The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Ogun inaugurates committee on task sharing policy

    The Ogun State Government has assured that the newly-inaugurated nine-member committee to work on the adoption and implementation of the National Task-shifting and Sharing Policy will be be a success.

    The policy was formulated by the Federal Government to address the challenges of lack of skilled health personnel and inequitable distribution of qualified health care workers to health facilities where they are needed.

    The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Nafiu Aigoro said the  Task-Shifting Policy Dissemination was organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and Ogun State Primary Health Care Development Board (OGPHECADEB) with the support of Pathfinder International, Nigeria.

    The event held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. He noted that the development would create room for health care professionals to deliver essential services and improve access to efficient health care service delivery to the people.

    Ipaye also stated that there was the need to ensure proper supervision, monitoring and evaluation when the policy is fully implemented to guard against exceeding limitations by the categories of health workers involved. He called on other stakeholders to also ensure its success.

    “For this policy to work out appropriately there should be proper supervision, monitoring and evaluation process so that categories of health workers to be involved will not go beyond their limitations,” Ipaye said.

    Also speaking, the Project Officer, Pathfinder International, Nigeria, Dr.  Adenike Jagun praised the state government for the giant strides, saying the step would bring about high quality health care delivery to the people, particularly in terms of enhancing access to family planning services in a manner that will improve maternal and child mortality rate in the country.

    “Ogun State has the chance to reduce the maternal and child deaths to the barest and to meet up with target of 54.2 per cent of contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) by 2018. The implementation of the policy must be carried out consciously alongside separation of budget line for family planning,” Jagun said.

    Members of the committee include, Dr. Oluranti Oladeinde as Chairman while Dr. Daniel Adesanya, Dr. Atinuke Duze; Mrs. Kemi Balogun, among others are members.

     

  • Royalty’s kudos for ABUAD, Babalola

    Royalty’s kudos for ABUAD, Babalola

    Exactly one week after the world congregated at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), to celebrate its 7th Founder’s Day and 4th Convocation ceremonies, it was another celebration on Friday, October 28, when the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, with other royal fathers, including the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Aladesanmi III, visited the six-year-old university.

    Dressed in immaculate white apparel with a golden crown and a golden staff of office, the Ooni, a man of royalty who is interested in the unity of the Yoruba nation, strolled into Alfa Belgore Hall amid tumultuous and rousing welcome. People from different strata of the ABUAD community and who wore their sartorial best were there to welcome his majesty.

    After the pleasantries and the razzmatazz associated with such high profile event, the frontline royal father, who said he was more than impressed with what he saw in the six-year-old university, described Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) as a typical example of “something growing out of nothing and becoming great within a very short time of its existence”.

    Oba Ogunwusi commended the founder and Chancellor of ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), whom he described as straightforward personality for his vision in establishing the university and taking it to a very high pedestal in six years and for the rousing welcome the Babalolas and the entire university community organised in his honour.

    He said: “I have been reading about Aare Afe Babalola in the newspapers for many years now, but today, I will tell him something he doesn’t know. He has been one of my mentors. He is a very forthright and straightforward Ekiti man. Future leaders should take a study on what Ekiti is and what makes it what it is today, the Fountain of Knowledge”

    He added: “I have equally noticed that it is not money that drives this great man’s vision. Rather, it is passion and a clear vision; passion for excellence and a clear vision that cannot be mistaken. I then asked him why this vision and he told me somebody has to do it; someone has to bell the cat.

    “Aare Afe Babalola told me how he planted a tree 25 years ago and how he has now begun to reap a bountiful harvest thereof”.

    He thanked Yeye Aare Modupe Babalola for her support for the vision, stressing that her name which has already been etched in letters of gold can never be erased.

    Addressing the students who turned out in their thousands to catch a glimpse of him, the Ooni, who said his visit to ABUAD was another memorable day for him and a great honour to address “great leaders of tomorrow”, urged them to plant a tree now, like Babalola did 25 years ago and nurture it into fruition, stressing that there is no short cut to success.

    Affirming that the students have what it takes to have their destinies shaped and nurtured in ABUAD, Oba Ogunwusi said: “Your founder planted a tree 25 years ago and he is reaping the harvest today. Each of you should plant a tree today and nurture it because there is no short cut to success. There is a process for everything. Just look at the way the sun rises and sets. Look at the way the moon shines. Look at the way the rain falls. There is a process that cannot be short circuited”.

    He urged the students to identify people who can shape their lives and have plans of what they want to grow in their souls, how happy they want to become in future and how fulfilled they want to become in future and work assiduously towards attaining those goals.

    The Oba, who opted to to stand up while addressing the students because of his philosophy of life and his love and respect for the younger ones said: “I have a very simple philosophy of life and that is the fact that I have a lot of respect and love for people coming behind me. I accord them greater respect and honour than those in front of me because only God knows what those coming behind me will become.

    “There is only one Supreme Being who knows tomorrow. Nobody, but God Himself, knows the future of the beautiful and handsome faces I am seeing here. But I know that future Presidents, Governors, wives of Presidents and great Engineers that will transform this country abound here; future leaders that will turn around the future of this country.”

    He, therefore, advised them to put themselves together, conduct themselves very well, be of good character and put up very clear action plans because people will look up to them as leaders in future.

    In his remarks, Oba Adejugbe described the Ooni as “the Ooni of our dream, who has been visiting the hot spots in Yoruba land in search of peace and unity”. No wonder then that on January 17, this year, Oba Ogunwusi visited the Alaafin of Oyo, embraced the Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, the first of such in 79 years; thus dousing the near-four decades cold “war” between the two powerful and leading thrones in Yoruba land. He has equally visited the Owa Obokun of Ijesa land, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, the Ogunsua of Modakeke and many others preaching the gospel of peace and unity.

    Responding, Babalola, who donned his trademark hat and flashing his ubiquitous smile, described Ooni’s visit as an important day in the life of his university, the life of the nation and in his own life as he was receiving in audience a royalty who believes in oneness and unity of the Yoruba nation and demonstrating it in action and not in mere words.

    He commended the Ooni for choosing to visit the Alaafin, embracing him, thus resolving the supremacy tussle between the two frontline Obas which no one, including the courts, has been able to resolve in decades.

    “This is the type of leader this country needs. When a man thinks about how to change the world and he demonstrates it through the way he relates with others, including students, such indeed is a true leader. I salute you sir”, Babalola said.

    He thanked the royal father for his words of commendation and encouragement for his family and the university, stressing that he will continue to strive to raise a new generation of leaders and build a new Nigeria.

    • Olofintila wrote from Ado-Ekiti
  • Sumptuous culture at Igbo yam festival

    Sumptuous culture at Igbo yam festival

    Every year, the Nwachukwu Drive in Okota Isolo Local Council Development Area, witnesses cultural activities as the Igbo in Lagos gather to celebrate the new yam festival. This year, the ceremony held on Saturday at Lagos State Igbo Community Centre, Nwachukwu Drive, Okota Lagos.

    As early as 12  noon that day, guests had begun to throng the flamboyantly decorated and roomy Igbo centre.

    There were heavy drumming, singing, trumpeting and breath-taking dance steps by various cultural dancers who thrilled the guests who had seated before the arrival of important dignitaries invited for the occasion.

    It was all glamour and show of opulence, as an estimated crowd of 7,000 that included Ndigbo in Lagos, representative of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, representative of wife of Lagos State Governor, representatives of the Oba of Lagos, members of Lagos State House of Assembly, several traditional rulers, All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts, captains of industry, transport associations, friends and well-wishers participated in the celebration of the pristine and long-standing cultural carnival for which the Igbo are known.

    The weather was clement as the sun shone brightly out of the azure sky. The spacious centre was largely suffused with beautifully coloured masquerades and traditional dancers who entertained the people. Gaily dressed Igbo women known for their panache and active social lifestyle were a marvel to behold. The men equally in their beautiful Isiagu attire swirled to the suiting rhythm of drums and other musical instruments in that somewhat balmy afternoon. It was a gathering of who is who in Igbo land and Lagos State.

    The fiesta was also a platform for the recognition of some Igbo who had distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour and others who are not indigenous to Igbo such as Governor Ambode and his wife Bolanle, who the Igbo Community in Lagos unanimously recognised as good father and mother of Ndigbo resident in Lagos and Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly who was recognised as friend of Ndigbo in Lagos State, among others.

    In his speech, Eze Nwachukwu explained that Ndigbo in Lagos celebrate the new yam festival to enable those who could not travel to the East to participate in the fiesta at home, even as he added that the aim was to encourage the young ones to be abreast of some of the cultural heritages of the Igbo.

    He noted that yam is regarded as the king of crops in Igbo land and used to serve as status symbol for men who had attained success.

    He praised Ambode for the good works he is doing for the masses, even as he urged him to listen to the cries of Ndigbo for inclusion in governance. He pleaded with him to fix the road that transverse his palace, the Nwachukwu Drive

    “It is not only yam that is harvested; any profession one is in and is progressing, such a one is harvesting the blessings of God,” he said.

    In his message to the Igbo community, Governor Ambode praised Ndigbo for recognising culture as one of the factors that keep the society intact. He said any society without culture is dead.

    “I congratulate Ndigbo on the celebration of their new yam festival which is one of the most significant cultural events in Igbo land. The event provides the Igbo man the opportunity to thank God for bumper harvest in yam and other farm varieties. I also praise you for being peace-loving people,” he said.

    Represented by a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Jude Idimogu, Ambode said he was happy with the Igbo for being supportive in his administration’s strive to make life better for residents. He promised to build a pedestrian bridge at Ladipo to save lives of traders. He also promised that Nwachukwu Drive in Okota will be among the next 114 roads to be constructed.

    Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode who was represented by Chief (Mrs.) Roseline Idimogu congratulated Ndigbo on the celebration of this year’s yam festival.

    She said: “The new yam festival remains one of the most popular and best celebrated annual socio-cultural events of the Igbo. The festival is deeply rooted in Igbo tradition which has since metamorphosed into political, social and cultural festivals where issues concerning the well-being of the people are discussed. The event is a unifying factor for all Igbo in Lagos State.

    “I very much congratulate the Igbo Community in Lagos on the success of this year’s new yam festival.”

    The leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike urged Ndigbo to be peace-loving and to respect the laws of the host state.

    “I salute all Igbo in Lagos for being at peace with the host communities. With the current economic situation in Nigeria, Ndigbo must be conscious of developing their homeland. Time has gone when Ndigbo invest all they had outside Igbo land. If you build one house in Lagos, build two at home. Be law-abiding as nobody can seize your investment from you,” he said.

    He praised Governor Ambode for his people-oriented policies and programmes and his accommodating spirit for Ndigbo, adding that Ndigbo in Lagos are behind him. He pleaded with him to fix Nwachukwu Drive which is in bad shape.

    While praising the Igbo for the success of this year’s yam festival, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu who was represented by the Ojon of Lagos, High Chief Oloye Nurudeen Olobiyi Agoro and Chief Suene of Lagos said: “We know that the Igbo are decent and hardworking people. The people of Lagos State have mutual respect for each of them. Lagos is a peaceful place. We should also have mutual respect for the owners of the land. We love you and cannot do without one another. I assure you that before the end of next year, Nwachukwu Drive will be constructed.”

    In his remark, the Publicity Secretary of the APC in Lagos, Mr. Joe Igbokwe thanked Eze Nwachukwu for bringing Ndigbo in Lagos together every year to celebrate the new yam festival. He promised that by next edition of the festival, the road will be fixed.

  • Building strong family ties dominates talks in Lagos

    Building strong family ties dominates talks in Lagos

    The family is the foundation and smallest unit of any nation, even as  the woman is said to be the basis of human existence. In the circumstances, Nigerian women from all walks of life converged on Lagos to sensitise the public to the significant role women and the family play in nation-building. MIRIAM EKENE-OKORO reports

    The 16th National Women Conference, organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Government Officials (COWLSO), may have ended. However, the plethora of ideas and knowledge that participants learnt through the various speakers and facilitators at the three-day conference would linger for a very long time.

    The conference, which attracted large turnout of participants from across various segments of the society, provided a platform for women to reflect on the importance of the family in building a strong nation and how well they could contribute towards realising an egalitarian society.

    Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi and his Osun State counterpart, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who were the Guests of Honour at the event, began the conference with their enobling speeches. They described a strong family as the building block for any nation willing to develop.

    They said Nigerian women have important roles to play in the development of the country.

    For Ajimobi, the theme of the conference which was “Strong Family, Strong Nation” was timely considering recent happenings in the country.

    For Ajimobi, “to build the world right, we must first build the nation; to build a nation, we must build the family. The wife is the foundation and bedrock of the family and for a man to be successful, the woman must be everywhere around him.”

    On his part, Aregbesola noted that women play important role in building the foundation of the society.

    “Family reflects community and the woman is the foundation of life and the basis of human existence,” he said.

    In his goodwill message, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said while the importance of the family unit to the overall development of the nation was not in doubt, much emphasis must be placed on the commitment towards strengthening the family unit and building strong moral values.

    “The importance of the family unit to the overall development of any nation is not in doubt. The family is the foundation and smallest unit of any nation. The heart and conscience of a nation is formed, to a large extent, in the family. However, the issue is the amount of commitment we, in our individual capacities and as a nation, have shown towards strengthening the family unit.

    “With strong families, we can build a strong nation. But strong families will only exist in a society where nobody is left behind, where everybody has a voice and a stake. This is one of the toughest challenges facing governments–”to build an all-inclusive society”, he said.

    He further said his administration remains totally committed to empowering women as well as protecting the girl-child against all forms of negative vices, while creating viable platforms for families to bond and recreate.

    “Women are the glue that holds families together and we believe strongly that an empowered woman, with a sense of self-esteem, will be better positioned to make a success of her career and at the same time be a pillar of strength for the family,” Ambode said.

    Declaring the conference open, wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, said COWLSO has emerged as one of the many issues that have put Lagos in the unique class of excellence.

    “What strikes me the most about the committee is that, it is an intellectual and philanthropic association, established to complement the efforts of the Lagos State Government to improve the welfare and well-being of the people,” she said.

    The President’s wife, who was represented by the wife of the Governor of Imo State, Mrs. Nneoma Okorocha, said the importance of strong family values must continue to be emphasised, saying that the absence of it gives rise to the challenges of poverty, crime and declining school performance.

    “Poverty, crime and decline in school performance are some of the challenges a country could face when families are not cohesive,” she said.

    She commended COWLSO for putting the conference together, even as she said as women; it was pertinent for them to make positive impact on the society.

    In her welcome address, wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, said the theme for the conference ‘Strong Family, Strong Nation ‘ was carefully chosen in recognition of the fact that the strength of a nation is linked to the strength of its family units.

    She said: “When family units are bound together in love and children are raised in the fear of God and high social and moral values, it begets a good and peaceful society and country, and social vices are reduced to the barest.”

    Mrs. Ambode, who is the Chairman of COWLSO, explained that most of the social challenges currently confronting the country such as drug addiction, cultism, teenage pregnancy, kidnapping, child abuse and domestic violence, among others, have their foundation in a dysfunctional family units.

    Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who was decorated with the award of grand matron of the committee, commended the gesture, adding that 28 years after COWLSO was established, the conference has grown in leaps and bounds and imparting on the society positively.

    She commended the effort of Governor Ambode, even as she appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience as the change promised by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration may tarry, but would definitely work.

    Like the opening, the closing ceremony also lived up to its billing.

    Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, shortly before declaring the conference closed, took time to expound the importance of the family unit and how modern day lifestyle was fast eroding the opportunity for family bonding.

    Oshiomhole, however, said Governor Ambode’s strategic interventions in reducing traffic congestion was not only reducing traffic and fuel consumption, but was also bringing back the good times of family bonding as travel time has reduced, hence husbands and wives don’t have excuse of traffic to get home late or leave very early.

    He said: “Over the years as Governor of Edo State, I have had cause to learn and borrow from the template Lagos was running. I am optimistic that my successor and Governor-elect, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, would be willing to borrow a leaf from the COWLSO Conference as well as the traffic management strategy of Lagos State.

    “We borrowed what is happening in Lagos to make the case for Godwin Obaseki in Edo State that Nigeria must move away from a tradition in which you have to be a celebrated politician to become eligible to contest for a political office, and that what we need in times like this are skills and people with managerial acumen and competence.

    “We readily referred to Lagos as an example of what works with a seasoned and indisputable leader such as Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu laying the foundation, dreaming big, dreaming clearly and setting the vision and identifying capable young men and women to translate those visions in a manner that is unprecedented in the history of our country.”

    He further said with the achievements of governor Ambode, so far, he (the Governor) has shown that the only poverty to address is the poverty of ideas, adding that once the brain is creative and imaginative with a Governor that is ready to apply himself, there is no problem that would defy solution.

     

  • ‘Make fire protection all-inclusive policy’

    ‘Make fire protection all-inclusive policy’

    For three consecutive days (September 20-22), the Fire Protection Association of Nigeria (FPAN) held this year’s annual conference on fire prevention and protection at Equity Resort Hotel, Ijebu-Ode Ogun State. During the conference, participants discussed the way forward for the all-important sector. The conference was held because of the growing cases of fire incidents and their attendant consequences in terms of loss of lives and property.

    The theme of the conference was “Towards Effective Coordination and Management of Fire Prevention and Emergency Preparedness for Security of National Economy.”

    At the end of the conference where experts presented several papers, a communiqué was also issued. The event was also a platform for the investiture of about 19 Fellows of the association as well as election of new executive.

    Speaking at the conference, FPAN’s Vice-President, Mr. Dominic O. Aigbogun, said the participants arrived at the recommendations after exhaustive deliberations of the problems confronting fire protection and other emergency measures in the country.

    He also revealed that the conference noted that fire services across the country were poorly funded and ill-equipped, thereby giving rise to lapses in intervention and capacity building.

    The conference, according to Aigbogun, also decried lack of pro-activeness in planning for emergencies, which has equally led to challenges in the proper management of rescue operations.

    Other issues the conference deliberated on included lack of synergy among law enforcement agencies in the management of fire and other emergencies; losses arising from fire incidents in the country  which were on the increase and largely so as a result of weak systems and structure in the management of fire incidents.

    The association also observed that the country’s insurance sector was experiencing a lot of challenges, essentially due to poor risk assessment, leading to poor pricing, poor risk treatment and lack of effective monitoring.

    To mitigate the challenges facing fire prevention management in the country, the conference recommended, among other things:

    “That since safety of lives and property is a collective responsibility, the funding of fire services should be borne by the three tiers of government. It was equally recommended that each local government area should contribute five per cent of its revenue allocation for equipping the fire service stations.

    “It was also recommended that insurance companies, banks and oil firms should contribute two per cent of their annual gross profits to the Fire Service Fund while other corporate bodies should pay one per cent of their gross profit into the fund.

    Other major recommendations were that “the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) should ensure proper and effective role separation in emergency operations; individual agencies in the area of fire and other emergencies should always restrict themselves to the specific and defined roles and responsibilities.”

    The participants also stressed that emphasis should shift from a reactive to proactive philosophy in fire protection management and that proper planning of emergency operations should be the core for effectiveness and efficiency in response operations.

    The participants called on government at various levels and decision makers on fire and other emergencies, to budget properly and ensure that the relevant equipment and the capacity for emergency operations are assured.

    The conferees equally urged the Federal Government to urgently revisit and implement its 2012 Committee’s report on the restructuring of Fire Service in the country, just as they urged insurance companies to ensure proper and effective assessment and treatment of risks in their portfolios.

    While commending the Federal Government for transferring the Federal Fire Service to the Ministry of Interior, the conference however, appealed to the government to speedily place the Service either on the Concurrent or Exclusive list.

    The body wants the National Assembly to accelerate the passage of the Bill on Fire Service Act of 2003.

    Other recommendations included paying of greater attention to the recruitment of firemen into the service; ensuring uniformity of Fire Safety Code, fire service training and administration.

    The conference, which expressed sadness over the loss of lives of firemen in active service, appealed for the provision of protective wears, particularly breathing apparatus to safeguard firemen at work.

    They equally sought the intensification of public enlightenment/lectures in fire prevention activities; positioning three fire stations in strategic positions in each local government in the country and adequate raw water reservoir and hydrant with outlets spaced 100 metres apart in every city.

    In a bid for more relevance, the conference urged  the FPAN’s Governing Council to establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with other safety organisations, especially that of FPA in the United Kingdom and NFPA of the United States of America, among others.

    The papers presented included; “Role of NEMA in Emergency Control”; “Fire Service in Nigeria, How Prepared;” “Role of Enforcement Agencies in Management of Fire Emergencies”; “FPAN’s Views on Losses in our Nation and Contemplated Remedies” and “Insurer’s View on Fire and other cognate losses in our Nation.”

  • NGO rewards customers with cars, gift items

    NGO rewards customers with cars, gift items

    Touching Lives International, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has held its second edition of the car award and recognition of top achievers.

    In this year’s edition, seven sport utility vehicles (SUVs) were given out to individuals as well as 402 household items.

    They also received cheques worth US 2,000 dollars to empower the less-privileged people.  Eighty people also qualified for a trip to Dubai next month.

    This is an improvement over the first edition held in July where two persons received the star prize of one SUV each. Each of the vehicles had a monetary value of N7 to 10 million.

    Winners came from Port Harcourt, Calabar, Uyo, Abuja and Lagos. Household items such as LED TVs, washing machines, freezers, laptops, tablets, phones, power generating sets, gas cookers, split unit air-conditioners, cartons of noodles and several half bags of rice were also won.

    The organisation was launched in Nigeria on July 8, though has its headquarters in the Philippines.

    Also present at the event were representatives of the company’s business partners such as Zenith Bank, Skye Bank and Guarantee Trust Bank; Hyundai, Renault; GAC; Changai Motors and Travelstart.

    Country Manager of the company, Moses Durodola enjoined Nigerians to avail themselves of the rare opportunity of not only being a life wire to the communities, but also empowering themselves. He said everyone is a winner and compensated in cash or gifts if their membership of the company is built to a certain level.

    Durodola noted that theirs is an NGO that is welfare sensitive. He reeled off the activities the company engages in to include medical outreaches, skill acquisition and training, catering and bead making through free seminars.

    Emmanuel Okon, one of the recipients who received two cars, expressed his joy for the gesture. He told Southwest Report of how he resigned from teaching to face multi-level marketing as a fulltime profession.

    Okon, who is a post-graduate student at the University of Calabar, is entitled for seven cars, apart from other freebies attached to his awards before the end of the year.

    According to him, he resigned to take up the network business because he knew their will be a promising reward.

    “It has not been easy staying focused, organising seminars and workshops. Now, I realise that all that has been worth the trouble. So, with all these items, I will drive some cars, sell some, give out some and use the rest to establish myself,” he said.

    He urged everyone to key into the business of networking, as it is the only way one can break even in this 21st Century.

    Sansudeen Adebayo, who is the youngest recipient, said he joined the business to get himself out of boredom and also to help himself. He also said he has dedicated all his time and little resources into the business which he said, has sustained him.

    He called on other youths to embrace the networking business in order to take their minds off criminality and other social vices.

  • Residents allege plot to take over their homes

    Residents allege plot to take over their homes

    Residents of Oke-Aro town in Ifon Local Government Area of Ogun State have urged the government to investigate alleged attempts by some persons, including estate valuers, to unlawfully take control of their landed property.

    The residents, whose homes are on or around Matogun Road in Oke-Aro, which bestrides land reserved by the Federal Government for power transmission lines under the National Independent Power Project (NIPP), said speculators were behind the plot.

    They alleged that despite existing routes for the power lines to traverse, the government may be deceived to destroy people’s homes to make another ‘costlier’ route for the NIPP, so that money could be spent on compensation, which those behind the plot would profit from.

    They also alleged that the opportunists had caused panic in the community in recent weeks by spreading rumours of an imminent pulling down of their homes by the government.

    In a chat with Southwest Report, members of Glory Land Community Development Association (CDA) in Oke-Aro said their enquiries had revealed that there was no such intention by the ministry and that the Ogun State government had also denied knowledge of any such extension by the Federal Government.

    The CDA President, Chief Samuel Somuyiwa, said some residents, especially the barely literate ones, had been deceived into signing documents which gave away absolute Power of Attorney over their homes.

    “They came around sharing forms without letting the people know what the forms were about. It was as if someone placed a handcuff before us and asked us to put our hands in it. I refused to accept the form when the agent could not answer my questions. But in two days, we had received about four to five letters of power of attorney from different estate agents,” Somuyiwa said.

    He said the documents, copies of which were made available to our correspondent, granted the recipients exclusive rights to negotiate for compensation on behalf of the home owners should their homes be pulled down by the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.

    Another resident, Otunba Idowu Adeyinka said persons claiming to represent estate agents brought the unsigned letters of power of attorney, even at night, and dropped it in each compound.

    Adeyinka stated: “We have heard that some people have already signed the forms, but that is not our problem.

    “We know that normally, if the Federal Government or any government wants to do something, it will notify the people, either by way of publication in newspaper or by pasting posters around such area to let them know. It is not a third party that will now come and say ‘I want to represent you in negotiations with somebody.’

    “It is the government that should tell you in the first instance that this is what we are planning before you can now say let me have a power of attorney. Sensitisation should have been done to show that there is such a project and the property, if any, which will be affected.”

    Mr. Odunayo Ogunsanya, whose house is also on Matogun Road, said: “They told me the government would only break my fence, because it would not have money for compensation, if it destroyed my building.”

    This was confirmed by another resident, Mr. Alade Sodeke, who said his lawyer, Mr Bayo Oludele, had written to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola to find out what was going on.

    The lawyer, Oludele said: “We are awaiting his response. But in the interim, I felt it was needful to get to the NIPP office too. They have an administrative office at Ikoyi. So, we will be going there to make enquiries. When he told me of the second and third letters of power of attorney being distributed, I reasoned that normally before you give somebody a power of attorney; it should be somebody you know.

    “A stranger cannot just show up and say he wants to represent you and you agree. That would be very risky. Once you appoint him as your attorney, he can do and undo because you have signed away your rights and obligations to him and he could decide to be crafty.

    “Before we built our houses here, many of us got approval from the government. You can’t come and say you want to take over another person’s property.

    “And then, enquiries at Abeokuta Survey office indicated that it is not aware of this. Under the Land Use Act, all lands in Nigeria are vested in the Governor, not even the President. So, before they do anything, the state government should know, but it says it is not aware.”

    The men said they were concerned because they had heard of a similar government project in the past where people were deceived into signing away their property and were given peanuts as compensation by middlemen.

    “When it was time to be paid, the middlemen waited until it was dark and asked the people to come to a hotel room one by one. A man whom the middlemen said would get N150, 000 was only given N15, 000,” Somuyiwa said.

  • Rotary Club gets president

    Rotary Club gets president

    The President of Rotary Club of Opebi, Michael Oladimeji Olawale Ajayi, has pledged to continue to build on the sustainable humanitarian services which are its core objectives. He also said he would help to make the society free of poverty.

    Ajayi spoke shortly after his decoration as the 34th President of the club. He will pilot the affairs of the club for the 2016 and 2017 Rotary Year.

    The gathering, which drew family, friends and many dignitaries across the country, was not just to witness the installation or felicitate with the new helmsman and members of his board but also to raise funds to execute various community projects.

    He took over the mantle of leadership of the club from Mrs. Grace Zainab Nnenne Enakhume, who served between 2015 and 2016.

    The projects for 2016 and 2017, according to Ajayi, were 500 units of branded bed sheets for hospitals, youth empowerment/vocational training for young entrepreneurs, awareness campaign for stroke, sanitation for hand washing, training for small-scale business people in record keeping, accounting and taxation and donation of mosquito nets to remand homes in Lagos and Ogun states.

    Others include building of befitting toilet facilities for schools in some communities, support for the eradication of polio virus and donation of books and other educational materials to schools.

    Ajayi appealed for support from members of the club and well-meaning Nigerians to enable him to achieve the set goals.

    He urged the members to introduce more people who are willing to serve humanity without expecting returns.

    “Encourage likeminded people to join the club and to support the club’s goals financially. The problems of the world cannot be solved by a single person. Little efforts from individuals can produce amazing results. Serving humanity does not require status or religious. Bring humanity to practice and balance,” he pleaded.

    Mrs. Enakhume appealed to members to support the new president to enable him, in line with Rotary International policies, to promote, improve and strengthen active participation of all members to participate in executing projects that will make a difference and improve the standard of living of the people.

  • More questions as Oyo, Osun resolve LAUTECH ownership crisis

    More questions as Oyo, Osun resolve LAUTECH ownership crisis

     Oyo and Osun states have agreed to sustain their joint ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso. But many questions still agitate the minds of stakeholders in the area of funding. BISI OLADELE writes that while Osun State is accused of owing 15 months subvention, the recent decision of the Oyo State Government to reduce subvention to its tertiary institutions by 75 per cent may complicate the uncertainty of funding for the 26-year-old institution 

    The agreement reached by Oyo and Osun state governments in Ibadan on Wednesday to sustain joint ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso came as a soothing balm for many stakeholders.

    The latest decision is expected to ease agitations by indigenes of Ogbomoso and many others in Oyo State for Osun State to cede the institution to Oyo for sole ownership.

    But some stakeholders are unsure if the mere pronouncement of the decision will placate the striking workers who are protesting non-payment of salaries as well as indigenes who believe that the joint ownership structure will continue to jeopardise efficiency at LAUTECH.

    The Oyo State Government had, last month, announced its decision to slash subventions to its tertiary institutions by 75 per cent. The decision came as a blow to some key players in the higher education sector.

    The government, in a letter dated September 20, informed chief executives of the institutions that no institution should expect subvention either in arrears or in the future.

    Explaining the rationale behind the decision, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, in an interaction with reporters at the Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo, said the decision was necessitated by the current financial constraints, need to plug loopholes and stimulate creativity in managers of the institutions.

    According to him, the government would continue to support the institutions with 25 per cent subventions as a sign of its commitment to their well-being.

    His words: “The country is experiencing dwindling oil revenue which has affected virtually all aspects of our socio-economic life and we are unable to really cope.

    “Education is participatory. It is not for the government alone or for the government alone to pay for education. We believe that parents, teachers and everybody must participate…Nigerians must contribute to education and the development of our children.”

    He also pointed out that managers of the institutions need to work hard to plug leakages and be creative in serving their communities.

    “We have not cancelled subventions completely. We have reduced it from 100 per cent to 25 per cent.

    “Education is not absolutely free. Nothing is absolutely free.”

    The decision came at a time when agitations by indigenes of the host town, Ogbomoso, for sole ownership of LAUTECH by Oyo State were high.

    Their agitations were based on the alleged failure of the Osun State Government to fulfill its financial obligations to the institution.

    The indigenes posited that the problem has constantly led to the inability of LAUTECH to pay salaries regularly thereby leading to workers’ strikes and obstruction of school calendar. The students, they claim, bear the consequence even as the quality of teaching and learning in such an environment becomes questionable.

    Leading the agitation was the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, who, in newspaper advertorial, advanced reasons why Osun State should cede full ownership of the institution to Oyo State.

    Members of the apex socio-cultural organisation in the town, Ogbomoso Parapo, also staged a protest against the decay at LAUTECH owing to alleged failure of Osun State to meet its financial obligations.

    To crown the agitation, on September 22, some members of the Oyo State House of Assembly moved a motion seeking full ownership of the institution by Oyo State.

    The motion was sponsored by the lawmaker representing Ogbomoso North, Olawumi Oladeji and nine other lawmakers.

    In the  motion entitled: “Reviewing the Joint Ownership of LAUTECH: A Step Towards Sole Ownership by Oyo State Government,” Oladeji noted that the Oyo State Government has been trying its best to ensure sustainability of the high standard of education which the university is known for through its commitment to fulfilling its own part of the financial obligations.

    “We are concerned about the persistent crisis in the university due to default in payment of salaries of members of staff of the university as and when due. Cumulatively, Osun State Government owes 15 months’ arrears of salaries of members of staff as at September this year.

    “Consequent upon this, members of staff of the university had embarked on an indefinite strike which has paralysed all activities in the university. It should be noted that if the industrial action  persists for too long, it may spell doom for the existence and growth of the university,” she said.

    The motion reads in part: “That Oyo State Government should demonstrate and be concerned about the sole ownership of the university since the Government of Osun State has consistently failed to honour its own financial obligation.

    “In view of the fact that Osun State cannot meet up with its obligations as regards the sustenance of the university, the House should urge it to hands off from the running of the university and allow Oyo State Government to take sole ownership.”

    In his submission, the Speaker Hon. Michael Adeyemo, said the House needed to revisit the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two states and which was passed into law on October 23, 2010.

    However, the alumni association of LAUTECH condemned the agitations, saying they (agitations) were against the spirit of brotherliness that was the foundation for the joint ownership.

    In a September 24 statement signed by its National President, Jide Bewaji, the association said the Assembly should have lent its voice to that of those calling for the resolution of the crisis that has engulfed the institution.

    As divergent positions by stakeholders raged, thugs allegedly invaded the university campus on September 27 and beat up some indigenes of Osun State who are members of staff.

    But the  Ogbomoso Parapo (home branch) dissociated itself from sponsoring any form of attack on members of staff of the institution.

    In a press release signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Messrs Saka Bello and Tunde Afolabi respectively, the organisation said:  “We state unequivocally that Ogbomoso Parapo (home branch) was not involved in the purported attack by thugs on members of staff of LAUTECH who are of Osun State origin as reported by some dailies recently. Neither was the association party to it nor sponsored any such thing.”

    According to the organisation, its involvement in the LAUTECH saga is not because the university is located in Ogbomoso but because of the overall interest of the university.

    “We state that our incessant outcry over the matter because of our genuine concern over the gradual decay being witnessed in the institution.

    “The university had been closed down since early June over matters connected with funding and non-payment of workers’ salaries. The strike is in its seven month,” it stated.

    But with the possibility of LAUTECH being ceded to Oyo State in the future, some stakeholders are already raising concern over funding, given the new decision by the state government to reduce subventions to 25 per cent.

    One of them is the Joint Action Forum of Academic Staff Union of Oyo State-owned tertiary institutions (JAFAS) which described government’s decision as unacceptable.

    JAFAS said the idea, which is being allegedly test-run at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), would certainly throw many students out of school due to high school fees.

    In a communique issued at the end of its meeting at the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education (EACOED), Oyo, JAFAS called for reversal of the policy.

    The communique was signed by the chairmen and secretaries of the academic unions at LAUTECH, EACOED, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSATECH), Igbo-Ora, Ibarapa Polytechnic, Oke-Ogun Polytechnic and College of Education, Lanlate.

    It reads inter alia: “The position of the government on the stoppage of subventions to tertiary institutions is unacceptable.

    “That this ‘commodification’ of education is the surest way of producing an army of illiterates who are surely to be thrown out of schools as a result of their parents’ inability to pay school fees, which could be as high as 350,000 per student per session.

    “Members equally noted that the policy is a surreptitious sale of public institutions to private hands.”

    Reacting, the Oyo State Government described JAFAS’ statement as pre-emptive, stating that the government has not made policy pronouncements on some of the issues raised.

    The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, said the state government said reduction in subventions to tertiary institutions was discussed with the head of the institutions, stressing that the government is still consulting with them to achieve a seamless education calendar run for tertiary institutions.

    “Rather than going to the pages of newspapers to express displeasure on some of government actions in the education sector, JAFAS should have sent a memorandum to the Education Reform Committee when it called for such, instead of misleading the public about the contents of the yet-to-be-made-public report,” the government spokesman said.

    As the two governors have resolved the joint ownership crisis, what is the future of the institution with regard to funding? This and many more questions in the minds of students, members of staff and other stakeholders remain unanswered.

  • ‘Stop destroying national assets’

    Aggrieved groups in the country have been advised to stop destroying national assets and killing of innocent Nigerians. They have been urged to engage in constru-ctive negotiation of their grievances.

    The groups were also advised to channel their requests in an orderly and civic manner. The advice was given by a group, Ancient Religion Societies of African Descendants International Council of Nigeria (ARSADIC) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    ARSADIC,  in a congratulatory message signed  by His  Imperial  Majesty, the Ooni  of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye, Chairman Board of Trustees (BOT) and Chief  Sola Olalekan Atanda (BOT Secretary/National President), a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Ibadan, the group  implored all citizens  not to engage in acts capable of dividing  the country  but to contribute their quota to  the progress of the country.

    The groups, according to the statement, include the Niger Delta Avengers, Boko Haram, MEND and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

    The statement reads in part: “As the nation’s independence is a collective will of all Nigerians, we urge all who are in the act of sectoral disorderliness to bury their differences and negotiate their grievances through civil and orderly manner.

    “We strongly believe in our nation and her unique diversity which is our great strength. We are of the opinion that the present national challenges are factors in the nation’s development that call for contributions from all Nigerians.

    “ARSADIC, the umbrella body for all Ifa/Orisa/Traditional religio-us organisations, rejoices with Nigeria as a nation and all Nigerians both at home and abroad on the occasion of the 56th Independence celebration of our great country –Nigeria.”

    The group, therefore, used the medium to appeal to Nigerians to support the Buhari-led administration in waging war against corruption in all quarters.

    “We also resolve to denounce corruption and urge all Nigerians that believe and engage in corruption to have a rethink and stop their acts of corruption. Nigerians need to work harder and encourage development from within. No other nation can come and build our nation for us. “Rather, we have to patronise ourselves and build confidence in ourselves. We similarly call on all Nigerians to love one another and respect the state. We have to stop all inhuman acts including kidnapping and religious violence.

    “We strongly believe that in doing these; Olodumare and all Irunmoles will listen to our prayers, bless us and raise our country to greater position. We felicitate with our President and all those in positions of authority and all Nigerians both at home and abroad.

    “We wish that by next year’s celebration, we shall have more joy and peace in the land. Our country shall witness more positive development,” it said.