that “restructuring would enable each state to control its population, set internationally-acceptable standard for admission to tertiary institutions to ensure quality education, which will, in turn, restore our universities’ glorious years.”

    Others who addressed the gathering included National Leader of Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti; Chairman Afenifere Renewal Group, Hon. Wale Oshun; Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; Femi Fani-Kayode; Chief (Mrs) Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, President-General Yoruba Council of Elders, Chief Idowu Sofola (SAN), Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, Tokunbo Ajasin and representatives of the governors of Oyo, Ondo, Ogun and Osun states. They all spoke in favour of restructuring.

    The summit was also attended by former Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Prof. Banji Akintoye, Otunba Deji Osibogun, Senator Gbenga Kaka, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Mr Yinka Odumakin, Yoruba social cultural groups, professional bodies, market leaders, youth groups, friends of the Yoruba nation and Yoruba from Kogi and Kwara states.

  • Royal fathers urged to sustain cultural heritage

    The National Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams has advised African traditional rulers to intensify the propagation of the rich cultural heritage, values and traditions of the black race.

    Adams said for Africa to succeed and maintain its rightful position in the world, premium must be placed on her distinct values, customs and traditions that distinguished them from other races in the world.

    He gave the advice at the Ataoja’s Palace in Osogbo while receiving traditional chieftaincy title of Agba Akin of Osogbo land from the traditional ruler, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun.

    ýAdams, who described Africans as the most blessed race in the world, said unless efforts are made towards harnessing the continent’s socio-economic and cultural endowments, her position would be difficult to identify and reckon with.

    ýThe OPC National Coordinator, who called on traditional rulers and other custodians of African cultures and traditions to defend the continent’s God-given potential, said no effort must be spared at raising the bar of African traditional endowments for the betterment of all.ý

    ýHe bemoaned the manner at which some people desecrate traditional institutions, noting that “unless we value our endowments and give them priority attention, it would not be valued by others”.ý

    ýThe Agba Akin of Osogbo land said it behoves on every black man to regard his culture and tradition as sacred that shouldn’t be allowed to be either desecrated or fade away by worldly frivolities. ý

    He said: “It is disheartening that our culture, tradition and values are gradually going into extinction. This has not only posed a threat to our national and international lives but also defaced our identity as a black race.   ý

    ý”We must begin to do the necessary things to reposition our continent as the richest race with the most valued ýcultures and traditions in the world.

    “Our people, particularly the traditional rulers, must see the need to revamp the decadence in the system and place us above other races as regards socio-cultural heritage and values.

    “Africans are known for distinct values and virtues, thus we must all maintain the standard by being conscious of what define us as a people with valued culture, heritage and traditions. ý

    ý”All hands must be on deck to rejuvenate, develop and promote anything that will further enrich us in our collective values as a people and continent.

    “So, for no reason should Africans, particularly the Yoruba, mortgage their culture, tradition and heritage.”ý

    ýAdams, who described the ancient town of Osogbo as one of the most oriented communities in Africa, said the town has made a landmark in the history that conjoined Africans as a race.ý

    ýSpeaking on the hardship posed by economic recession being experience by Nigerians, he lent his voice to the clamour to restructure Nigeria, saying the move remains the best alternative for genuine development.ý

    The OPC National Coordinator, who advocated immediate restructuring of Nigeria along regional lines to enhance the development of the country and rescue her from imminent crash, suggested the adoption of mutual understanding and compromise to make Nigeria workable.

    Adams, who assured Yoruba of adequate quality and efficient representation as being demonstrated by the organisation in its effort to provide security, said the OPC, in collaboration with other security agencies, had performed well by flushing the dreaded Badoo cultist group out of Lagos.

    ýEarlier, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Adetunji Olanipekun said decision to confer such revered chieftaincy title on Adams was in recognition of his tremendous contributions to the growth and development of Osogbo, Yoruba land, Nigeria and Africa.

    Ataoja, who described Adams as a symbol of Yoruba and African culture, said his position as the leader of OPC has been used to attract respect for Africans, particularly the Yoruba.

    “We don’t just confer titles on people if such beneficiaries cannot justify such titles. As par Gani Adams, he is eminently qualified for it. That is why we deemed it fit to bestow on him, the Agba Akin of Osogbo land.

    “To us, this title is historic and valued in Osogbo and Yoruba nation and we believe strongly that it will not only encourage him to do more in impacting on the lives of the people but will also help in strengthening our cultural heritage as his new title is a round peg in a round hole”, Ataoja said.

  • Ekiti communities benefit from EU water, sanitation programme

    Ekiti communities benefit from EU water, sanitation programme

    The European Union (EU) and Ekiti State government are collaborating to provide water, sanitation and hygiene facilities for people at the grassroots in a bid to reduce mortality rates that are caused by lack of such facilities. This dominated discussion at an EU-supported Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme Phase III (WSSSRP III). ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

    The  Ekiti State Ministry of Public Utilities, in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has organised an Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Water Resources Sector, Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

    The programme was aimed at  domesticating the National Framework on Water Resources Monitoring and Evaluation.  The state government set up the Inter-Ministerial Working Group to identify areas of collaboration with  the EU and the UNICEF, particularly in the area of water supply and sanitation.

    The support, stakeholders maintain, has become necessary because access to potable water is low, particularly at the rural areas despite the measures adopted in the past to ameliorate the situation.

    It should be noted that poor sanitation and hygiene situations are the main causes of diarrhoea,  malaria and under-five mortality.

    The challenge facing Ekiti State’s water and sanitation sectors is multifaceted and hinge on defining the roles of stakeholders, building their skills and availability of financial resources to maintain long-term infrastructure.

    This is demonstrated in inadequate sector policy, institutional framework and weak institutions that are poorly funded and unable to deliver on their mandates.

    The consequence of these problems is the inability of institutions related to water resources sector to deliver sustainable water and sanitation services to the people.

    Therefore, the EU-supported Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme Phase III (WSSSRPIII) was designed to address the priorities of the European Development Fund Country Support under Focal Sector 2 that promote state and local governance platforms.

    The overall objective was to support the effort of local and state governments to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the sectors.

    The WSSSRP III, which is being implemented in three states of the federation, has taken off in Ekiti State in two local government areas of Gbonyin and Ekiti West.

    Speaking at the workshop, EU-WSSSRP III Institutional and Policy Expert (IPE), Mr. Alaba Ogunsanjo, said the programme which runs from 2013 to 2018 focuses on improving water governance (water policies, laws and institutional framework) and access to safe water and sanitation through improved service delivery.

    Ogunsanjo further explained that the programme is being funded by the EU in a cost-sharing arrangement with the state and local government areas.

    He also revealed that the EU has been supporting the state in the implementation of soft components of the project which include baseline survey in small towns  in Gbonyin and Ekiti West local government areas.

    Others, according to him, are series of capacity building activities for state and local government workers, support in the implementation of water and sanitation policy and law and support for the development of monitoring and evaluation systems, among others.

    He said: “The EU has supported Ekiti State in the identification, prioritisation and selection of water schemes for rehabilitation and upgrading and these include Egbe Dam, Ikogosi Water Scheme and Ido-Ile Water Scheme.

    “The EU has also trained state and local government officials, civil society organisations and the media on community management in water supply, sanitation and hygiene in Gbonyin and Ekiti West local government areas on the best practices in the sector.

    “The move will ensure accessibility, affordability, accountability and sustainability in small towns in the two focal local government areas.

    “The EU, through the Ministry of Public Utilities, facilitated community management capacity building for water consumers’ associations in small towns in Gbonyin and Ekiti West local government areas.

    “The development was intended to ensure community participation, ownership and sustainability of projects and programmes in the water supply, sanitation and hygiene sectors of the economy.”

    In his remarks, Commissioner for Public Utilities, Chief Tunde Ogunleye, expressed concern over what he called “inadequate and conflicting data for water resources sector at state and local government levels.

    He said this has become a source of concern despite efforts made to strengthen planning and monitoring systems by government and development partners.

    The commissioner explained that the Ayo Fayose-led administration recognised the importance of water resources sector and is therefore focusing on policies and programmes that would ensure its availability.

    Ogunleye revealed that Ekiti already has a water supply policy and law that have been approved while monitoring and evaluation framework for water resources would soon be approved by the government.

    The step, he noted, would make Ekiti State one of the first states in Nigeria to domesticate the framework.

    The commissioner commended the EU, UNICEF, World Bank, WaterAid and other donor agencies for their intervention and commitment to the realisation of monitoring and evaluation framework.

    Ogunleye added: “The state government has also shown her commitment through the payment of N206 million which is part of the 30 per cent state’s and LGAs’ counterpart contributions for the WSSSRP III project.”

    The state’s Chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, Sir Olu Ogunrotimi, pleaded with the state government to fulfil its financial obligations towards the realisation of the WSSSRP III.

    Ogunrotimi commended the efforts of the donor agencies in providing water, sanitation and hygiene facilities to boost public health, reduce mortality rates and make life better for the populace.

  • Patient needs N10m for renal transplant

    Miss Yomade Balogun, a 29-year-old graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has pleaded with good-spirited Nigerians to assist her to raise the sum of N10 million to enable her to undergo renal transplant in India.

    Balogun, who is a Sociology and Archaeology graduate  is billed for her second renal transplant in India,  according to a medical report dated August 30, 2017 and signed by Dr. A. A. Sonanya for the Head of Nephrology Unit.

    In a letter with reference number SUB/LASUTH/MED/2017/303, the report stated: “The above named is a known patient of our unit, who presented for the first time in April, 2017. She had a renal transplant done about two-and-a-half years ago in India prior to presentation.

    “She subsequently developed a failed renal allograft  and is now on maintenance haemodialysis (once a week).

    “She attends regular out-patient nephrology clinic and is currently being worked up for a repeat renal transplantation. Therefore, any assistance you can render will be most beneficial to the patient.”

    The mother, Mrs Sade Balogun,  a civil servant and a widow, appealed to Nigerians to assist her daughter in prayers and cash donations.

    “Yomade wants to live. She still has dreams and believes so much in what the future holds,  and if God has kept her till now,  then there is more to her life,” she said.

    Mrs Balogun, along with friends and well-wishers who initiated #Saveyomadeagain, gave her account details as Balogun Yomade, Diamond Bank: 0053729632 (Naira account); Balogun Yomade Diamond Bank: 0051136447 (Dollar account).

    For further enquiries, interested donors can contact the family on these phone numbers: 08130733723, 0816 170 4065 and 07036345534.

  • Lagos offers hope, opportunities, says don

    Lagos offers hope, opportunities, says don

    Lagosians have been advised to support Lagos State government’s efforts in redefining the state’s social and business environment.

    The advice was given by Mr Rasheed Ojikutu, a Professor of Statistics and Dean, Faculty of Business Administration, the University of Lagos.

    He said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had proved that he was a dependable hand for the transformation of the state.

    He revealed that Lagos remains the melting-pot of cultures and traditions of the Nigerian nation, noting that it is a principal state in Nigeria which Africa and the world is proud of.

    The don noted that the state’s socio-demographic indicators are magnets to investors and key world leaders, noting that with the spatial endowment, the state remains one of the largest human settlements in the world after Mumbai and Tokyo.

    “It is a community full of hopes and opportunities for all and sundry. But we must always be conscious of the fact that this can only be sustained on the platform of peace, concord and harmony among the plural ethnic nationalities residing in the state.

    “There should not be deliberate effort to undermine the well-being and welfare of the natives because doing so could engender discontent and unhappiness which would, in turn, have negative effect on the life of the people. I wish to counsel that the natives should not be side-lined in the midst of this abundance.

    “It is not uncommon in large urban centres such as Lagos for the majority who are usually migrants to “swallow” the natives and render them economically and politically prostrate. This attitude, if not checked could pose grave danger to peaceful co-existence either now or in the foreseeable future,” he said.

    He said: “In the next 10 years, I hope to be part of a Lagos where peace and concord would continue to reign among all residents of the state, irrespective of nationality, race or creed. It is within such an amiable environment that investments thrive.

    “Sincerely, the fortunes of Lagos have improved since the advent of democracy in 1999 and I do hope that the next generation of leaders would do all within its powers to increase and improve on these advantages. Look at the extensive achievements of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode within two years. It shows the potential that abound in Lagos in terms of human and other resources. These resources should be harnessed for the well-being of its inhabitants.

    “I wish to see a Lagos that grows to become one of the best states in the world in terms of its economy, politics and social life of its people. A Lagos that would become the pride of Africa,” he said.