The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Lions Club gets female president

    Lions Club gets female president

    It was a joyous moment at Bezer Hall and Hotel, Sango-Ota, Ogun State penultimate weekend when family members, friends and well-wishers gathered to witness the induction of Lion Sandra Adesola Gbadebo as the 16th President and second female office holder of Ota Diamond Lions Club.

    She will pilot the affairs of the club for the 2016-2017 Lions Year.

    Royal fathers, captains of industry, politicians and members of Lions Club came from far and near to felicitate with the new president and members of her executive.

    The carnival-like event was also a platform for the induction of new members and to raise funds for execution of various community projects.

    The ceremony commenced with a call to order by the outgone President, Lion Jamiu Abayomi Etiko.

    Lion Etiko highlighted some of the Clubs’ achievements for the year 2015-2016 as blood donation/save a life programme. He said the club carried out the programme in collaboration with Cadbury Plc and Lagos State Ministry of Health, in which over 30 members of the Club voluntarily donated blood just to help patients in times of need, retreat and training, diabetics awareness campaign, screening and treatment of ailments for members of the communities.

    Lion Etiko said the club also distributed foods, clothing and other relief materials to members of some communities on Christmas Day, last year.

    Other projects were environmental protection programme, engaging in youth projects where books and other writing materials were given out to students, sharing the vision; the club participated in the sight preservation and screening exercise to prevent members of the communities from contacting eye-related diseases, among others.

    Lion Etiko appealed to members to support the new president to enable her to have a successful tenure.

    Giving her acceptance speech shortly after her installation and decoration as the new president, Lion Gbadebo said she accepted to serve the club with humility, transparency and accountability.

    She solicited support of members of the club, well-meaning individuals and corporate organisations to support the club’s vision of humanitarian services.

    She said supports would enable her to complete the ongoing construction of the entrepreneurship development centre.

    She pledged to sustain the spirit of the club and maintain high level of integrity and good conscience in conducting its affairs.

  • Youths seek end to HIV/AIDS at summit

    Worried about the burden of HIV/AIDS on the youth who are said to be the most productive of Nigeria’s population, some Nigerian youths converged on Transcorp Hilton Abuja, to brainstorm ways to end the epidemic.

    The youth, drawn from the 36 states of the federation under the auspices of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), attended the conference tagged Youth Summit, to mark this year’s World AIDS Day.

    The summit challenged Nigerian youths to discover themselves and assume leadership roles, drawing on their natural talents, backed with skills and robust energy to provoke change in the social and economic spheres

    Various speakers, who were mostly youths from various spheres of life, expressed optimism that if the youth could look inwards, understand their influence and awesome power, they can cause a lot of change in the current socio-political and economic situation in the country. This will empower them and make them less vulnerable to factors that drive the pandemic.

    Speaking during the event, Dr. Victoria Isiramen, United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) specialist on HIV said the global body was there ‘’to chat the future.”

    She added that donors are now shifting focus from HIV and AIDS to other areas, yet there exist great opportunities, if youths could position themselves to explore any aspect of the sustainable development goals. She said though the sustainable goals did not make any specific provision for HIV and AIDS intervention, many of the targets have direct relevance to youths and could be utilised.

    For instance, of the 17 goals, the first aims at ending poverty in all its forms everywhere while the second goal focuses on ending hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. The third ensures healthy lives and promotes people’s well-being at all ages while the fourth goal ensures inclusive and quality education for all and promotes life-long learning, among others.

    Citing what she called a “demographic dividend”, a term she defined as “a boost in economic growth that occurs when a country’s working age population is larger than the population that is dependent and younger,’’ she explained that this much is an asset that the country needs to leverage on to scale off from the limitations, but the youth are responsible to make it happen.

    She also cited very high unemployment rates in the country but maintained that “as active citizens’’ they can innovate and network to demand their rights and act as change agents through advocacy, mobilisation, education networking, using their vast numbers and advantages derivable from the new media and information technology.

    In his paper entitled “The Role of Young People in HIV Programming in Nigeria”, Mr. Isa Mohammed, advised the youth not to under-estimate their capacities, adding that there is no limit to what the youth could do.

    “We hold the power to build the future’, he insisted. He acknowledged the contributions of Nigerian youths in so many programmes to bring AIDS to an end. He said they include mobilisation of people to access treatment, advocacy for youth-friendly services and campaign against stigma and discrimination, among others.

    He also asserted that the world would only remember those who have solved a human problem. ‘’Get the job done, we are all in”

    In her paper entitled “Overview of HIV Response Among Young People in Nigeria”, Dr. Akudo  Ikpeazu, Director Programme Coordination, NACA, exposed the  vulnerability of youths to HIV and AIDS, citing factors that drive the pandemic to include multiple and concurrent sexual partnership, inter-generational sex and sexual coercion, among others.

    She enjoined the youth to take charge of themselves so as to be productive and responsible citizens.

    The summit featured various presentations, feedback session as well as capacity building. It enabled youths and adolescents to air their views on their experiences on HIV and AIDS and the way forward.

  • Culture, development dominate at Ajodun Ido Oganganmodu Day

    Culture, development dominate at Ajodun Ido Oganganmodu Day

    Indigenes of Ido-Ekiti, one of the major towns in Ekiti State, gathered to celebrate their annual get-together known as Ajodun Ido Oganganmodu amid pomp and ceremony. The week-long festivities culminated in fund-raising to carry out capital projects. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

    Ado-Ekiti, headquarters of Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was throbbing for several hours on Saturday, November 26, as gaily dressed personalities stormed the town from far and near to celebrate this year’s Ajodun Ido Oganganmodu.

    The people began trooping to Oganganmodu Grammar School sports field, venue of the celebration, as early as 10.00 a.m. amid drumming, dancing and trumpeting under the watchful eyes of law enforcement agents mobilised to ensure that all went well.

    The town had been in celebration mood since Monday, November 21, when the Ajodun was started with community prayers held at the Palace of the Olojudo, which was followed with environmental sanitation exercise.

    On Tuesday, an inter-school debate was held to stimulate competition among the major secondary schools in the community while a Widows Outreach, which featured presentation of financial and material gifts to widows, was held.

    There was Ajodun Ido Marathon Race, Cultural Competition featuring local games such as draught and ayo olopon on Wednesday, while on Thursday, there was a Medical Outreach in which residents enjoyed free medical tests facilitated by health professionals drawn from the Federal Teaching Hospital located in the community.

    Friday featured cultural competition for the aged, Jumat Service at the Ido Central Mosque, Award Night for deserving indigenes and non-indigenes who had contributed to the development of the community.

    It was also the day the anniversary’s beauty pageant otherwise known as Arewa Ogangan was held in which the competitors showcased native dresses. General family re-union was also held same day.

    Ido played a prominent role in the Ekiti Parapo War in the 19th Century as one of the prominent warriors, Faboro, was an indigene of the town. Ido was the location where Ekiti people came together and signed a treaty to build a school (Ekiti Parapo College) sited in the town in honour of Faboro.

    The town is divided into 10 quarters namely Imila, Idofin, Inisaloro, Inisa, Odo-Iro, Iyedi, Isolo, Ijemu, Isape Odo Agbe and Ijana.

    Saturday was the climax for the Ajodun Ido Oganganmodu. Various interest groups in the community, age groups such as the elderly men known as Agba Ido, the Iwole, the Elegbe, the Jogun, women, youths, members of community development association and social clubs in the town danced enthusiastically on their way to the venue of the celebration.

    Some notable personalities who attended the event included Chairman of Ido/Osi Local Government Area, Hon. Ayodele Arogbodo; Commissioner 1 in Ekiti State Civil Service Commission, Chief Idowu Faleye; former member of House of Assembly, Hon. Femi Fakorede; former Registrar, Obafemi Awolowo University, Mr. Ayo Ogunruku; Ibadan-based school proprietor, Mr. James Obasa; retired United Bank for Africa (UBA) top executive, Mr. David Omoniyi; National President, Ido Development Association, Chief Jomo Olofinlade, among others.

    The festival did not leave out non-indigenes such as the Igbo Community, Urhobo Community, Idoma Community and Ebira Community who participated in the celebration and were resplendent in their traditional dresses.

    The traditional ruler of the town, the Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro, Ajiboyede III, received homage from various interest groups in the town. The women were outstanding as they chanted the monarch’s panegyrics (oriki) to which he responded by waving his horsetail (irukere).

    The wife of the king, the Eyesorun, Olori Ngozi Ilori Faboro led the women in paying homage to the Olojudo to the admiration of the guests who watched the show with keen interest.

    Delivering his welcome address, the Chairman of Ajodun Ido 2016 Planning Committee, Comrade Sola Ogunsina, said the purpose of the festival was to reunite all sons and daughters of the town at home and in the Diaspora with the aim of celebrating their cultural heritage.

    He explained that the occasion also stimulates engagement in development programmes that foster peace, prosperity and unity in the community through fundraising and communal activities considered germane to the growth and development of their birthplace.

    Ogunsina expressed his satisfaction that this year’s edition of the festival was a considerable improvement on the previous ones, considering the massive participation and turnout of both the old and the young at every event held. He expressed optimism that the subsequent ones will be better than this year’s.

    Reeling off what the Ajodun Ido had accomplished in the town, Ogunsina identified security, completion of the Olojudo Palace, re-unification of the sons and daughters and identifying and rewarding indigenes who had distinguished themselves in community development efforts.

    Ogunsina said: “Our town is growing at an impressive rate, making security a major challenge in the last few years. This cannot be left in the hands of government alone, hence the town has been drawing from its coffers to support security needs so as to make our town a safe haven.

    “The early completion of Olojudo Palace was facilitated by the annual proceeds realised at this event. This annual event offers us great opportunity to meet with one another, exchange pleasantries and promote ways of helping those in need.”

    On recommendations for future Ajodun Ido, Ogunsina said: “I commend early setting up of the planning committee this year and I hope it will be sustained. The committee should be well funded through provision of take-off grants.

    “I call for sponsorship of various programmes; it is heart-warming seeing people coming to show their interest in the sponsorship of one event or the other in this year’s edition. It is a significant improvement over past events. I sincerely plead with all to sustain the tempo of sponsorship of any of the events in subsequent editions.”

    Chairman of the day, High Chief Agboola Akomolafe stressed the need for brotherly love, peace and co-operation among indigenes to lift up one another, saying they should work together for Ido to produce governors, ministers, senators, ambassadors that will accelerate its development.

    Akomolafe, a Lagos-based senior lawyer advocated investment on commercial agriculture by indigenes to generate employment opportunities and banish poverty in the land. He also suggested an agriculture exhibition as part of next year’s Ajodun Ido.

    He said: “Our ancestors were able to buy horses through the sale of maize which required accurate timing of planting. But these days, nobody plants maize at commercial degree for buying a car.

    “It is my view that both the employed and the unemployed citizens of Ido-Ekiti can plant maize at a commercially competitive level for tangible property.

    Ido citizens can also make money from rice, cotton, melon, watermelon, pepper, tomatoes which take few months to ripe for harvest. I suggest an agricultural exhibition for Ajodun Ido 2017.”

    The Olojudo, Oba Ilori-Faboro, said the Ajodun Ido is an avenue to review activities in his kingdom in the last one year and chart a new course for communal development in the next year.

    The Kabiyesi said: “This is an opportunity for us to review what we have achieved in the past and what we hope to achieve before we celebrate the next Ajodun Ido. We have built a palace already and we want to build a city hall, a civic centre and other things with the money realised from this year’s edition.”

    The Olojudo explained that being one of the largest towns in Ekiti State, Ido is an investor’s delight, urging wealthy indigenes who had prospered elsewhere to bring their investments home to stimulate its growth.

    The monarch said: “Some of our indigenes have seen developmental strides we have made in this town. Now, people are building houses here, the Federal Teaching Hospital is here and it is helping to bring decent people into the town.

    “So, I want to appeal to our sons and daughters to come home and be part of the development. If they don’t buy their land now, the longer they wait, the more they will spend to buy land in the future.

    “We are working hard to reach out to them and you know communication is very essential in achieving this goal. We are on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and other digital platforms to reach those in the Diaspora.

    “Apart from Ajodun Ido, in August every year, I celebrate the Owanuro Festival and it is also an opportunity to bring people home. I bring my friends around to contribute to the development of Ido.

    “Ido is an investor’s delight and we also aim to attract more investments to our land. Banks know that the population is rising and more people need their services here.

    “We will continue to provide for them incentives such as land, communal support, security and enabling environment to facilitate their investment in our community. Ido is no longer a village; it is now a prosperous town.

    “There are activities every day; we are expanding. Security is improving, economy is improving. So, we invite indigenes and non-indigenes alike to join us to develop Ido because it is when we join hands together that we can achieve.”

     

     

     

     

  • College to award degrees

    The Provost, Ogun State College of Health Technology, Dr. Abiodun Oladunjoye has said that the college has arrangedwith the Kwara State University to award degrees to students of the institution.

    Oladunjoye revealed this at the 40th anniversary lecture and award ceremony held at the premises of the college, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.

    He said it has become imperative to run degree courses since the number of students who would take the degree courses was increasing. He noted that some of the courses that students would sit degree examinations in include Environmental Health, Medical Laboratory Sciences and Health Information Management, among others.

    “Our status as College of Health Technology has given us the opportunity to expand the scope of operation and widen its horizon. So, we have successfully concluded arrangement with the Kwara State University in awarding degree courses. As soon as possible we shall begin to award degree on Environmental Health, Medical Laboratory Sciences and Health Information Management, among others,” Oladunjoye said.

    Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Modupe Mujota, said the success story and the achievements recorded by the college in its four decades existence could not be over-emphasised, saying that the theme of the lecture “Achieving Cleaner, more Sustainable and Healthier Future” was apt considering climate change as debilitating factor in all-round development.

    While acknowledging the co-operation of members of staff and students whose professionalism has helped the college to achieve academic excellence, Mujota said government would do everything possible to achieve more in the education sector.

    Mujota, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Shefiu Rasheed revealed that to achieve cleaner and sustainable environment, the people should plant and preserve trees. She noted that burning of plants could cause environmental pollution which could lead to serious health issues such as cancer, respiratory defects and other health-related problems.

    The guest lecturer and Director, Primary Health, Ikenne Local Government Area, Dr. Ademola Talabi, who spoke on the theme “Achieving Cleaner, More Sustainable and Healthier Future”, said: “To achieve a cleaner and healthier environment in the nearest future, there must be urgent need for communities to support the movement for a cleaner, more sustainable and healthier future.”

    Dr. Talabi, however, called on individuals and corporate bodies to incorporate natural ways of making the environment clean such as bush cleaning, reduction of emissions intake and planting of trees.

  • Fuel tanker fire sparks tears in Ibadan

    Fuel tanker fire sparks tears in Ibadan

    Traders, motorists and passengers had no inkling of what will befall them that early morning. Those who had retired to their homes after the previous day’s hustling were yet to get to their various trading posts. Some received phone calls to the effect that their shops had been burnt. WALE AJETUNMOBI reports that the fire, which claimed no life, was as a result of the carelessness of a Jigawa-bound truck.

    If this had happened at 8:00 a.m., we would have been packing burnt human bodies by now.” This was the response of Mr. Adisa Adeagbo, a commercial cab driver, after a fuel-laden tanker burst into flames in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Sunday.

    One unidentified person was burnt beyond recognition, while several commuters were injured as vehicles conveying them to various destinations caught fire. The incident happened at Oremeji-Agugu axis of Lagos-Ibadan Highway. No fewer than 30 road-side shops, four trailers and 12 passengers’ vehicles were razed.

    Traders, who owned the shops, broke down in tears when they arrived at the scene. None of the traders could pick anything, as all materials and goods kept in their shops were completely burnt.

    The incident, which happened at 6:30 a.m., was said to have been caused by Jigawa-bound truck, registered as KZR 418 XA, loaded with wheat.

    Southwest Report gathered that the truck lost control while on high speed as it attempted to overtake another truck laden with cartons of pasta, biscuits and noodles. The front section of the Jigawa-bound truck, eyewitnesses said, came off, ramming into a NIPCO fuel tanker parked on the road side.

    The fuel tanker burst into flames as its content spilled on the road. Commuters ran helter-skelter as diesel flowed from the tanker’s silo before it went up in flames. Petrol attendants at Fakinlayo Filling Station close to the scene shut the station and fled.

    Eyewitnesses said though some passengers tried to escape as there was pandemonium; some sustained some degrees of burnt in the ensuing uproar when the vehicles conveying them caught fire at the scene.

    Most of the road-side traders had not opened for business when the incident happened. Unquantifiable amount of goods kept in the shops were completely burnt.

    Nurudeen Alimi, who drove one of the razed trailers, with registration number JJJ 363 XB owned by a logistics company, relived how he escaped.

    He said: “I parked my truck on the road side to check a fault I noticed in the engine of my vehicle. Then, I sighted a wheat-laden trailer driving on top speed and attempted to overtake another trailer, which was moving at a normal speed. The wheat-laden trailer lost control and broke into two. The head rammed into a NIPCO tanker parked at a distant behind my truck and there was a loud bang.

    “Before I knew what was going on, the content of the tanker had started spilling on the road. I fled the scene, because I knew what would happen next. Just before I ran a few metres, the tanker went up in flames. From where I stood, I could see passengers of on-coming vehicles rushing down and scampering in different directions. Nobody died; but some of them were injured as they made attempt to flee the scene.”

     

    Traders’ lament

    Most of the traders were yet to come to terms with the tragedy that befell them. They arrived at the scene one after the other to count their losses. They were left with charred materials of their wares.

    A trader identified as Mrs Amope could not be consoled as she wept uncontrollably at the spot where her wooden shop was razed. “Where will I start again?” Mrs Amope said, adding: “I just bought goods to stock up my shop with money I borrowed. I have not even started selling the goods to enable me to repay the money given to me by my lenders. Everything has been burnt this morning.”

    Mrs Amope was led away almost naked from the scene by sympathisers.

    A lotto operator, Wale Olalere whose kiosk was razed, said he was still in bed when he got calls, informing him of the incident.

    “When I got the calls, I quickly got up and came here. As you can see, I cannot recognise the spot where I had my kiosk. Everything I left in the kiosk, including my lotto machine, has been burnt. I don’t know what to do now, because this is where I get my daily bread,” he said.

    Mrs Mosunmola Adesina, who sells alcoholic drinks, wept as she counted her losses.

    She said: “I have three shops here and I have lost everything to the fire. All my deep freezers, power generating set and the drinks have all gone. How do I start all over again?”

    The leader of Oremeji Market, Mrs Omotunde Grace, said the traders had complained to the government about the activities of trailers and fuel tankers in the area. She said the inferno would have extended to buildings close to the market if the tanker had been loaded with petrol. She urged the government to stop trucks and fuel tankers from parking close to the market.

     

    Looting by hoodlums

    While the inferno raged, some dare-devil miscreants swarmed on the shops and burning trailers to loot. The hoodlums attacked fire fighters from Oyo State Fire Service, who moved to the scene at 7:00 a.m. to put out the fire. The hoodlums looted cartons of pasta and noodles from one of the burnt trailers. The fire fighters got to work after a combined team of soldiers, riot policemen and Civil Defence Corps deployed to the scene dispersed the hoodlums.

    Adeleke Isiaka, who led the fire team said: “We responded to the distress call immediately and we got here in time. But 20 minutes after we arrived, we were prevented by hoodlums looting at the scene. We were able to put out the inferno within a few hours. I can confirm to you there was no life lost.

    For more than 10 hours, travellers were left stranded on the highway. Vehicles coming from Lagos diverted to the opposite lane, causing gridlock. Officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had hectic time controlling the traffic.

    FRSC’s Oluyole Unit Commander, Mrs Titilayo Olayiwola, said investigation was ongoing to ascertain the cause of the incident.

    Police spokesman Adekunle Ajisebutu said: “Immediately we got the news, we contacted the Fire Service. But for the quick intervention of the firemen, the havoc would have been worst. We drafted policemen to the scene and the report we got is that 10 vehicles and several shops were burnt.

    Drivers of the Jigawa-bound trailer was said to have fled the scene.

     

  • New ICT centre for Lagos school

    It was a moment of excitement as over 3,000 children of Lagos State Model Primary School GRA, lkeja celebrated the inauguration of 16-seater Information Communication Technology (ICT) Learning Centre built by SAP Nigeria in partnership with AYECI Africa at the school’s premises.

    The renovation of the ICT Centre worth over N5 million had 16 functional computer systems with internet, interactive maker board, IBM, projector and 3.5KVA power generating set.

    Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Olufemi Odubiyi commended SAP Nigeria and AYECI Africa for their foresight in helping to build an army of ICT-compliant generation that will reshape the world.  

    Odubiyi said the gesture was in tandem with the Lagos State Government’s determination to provide quality education for public and private school pupils by ensuring that each pupil acquires the necessary computer knowledge in order to compete with their peers globally. 

    He noted that with an estimated shortage of some two million IT professionals in the world, the need to encourage more people to take interest in ICT, through training and skills development is a welcome way to deal with the deficit; and catching them young through SAP Africa Code Week programme is not just the way to go but the key to bridging the gap.

    He stressed that the ICT sector is a fast-growing one with unlimited possibilities. Consequently, governments, non-governmental organisations and stakeholders in the education sector need to do more in promoting ICT skills in not just primary, but secondary and tertiary institutions. 

    Odubiyi said: “The ICT sector remains a fast-growing area with limitless possibilities for national and international development. These days, ICT is effectively showing new dimensions to old institutional arrangements. It is in view of the boundless opportunities ICT offers that the Lagos State Government has been making concerted efforts to explore its potential in various aspects of governance; education inclusive.”

    As part of effort to encourage e-learning, he said, the government established a ‘Digital Village’ at Alausa, Ikeja for interested residents, especially youths to further have the opportunity of exploring the unbelievable potential of ICT. The major goal of the village is to produce a new generation of youths who are sufficiently versatile with appropriate IT skills to be positioned for personal development and active participation in nation-building.

    In her words, Marketing Lead for Africa SAP, Juliet Omorodion said the renovation of the ICT centre was in celebration of the annual global call to service day for organisations to give back to their communities or immediate environments.

    She said: “We want to improve learning experience of these young ones. We want to empower underserved people with learning opportunities to enable them to have a strong technology-driven future.”

    She added that to ensure regular power supply to the centre, the organisation had installed 3.5 KVA power generating set as an alternative to power supply for the centre.

    Continuing, Omorodion said: “Over 3,000 children are to benefit from the project. We are extremely glad and passionate about it.”

    The Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education, Dr Oluremi Sopeyin, urged the school’s management to use the facility well for the benefit of the children.

    He said the world has become a global village and the need to arm the children with requisite skills is imperative.

    He noted that the success of the sustainable development goals is hinged on inclusive education for all, especially today’s children.

     

  • 135 trained in wealth creation in Osun

    No fewer than 135 youths have undergone entrepreneurship development training through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-Entrepreneurship Development Centre, Southwest on wealth creation which is implemented by the Africa Leadership Forum (ALF).

    For four weeks, the participants were exposed to modules such as mindset re-engineering to help them rethink business, money, and livelihood, enterprise development and idea generation, business and financial management, marketing and interpersonal relationship and writing individual business plans.

    At the graduation ceremony held at the Teachers’ Co-operative House in Oshogbo were the Osun State Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Education, Chief Otunba Grace Titi Laoye Tomori, CBN represented by Mrs. Oluyemisi Adebayo of the Development Finance Office; the Africa Leadership Forum was led by Dr. Olumide Ajayi, the Programme Director of the Centre, Special Adviser to the Governor on Technical and Vocational Education; Acting Head of Board for Technical Education, Mr. Owolabi; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Julius Olajide; General Manager/CEO of the Osun Micro-credit Agency, Mr. Dayo Babaranti; and Mr. Young, Head of Youth Empowerment.

    In his address, Mr. Olajide, stated that the training was one of the integral plans of the state government and all the participants that underwent the training had said it was a life-changing experience.

    “A second batch of the training will commence soon and other young people that heard about the training had been registering for it. This will develop the human resources of the state. It is meant to teach the people how to fish and not to give them fish,” he said.

    Dr. Ajayi, the Programme Director of the CBN-EDC Southwest, commended the state for being enterprising and for being the first state in Southwest to sponsor individuals and create avenue for the training since its commencement in March last year.

    Dr. Ajayi further said that of the 135 people that had undergone the training, 125 had submitted their business plans; hence, the State Micro-Credit Agency will start interacting with them henceforth.

    He urged the participants not to waste the money they would receive for their businesses but to ensure that they create enterprises, employ other people in order to create more jobs.

    Contributing, Mr. Babaranti also encouraged the trainees to persevere their ventures, noting that people can only take risks against waste but not uncertainty.

    He revealed that the available interventions for funding of businesses included the Microcredit agency: N1, 000 to N1, 000,000; Bank of Industry (BOI) Fund, minimum of N5, 000,000; and commercial banks N10 million to N50 million, all at maximum 9 per cent interest rates. He urged the trainees to engage in businesses they are passionate about.

    Mrs. Adebayo said the CBN is leveraging on research that has shown that economies thrive on the MSMEs, hence the CBN’s MSMSE’s development fund, YIEDP, Agric Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund, Financial Inclusion Programme. She added that the apex bank is looking forward to producing Osun rice in lieu of the current importation of rice.

    In her remark, Otunba Laoye-Tomori, gave a wakeup call to the youth.

    She emphasised that it is not right that artisans from neighbouring countries would be preferred to their Nigerian counterparts.

    She said: “This should change and the CBN-EDC is one of the means of putting an end to this aberration. All the graduating trainees are expected to go and start businesses in order to end poverty and enhance employment rate. The era of oil boom is gone and we have to work with our hands.”

    She further said that some of the business plans that were presented at the event indicate that things have changed to the better.

    “This is not the first time that the CBN-EDC Southwest has partnered with the people of Osun State to provide entrepreneurship training and business development services. Seventy-five SMEs were trained through Co-operative groups that organised entrepreneurship training for her members in July this year.”

  • 256 graduate from vocational centre

    256 graduate from vocational centre

    Bothered about the increasing rate of youth unemployment, a non-governmental organisation, Empowerment for the less-privileged (ELP) Foundation, has graduated 256 students from its vocational training centre in Lagos.

    The students were trained in skills such as hair dressing, welding and metal works, fashion design, barbing, soap making and computer soft/ hardware application.

    Speaking at the 7th graduation ceremony and entrepreneurship seminar in Lagos, the founder of the foundation, Dr Mike Okonkwo said the foundation was set up to impact the lives of others.

    He urged the graduating students to make the best choice of the skills they have acquired, noting that it was not enough to have certificate from the university, but skills will showcase what they can do.

    According to him, it is important to have a skill in a developing country such as Nigeria.

    “Every challenge we have in the country nowadays is an opportunity to excel. Prepare yourselves to be change agent, contribute your quota, be the best at what you do and lay examples for others to follow,” he said.

    He noted that there would be challenges and obstacles, even as he urged them not to give up.

    Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode urged youths to take advantage of such training to enhance their economic well-being.

    Represented by Mrs Sade Odunlami, Mrs Ambode commended the foundation for empowering the less-privileged people in order to achieve poverty reduction.

    She added that the foundation will go a long way in complementing similar programmes of government which aim at making people less financially dependent.

    She urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the abundant opportunities that await them through the effective and efficient deployment of the vocational skills that they have acquired in the course of their training.

    Mrs Ambode said: “Make the best of the opportunities to become self-reliant and job creators,”.

    The Chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees, Mr Alex Okoh, said the foundation which was established in 2000 and registered in 2003, with over 3,000 graduates or beneficiaries gives a fresh lease of life, hope and limitless possibilities to thousands of people.

    According to him, their mission is to give hope to the less-privileged people and constantly empower people across nations for self-sustenance and to alleviate their pains.

    He added that the foundation offers formal and informal education, including health support to the under privileged.

    He, therefore, called for assistance to the foundation in order to enable it to achieve more for the under privileged in projects such as follow-up financing and seeking up of small businesses for graduates; buying of buses for the ELP centres; adoption of brilliant students in need of scholarships, donation of equipment and expansion of vocational centres.

    The guest speaker and founder Leap Africa, Ndidi Okonkwo, advised the beneficiaries to start doing something with the skills they had acquired.

    She urged them to do things differently, look for opportunities, solve a problem and never waste time.

    “Aggressively achieve excellence, be disciplined, focus on your race, associate yourself with those who will challenge you, be accountable, responsible, ensure integrity, work hard and be willing to serve.”

  • Residents petition Ambode over demolition

    Residents petition Ambode over demolition

    Residents of Magodo Estate under the aegis of Magodo Residents’ Association (MRA) are worried over plot to demolish a section of the estate.

    The residents are anxious over deployment of bulldozers and caterpillars at the area by the Lagos State Government.

    Their concern is that lives and properties will be exposed to danger, if the conservation, which shields the estate’s extension, is demolished.

    Southwest Report gathered that the residents were served with letter before the move to demolish the conservatory, but the residents alleged that the demolition was not authorised by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode or any designated authority.

    The letter, a copy of which was served to the MRA, dated October 18, with the title: “Removal of Endangering Bushes, Shanties and Creation of Access Road/ Channelisation of Canal between Magodo Brooks and Omole Phase 1” without any designated office.

    The residents, however, urged Governor Ambode to stop the planned demolition because “there are environmental implications to the host community if demolished.”

    According to the chairman of the association, Kunle Eludire, who debunked the subterfuge that the site is a shanty and a dangerous bush further explained that the conservation adds ecological value to the estate in particular and the state in general.

    He said: “The conservation covers the back of the estate. For security reasons, the reserve should not be removed because once it is removed; the entire estate, the residents and our properties will be exposed. We are not threatened by shanties and other things those that brought the letter claimed.”

    He, however, called on Governor Ambode to wade into the matter before the estate is unnecessarily exposed to security threats.

    “They earlier came with mobile policemen but we resisted them and now they came back with a letter which they hurriedly wrote. We can deduce that the letter is not from the governor or any of the commissioners or the Ministry of Environment and Lands,” he added.

    Jade Niboro, First Vice-Chairman said: “By the first meter they moved, we saw three big pythons. We have monkeys and crocodiles here. As we try to prevent flooding, here they want to create a larger problem.

    “We notice from the letter they brought that there is foul play because the letter was not from the governor or the ministry that supervises the environment; neither was it signed by any of the commissioners. We have written a petition to the governor and copied the various ministries and the Lagos State House of Assembly.”

    Bajo Osunubi, second Vice-Chairman of the association said: “The first time the people from Lagos State Land Bureau came, they said they wanted to access 12 plots of land here. We told them that if they should open this way, people will have easy access to the estate. After that they left. They came back the second time and we told them they can’t create an access road here. We know that government can’t destroy the estate. I know the governor has the power but what they are doing here is very wrong.

    “Secondly, they wrote us a letter that the governor gave them a right to link Brooks Estate to Omole Phase 1 and Magodo Phase 2 which is not possible. The moment you create an access road here, there will be general security threat.

    “The site only leads to Olowo-Ira and Agility Mile 12 which are very close to the estate. We believe the state government will always work with the Master Plan structured for development. The decision to demolish part of the estate was the handiwork of some dubious elements in government who are collaborating with land grabbers,” he added.

    Mrs Kemi Omotoso, the environmental secretary explained that there is a canal in the conservatory through which all waste water from the estate and its environs are channelled to. She said: “The canal serves Shangisha, Omole Phase 2 and Magodo Estate. So, if they demolish it, the neighbourhood will be affected.”

  • Water for Oyo communities excites residents

    Water for Oyo communities excites residents

    Residents of five communities in Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area of Oyo State have commended the chairman of the council, Mr Jesutowo Inaolaji, for providing potable water for their communities.

    They gave the commendation at the inauguration of the boreholes sunk for them by the council.

    The communities had grappled with lack of potable water for years until Inaolaji made it a priority.

    While inaugurating the projects, the council chief described drinkable water as a must for the health and wealth of humankind. He said he had always felt uncomfortable about lack of potable water in many of the communities, stressing that it was a major way to prevent diseases and ensure good health for rural dwellers.

    Inaolaji further explained that the discontent informed the council according the project a priority when he was given the opportunity to serve his people as chairman of the caretaker committee of the council by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    According to him, the project was in line with the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC) whose overall aim is to make life more comfortable for the citizenry.

    He urged them to make the best use of the facilities through proper maintenance.

    Leaders of the communities expressed their satisfaction with the water project, particularly with the additional power generating set that was a component of each borehole. The power generating sets, they said, would help immensely in overcoming poor power supply in the communities.

    The communities are Ajaawa, Pontela, Owode, Oniru and Moleru.

    While expressing gratitude to the council chief, the traditional ruler of Pontela, Oba Solomon Ogundipe, promised to ensure good maintenance of the facilities. He also pledged continued support for the APC in his community.

    One of the leaders who spoke on behalf of the Owode community, Elder Zachariah Olojede, said the project was a realised dream for the community.

    According to him, their children always trekked for about one kilometre to get potable water.

    He promised the community’s support for the APC government. Seven more boreholes are still being sunk for other communities.