The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Free medicare for Oyo community

    Free medicare for Oyo community

    It was a massive crowd at the palace of the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oyo State Oba Ganiyu Adekunle Salawu the Ologuunebi Ajinase 1 penultimate week. Indigenes of the ancient city had converged on the palace to participate in the free medical screening and lecture organised by the Advanced Management Programme (AMP) Class 26 of the Lagos Business School (LBS) Members of the group, who graduated from LBS two years ago, said they had been organising such programmes since they graduated, adding that the programme was aimed at sharing and extending help to members of their community. They maintained that they were exposed to such philanthropic principles by their alma mater.

    Addressing the indigenes, the treasurer of the association, Mr Chidubem Obiodu said: “When we completed our programme in 2014, we agreed to help the society through education and health care programmes. We chose Iseyin today, because we needed a place out of Lagos, since we had done many outreaches in Lagos already. The free medical screening is very important, because we want people to live long and see their children and grandchildren.”

    Chairman of Class 26’s Corporate Social Responsibility team, Mr Dimeji Olona said it took proper planning, commitment of members and partnership with the community leaders to bring the activity into fruition.

    “Every one of us keyed into the vision of LBS to impact positively on the society. Last year, we conducted an education programme while we focused on health this year. It took proper planning to get this programme done, which helped us to get the commitment of the community.

    “We worked hand-in-hand with the people from the local government, who mobilised members of the community for us. We brought our medical team who also worked hand-in-hand with the local medical team here,” Mr Olona said.

    He noted that a Consultant, Dr Ademola Imran from the Beachland Specialist Hospital, Arepo Lagos State was brought to teach and counsel members of the community on their health, while he headed the team and gave free consultation to all the participants after their screening.

    Chairman of the local government, Alhaji Saheed Yusuf-Alaran, said he was impressed by the benevolence of the group. He said provision of affordable health care services for the people was part of his administration’s policies.

    Yusuf-Alaran said his administration had also organised other health programmes in the community, advising the people to heed to the counsels they had received at the lecture.

    After conducting her high blood pressure tests, optical test and learning how to check her breasts for lumps, a teacher at ADS Primary School, Mrs Falilat Olayemi, praised AMP Class 26 for bypassing other communities to make hers to benefit from the gesture.

    Mr Kazeem Adewoye, an Aso-Oke weaver said: “The gesture is very good. A lot of us needed medical attention, but we cannot afford tests and screening. We are very happy. We pray they will do more and that government would enhance their efforts.”

  • ‘Youth development key to nation-building’

    ‘Youth development key to nation-building’

    That youths play critical roles in nation-building cannot be over-emphasised. JEREMIAH OKE, who attended this year’s celebration of the United Nations’ International Youth Day held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, reports that with the involvement of the newly-created Peace Corps in Nigeria, there is hope for a better future.

    The role of youths in the development of any country is eye-catching. This is so considering their teeming number, energy and vibrancy. This, many analysts say, is the reason a day was set aside to celebrate and discuss issues affecting them.

    The United Nations International Youth Day was first celebrated on August 12, 2000 after a resolution by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly was ratified.

    This year’s International Youth Day which has its theme as “The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production”, was aimed at highlighting the role expected of the young people in poverty eradication and attaining sustainable development.

    As a member state of the UN, Nigeria joined the rest of the world to celebrate this important segment of the society.

    Specifically, in Ibadan the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Oyo State Command, used the event as a platform to harp on the need for youths to contribute to nation-building. All tiers of government have, therefore been urged to make youth development one of the focal points of their policies.

    Peace Corps of Nigeria was founded in 1998 by Ambassador Dickson Akoh, as a non-governmental youth organisation that focuses on building, harnessing and redirecting their energies towards the advancement of the country. Instructively, a bill seeking to make the body a legalised paramilitary organisation has been passed by the House of Representatives; and currently awaits Senate’s approval.

    Speaking as a guest speaker at the event commemorating the youth day, the Oyo State Commandant of PCN, Patriot Oludare Adesina Adigun enjoined youths to contribute to nation-building and national issues, saying there was hope for better tomorrow.

    The event, which was organised by the Impact Business Radio 92.5 FM, Akobo Ibadan was the brainchild of two presenters of the station, Mr. Olutayo Ogunade and Miss Opeyemi Ojabanjo.

    On the essence of this year’s International Youth Day, Adigun said there were more youths on the planet than ever before.

    He said: “The young people are not only our future, they are also our present. Our planet has never been suffused with so young people, as young women and men constitute 1.8 billion of the earth’s over two billion people. They are the most connected, the most outspoken and most open-minded generation the world has ever had.

    “They are powerful change agents, essential towards moving forward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is not enough to hope for a better tomorrow; we must get it now. Change is underway and millions of citizens are already transforming the way to produce, consume and behave.”

    Continuing, he said: “The 2016 International Youth Day was not a chance to change the world but to change their lives. Youths should leverage on the information age because they are the luckiest generation.”

    The Peace Corps chief advised youths to contribute to national development, participate in the electoral processes, learn a skill, start a business, contribute to national issues and take responsibilities.

    He noted that youths needed an enabling environment, saying that government needed to relax some of its policies and tilt them towards poverty reduction.

    Emphasising the need to entrench enterprising culture in the country, the entrepreneur-cum-technologist said:”There is a general presumption that a society may have potential entrepreneurs, but only becomes entrepreneurial if it has a culture that supports innovation and initiative.”

    Drawing a comparison between lack of policies that promote entrepreneurial culture and poverty, he said: “Poverty is not created by the poor themselves, it is not because they lack skills that they are poor. Poverty may rather be created by institutions and policies and systems surrounding them.

    “In order to eliminate poverty, a new institution must be created, using a methodology that will target the financial needs of the poor and give them access to credit on reasonable terms.”

    Suggesting a way out of the socio-economic problem, the security chief said: “Charity is not the answer to poverty. It only perpetuates on a vicious cycle by creating dependency and killing the individual’s initiative to struggle out of poverty. The answer to poverty is the creation of a culture of entrepreneurship that unleashes the energy, which will engender a sustainable and enduring peace in the country.”

    The chairman of Impact Business Radio, Mr Owolabi Oladejo, emphasised that capital should not be an issue in starting up a business for youths.

    “What we need is human capital. Start with the people you trust and create something. This country must not frustrate you,” he said.

     

     

  • ‘I’ll make security a priority’

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship aspirant for Ikeja Local Government Area, Lagos State Mr. Babafemi Saeed Adewale has promised to ensure that criminal activities are reduced drastically to enable residents to go about their normal businesses without fear of molestation.

    In a chat with reporters in Ikeja, Mr. Adewale said he will ensure that the area becomes unsafe for criminals if elected chairman.

    He said: “I will collaborate with security agencies to ensure that criminal elements do not infiltrate the local government area.”

    Adewale, who commended the efforts of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in combating the menace of kidnapping, militancy and other vices, expressed his preparedness to complement the effort of the governor if elected as chairman of the local government.

    The aspirant, who said he would inaugurate more than 20 projects if elected, described as unacceptable lame excuse by elected individuals that fall in oil price in international market was responsible for their inability to execute people-oriented projects.

    “They are saying they cannot construct good roads, provide quality education; but their children are going outside the shores of Nigeria to further their education.

    “They claim that there is no money but they are buying properties abroad.”

    Mr. Adewale further explained that Ikeja Local Government Area generates much revenue that if properly put into use, would better the lives of the people.

    He promised to transform the local government by embarking on many projects that will alleviate the suffering of the people.

    He said he would establish citizen information centre where it would be easier for people to access pieces of information across the six wards of the local government.

    Realising the importance of job creation to the security of lives and property, the aspirant promised to liaise with relevant agencies and organisations in ensuring that jobs are made available for the unemployed youths.

    Adewale, who said he has some international organisations and associates willing to send books to him for the establishment of modern library if elected, stated that his administration would establish a welAl-equipped library to encourage research and reading culture among youths in the area.

  • Octogenarian preaches peace, unity at birthday

    Octogenarian preaches peace, unity at birthday

    The spacious auditorium of Bishop Adelakun Howells Memorial Church, Anglican Communion Lagos was filled to its capacity. It was the venue of the 80th birthday celebration of Pa Daniel Onaolapo.

    The beautiful rendition by the choir threw those in attendance in ecstasy.

    To some, the birthday celebration was an honour to a patriotic and God-fearing man. At 80, Daniel Onaolapo still advocates for both spiritual and social well-being of the common man. He stressed the need for the country to be united; a feat he said was achievable if people could give their lives to God.

    Even before the church service which was scheduled for 12 noon that day, people had already filled the auditorium. Men and women, old and young alike dressed in attire to suit the mood

    The officiating ministers: Rev. Ekpeyong Bassey, Rev. Jaiyeola Edu, Rev. Tunde Ogungbe, Rev. Canon Albert Agbaje, Ven. (ASP) Moses Adekola and assistant priests; Ven. Olusegun Onafeso, Vicar and other priests were also present.

    Others included most Rev Adebayo Akingbe, Archbishop of Lagos Province and Bishop of Lagos Mainland Diocese.

    Onaolapo said his involvement in the activities of the church and society was to restore lost souls, adding that his passion for evangelism was divine.

    “I had always been in the Bible Study Group organisation of House Fellowships, Evangelism, Vigil and Prayer Group,” he said, adding he was also one-time Chaplain of the Society of Christ Youth Followers (CYF).

    Narrating his encounter with Christ in 1999, he had attended many discipleship training courses and conferences; including Great Commission Movement, Calvary Ministries, Lagos Anglican Seminary and Equipping the Saints World-Wide Ministries’ African Mission School of Discipleship

    “I had always been involved in church matters as much as I could through the grace the Lord had bestowed on me. However, I have always found relief and succour in church matters. I had a lot of spiritual development at OBBH School; Oyo, “he said.

    He said he joined Bishop Adelakun Howells Memorial Church (BAHM) in 1966, where he worshipped till now. He became a member of CYF, one of the foremost societies in the church.

    He founded the Driver’s Fellowship in the church; a body he described as an important but less appreciated group in the society.

    He said the fellowship was to cater for both spiritual and material well-being of the group, adding that it gave a sense of belonging to carry every one along, including the truck pushers, brick layers, market men and women.

    He urged government and religious leaders to live up to their responsibilities in ensuring the good of the common man.

  • Local govt. provides items, cash for traders

    Local govt. provides items, cash for traders

    Bothered about the level of poverty among some residents of Surulere Local Government Area, Lagos State, the council instituted a monthly empowerment programme through which relief materials are distributed to some of the needy.

    In line with the policy, the council recently empowered no fewer than 12 businessmen and women in its July edition of the programme to enable them to enhance their businesses and improve their economic well-being.

    Items including foodstuff, packs of table water and other drinks, freezers, grinding machines, vulcanising machines, rice cookers, screw drivers and sockets, among others were distributed to the beneficiaries. In addition to the items, each beneficiary received a cash gift of N10, 000, strictly for the purpose of doing business and making profit.

    The Sole Administrator of the local government, Sheriff Balogun said: “I inherited the monthly empowerment programme from my predecessor, Mrs Hussain Bamidele. The purpose was to identify those who are in need and avail them a sustainable source of income.

    He said: “At the maiden edition of the programme in my administration, it is pertinent to note that 12 people who are in need of these items are benefiting today.”

    He advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the items, as the local government would monitor them to ensure that the items are used for the purpose for which they were provided. Also speaking, former Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Shakirudeen Ajao advised the recipients not to engage in credit-selling to avoid accumulating losses.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Ganiyat Kuku, who received 10 crates of soft drinks, 10 cartons of water and a deep freezer, with N10, 000 cash, expressed her gratitude to the local government, saying she had been hoping to benefit from the scheme for a long time.

    “I will add the drinks to the ones in my shop and make some gains. The profit made from the sale of these items would enable me to send my children to school and live comfortably. I am very happy and I pray the government continues to do more. I am sure I will still benefit in more of the great programmes organised by the local government. I have been hoping to partake of this for so long. I am so happy it is now my turn,” she said.

    Another beneficiary, Mrs Taiwo Adedeji, who got similar gifts, was also full of gratitude to the council, saying she would complement her husband’s income.

  • New market for Ondo community, 10 years after

    New market for Ondo community, 10 years after

    Commercial activities will soon begin to boom in Ifara community in Akoko South East Local Government Area of Ondo State, following the construction of a new market 10 years after their market collapsed and killed a 12-year-old boy. The construction of the market was at the instance of the member representing the area, Mr Babatunde Kolawole. The new market comprises 14 open stores.

    The people, who are mainly farmers and traders, had been transacting their businesses under the sun and in the rain for the past 10 years when the only market in the town which was constructed by the community, collapsed.

    Since then, they had hoped that successive administrations at the local and state levels would help in reconstructing the collapsed market which had been a death trap. Their hopes were dashed.

    Little wonder that the people were ecstatic during the inauguration of the new market, during which 78 aged people from the three wards in Ile-labo zone, comprising ward 3 Ifira, ward 6 Ipesi and ward 11 Sosan Akoko, were empowered.

     •Some of the market women
    •Some of the market women

    Kolawole said market women are the backbone of any family and should not be subjected to hardship.

    He reiterated his commitment to provide environment conducive to buying and selling for market men and women.

    The lawmaker, who frowned at the attitude of the chairman of Akoko South East, Mr. Sola Agunloye for playing politics with developmental projects meant to enhance people’s well-being, alleged that he (the chairman) attempted to stop the market project.

    He said: “I don’t know why a local council chairman should be working against the progress of a community under his domain. He should be appreciative that someone is coming to his rescue since he has failed in his primary assignment.

    “The Chairman should stop playing politics with progress of the community. They are afraid of the November 26, governorship election and that is why he has been sent to stop the market project because when the campaign starts, they may not have anything to campaign with.

    “We intended to also reconstruct the dilapidated market because we have budgeted N5 million for that but they preferred to send security operatives to stop the job; claiming they have this in their budget. We have given them sometime to start the reconstruction or we return to the site”.

    On the N5, 000 monthly stipends for the aged people, Kolawole said: “I do promise them that. As long as I am at the National Assembly, they will not go hungry again.

    “This is going to be a continuous empowerment programme because what we did was to take care of three wards and other wards will soon benefit from the programme.”

    The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the council, Mr. Oluwasannu Ogunbi praised the lawmaker for coming to the rescue of the people, whom he said had been subjected to hardship due to non-availability of decent market.

    He, however, urged the lawmaker not to be distracted by the activities of his opponents, saying the community is behind him and appreciates his developmental projects.

  • Youths urged on integrity

    The Vine Branch Church, Mokola Ibadan Oyo State,  celebrated the first anniversary of the Stag Project,  a youth programme that imparts values that will help them to realise their potential. The lecture was anchored by the Pro-Chancellor, Bowen University and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Meristem Securities, Wole Abegunde.

    Tagged Men of Honour, the programme began at 11:00 p.m. Over 830 young men within the age brackets of 12 and 25 from different parts of the city attended the event.

    Intended as a platform for social re-engineering, the Stag Project is a continuous developmental programme initiated by the church to bring up young men in the way of the Lord.

    More striking was that those that attended the programme cut across different social strata and age groups. Artisans, undergraduates and graduates came together to share ideas.

    Sharing her grass-to-grace story, Pastor Bridget Iguehi Kolade enlightened her audience on how she rose from very humble beginning to become a woman of honour.

    Continuing in her thought-provoking lecture, she educated them on the essence of being a man of honour, what it takes to become a man of honour, the pitfalls to look out for while climbing the ladder of progress, and most importantly, how to remain a man of honour after achieving success.

    She posited that integrity and righteousness are the foundations of honour, saying that honour will always bring wealth.

    Advising the participants not to pursue wealth, she said: “With integrity and righteousness, you are sure of becoming a man of honour. A man of honour will also be a man of wealth because honour brings wealth. Wealth will not always bring you honour, but wealth is a bye-product of honour. You have to pursue the main product before you can have the bye-product.”

    She also advised the youth not to give in to negative peer influences, saying they should rather seek positive peers who share the same plan and purpose with them.

    She reeled off some distractions that bedeviled young men to include the lure of the opposite sex, the get-rich-quick syndrome, fashion and television, among others. She advised them to remain steadfast.

    She said: “Don’t be distracted. These distractions are potholes that will derail you from getting to your destination as a man of honour.”

    Just as a pothole can destroy a car, she explained that illegal sex is the number one distraction against the male destiny, which has brought down many wealthy men, men of honour and even clergymen.

    Speaking to Southwest Report, Pastor Kolade said: “The ministry was envisioned by Rev. Sola Kolade, and was targeted at grooming young men to become what God wants them to be.” Speaking on the impact the ministry has on the society vis-a-vis the pervasive notion that the religiosity of the average Nigerian is not reflected in the lifestyles of the people across board, she said: “It is not churches that change society but people; people who are doers of God’s Word; not just those who go to church.”

    Continuing she said “you go to church, but live like the devil. That does not change the society. The church is the building, but it is the people who can go out and change society by being doers of God’s Word. What we see are people who go to church but not people who do God’s Word. It is obedience to God’s word that brings about change. That is what the Stag Project is all about.”

  • Cleric seeks people-friendly policies

    The General Overseer of Imole Ayo Spiritual Church of Christ, Ketu-Lagos, Bishop Samuel Olamide Adebanjo has advised the Federal Government to review some of its policies that have placed Nigeria’s economy in recession, saying the promises of change has not yielded any good result, but hardship.

    Adebanjo, who gave the advice during his church’s community evangelism outreach, said his advice was predicated on his perception that policies and programmes evolved by the President Buhari-led administration should have humane face so much so that the masses would not suffer. Bishop Adebanjo alleged that the President is surrounded by enemies who claimed to be loyal party members.

    “You have no friend in your government, but foes. The popular slogan of change has failed Nigerians,” the cleric who urged the President take steps to reduce the hardship prevailing in the land said. He, however, said the number of the poor in Nigeria is on the increase.

    “Nigerians voted for change; believing that hunger in the land will end, but the reverse is the case currently,” he said.

     

     

  • Scholars advise govt, citizens on road to peace

    HOW to achieve national and global peace was the issue when scholars gathered in Lagos.

    While speaking during a symposium tagged “National Integration for Global Peace” they agreed that  achieving global and national peace begins with the individual.

    While identifying essentials of bringing about global peace through a given national system, Dr. Douglas Anele, Associate Prof., Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos argued that national integration for global peace would remain elusive as long as the average man on the street could not agree with himself in bringing about a peaceful state.

    He stressed that disgruntled and hungry individual would find it difficult to identify with any cause that borders on integration of a nation for global peace. He, therefore, called on all tiers of government to put in place measures that will develop patriotic spirit in individuals.

    H also urged government functionaries to live and feel the pain experienced by the average citizen by denying themselves of free gifts. He said: “Government officials don’t feel the impact of power outage and fuel scarcity; they lack virtually nothing.”

    He concluded at the symposium organised by the Rosicrucian Order, Lagos Zone, that it would take such measures to develop patriotism in an individual, thereby encouraging him or her to eschew violence.

    Also speaking, the Provost Michael Otedola College of Primary Education Noforija-Epe, Lagos, Prof. Olu Akeusola, underscored the importance of education in bringing about an egalitarian society.

    He said: “Education has been regarded as a medium through which enlightenment is achieved. Therefore, the curriculum of our schools should emphasise moral education in different subjects taught in schools. These should include Religious Studies, Civic Education, Social Studies and Moral Instruction. Extra-curricular activities should promote moral discipline through songs, drama, poetry and arts. Leaders in different spheres of the society should lead by example and display high level of moral integrity.”

    In his paper entitled “Good Character: Panacea for Peace and Progress in Nigeria”, Akeusola identified stealing, greed, dishonesty, unhealthy rivalry and competition and covetousness as character traits hindering peace and progress in Nigeria.

    He identified trustworthiness, respect for others, sense of responsibility, fairness, care, performing civic duties as some of the traits needed to foster peace and progress in Nigeria.

    In his speech, Alagba Oladipo Yemitan said loss of Omoluwabi (good character) for “bereft of dignity and pride in ourselves and our country.”

    “The concept, virtues and values of an Omoluwabi need to be revived and embraced by Nigerians so as to be peaceful, lawful and progressive the way we should. We certainly need to revisit and re-invent it,” he said.

    Others at the event included Prof. Femi Otubanjo, consultant and politician and Prof. Friday Ndubuisi, Head, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos, Prof. Isaac Alaba, an Independent Consultant on Culture and Languages.

  • Institute, club sign pact on skill acquisition

    The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Association of Lions Club, District 404B1, Nigeria, on skill acquisition and training of youth and women in the district.

    The institute will educate them capital needed for the project. The Bank of Industry (BOI) will also fund participants’ businesses and technology plans.

    The agreement was reached in Abeokuta during the investiture of Waheed Kadiri as the District Governor of Lions 404B1.

    Senator Adegbenga Kaka, who chaired the event, commended the institution and the club for the initiative, which he noted will go a long way in diversifying the economy.