The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Council chief hails Ambode, security agencies

    The Sole Administrator of Iba Local Council Development Area, Hon. Yisa Abiola Jubril has commended the efforts of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the security agencies on the successful rescue of the Oniba of Iba, Oba Goriola Oseni.

    Speaking in his office, the council chief said the governor’s effort was exemplary, saying it gave hope to the residents that their security is guaranteed.

    While thanking Governor Ambode, Jubril said the security apparatus of the state had been fortified with modern technology to track down kidnappers and wage total war against criminals anywhere they hide.

    ‘‘When Oba was kidnapped, nobody knew his health condition until when he was released.

    We thank God for sparing the life of Oba Oniba who was kidnapped. We are grateful to Ambode, the Commissioner of Police, the State Security Service (SSS) and the entire Nigerians for the valuable information given to the police who led to the successful operation that led to the rescue of our Oba,” he said. Jubril assured the residents that efforts were being made to improve the living standard of the people.

  • 25 constituents get empowerment tools

    The Sole Administrator of Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area, Mr. Abiola Bashir Are, has said the masses should be empowered.

    Are spoke during the empowerment programme for residents of the council. He maintained that he was committed to ensuring that the people  were genuinely empowered.

    To this end, he has distributed empowerment materials to some residents as part of his poverty alleviation programmes. The empowerment tools worth several thousands of Naira were distributed to the beneficiaries at the council’s headquarters after five days training on the use of the implements.

    He said it was in line with his vision to provide sustainable sources of income to unemployed residents, while also reducing the poverty level among them.

    The items distributed were electronic cash dispensing machines, among other items. No fewer than 25 graduates benefited from the programme.

    Speaking at the event, Mr Are said the empowerment programme was a paradigm shift in youth empowerment, adding that it would be a continuous one.

    He said: “We are faced with a nasty situation where millions of graduates from our tertiary institutions find it difficult to secure rewarding employments after spending four or six years in the university.

    “It is also a fact that some of these problems were as a result of lack of contemporary skills vis-a-vis current market demands which, in effect, leads to most companies employing expatriate workers who will give them what they want.

    “I will deploy every opportunity available to me to enhance the living conditions of the people. The issue of youth empowerment is paramount in the council’s commitment to provide necessities of life for our people.”

    Continuing, he said: ‘‘Today’s empowerment programme is one in series of such we have embarked upon in the past few months.

    ‘‘Other programmes the council has embarked upon are training of 30 candidates on Projects Management Professional (PMP) for unemployment graduates of Engineering, workshop for 27 unemployed graduates  of Social Sciences and Business Management to whom equipment for business enterprises are presented today. The next in line is Java programing/software development boot-camp for unemployed graduates of Computer Science.

    ‘‘I know that software developers are in high demand globally. Collaboratively, the founder of Facebook (Mark Zuckerberg) who arrived in Nigeria to see Yaba Technology HUB, remarked that there are over 7.1 million Nigerians using Facebook daily. Our conviction in this innovative idea is in the fact that when you give a man fish to eat, he will have a meal but when you teach him how to fish, he will eat fish all his life.

    “Without education, our youths are condemned to a life of poor prospects. Thus, the gap between aspiration and reality gets wider due to inequality of opportunity. Inequality weakens our national economy; it lowers demand for products and services and, by extension, lowers prospects of new jobs.

    Also speaking the lawmaker representing Lagos Island Constituency 11, Hon. Sola Giwa said the empowerment programme is in line with the state government’s agenda. Our youths constitute over 65 per cent out of which only five per cent are employed.

    He also said time is changing, hence Lagos State government’s decision to set aside over N6 billion for employment of youths every year.

  • Students win at quiz competition

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Biodun Owonikoko, has organised another round of quiz competition for some secondary schools in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State.

    The quiz competition, which was organised in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was held at the Iseyin Local Government Area secretariat, Iseyin.

    Hundreds of students from schools in the four local governments competed for prizes ranging from laptops to mobile phone and cash. The competing local governments were Kajola, Iwajowa, Itesiwaju and Iseyin.

    After a preliminary competition, the best three students in each participating local government were brought to Iseyin for the final competition. They were tested in English language, Mathematics and Current Affairs.

    At the end of the competition, Kajola Local Government Area came first while Iseyin and Itesiwaju came second and third respectively. Kajola and Iseyin teams went home with a laptop each while Itesiwaju team was rewarded with a mobile phone. The remaining nine participants got N5,000 cash each.

    Owonikoko, who is the Baamofin of Oke-Ogun land, explained that “the decision to begin the project in 2010 was borne out of the need to boost the interest of the younger generation in education so that they can strive for excellence. It is my own little way of supporting education development among the indigenes of Oke-Ogun where I come from.

    Represented by Alhaji Waheed Shittu, Owonikoko, a lawyer said reforming education is taxing, pointing out that it requires the support of all stakeholders.

    Emphasising the need to properly plan education, Owonikoko said: “The process of education reforms must match modern scientific and technological innovations for it to remain relevant to the learner and the nation. It also takes years for any meaningful educational reform to yield fruits. Nigeria must learn to plan its education and implement it with commitment and sense of direction for the greater good of all its citizens.”

    Also highlighting the importance of secondary education to the Nigerian society, he said: “Secondary education must be accorded the deserved priority that aims at helping our youths to develop sellable skills and knowledge to continue with their studies. Policy haste in education never gives the desired result.

    “It would be better if policies are made in such a way that changes can be accommodated without disturbing the overall system in operation. Nigerian education system should aspire for manpower training.”

    Also speaking at the event, State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Akin-Moses, who was represented by the Zonal Inspector of Education for Ibarapa, Mrs. Ajose Yewise, praised the initiative of the legal icon. She congratulated the participating schools on being part of a veritable platform towards remodelling their future for the better.

  • Ilese: Driving development through carnival

    Residents of Ilese-Ijebu, a sprawling community in the Ogun East Senatorial District were ecstatic for seven days as indigenes from all walks of life returned to mark its yearly carnival. The festivity was a platform for the indigenes to see their Oba-elect, 21 years after the traditional stool became vacant, reports WALE AJETUNMOBI

    Culture and modernism are interdependent forces shaping human evolution and civilisation. They play vital roles in the development of any society. Both can stifle development when they play out as contradicting values. They also make society to flourish when they are deployed to the progress of the society.

    This literally summarised the 12th Convocation of Ilese-Ijebu people, which is otherwise known as Ilese-IJebu Day. The week-long event, held from August 7 to 13, was a fusion of culture and modernism, which profiles the town’s rich heritage and its quest for modernity without sacrificing its cherished cultural values.

    Ilese, a sprawling settlement located in the East of Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, is a town with a rich history, tradition and culture. At its borderline with Ijebu-Ode is an expansive military settlement, Sappers Barracks, which makes Ilese the most secured town in Ogun East Senatorial District.

    The town also hosts the College of Health Technology, a state-owned tertiary institution reputed for its knowledge-base in health technology. The presence of these facilities is regarded as catalysts for the town’s rapid modernisation.

    For Ilese indigenes, the town’s development is a work in progress and a collective task for every family. For many years, keeping the pace of the town’s development rested squarely on the strength of its indigenes. This is because Ilese, until recently, did not have a constituted traditional institution that could champion its progress.

    Its last monarch died more than two decades ago, leaving the responsibility of physical development of the town to Ilese Development Council (IDC)–a group of professionals and highly-connected indigenes.

    From all walks of life, indigenes of Ilese returned to the town to celebrate this year’s Ilese Day. For seven days, the town bubbled, witnessing a crowd of revellers staging road shows and carnivals in every nook and cranny of the community. They clad in colourful aso ebi and moved round the town in celebration. Some engaged in outdoor dance shows.

    The Ilese carnival, for its indigenes, is not just a festivity; it is a celebration of the town’s achievements in diverse areas, including physical development, cultural preservation, youth development and unity.

    This festival began on Sunday with a church service at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church. Residents gathered in the expansive church auditorium for thanksgiving to God for the unity and progress witnessed in the community. The church service was followed by a football match organised for the youth to promote peace and friendship among them.

    Children and babies were not left out in the carnival. They also participate in fun shows held at the imposing Ilese Town Hall.

    Concerned about the health and well-being of the populace, Centre for Alternative Development and Self Enhancement (CEADESE), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), partnered with IDC to organise a free medical outreach for the residents.

    Indigenes trooped to the Town Hall to receive free test and treatment for various ailments, including malaria and typhoid. There were also free eye tests, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure check-up.

    In promoting education and knowledge among the youth, IDC organised a quiz contest for students. Many youths had the opportunity to participate in the contest, which was held at the Town Hall. Winners were rewarded with cash prizes and scholarship.

    The quiz was followed by Enterprise Development Seminar to educate unemployed residents and youths on how to obtain bank loans to begin or develop their businesses. The workshop was organised by the community-based Catland Micro-finance Bank.

    On Friday, the town’s troupe entertained indigenes and guests with Woro traditional dance. The expansive town hall literally erupted in excitement as members of the troupe thrilled some indigenes who were attending the event for the first time with their artistic dance displays.

    At 1:00 p.m., residents flocked to the Ilese Central Mosque for a special Jumat prayer to mark the annual festivity. The mosque auditorium was filled to its capacity, as residents turned out in their colourful attire to pray for peace, unity and progress of the town.

    In the evening, they returned to the town hall for a cooking contest, which had 11 contestants selected to prepare Ikokore–Ijebu’s local delicacy made of smashed yam. The contestants were provided with ingredients and cooking materials to prepare the local food and serve in separate dishes.

    The panel of judges, led by Hon. Segun Ogunkoya, assessed the Ikokore meal made by each contestant.

    Speaking on the criteria for picking the winners, Ogunkoya said a well-prepared Ikokore must have a blend of tastes of all ingredients used in making it. Smoke, he said, must not be perceived in the food.

    At the end of the contest, Ms Abiodun Temitope was picked as the winner of the food contest. She received a giant-size gas cooker. Monsurah Badejo  and Adekunle Babatunde were the first and second runners up respectively. They were rewarded with power generating set and electric fan respectively.

    After the Ikokore cooking challenge, the stage was set for a beauty pageant held at the same venue. All the 14 contestants were Ilese indigenes studying in different higher institutions. But, the contest was clearly between students of the Ilese-based College of Health Technology and Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye.

    The hall became animated when the contestants filed out to showcase their beauty. Members of the audience roared in excitement as the girls moved round the podium in measured steps, dancing to the tunes of various genre of music.

    It was not a contest for beauty alone. For a town with rich history, preserving the Ilese culture and heritage was prominent during the contest. The contestants’ knowledge of Ilese history and their intelligence were put to test. Their knowledge of current affairs was also assessed.

    Oluwafunmi Ayeni Imoleayo, a graduate of College of Health Technology, dazzled the audience with her deep knowledge of the town’s history and current affairs. She beat 13 other contestants to win the beauty pageant which  prize was a new Nissan Primera car.

    The first and second runners up were Abiodun Balogun Omolade Osoteku, student of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), and a post-graduate student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).

    On Saturday, the indigenes flocked to the field of Muslim Primary School for the grand finale of the carnival. The guests at the colourful event included traditional rulers and high chiefs from neighbouring towns, who turned out in their flamboyant royal regalia.

    For the incoming Ilese monarch, Prince Oluremi Owolabi Obayomi, it was his first public appearance after he was elected as Elese of Ilese by the kingmakers. This came 21 years after the death of the previous king.

    Obayomi used the opportunity to present his programmes to the people. He extended a hand of fellowship to his challengers to the throne.

    The Elese-elect said the unity among indigenes was his priority, noting that the struggle for the selection of Elese pitted some families against others. He promised to carry everyone along in the running of the town’s affairs.

    He said: “This is the time for unity. I have heard people saying I would be a king for the Christians. I want to make it clear to all that I will be a king for all residents, irrespective of their religious leaning. I promise I will not disappoint the confidence reposed in me. But, I crave the support of everybody, old and young, to move our town to the next level.”

    In his goodwill message, the IDC chairman, Otunba Segun Demuren, said the yearly event was to foster unity and development in the town. He said the IDC had delivered its promise to make Ilese the headquarters of the newly-created Yemoji Local Council Development Area.

    The goodwill speeches were followed by colourful parade and stunts by youth groups, that competed for trophy. The groups of revellers entertained the audience with their intrepid displays, which lasted for 30 minutes each. Purple House carried the day, winning the coveted trophy.

    The highpoint was the presentation of car to Oluwafunmi, the winner of the beauty pageant. She was also crowned as Ilese Beauty Queen. She will reign till August next year when another beauty queen will be crowned.

    The indigenes used the occasion to present merit awards to non-indigenes in recognition of their contributions to the development, unity and peace in the town. A clergyman, Reverend Adeleke Adeyemi, former Vicar of St. Paul’s Church in Ilese, was honoured for promoting social and religious harmony in the town.

    Also, Commanding Officer of 12 Field Engineering Regiment, Sappers Barracks, was honoured for protecting the town from activities of criminals.

     

  • Oyo community relishes lawmaker’s gesture

    Residents of Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State received sufficient democracy dividends when the lawmaker representing them at the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Samson Olasunkanmi Oguntade, decided to give back to them from the little he has gotten from the state government and for giving him their mandate in last year’s general elections.

    At the ceremony attended by National Leader of Accord Party and former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, Accord Party National Secretary, Mr. Nureni Adisa, Oyo State chairman of Accord Party, Bashir Lawal, members of Oyo State House of Assembly, among who were the Minority Leader, Hon Gunju Ojo, Chief Whip, Hon Kehinde Ayinla Oloya, Hon Muideen Olagunju, representing Oyo East/ West, Hon Ademola Ige, Hon Adebiyi Omikunle and Hon Adebiyi Adesina.

    Oguntade, accompanied by his wife, said the empowerment was meant to appreciate his people on whose mandate he was in the Oyo State House of Assembly.

    He expressed appreciation to former governor of Oyo State, Senator Ladoja and all stakeholders in Accord Party, especially from Egbeda State Constituency and all residents of Egbeda Local Government Area.

    He urged all politicians to be honest in all their dealings. He said the gesture was in fulfilment of his campaign promises, adding that he decided to give back to his constituents for their support.

    He said he had reached out to various communities in Egbeda and decided to reach out to his constituents. He added that 10 constituents from each ward will also benefit financially from the gesture.

    Materials distributed included insecticide sprayers, grinding machines, power generating sets, sewing machines and hair dressing implements.

    National Secretary of Accord Party, Mr Adisa, expressed happiness to witness the empowerment programme and also thanked Hon Oguntade for the gesture he extended to his people, despite that the state government was hugely indebted to the lawmakers.

    Hon. Peter Oyetunji, a member of Oyo State House of Assembly, said despite not belonging to the same party, Hon Oguntade has remained steadfast in what he believed in and has never wavered in his membership of the Accord Party.

    He added that in the House, all lawmakers are one without regard to party affiliations.

    Senator Lanleyin congratulated Oguntade on his commitment to reach out to his constituents, despite the economic situation in the country, adding that voting for the Accord Party was not a misplaced action. He also said the gesture was just the beginning of greater things from Hon. Oguntade.

    Chairman of the state Accord Party, Bashir Lawal, said Governor Abiola Ajimobi, is deceiving the people with his decision to conduct local government polls.

    Senator Ladoja praised state lawmakers for their unity of purpose in the House, without regard to party affiliation and despite the economic recession.

    He berated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for its failure in delivering democracy dividends to the people, not only in the state, but also nationally, adding that the state government has failed in its promise to conduct local government election.

    He said the 2011 election result in Egbeda was better than that of last year, saying the reason was anti-party actions of some members.

    He praised Hon Oguntade for his empowerment gesture, despite the economic quagmire state lawmakers have found themselves under the Ajimobi administration. He also congratulated beneficiaries of the empowerment programme.

    He praised all lawmakers elected on the platform of the Accord Party for not disappointing the party.

    He took a swipe at the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), praying that God showed its leadership the light to come to be part of the Accord family, noting that there is no solution in sight for the crisis bedevilling the PDP.

  • 129 benefit from foundation’s empowerment scheme

    The lawmaker representing Epe Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Wale Raji, has said the zeal to render service to humanity attracted him to politics. The lawmaker, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), added that after a fulfilled career in the civil service, the issue of how to make his fellow humankind better became his preoccupation.

    Hon. Raji revealed this at Epe, a Lagos suburb during the maiden graduation ceremony of his youth empowerment scheme. The event served as a platform for the presentation of empowerment equipment and tools to the first batch of 129 graduates of the foundation.

    The lawmaker further explained that his Youth Empowering Scheme, in partnership with the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) had trained about 129 youths in various skill acquisition and empowerment programmes that will make them be self-reliant. He also said the beneficiaries cut across his constituency.

    In his welcome address, Raji noted that the foundation was conceived in order to make a sustained impact through quality service delivery to the people of his constituency. He added that the youth in the area have been neglected for too long which has given room for many of them to take to hooliganism and other anti-social vices.

    He explained that the Youth Empowerment Scheme was essentially a youth-focused skill acquisition and empowerment initiative which is implemented in collaboration with the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Board (LASTVEB)

    He said: “Nobody can make you rich but an opportunity can be created for you to acquire a vocational skill that will always put food on your table and make you financially independent.

    “Everybody gathered here today look forward to the success of your new vocation. You cannot afford to disappoint them by betraying the confidence reposted in your abilities, competencies and skill to succeed and make something out of your life,” he said.

    In his message to the graduates, Governor Akinwumi Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Mr. Babatunde Durotimi-Eti said the Raji initiative couldn’t have come at a better time than now. He also noted that the initiative was in line with the state’s empowerment programme which aims at taking the youth away from the street and assist them to be wealth creators.

    He challenged the participants to be focused and look beyond the immediate so as to be part of the revolution going on in the state in terms of wealth creation among the youth, adding that the future of the nation is in their hands.

    In his comment, the Chairman of the occasion, Justice Adesola Oguntade said there was no other way to give back to the society than empowerment of the youth in order to make them self-reliant as Hon. Raji was doing. He noted that the gesture would go a long way in discouraging them from taking to crime.

    Oguntade, who was represented by Mr. Ayodele Aina regretted that, over the years, the youth which constitute leaders of tomorrow were short-changed in the scheme of things; thereby exposed them to uncertainty and bleak future.

    He said the giant step taken by Hon. Raji Foundation by empowering the youth from his constituency, there is a ray of hope for those who can grab the opportunity offered them and launch themselves into economic independence.

    “What we are doing today is to bridge the gap that has existed for so long. It is very sad to read from the dailies every day about the huge number of youths who are in various prisons all over the world. These are the youth who were supposed to be engaged in productive enterprise that will give them economic survival like we are doing today,” he said.

    Speaking in the same manner, a community leader, Mr. T. J. Abass, noted that the initiative which was the first in the community was monumental; adding that it is a recipe for economic survival for the youth who thought that all hopes were lost.

    Abass challenged the participants to make use of the opportunity. “The race of your life has just begun through the benevolence of Hon. Raji. Try and make success of what you were given today. Opportunity comes but once in a life time,” he said.

    Speaking to Southwest Report about the empowerment programme, one of the beneficiaries Suleiman Natiq, who graduated as aluminium expert, said the three month-intensive training he received is a life time fortune.

     

  • How to win the anti-corruption war

    Rev Seun Adeniyi, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to adopt what he called “community advocacy” in the prosecution of his administration’s antic-graft war.

    He said this strategy will yield more dividends than attempting to fight the war on corruption ‘’by fiat’’.

    Commending the initiative of the Buhari-led government to embark on the crusade, the Methodist clergy also appealed to all Nigerians, especially at the family level, to join the government in the crusade.

    The cleric, who is also the Director-General of Felates Club of Ijesa land, Osun State, spoke during the 50th anniversary of the club in Ilesa, Osun State.

    He said: “If we are to tame corruption, it has to start from our individual families in the community. Most of the present-day families in Nigeria are not patterned after the mind of God. We are selfish and covetous. Corruption has been with us for ages and any attempt to eradicate it by fiat will be counter-productive.’’

    The Director-General said some of the programmes of the club have been targeted to provide palliatives at the family and community levels, to discourage tendencies towards corruption.

    He said some of the communal programmes of the club include the provision of 40 scholarships for brilliant but indigent students, a community library and support for widows.

    According to him, the adage that the idle mind is the devil’s workshop and that all work without play makes Jack a dull boy, inspired the club to build a community /event centre for recreation and the yearly Ayo Games Competition, which has been graced by many participants and personalities across the nation, since inception in 2009.

    Notable among them is the renowned Yoruba Poet, Chief Adebayo Faleti. The club has also organised interactive sessions, including the Osun State Community-based Poverty Reduction Programme at Premier Hotel, Ibadan..

    Rev Adeniyi said the club’s scholarship scheme has received support from a member and Chancellor of Lead City University, Prof. Jide Owoeye, who also gives out two tuition-free scholarships yearly. The library scheme is already being replaced with an e-library, while the International Breweries Ilesa,  one of the sponsors of this year’s Ayo Games, gave out  a Motor Cycle as the winning prize  as part of the  50th anniversary celebration of the club.

     

  • Rotary inducts new president

    Memorable Gathering, an events centre in Ikeja, Lagos was a beehive of activities on Sunday when members of the Rotary Club of Gbagada South gathered to induct their 14th President, Mr Babatunde  Orighomisan Jeje.

    The event, which began at 1:22 p.m., also drew important personalities from outside Gbagada South of Rotary. They included immediate past Lagos State Commissioner of Transportation, Mr Kayode Opeifa, Olojota of Ojota, Oba Jimoh Olawale-Ole and Alaketu of Ketu, Oba Isiaka Balogun Oyero and President, First World Communities Limited, Brig-Gen Babatunde Reis (rtd).

    Gen. Reis shocked guests and Rotarians when he said the last time he attended a Rotary forum was in 1977 as an undergraduate and was pissed off by that event because there was much wining and dining.

    However, he said members of Rotary have changed his impression about them over the years when he learnt of their involvement in community activities. “Rotarians are a bunch of people committed to service,’’ he said.

    Specifically, he said: “Rotary’s Four-Way Test philosophy appeals to me. I urge Jeje, his colleagues and Nigerians to focus on it. If we can live by these, I have no doubt that Nigeria will become a better place,’’ he said. He affirmed his confidence in Jeje’s ability to perform. ‘’I knew Jeje as a small boy. Jeje is committed to serve,’’ he said.

    Opeifa, who was the guest speaker, said as a Rotarian he introduced Jeje to Rotary. He said the objective of Rotarians is to serve humanity. He praised Rotary’s programmes and projects, adding that its commitment to polio eradication is worthy emulating and “a fantastic job’’. “History will not forget you (Rotary). You must work to ensure that polio does not go beyond 2016,’’ he said. He challenged Rotarians to pay more attention to the activities of Interacts and Rotaracts.

    Immediate past President of Rotary Gbagada South, Nelson Amuwa, listed his achievements as chartering of another club, donations to Oworonshoki Health Centre and schools in the area, floating of a scholarship scheme, among others.

    He said over 12 new members joined the club during his tenure.  Under him, he added, the club won the following awards: first position in contributions to polio eradication programme, Excellent Service Award and Third in support to the District 9110. He later presented awards to some officers of the club.

    Jeje, who joined Gbagada South in 2013, said he did not know that he would be its helmsman so soon. As he got the baton of leadership from Amuwa, members sang, ‘Is a small world after all (thrice) … is  a small, small world.’’

    He promised to execute the club’s programmes worth N15 million. He canvassed for financial support to enable him to prosecute the work successfully. So far, he said, he had donated some items to Oworonsoki Health Centre, and a set of computers to the Oworonsoki School Complex, where also a block of classrooms was renovated. Our budget for the year is over N15 million. Without you, we can’t do much.

    “As we engage the youth and help our community, we need your support,’’ he pleaded.

    The District Governor Pat Ijehon Ikheloa praised the club for being productive, noting that his successor, Dr Wale Ogunbadejo was coming from Gbadaga South. He urged the members and guests to support the governor-elect, Jeje and Rotary. ‘’Please assist us with money and materials. Nothing is too small,’’ he said.

    At the event, Ikheloa admitted Oba  Oyero as a member of Rotary for his interest in the club. Also at the event were former district governor Chief ‘Yomi Adewunmi, Assistant District Governor,  Okey Mokekwe

  • New road for Lagos community, 35 years after

    Alhaji Idowu Street, Akowonjo, Lagos suburb was not where to be. For no less than 35 years, the people were given false hope. The problem was the state of their road. And when it rained, things were worse. Shops became temporary streams. Buildings were often submerged. Residents had a lot to worry about as properties were damaged and sometimes, little school children were swept away. Life was quite unpleasant.

    But all that has ended now. Thanks to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Idowu Street now has a good road complete with street lights which make it look like a paradise at night. The people could not contain their joy the first time the lights were switched on at night.

    With the neatly-arranged interlocking blocks set on the graded road accompanied by good drainage system, residents can go to bed without fear, walk without stumbling and drive confidently. Most of all, property owners can experience value addition.

    This accounts for why they can’t keep mute about the gesture. To express their elation to the government for providing such a standard road construction and illuminating the streets with lights, they have described the gesture as “a lifetime gift from Governor Ambode.”

    The Secretary of the Community Development Association (CDA), Mr. Dipo Kehinde, said: “Whenever there was rain, most houses would be flooded. Many businesses suffered because of the bad roads in the community. I’m an artist. Some art collectors came twice to check out my works.

    “When they got to our street, they went back because of the roads. It happened twice. We called this road the jinxed road because different contractors had tried to fix it without success. But the jinx is now finally broken. We’re all happy.”

    A resident, Alhaji Moshood Idowu, who the street is named after, said: “We thank Governor Ambode for giving us a lifetime gift. Some businesses have suffered here because of the bad state of the road. The road was so terrible so much so that we could not cross from some point to another.

    “We had called on all our community leaders to co-operate with the government so that Lagos State will continue to excel than others. What they have done here is a mega road in a mega city for a mega community. Luckily, we also have a Nigerian who has the interest of the people at heart as the contractor, Bashaul Construction Company. What he has done here is a world-class engineering work. In fact, he has given us additional construction which is not part of his contract.”

    Idowu urged the government to encourage competent indigenous firms by awarding contracts to them.

    He said: “We appeal to government to also select capable indigenous contractors who have the interest of the people at heart. If they give Bashaul Fourth Mainland Bridge, he will perform.

    ”The contractors are working with so much sincerity; they should be praised. They have done a first-class job. The government has also done well. The fixing of our community roads was a realised dream. These engineers are committed to the project,” he said.

    The Chairman of the Street Community Development, Chief Olaleye Ayanwale, also praised the government for bringing the long-awaited expectation to fruition. Having resided on Alhaji Idowu Street for 34 years, he said he didn’t expect to witness the rehabilitation of the road because he was already aged.

    “I relocated from FESTAC Town to this street in 1982. Since then, we have been pleading with successive administrations to fix the road without any success. Usually, we heard that the contract had been awarded several times but we don’t see the physical effect. They even diverted it to other places such as the estate near us.

    “Now that it has come to our turn, we appreciate the present governor for the gesture. I didn’t think I would be alive to see it.

    “We have made entreaties to government over construction of our roads here. There had been promises, but nothing ever happened. Each time they slated our community roads for construction, it would be diverted. Now, we see this happening; we are happy. It’s for our own benefit. We really appreciate Ambode and the construction company. We thought it wouldn’t happen in our life time.

    “The contractors are doing excellent job. The monarch promised that those whose buildings were affected during expansion and construction of the roads, would be compensated. He had already asked for a comprehensive list of those affected.

    “The construction company was supposed to fix just Idowu Street, but to ensure that proper construction work was done, the monarch deployed his wealth of knowledge, and extended the construction of Alhaji Idowu Road to Oke Street, leading to Akowonjo Roundabout and Lambe Kudaisi Street.”

    He also commended Bashaul for picking interest in compensating occupants of affected houses. The CEO, Bashaul Civil Engineering Company Limited, Munirudeen Bashorun said the road project was completed within six months with quality professional and material input. He noted that if encouraged with enabling environment, Nigerian construction firms are qualified to compete with their foreign counterparts.

    “When the contract was awarded to us, the Permanent Secretary doubted our competence in carrying out the job according to specifications, because there was a river here. But I told him not to worry. The first challenge we encountered was diverting the water to Oke Street. But the street is higher than here by two metres. We had to do the survey, wait for approval from the government and that took us four weeks before we began.

    Also in Mulero in Agege where there was flood, one day Governor Aregbesola, then a Commissioner, called me to salvage the situation. And when he saw my performance in salvaging that place, he took me to Osogbo where I did some other jobs.

    “It is only Nigerians that can serve Nigerians better. If a Nigerian does a shoddy job today, tomorrow he will do a better job. When you correct him once or twice, he will get it right,” Bashorun said.

    Bashorun’s son and Bashaul’s Executive Director, Adewale, said: “The extra materials poured into the river, were not part of the presentations made to the government. But Bashaul Construction doesn’t care about cost and money. We only want to carry out good jobs.

    ”Any other construction company would have gone on with the work, after discovering the challenge posed by the river at Alhaji Idowu Junction. The result would have been the roads getting damaged again; taking everyone back to square one.”

    Idowu added that the company acted well by dealing with the challenge posed by the river.

    He said: “Alhaji Idowu Junction is where water used to gather. This spot had always been the greatest challenge for the community. The contractors said they had to drain and dig deep into the river, in order to fill it with rocks.”

    QUOTE

    We referred this road to as ‘the jinxed road’ because different contractors had tried to fix it without success. But the jinx is now finally broken. We’re all happy…We thank Governor Ambode for giving us a lifetime gift. Some businesses have suffered here because of the bad nature of the road. The road was so terrible so much so that we could not cross from some point to another

     

  • Council urges youths on hard work

    The Sole Administrator of Mosan Okunola Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, Mr. Rotimi Ogunwuyi, has urged youths to shun vices and embrace hard work in order to be useful to themselves and the society.

    He spoke during the distribution of General Certificate Education (GCE) forms to 50 youths of the council.

    Ogunwuyi explained that the country was undergoing a structural change that will turn the country around, adding that the youth must show interest in matters that will enhance their development.

    He further stressed that students should take their studies seriously. This, he said, will ensure their success in any examination, noting that it was time they did away with shortcuts approach to attaining success in their examinations.

    He said: “There is no magic about success. You need to work hard by reading your books always. History has shown that those who apply the principle of hard work excelled in their examinations.

    “It is unfortunate that some youths often resort to unorthodox method by hiring mercenaries and following dubious paths towards attaining success in any examination because they want to pass at all costs. At the end, they pay for such serpentine approach.

    “I therefore urge you in your own interest to work hard. Those who excel will be further assisted in their future careers.”

    Ogunwuyi maintained that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) frowns at special centres where all sorts of abnormalities are perpetuated.

    “You must imbibe the spirit of hard work, diligence and truthfulness in all your dealings. This is the era of change and everything must change positively,” he said.