The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • NGO lifts rural mothers in Makoko

    NGO lifts rural mothers in Makoko

    It was a good time for no less than 100 mothers in Makoko, a riverine community in Lagos, last week when a non-governmental organisation, AugustSecrets, surprised them with different types of foodstuff.

    Speaking at the event, the NGO’s founder, Oluwatoyin Onigbanjo, said mothers at the grassroots should be encouraged to make homemade meals for their babies from locally available food items, such as beans, grains and fish.

    She said this would lead to better nutrition for the children and “Augustsecrets makes this range of food affordable”.

    A statement by the organiser reads: “AugustSecrets is a growing baby and toddler food solutions company with the goal of helping Nigerian mothers to feed their children healthier food options, rather than junk foods. It provides recipes online and runs a homemade food range of paps, locally-made cereals from everyday home-grown foodstuffs like vegetables, fruits, and grains. Its major strength is busy mothers with fussy eaters and children who are malnourished due to poverty and displacement.  Augustsecrets reaches more than 50,000 young mothers all over the world on social media with its recipes and cooking tips.

    “The AugustSecrets community “Give back” project is one of the activities leading to the  official launch of the “AugustSecrets Sample Meal plan book that will be unveiled soon, the aim is to sensitise women at the grassroots the importance of healthier complimentary foods for their babies and toddlers. The workshop kicked off in the riverine area of Makoko community where over 100 rural women were educated and encouraged to serve more varieties to their children like proteins and fibre-rich locally available foods and given free Augustsecrets guinea corn and maize mix.

    “The educative give back workshop will spread to other parts of Lagos before the official launch of the AugustSecrets Sample Meal Plan book in a bid to sensitise more mothers.”

  • Radiance of a king

    Radiance of a king

    Glamour, culture and tradition were on display.  Steadily urbanising Ilese community in Ogun State was installing one of its princes, Prince Oluremi Owolabi Obayomi, a retired permanent secretary and public administrator from the Fowosere Ruling House, as its traditional ruler.

    Oba Obayomi, the Aladepe11, succeeded Oba Babatunde Adebisi of the Pako Ruling House who joined his ancestors in January 2015.

    The Staff and Certificate of Office were presented to him around 1:46pm by Govermor Ibikunle Amosun amid rapturous joy from enthusiastic crowd of Ijebu royal fathers, members of the Anglican community and townsfolk, including five masquerades, who graced the coronation at the Ilese Secondary School open field.

    The colourful and historical presentation was   witnessed by the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, who was represented by the Dagburewe of Idowa, Oba Yinusa Adekoya, Speaker, the Ogun State House of Assembly, Suraj Adekunbi, Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Taiwo Adeo-luwa,  Otunba Kunle  Kalejaiye (SAN), the Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Oba Abdul-Rasaq Adenugba, Limeri of Awa, Oba Moses Abeeb, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Basorun Muyiwa Oladipo, his counterpart in the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Jide Ojuko, the Alaporu of Ilaporu, Oba Jimoh Quadri and a galaxy of the town’s sons and daughters.

    The formal presentation of instrument of office was followed by the final rite, which involved the Oba taking some calculated back and forth dance steps to the sounds of a dozen traditional Ijebu Gbedu drums of varying sizes. 10 drummers called Alugbedu Oba with Chief Alugbedu of Ilese, Chief Atiku Ashiru, as their leader, provided the needed ambience.

    Oba Obayomi was joined in this last rite by some Ijebu traditional rulers, including the Ebumawe of Ago- Iwoye,  Oba Abdul-Rasaq Adenugba, who  served as a guide as the new mornach performed the esoteric and rhythmic dance steps to the Gbedu drummers, and ending the exercise by touching one of the special drums with his bare right foot three times.

    Elated Oba Obayomi attributed his emergence as an Oba to God, revealing that he had never thought of becoming a traditional ruler of Ilese community.

    He said the clamour for him to ascend the traditional stool jarred with his personal wish and desire, adding that he yielded to the call following series of persuasion from the princes among others.

    Obayomi said: “Our immortal, invisible and only wise God works in mysterious ways. This is clearly manifested in the numerous ways He has been granting me uncommon favouras well as performing wondrous things in my life.

    “For being singled out of several illustrious Ilese princes and eventually selected to ascend the throne of my forefathers is the Lord’s doing . It is indeed, awesome and marvellous.

    “Honestly, the thought of becoming a traditional ruler has never crossed my mind as it is utterly against my personal wish and desire to clamour for or aspire to such an enviable.

    “As fate would have it, I had to surrender myself to be nominated and eventually selected to fill the vacant stool of Elese of Ilese following the several appeals and persuasions from members of Fowosere Ruling House and eminent sons and daughters of the community, including friends, associates and well-wishers keenly interested in Ilese project.

    “I therefore salute these patriotic indigenes of our great community and significant others too numerous to mention for their altruism. Your thoughtfulness and love for me and Ilese community will always be remembered with sincere appreciation…”

    “I commend the Adejaiye Obayomi family and the entire Fowosere Ruling House for their encouragement and support and for considering me suitable and worthy of being nominated for this exalted position,” he said.

    Oba Obayomi lauded the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona for his support.

    The Oba also thanked the Ilese kingmakers for their “forthrightness” as well as allowing themselves to be divinely guided throughout the selection process.

    He commended Governor Ibikunle Amosun and the state government for approving his selection as the Elese of Ilese, and pledged to provide quality leadership for the Ilese community and its people.

    “I solemnly pledge to provide good and quality leadership and give my best faithfully and diligently through His divine guidance without fear or favour, affection or ill will. I shall project the good image of Ilese and its people at all times,” he promised.

    The monarch also appealed to the town’s sons and daughters to partner with him in the “sacred mission to foster friendly relations, peaceful co – existence, mutual understanding, unity, social and economic progress” in Ilese.

    Amosun, who was represented at the coronation by his Deputy, Princess Yetunde Onanuga, praised the community for the peace, unity and harmony that made the selection and installation of the new Oba a reality.

    The governor noted that the selection and nomination process was without friction and litigation, saying it was “painstakingly and meticulously” carried out.

    He urged the new monarch to use his position as a First Class Oba to attract investors to his domain as well as galvanise the people for rapid socio – economic development of the area.

    According to Amosun, Oba Oluremi Obayomi  should serve as a “role model and positive father figure” to his people as he was expected to bring his long years stint in the civil service of the state to bear on royal governance of Ilese community.

    The governor urged him to cooperate with other monarchs to develop Ogun State and to mobilise his people to pay relevant taxes, levies and rates needed by the administration for the continued provision and maintenance of state’s social facilities.

    Also, Speaker, the Ogun State House of Assembly, Suraj Adekunbi, hailed the seamless process that produced  Oba Obayomi as a successor  to late Oba Adebisi.

    Adekunbi advised him to use “discernment to lead” and assembly good people required to bring about an unprecedented socio – economic development to his domain.

    Adekunbi said: “We thank God for seeing you through. I commend the sons and daughters of Ilese for witnessing this moment and a new chapter in the history of the community.

    “With all that we have heard, Oba Obayomi was a product of a perfect selection for Ilese and Kabiyesi, you were chosen well. Use discernment to lead your people.

    “And you can’t do it alone, you need good people to bring about that unprecedented development to your domain and may God give you the good people you need to succeed.”

  • Thou must play by the rules

    Thou must play by the rules

    Unpopular marketing approach or de-marketing of rival brands has become a ritual, especially in major cities, such as Lagos. WALE AJETUNMOBI writes that players must obey the rules to avoid making consumers panic unnecessarily

    It started with a video. And the impression any unsuspecting viewer of the video went away with was that he should avoid Amstel Malta, a malt drink produced by the Nigerian Breweries. Consumers, such as Mrs Tosin Kesington, a teacher in Igbogbo, a suburb of Lagos, truly believed there was a fake Amstel Malta in town. But the truth is: there was nothing of such.

    While experts say there have been instances of faking of popular products, such as Close Up and Seaman Schnapps,  the new tactic is to create the illusion of a faked product when there is nothing of such, which saw not a few consumers avoiding the product because of the fear that they could end up consuming the faked version.

    What is clear, following investigations, is that competitors were only looking for ways to cut rivals to size.

    Amstel’s trouble has a root in a campaign it launched last August.  The credential campaign #WhyAddMore# was to reflect the new NIS logo of the by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON). The difference in logos was all the makers of the video latched on to make consumers believe they should flee from Amstel.

    Soon after this, consumers were greeted with another offensive video of an Amstel Malta can drink allegedly containing a strange object. A faceless consumer recorded an alleged contaminated drink and circulated it on social media.

    Nigerian Breweries reported the defamation attempt to the security agencies for further investigation. The SON, the statutory body that is vested with the responsibility of standardising and regulating the quality of all products in Nigeria, debunked the fake Amstel Malta claims.  Its Deputy Director, Mr. Fred Akingbesote, who represented the Director-General, told reporters in Lagos that Nigerian Breweries met all SON safety and quality requirements and complied with all requirements of the new National Industrial Standard (NIS) logo. He added that the people behind the defamation were playing on the intelligence of Nigerians.

    “We have a web site (www.son.gov.ng) which contains all information on our standards and quality regulations. Every Nigerian who has doubts about any product certified by SON should crosscheck the facts,” he said.

    Forensic and marketing analysts have also observed that it is very clear that the same source that initially created a video of a purported  ‘fake ’ or ‘original’ Amstel is the source of the video of discovery of foreign content in an Amstel Malta can.

    Analysts and observers agreed that this might be coming from the enemy’s camp as the recording left many gaps to cast a doubt on the genuineness of the video. For instance, the can was opened before the video recording, thus failing the basic test of validity.

    Experts’ summations on the video are: “The can was not transparent for a consumer to see the content before pouring it. It is technical impossible to have a foreign object in non-reusable container like a can. The content was poured into a bowl instead of a cup ready for drinking. The content was not foaming like the normal Amstel Malta.  All the persons in the video were faceless. The video camera was targeted severally at the can to flash the logo of the product to cause more damage to the premium brand. The ‘consumer’ did not tell us how he got to know that there was an object in the can. There was no mention of where it was bought or any intention to confront the retailer.”

    A Lagos-based marketing analyst submitted last week:  “The video is nothing but another dimension to our usual ‘PHD’ (pull him /her down) attempt characteristic of people on the floor. Let us spoil a good name if we can’t be as good. It is therefore surprising that anybody would want to attack the reputation of one of our premium products whose market leadership is undisputable in its segment.”

    Nigerian Breweries Plc Corporate Affairs Adviser Kufre Ekanem explained that the Amstel Malta was one of the first brands to comply with SON directives. He added that the brand revised its packaging in line with the guidelines and approval of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and in compliance with the new mandatory NIS quality logo from the SON.

    “In the normal course of product and packaging renovation, old packaging and the new introduction co-exist in the market until the old one dries out. In view of the twelve month shelf life, we currently have Amstel Malta with both the old and new packaging in some parts of the market,” Ekanem said.

    He maintained that Nigerian Breweries is a world class multinational company that has operated in Nigeria for over 70 years and that the quality of its brands has been one of the key success factors of the company across these decades.

    “Every pack of Amstel Malta is produced to the highest quality-control standards of Nigerian Breweries,” he said.

    Also, the company through the hash tag; #stillthesame# sensitised the public.  In one of its facebook posts, it explained that “As per NAFDAC & SON regulates, our pack has changed slightly. But don’t worry; it’s the same premium Amstel Malta You Love.”

    That was after the first video. The second video later surfaced, giving the impression that a competitor just chose not to play by the rules.

    A marketing lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Dr. Farouk Abubakar, said: “Brand wars are not alien to this part of the world. Brand promoters are known to fight dirty when their brands are at the receiving ends. Could this be as a result of that?”

    An industry observer, Mr. Aniete Udoh, said Nigerians must be careful about believing everything on the social media, especially when it has to do with consumers’ interest.

    Udoh said: “Sadly, social media has become a dumping ground because access to it is unregulated and free. Looking at the recent video used to spread the adverse campaign against Amstel Malta, one would observe that it was a calculated attempt to give a negative image to Amstel Malta, which is known to currently occupies the leadership of its segment in the market.”

     

  • An activist’s day of honour

    Amidst pomp and pageantry, Olowu of Owu-Ile, Oba Muhammad Raji Qasim Okikilokun, marked the first anniversary of his coronation with installation of chiefs, writes Adekunle Yusuf

    Even from half-lit part of the day, Owu-Ile kingdom had been brusquely awoken from its perpetual rusticity and slumber on Saturday, January 21. From the previous day, all roads had led to the small but renowned community in Ejigbo West Local Council Development Area of Osun State, helping it to spring into a dose of elation the ancient empire had not seen in ages.

    In an afternoon ablaze with scorching sun, ecstasy swirled in the air like dust in harmattan season, as the locals – the old and the young – danced gracefully to no end. Joined by the Olowu of Owu-Ile, Oba Muhammad Raji Qasim Okikilokun, dancers swayed their feet and bodies rhythmically to acoustic aesthetics wafting from dozens of drumming and other percussion instruments that rented the air. However, by the time Comrade Amitolu Bolarinwa Shittu, a veteran human rights activist, and his entourage stormed the venue, the scene was ignited into a higher revelry mode.

    Although the day was to commemorate the first anniversary of Oba Muhammad and the launching of N250 million for the construction of a new and more befitting palace, it was completely dwarfed by the festivities of large entourage that accompanied non-indigenes being installed decorated with traditional titles. One of the lucky recipients of the town’s beads of honour is Comrade Amitolu Shittu and his wife, Falilat Folashade. Amidst pomp and pageantry, the husband and wife were installed as Jagunmolu of Owu-Ile and Yeye Jagunmolu of Owu-Ile, respectively.  On hand to witness the event were Alaodi of Oyo Alaafin, Prince Abdulfatai Adelowo, and scores of traditional rulers from Osun State and its environs.

    In his citation, which was read to the acclaim of the crowd of revelers, Shittu was said to have been singled out for the rare honour in recognition of decades of selfless services and fighting for a just and egalitarian order – culminating in incarceration in many prisons.

    “That Comrade Amitolu Shittu is a democrat is obvious even to the blind. He fought for democracy in the era when many people hid their swords. He is a well-travelled man who has attended international conferences, workshops and seminars on human rights, climate change and environmental issues, election monitoring, civil society organization, etc. in over twenty countries of the world in six continents. He is not only exposed internationally, but is alos knowledgeable in those fields.

    Shittu, who is also the Osun State chairman of Police Community Relations Committee, said he was surprised that a poor activist can be honoured with a chieftaincy title in today’s materialistic Nigeria.

    “Let me first of all declare that I did not pay a kobo for this; I don’t even have the money,” he said. The newly-installed Jagunmolu of Owu-Ile then turned his attention to the multitude asking what hje would do for the ancient kingdom. “To those asking me what I will do to lift Owu-Ile, my answer is simple. I am going to collaborate with everybody to restore the lost glory of this kingdom. Thanks to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, you now have a tarred road passing through Owu-Ile for the first time in history. But that is just the beginning. I will work with the Kabiyesi and all the chiefs to use all I have to bring and accelerate the pace of development and modernity to this town, which is renowned as the mother of all Owu kingdoms. Because this is the first Owu, I will not allow it to go into extinction,” Amitolu said.

    But the day was not entirely for Amitolu and his wife alone, as three other worthy Nigerians were also honoured with traditional titles. Equally dignified was Bola Abimbola Ige, a lawyer and former Senior Special Assistant to Aregbesola, who was honoured with the traditional title of Mayegun of Owu-Ile. So also was Taofeeeq Sodiq Alade, who bagged the title of Bobakeye of Owu-Ile, while Balquees Abiola Ajetunmobi, a United States-trained nurse, and Alhaja Ikimot Iyanda, a princess from Oyekan lineage in Lagos Island, were honoured with Yeye Tayese and Yeye Bobabgunwa of Owu-Ile.

     

  • Stop promoting religious violence, priest warns pastors

    A Catholic priest has condemned the call for violence by some religious leaders in the country. Very Reverend Father Philip Hoteyin said Christian leaders whose utterances promote violence have derailed from the teachings of Christ and would be “eternally condemned” for the bloodshed which their inciting preaching may generate.

    The Catholic priest spoke to The Nation after a special mass to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Association of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, which was held at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base in Ikeja, Lagos.

    The priest urged Christians not to heed the call by the religious leaders to retaliate killings in the Southern part of Kaduna State, where suspected armed herdsmen recently slayed hundreds of Christian residents.

    Hoteyin described retaliation as “a way of the devil”, urging Christian leaders to desist from preaching violence. He called on Nigerians to work for peace.

    He said: “Christian leaders calling for violent retaliation for the killings in the Southern Kaduna have had their minds moved away from the teachings of God. By doing so, they are preparing their minds and souls to be eternally condemned by God. They are two kinds of condemnations. There is human condemnation, which is temporary. There is also God’s condemnation, which is eternal.

    “It was observed that these proponents of violence are being deceived by the praises which people shower on them. The one who deceives himself is the worst of deceivers. Everybody may deceive you by showering praises on you, but you are deceiving yourself. Nobody can predict the consequence of these violent utterances. Anything can happen. We must emulate Christ as advocate of peace. It is left for those preachers to speak to their hearts on whether they are toing the path created by Jesus by calling for retaliation.”

    Hoteyin, who is the immediate past National Spiritual Director of the association, urged people across religious divides to purify their hearts and work for peace. Describing Nigeria as the most religious country, the priest said people needed to be tolerant and sincere to achieve peace.

    “If we have larger hearts to accommodate and tolerate one another, we will achieve peace in this country. God, who created all of us, is a loving father. He wants us to flourish and live happily among ourselves. Whether we obey him or not, God wants every human he created to have peace. This is for our wellbeing. The peace must come with fear of God,” he said.

    In his homily taken from John 14:27-28, Hoteyin admonished members of the association to purify their hearts and souls, saying the event was a reminder of the core values of association, which include achieving peace through spirituality.

    He cautioned members of the congregation against using negative words on one another, saying God does not like people who use abusive words on their companions.

    He said: “In Catholic church, we believe everyone has the spirit of Jesus inside his body and that is the way to achieve purity of heart and soul. We lose this spirit the moment we start voicing out abusive words against our fellow brethren. Such a soul is left to be occupied by the devil. Christians must learn to speak good at all times.”

    During the solemn admission of candidates into the association, its national president, Group Captain E.J. Ebiye (rtd), said the objective of the association was to enthrone sacred heart of Jesus in every Catholic Church member’s home to sanctify and protect their families.

    He told the devotees to promote faith, humility, obedience, perseverance and holiness through their actions. He said trials would always come during a service for God, but urged the devotees to always remember God’s protective arms over their affairs.

    Ebiye said: “Sometimes, anxieties, distress, suffering, grave trials, hardship, period of forced isolation and disappointment may come during the service to God; we must always remember that God’s protective arms are underneath to support us. All these things sometimes happen to us to prepare us for greater joy. God can change the thorns of life into a crown of glory.

    “The sacred heart of Jesus through the intercession of the immaculate heart of Mary is ever ready to come to our aid in any situation. The devotees should be reminded that Jesus is the only faithful solution to all our problems when the world is against us. There is no disappointment in Jesus Christ. I urge the devotees to live a life of holiness, because there is possibility to become saints by our devotion and prayers to the sacred heart of Jesus.”

    In his keynote address, National Chaplain of the association, Reverend Father Anthony Umoh, said the golden jubilee celebration was remarkable, because it propagated the core values which Jesus championed.

    He said: “We have gathered to celebrate Jesus whose heart is a delight to all who seek him with sincere heart. The anniversary affords us opportunity to re-focus our devotion by offering prayers for the economic, social and political emancipation of our country reeling under deadly insurgency, poverty, religious intolerance and socio-economic tension.

    “The efficacy of our devotion to the sacred heart of Jesus and immaculate heart of Mary can bring good to the church and the country. I enjoin the devotees to remain committed to the objectives of the association. They must be in constant communion with the saints.”

    The event featured special mass for the immediate past National Spiritual Director, Huteyin, and his successor, awards presentations and giving of Holy Communion to all members. More than 3,000 devotees from across the country and abroad attended the event.

     

  • Who will move Ojodu LCDA to the next level?

    Legend rates the mythical phoenix as the bird that never dies, kill it today and it will rise again someday in the future. If you attempt to annihilate it through burning it to ashes, don’t be surprise that long after you have gone and your memory forgotten, the bird will emerge from the ashes of its fiery grave.

    Something close to that is the picture we have of Mallam Ahmed Moyo Jaji who has been a towering figure in Nigerian politics for almost two decade. For people that often listen to political analysis on TVC, LTV, AIT, and read same in the Daily Independent, This Day, The Punch Newspapers, the name and voice and style of Mallam Ahmed Moyo Jaji will be familiar, Jaji is a democrat, an administrator, brilliant, resourceful, focused and dedicated leader. He appeared to have gone into terminal oblivion after his tenure as secretary of the LCDA.

    For a while it appeared as if Jaji, had come to the end of the road. If you are forsaken by the party you helped to build into a formidable octopus where else do you go? Everything looked bleak until the former governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, (SAN) appointed Mallam Ahmed Jaji Executive Secretary for Ojodu Local Government Council Development Area in Lagos state after the expiration of voted Local Government Chairmen.

    The choice rattles many who do not understand or rather underestimated the staying nature of Jaji.

    This is not the first time that Moyo Jaji has been recognised, and appointed into political office for his incisive understanding of political quagmires; In 2002, the political Jagaban’ of our time recognized his acumen by enlisting him among the transition committee members, for the Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area.

    If Governor Emeritus, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed one into a position, and Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) immediate past Governor of Lagos State repeated the same kind of appointment to same person in a higher capacity, a decade later, such a person must have something to offer.

    An insight into the life and passion of Mallam Moyo Jaji is as much for those who have had personal encounters with him as it is for those who haven’t. The perspective offered us the opportunity to observe what an inspiration his life is.

    Jaji is truly a remarkable figure with a big heart, and self-effacing, down-to- earth personal style that gives no indication of his accomplishments as an administrator of Ojodu LCGA. Since destiny took me to him in the 90’s I have never ceased to wonder about his forthrightness. But on a closer look after many years of close association with Jaji I can tell you without any iota of doubt that those who want to hide facts or sweep the truth under the carpet would not want to go near him. Jaji doesn’t know how to bend the rules. And as they say truth is bitter. If we have more people like him at the helm of affairs perhaps we would be talking about a different Nigeria today.

    Jaji is very friendly and kind to a fault. He always go the extra mile to assist others, even at his own inconvenience. When I met Mallam Jaji the other day, hear what he said: The race for the chairmanship seat for the Ojodu LCDA is not about me but about availing the people of the council the benefit of the experiences i gained in my working life as an administrator acquired and married to my experience during my tenure as executive secretary of the LCDA. Our achievements during the short span of our tenure are verifiable for all to see. I shall bring to bear these avalanches of past experience especially as a former Executive Secretary of the council to bear in the discharge of my responsibilities as chairman of the council.

    We as a people must learn to develop leadership and nurture it to fruition and encourage those who would have been able to fill the space and bring back dividends to us. We must not be the crabs that pull themselves down thereby leaving no opportunity for any of them to see the outside world. Granted that some politicians have failed to render desirable services to their people it must be remembered that some politicians have done their modest best to fight the cause of their people by bringing development closer to them at the grassroots in addition to enhancing human life.

     

  • Lawmaker gives multi million naira lifeline to constituents in Oyo

    Lawmaker gives multi million naira lifeline to constituents in Oyo

    The people of Oyo Central Senatorial district of Oyo State will not forget in haste January 6. It was the day Senator Monsurat Sunmonu brought home dividends of democracy to them.

    People from the 11 council areas of the state, which include Afijio, Akinyele, Atiba, Egbeda, Lagelu, Oyo East, Oyo West, Ona-Ara, Oluyole, Ogo-Oluwa and Surulere, converged on the open field of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan for the lawmaker’s distribution of empowerment tools.

    By 10:00a.m, the venue was boisterous as hundreds of members had arrived at the premises. Some of them were also observed to be sitting quietly with their eyes gleefully inspecting the series of items lined up at the centre of the venue.

    Among the empowerment materials distributed are sewing machines, hair dryers, electricity generating sets, hand sprayers, gas cookers, fertilisers and motorcycle.

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who was the guest of honor, applauded the giant strides of the lawmaker. He said Sunmonu has proved to be a worthy representative of the district and the state considering her tremendous achievements.

    The governor, who recalled her outstanding performance as the speaker of the State House of Assembly, said Mrs Sunmonu facilitated projects and contributed actively at the National Assembly.

    “Sunmonu has been doing very well. She is active and very intelligent. She is a worthy representative, who has exhibited Integrity, Godliness, Patriotism and Selflessness,” he said.

    He urged other members to emulate Mrs Sunmonu, saying every responsible and responsive representative must make the welfare of their people paramount on their minds.

    Prince Kunle Sanda, S.M Akindele and Mr Sunday Adewale applauded Sunmonu for her achievements and commitment to the welfare of her people.

    Sanda, Akindele and Adewale, who spoke on behalf of Ibadan, Oyo and Ogbomoso divisions of the senatorial district, appreciated the lawmaker for being a good example of quality representation.

    Also, Olufunmilayo Philips, a beneficiary of Mrs. Sunmonu’s scholarship, appreciated the lawmaker for her support, which covered his education and external examinations.

    Philips, who is undergoing a Master’s Degree in Mathematics at WUHAN University of Technology, China, said the lawmaker also facilitated international scholarship for him.

    He was the best performing student at a Mathematics Competition organised by National Association of Oyo Students (NAOS).

    Mrs. Sunmonu, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, said the work of a legislator exceeded dishing out cash gifts to constituents but involved facilitation of projects and ensuring the implementation by the executive.

    She said she had sponsored four bills, co-sponsored 10 bills, sponsor seven motions, co-sponsored/supported many motions and had carried out oversight functions.

    Her four bills are Amendment of the Electoral Act, Amendment of Arbitration and Conciliation Act, Amendment of Federal Road Safety Act and Amendment of Criminal Code Act.

  • Yoruba group joins calls for restructuring of Nigeria’s federal system

    A Yoruba socio-political group, Atayese, has called restructuring of Nigeria’s federal system.

    The Chairman of the group,Tokunbo Ajasin, spoke during the election of the new executives of the group in Ibadan.

    He said the founding fathers had agreed that Nigeria would be “a truly federal state with limited and specific powers allocated to the Federal Government, and residual powers inherent in the regional governments”.

    According to him, this agreement was the social contract upon which the Nigerian state was formed.

    He said teh group was trying to bring together all the tribes in Yorubaland.

    He said the group is against the recent constitutional review, noting the interest of all the Yoruba people must be protected.

    “The present constitution we are using was made by colonial masters and the military, and it was not a constitution that was made by the people. We need one that is genuine. The present situation in the country was caused by overdependence of states on federal government, whereas it should be the Federal Government that will depend on state for its finances. Each state should be ordinarily be self-sufficient and control its resources,” Ajasin said.

    Ajasin said true federalism would encourage equitable distribution of wealth.

  • Foundation graduates eight in vocations

    Eight of the beneficiaries of House of Rammah Foundation vocational training have graduated.

    The event, which held at Ororo Event Centre Ikotun Lagos, witnessed the graduands receiving working tools. Their vocations cut across sewing, fashion designing, bead making, tie and dye, among others.

    The founder of the foundation, Adisa Risikat Adeola, noted that 24 vulnerable children are under the foundation’s payroll.

    Adeola said: “When I was young, I was denied the opportunity of acquiring education owing to financial constraint. Little did it occur to me then until when I grew up to realise that if I had acquired education at the right time, I would have been better off than who I am now.

    “What we do is to identify children from poor homes in the neighbourhood and look for schools around that will adopt them and cater for their tuition and other cost.”

    One of the partnering schools, Lasute Unique Kids School, Ikotun, said its vision tallies with the foundations.

    “Our philosophy also hinges on helping the less-privileged in the society. This is why we have adopted two children from the foundation- one in Basic 1 and the other in Basic III,” said the school proprietor, Olaitan Sunday.

    “We just have to develop the spirit to give back because it is a lifetime thing. When these children grow up and become better citizens, they remember the school that once molded them,” Olaitan added.

    Miss Ebenezer Aina, 22 and Miss Zainab Adegoke, who both graduated in hair dressing and tailoring, thanked the foundation.

    “I just finished primary school when they picked me up from the street,” said Ebenezer.

    Adegoke said she knew the founder when she (Adegoke) was a wanderer in the neighbourhood.

    “She lives in our area and saw us almost wondering. She asked me if I was interested in taking up a vocation rather than wandering around and I quickly obliged. That was how I started tailoring ad today I’m a graduate,” she said.

  • ‘Govt should treat Nigerians with respect’

    The National Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Chief (Dr.) Adebowale Omotoso, has urged the government to treat its nationals with self-respect and dignity.

    Omotoso spoke at Awe town, Oyo State.

    He said, “Education should increase the consciousness level of Nigerian youths and socialise them into the national culture.  But what we have now is education without morals due to lack of power monitoring and clear-cut policies devoid of political sentiments in regulating education or meaningful development.  Ideally, politics influences education through the policies and decisions that are made by the political leadership to ensure the realisation of national, state, and party objectives.  As a result of these notions, there are many political problems that jeopardised educational management in the country.”

    He added that ‘’the society has degenerated from a community of people with high moral values and dignity to a state of near madness, collapse of moral values and tolerance of immorality’’.