The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Rape victims: Stakeholders seek support for centre

    Rape victims: Stakeholders seek support for centre

    Senator Florence Ita-Giwa has pledged her support for Mirabel Centre, Lagos a non-government organisation (NGO) providing free medical and psychosocial services for sexual assault and rape victims in Lagos.

    Ita-Giwa, who revealed this following the expiration of the centre’s three-year sponsorship deal with the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) in March this year, called on the government and individuals to help the centre because of the important roles it plays in the lives of rape victims.

    Senator Ita-Giwa, a guest at an event tagged “Magenta and Black, Art and Fashion for Charity,” which aimed at raising funds through public support and auction of art works donated by friends and partners of the Mirabel Centre in Lagos, nearly betrayed her emotion during a presentation by the founder of the centre, Mrs. Itoro Eze-Anaba on some of the experiences of rape victims, particularly the story of 14-year-old girl who was raped severally by her father but was saved and treated free at Mirabel Centre.

    She said such a man should have his organ cut off, because “that child has been killed as far as I am concerned.” She expressed her support for the centre, even as she urged the government and Nigerians to support the initiative in order to keep it alive.

    “The Mirabel Centre is a wonderful idea. The management should continue with the laudable initiative; they have my support. I do hope the government will come in and give their support,” Senator Ita-Giwa said.

    According to Mrs. Eze-Anaba, the Mirabel Centre, which is located at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), has provided free medical and psychosocial services for over 1,300 clients in the last three years.

    ”The funding for Mirabel Centre by DFID came to an end in March this year. We appreciate DFID’s support for the past three years. The Magenta and Black Art, Fashion event was born out of necessity and the passion of some friends of the centre  who felt compelled to do all they could to ensure the continued survival of the centre. We also felt that it was time that we Nigerians took personal responsibility for the protection of our sons and daughters, sisters and mothers from the scourge of sexual abuse,” Mrs. Eze-Anaba said.

    Mrs. Ayotola Jagun, a supporter of the Mirabel Centre said she was surprised that despite the huge responsibilities and benefits of the centre to the society, it only got the attention of foreign organisation without any government’s assistance.

    Other friends of Mirabel such as Victor Ehikhamenor, Gbolahan Ayoola, Jumoke Sanwo, Olumide Oresegun, Malaika Najem, Deola Ade Ojo and Lisa Folawiyo, among others, donated their works which were auctioned to support the centre.

    Mother of a victim, Mrs. Anyanwu narrated how a 40-year-old man came into her house to rape her daughter.  She thanked Mirabel Centre for the free treatment provided to save the girl’s life. She urged the government and Nigerians to support the organisation, saying “Mirabel must not die.”

  • NGO celebrates with workers

    NGO celebrates with workers

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Activista Lagos has commemorated this year’s May Day with workers in conjunction with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other trade unions. The event took place at the Onikan Stadium Lagos.

    The group used the May Day celebration to call on government to use tax payers’ money for the provision of roads, schools, electricity, health facilities and water. It said provision of such necessary facilities for the people is the only way the people could enjoy the benefits of democracy.

    Activista, which is known for its slogan ‘Up with Justice, Down with Hunger’ also urged the government to investigate,  prosecute indicted Nigerians who are involved in the Panama Papers scandal, even as it warned that the issue of Panama Papers must not be treated as another Halliburton.

    The group is also called on government to beam searchlight on those involved as they cheat the government by evading tax payment.

    Activista’s National Coordinator Nigeira, Oyinkansola Mabe-ko called on the Federal Government to ensure the security and welfare of the people, adding that the government must ensure that multi-nationals and big companies pay their taxes failure of which amounts to financial fraud.

    The celebrations were attended by senior government officials and labour unions officials led by the Chairman of the Lagos chapter of the NLC, Idowu Adelakun.

    Activista is Actionaid International’s global youth network comprising more than 250 ActionAid partners and thousands of volunteers in more than 25 countries.

  • Lawmaker provides work tools for constituents

    Lawmaker provides work tools for constituents

    A member representing Irepo/ Olorunsogo/Oorelope Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Mr. Bosun Oladele has endowed an empowerment scheme for members of his constituency. Empowerment items worth N35 million were distributed to them.

    According to the lawmaker, the empowerment scheme was the first phase of the Oladele Youth Alliance for Progressive Agenda in which about 400 people benefited.

    Some of the items distributed included 100 motorcycles, sewing machines, chest freezers, power generating sets, hair dryers, sprayers and chemicals for farmers and books for over 3,500 students.

    Speaking during the event held at Tafo Event Centre Igbeti, Mr. Oladele, who is a former Commissioner for Information in Oyo State, said the empowerment scheme is part of the dividends of democracy which he made available for his constituents who voted for him during the 2015 general elections.

    “This is going to be a continuous programme. I must report back to you from time to time; I will also ensure that the town hall meeting we started continues so that we can discuss issues relating to the development of our communities,” he said.

    Mr. Oladele further revealed that he has started lobbying the appropriate authority on the need to develop the region’s tourism potential in mineral resources and agriculture.

    “We have what it takes to be rich in Oke-ogun, but the neglect by past administrations is responsible for our situation now. But we are gradually getting out of it as efforts are ongoing to develop the potential of Oke-ogun for economic advantage and development.

    “I am also working hard to ensure that the abandoned Badagry–Sokoto and some other road and infrastructural projects are completed for the benefit of our people,” he said.

    On what informed the distribution of the empowerment materials, the former youth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State said: “We consider the needs of our people before making provision for the materials. We do not give to only APC members. Members of other political parties and security agencies are also benefiting.”

    Some of the beneficiaries commended Mr Oladele for his support, promising to make use of the items judiciously to enhance their economic well-being.

    Some party and community leaders who spoke during the event said the outstanding performances of the lawmaker since he began representing his people at the National Assembly, has rekindle their hope of enjoying  quality representation at the federal level.

    Present at the event were members of the state executive of the APC, traditional rulers, council chairmen, party stalwarts in Oke-ogun, youths, students, traders and artisan groups, among others.

  • Association seeks good environment for boat operators

    The Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transport of Nigeria (ATBOWTON) on Monday called on the Lagos State Government to provide an enabling environment for boat operators to thrive in the country.

    The ATBOWTON National President, Mr Ganiyu Balogun, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that government’s policies had not helped the growth of the industry.

    Balogun said some association members had, sometime in the past, wanted to develop the sector by providing capacity building and infrastructure but they were hindered by government’s policies.

    He urged the state to also be flexible in its policies’ implementation to encourage positive development in water transportation.

    Balogun urged the state government to earmark portions of land in every local government area as dumpsites to minimise dumping of refuse into the waterways by the public.

    He said throwing faeces into the waterways could also be curbed, if public toilets were provided at strategic locations all over the state and the country also.

    “Dumping of refuse and faeces in the waterways pollutes the waterways and causes it to smell; and this has always deterred the average tourist from plying the waterways.

    “Apart from this, when refuse and feaces get into the boats’ engines, it destroys them. We need to have a neat and organised society,’’ Balogun said.

    He, however, lauded the Lagos State Government for deploying marine police officers to functional jetties that in the state.

    “Each of the jetties is now being manned by two marine policemen, and this has drastically reduced the crime rate.

    “We love this development but we want more friendly laws that will enable us take water transportation to the next level,’’ Balogun added.

  • How Lagos fire rendered me homeless, by Ola Balogun

    How Lagos fire rendered me homeless, by Ola Balogun

    It is impossible to write the history of theatre in Nigeria, especially the film segment, without Dr. Ola Balogun taking a prominent spot. The late Hubert Ogunde, the late Ade Love and many more were able to make their early films because of his technical inputs. This film maker made great films but a Lagos fire which last year made a great damage to his life has seen him relocate from Lagos to Cotonou, where he is trying to pick the pieces of his life. In a piece he made available to this paper, Balogun relived this ordeal and many more. 

    The fire incident and life after

    The fire to which I fell victim at my former residence in Yaba a year ago destroyed virtually all my belongings – books, musical collections and film equipment – leaving me penniless and homeless, and forcing me to relocate to Cotonou in Benin Republic to try and eke out a living as best as I could.

    I define this devastating fire (which I believe was probably deliberately set to my residence by some evil folks) as a divinely ordained piece of luck, in the sense the universal genius William Shakespeare taught the whole of mankind when he coined the immortal phrase: “Great are the uses of adversity”…

    I am happy to testify that even though I arrived in Cotonou virtually destitute a year ago after narrowly escaping death in the inferno that swept through my residence in Lagos, I have managed to build a new life for myself after enduring several months of great suffering, hunger and loneliness, culminating in a harrowing period during which I ate no food whatsoever for one entire month due to extreme poverty, barley surviving on occasional sips of tap water…

    Fortunately, like the legendary phoenix, I survived it all, discovering amazing depths of resilience and fortitude in the process within my inner self!

    In the aftermath of this cleansing period of intense hardship, I have been born again as an artist and am currently experiencing an amazing degree of heightened creativity and productivity…

    Let the ancestors be praised for all I have learnt during the wonderful experience of suffering I have been through!

    I am also immensely happy to be able to testify that here in my new abode in Cotonou (every part of black Africa is my homeland!) I have been working in collaboration with a wonderful beninois architect to design and build an African cultural centre that has been conceived to serve the needs of the entire African continent.

    This amazingly gifted gentleman and I have now completed the preliminary drawings of the envisaged African Cultural Centre, and I am hoping to be able to buy enough land to host the actual building from my current earnings within the next few months, in the fond hope that I will somehow manage to live long enough to see this dream come true for the greater benefit of the entire youths of black Africa, in obedience to the teachings our great contemporary African heroes Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba and Steve Biko, who willingly gave their lives so that Africa would rise to be great again in the not too distant future.

    Nigeria and the arts

    It has long been obvious that Nigeria as a nation has no respect for those of our compatriots who have chosen to dedicate their lives to creating works of art:In fact, Nigeria is a country with no cultural policies, in which no serious attempt has ever been made to support the arts since our supposed emergence as an independent nation half a century ago!

    Genuine Nigerian artists, painters, intellectuals, authors and film makers have been left to starve by the roadside, with no meaningful support from governmental authorities or even from members of the public.

    Examples that illustrate the sad fate of leading Nigerian artists make depressing reading.

    Coming to the field of film production, my dear brother and colleague Francis Oladele passed away unlamented in Oyo close to a year ago, with no serious attempt to immortalise his work. When the late Jab Adu travelled to meet his ancestors about a month ago, hardly any befitting tribute was paid to his stellar performances as a stage actor and film actor over the years. I didn’t ever get to hear that Jab had passed away until I happened to make a brief visit to Nigeria ten days ago!

    Should we talk about the shabby treatment that has been meted out to past giants of Nigerian plastic arts and literature, such as Ben Enwonwu, Erhabor Emokpae, Cyprian Ekwensi and a host of other illustrious representatives of the Nigerian artistic community, whose extraordinary talent and hard work has helped to spread Nigeria’s fame all over the world?

    What percentage of the current generation of ‘yankified’ and thoroughly deluded Nigerians who spend most of their time watching English football matches on television and endlessly visiting a multiplicity of internet sites and gossiping endlessly via web chat devices has ever heard of any of the names enumerated above, listened to their music or seen or read any of their works? Probably not up to 5%!

    Freedom Park and me

    To my immense surprise and disappointment, only two self-proclaimed young film makers showed up at the Freedom Park on the evening of Monday, May 9th 2016 to watch the screening of a documentary film entitled “The magic of Nigeria” on Nigerian art and culture, which I wrote and directed over thirty years ago. (As a result of misguided zeal, I had intended this screening to serve as a basis for a workshop that would enable me to explain some of the practical aspects of professional film making to any aspiring film makers willing to learn from me).

    To begin with, I was quite taken aback to observe that the event was  scantily attended, notwithstanding the fact that notice of the screening was widely circulated though the auspices of Freedom Park itself and of the Goethe (German Cultural) Institute. Without wishing to be immodest. I think it would also be pertinent at this stage to mention that this particular film has been shown to wide acclaim in many parts of the world over the past three decades, including at the New York museum of Modern Arts.

    When I was asked to share my thoughts about my documentary film on Nigerian art and culture on the fateful night that it was screened at Freedom Park to an audience that included folks like my senior colleague Tam Fiofori and other distinguished members of the Nigerian artistic community like Miguel Enwerem, Jahman Anikulapo and others, I believed that I was being helpful to young film makers by pointing out that film making is a profession in the same way as carpentry or architecture, and that those who wish to excel in this field therefore have to make an effort to watch and study the works of accomplished film makers from all over the world, as well endeavour to serve practical apprenticeships under the guidance of leading Nigerian film professionals, as has been the norm for many centuries now in most professions all over the world.

    I went further to point out that even if the new generation of aspiring film makers might claim not to have access to the films that were made by my own generation of film makers, they could learn by paying close attention to the work of accomplished contemporary film makers like Tade Ogidan and Tunde Kelani, as well as from the professionalism of Liz Benson, Osuofia and Mercy Johnson in the field of acting….

    When the floor was subsequently thrown open for general discussion at Freedom Park on the night of May 9th, a shocking development ensued when the only two individuals in the audience who defined themselves as young film makers got up to make largely irrelevant comments.

    The first to speak was a young man who asked me why I haven’t posted my films on Youtube for he and his colleagues to watch on the internet. As gently as I could, I explained in response that it would be sheer madness for me to do so, as this would only lead to large scale pirating of my work. To illustrate the point I was making, I gave the example of the musical soundtrack of my award winning film “Black Goddess”, which I made the mistake of authorising a British company to market, only for the music of my film to end up being widely circulated and sold world-wide via the internet by a variety of unknown companies and individual who have never paid me one cent of royalties…

    This was when a young lady who belongs to the generation of my grandchildren, and whom I had never seen before or heard of in all my life, stood up and castigated me in shrill tones for allegedly “rubbishing” her work, following which she declared that she never wanted to know me or hear from me about anything.

    I frankly confess that as I listened to her rant, I was at a total loss to understand if this young lady was in her right senses, or if she had smoked some substances that leads to delirium before standing up to speak.

    The said young woman (whose identity is unknown to me) then went on to boast that she held a Master’s degree in film production from an American University, and that she had nothing to learn from Ola Balogun or from any other Nigerian or African film maker.

    It was at this point that I rose and walked out of the venue, leaving her to continue unimpeded with her nonsensical utterances.

    I definitely do not need to listen to sit down anywhere listening to the idle boasts of this kind of young person, who appeared to have derived immense pleasure from spouting totally unfounded allegations that a man old enough to be her grandfather has been criticising and rubbishing films she claims to have produced, whereas I have never in my whole life heard of this confused girl or known anything about her existence!

    However, there is no wahala! The young lady should go ahead and produce the films that she claims she knows how to make for the people of Nigeria and of the entire world to watch and admire.

     

  • Residents beg Ambode to prioritise water, roads, electricity in Badagry

    Residents of Badagry have urged Governor Akinwu-nmi Ambode and the lawmakers from the area to prioritise provision of water, roads and transformers for the people.

    The residents made the plea at the official inauguration of eight modern boreholes donated to the Badagry Constituency II by the lawmaker representing the area, Mr Setonji David.

    Setonji, who represents Badagry Constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly, donated the boreholes to mark the 2016 World Water Day in his constituency.

    He said he decided to provide the boreholes to make potable water available because many residents had no access to potable water in the area.

    According to him, many ailments and diseases could be prevented by access to potable water.

    He said: “Water is life and it is one of the basic necessities of life. It is unfortunate that many people still walk long distance in search of water, water scarcity and stress is still on the rise. When we provide clean water for citizens, they will be healthy and we will spend less money on health care.

    “In Badagry, most people do not have access to potable water and we cannot continue to look and leave them in their plight. I want to appeal to Gov. Ambode to come to the rescue of Badagry people and other areas with water challenge.”

    The lawmaker who is Chairman, House Committee on Physical Planning and Urban Development assured the residents that government was working hard to improve electricity and roads.

    Pastor Olusegun Odesanya, the Chairman, Ibiye Town Community Development Association (CDA) in Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA), said residents had challenges of potable water.

    The cleric said: “The challenge of water here is so much that we have started using this borehole long before today using our power generator for pumping of water.”

    Also speaking, Alhaja Oluwakemi Idowu, the Woman Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Olorunda LCDA’s Ward C, who commended the lawmaker for the borehole, said that residents spend a lot of money to buy potable water.

    Baale of Agemowo in the same LCDA, Chief Solomon Godonu said,”We thank the lawmaker but we need more development in the area of road and electricity. Our roads are bad.”

    The boreholes are located in  Itakete Quarter, Singbomeh Compound Age Mowo,  New layout close , Ilogbo Eremi, and  Ago Egun Quarters, Ibiye in Olorunda LCDA , Badagry.

     

  • Wanted: 30,000 bone marrow donors

    As a result of the value of bone marrow in the cure of blood cancers and sickle cell anaemia, a pan-African bone marrow and cord blood donor recruitment group, Ara, has called for 30,000 willing bone marrow donors by the end of 2018.

    Founder of the group, Miss Ronke Babalakin said Nigeria should not wait until someone is in a dire need before donors were recruited.

    Miss Babalakin, who spoke at the inauguration of Ara in Lagos, said less than one per cent of Africans are involved in bone marrow donation.

    “Bone marrow has been found to provide cure for blood cancers and sickle cell anaemia,” she said.

    She cited cultural and religious factors as two major reasons people do not donate bone marrow, stressing the need for awareness on the important issue. She added that it was not a difficult procedure as it poses no threat to life. Adults under 45 years can donate bone marrow.

    “The likelihood of a black person to find a perfect match in bone marrow treatment is slim because of the dearth of donors. Our long-term goal is to provide the logistics and infrastructure to ensure the seamless recruitment of donors in cities all over Africa,” she said.

  • Ekiti FA establishes female football club

    Ekiti State Football Association on Monday in Ado-Ekiti announced the establishment of the state-owned female football club, to be known as Fountain Queens Football Club.

    In a statement signed by its Chairman, Ayodeji Alabi, the Football Association (FA) said a five-member committee had been constituted to manage the club towards rapid development.

    Alabi, in the statement, said the association’s main objective was to have a formidable and standard state-owned female football club.

    “Our major objective is to encourage talented girls to play football and to compete with other female football clubs in other states.

    “The committee was set up to ensure that all the needed facilities as well as logistics needed to enhance the success of the club are recommended to the association.’’

    Alabi disclosed that the club’s establishment had been approved by the state government and relevant stakeholders.

    He urged the association and the committee members to work together towards achieving the aims and objective ýof setting up the club.

     

  • 10,289 candidates jostling for admission into Lagos model colleges

    No fewer than 10,289 candidates on Saturday sat for the Lagos State 2016 screening test into the 15 Junior Model Colleges and Upgraded Secondary Schools in 28 centres across the state.

    The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr Adesina Odeyemi,  disclosed this to newsmen after monitoring the exercise.

    Odeyemi was accompanied by the Director, Lagos State Examinations Board, Mr Oluwafemi Hassan to monitor the examinations across the state.

    They visited Government Junior Grammar School, Iyana-Ipaja, CBT centre at the Examination Board Complex and Vertland Junior Model College, Agege, Lagos.

    Odeyemi expressed satisfaction in the smooth conduct of the examination at the centres visited.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is an improvement compared to the 8,900 candidates that sat for the test in 2015.

    The permanent secretary said the examination was conducted both in the Computer Based Test (CBT) mode and the Paper Pencil Test (PPT) mode.

    He said 54 out of the candidates sat for the computer mode, while the rest sat for the PPT.

    He said more pupils sat for the CBT mode this year compared to 17 candidates who opted for the CBT pilot scheme in 2015.

    “We have not done badly in the conduct of the examination, some centres started early, while a few others started late due the late arrival of candidates.

    “Generally, it was a well conducted examination, but the observations and complaints from some parents will be look into and be corrected in future examinations.

    “The number for the CBT mode is increasing because of the awareness in schools; it also shows that parents too are embracing ICT.

    “Government will continue to invest in education and train our children acquire ICT knowledge from kindergarten.

    “Candidates will be placed in schools according to the cut- off marks,’’ he said.

    The permanent secretary said the state government was preparing to adopt the CBT mode in primary and secondary schools in the state.

    He said the Lagos State Ministry Science and Technology had been directed by the state governor to provide ICT centres, equipment and facilities in schools across the state.

    He said the state would switch over to the CBT mode of examinations as soon as the facilities were on ground, adding that the world had gone beyond manual mode of examinations.

    The Director, Lagos State Examination Board, Mr Oluwafemi Hassan, also told newsmen that more students were developing interests in computer based examinations.

    He said that in 2015, the 17 candidates who sat for the examination passed and gained admissions into the model and upgraded schools.

    He said an Optical Marker Recognition sheet, with embossed pictures of the candidates was used for the test.

    “The CBT mode is not easier than the PPT, the questions are the same but we randomized it in the computer mode so the candidate cannot cheat or assist each other.

    “The CBT mode has eliminated examination malpractices and delayed results; with this mode, students get their results almost immediately after the test.

    “Last year, we had 17 candidates for the pilot scheme, and this year we have 54 candidates, which shows that our pupils are becoming aware of the computer-based- test mode of examinations,” he said.

    A parent, Mrs Mariam Yakubu, however, complained that the picture and name of her daughter was omitted from the list of candidates at Vetland Junior Secondary School.

    Yakubu said the print-out given to her daughter after registration stated the centre but other information missing.

    She urged the state government to investigate the complaint so that her child would not be denied admission on errors not caused by her.

     

  • Requiem for a media titan

    Requiem for a media titan

    ERIJIYAN-Ekiti, Ekiti State, hosted great personalities, as a former traditional ruler of the town and veteran journalist, Samuel Oluremi Adebule, was laid to rest. By 3: 00 p.m. that fateful Thursday, guests from all over the country had already arrived at the family compound where the wake keep was billed to take place. It was an evening of celebration, as well as that of sombre reflection.

    The late Adebule, 78, was a man of many parts. He could be called a media titan, because he was at different times actively involved in both the print and broadcast media. The Prince from one of the ruling houses in Erijiyan may not have died on the throne, but he did reign as the traditional ruler or Oba of the town for over a year, before he was asked to abdicate the throne. This is because, according to the ruling of the Morgan Chieftaincy Review Commission, it was not the turn of the Ogbegun ruling house to which he belonged to ascend the throne. As a law-abiding citizen, he left the throne quietly and returned to his house in Lagos to forestall any situation of chaos and anarchy in his home town.

    Adebule was held in high esteem in the town. As a result, he was given a burial worthy of royalty. Tributes flowed freely; a number of friends, associates and family members were eager to speak and they were able to find the right words to honour the departed Adetule.

    A writer, Mr. Babatunde Ayo-Vaughan, said he had known Adetule who was his father’s colleague at the defunct Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service/Television (WNBS-WNTV) since his boyhood days. He said: “The late Olu Adetule could be credited as a pioneer in the development of the broadcast media in Nigeria. He became part of that broadcasting house as a pioneer member of its news department under my father, the late Samuel Folahan Ayo-Vaughan, who was the over-all head of that department.

    “Adetule’s relationship with my family – the Ayo-Vaughan family — never broke till his death and as a result of this I remained close to him and it was through this relationship I got to know that long before he made a foray into the broadcast industry he had actually served in the print media just like my father who worked in the print media before he moved into the broadcast industry.”

    Ayo-Vaughan noted that the late Adetule was very close to the late nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was the first premier of Western Nigeria, in the period before independence. His words: “He was like his private chronicler and they traveled together even as far as the Northern Nigeria. What he had to tell me about those days was so very interesting that I was almost on my knees begging him to put it into book form because it will help the knowledge of the posterity of Nigeria. He promised to do that but unfortunately he never got round to do it. This is very sad for me because I know that an encyclopedia on the pre-independence politics of Nigeria has gone with his knowledge. I pray that those like him who are still around and reading this should not make that mistake for the sake of Nigeria.

    “However, one is consoled by the fact that when he moved into the Drums Publication, the foremost magazine of his time as its Editorial Director, he had the opportunity to do much thought-provoking writings for public consumption. It is my great hope that if the copies of that magazine over the years are properly preserved, then it could be said that Olu Adetule still left something behind for posterity. It must be mentioned that at one time during the Federal Military Government of General Yakubu Gowon, he was appointed as the first press officer to that government.”

    The late Adetule’s first daughter, Princess Fadeke Adekanye, described her father as a special breed and a role model who taught his children to love, to care and to live well in a world full of mystery. She said: “The vacuum you left can never be replaced; you are the best dad anybody could ever wish to have; I am going to miss you. Your spirit lives on; sleep well my first love and confidant.”

    He was born on August 4, 1937 to the late Pa. Okunola Emmanuel Adetule and Janet Aina Adetule (nee Ajimoko). They are from Erijiyan-Ekiti and Oye-Ekiti respectively and died on the 11th of October 2015.

    A cosmopolitan man in his life, he was a member of the London Institute of Directors, a member of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), as well as the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

    Adetule was the first press officer to the Federal Military Government of General Yakubu Gowon. Thereafter, he worked with Drums Publication Nigeria Ltd, the foremost African news magazine, as its editorial director.

    A product of the famous Ilesha Grammar School, he was one of those who struggled for the creation of Ekiti State. He is survived by his wives, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, including Prince Kayode Adetule, a media practitioner and Princess Adekanye, a business woman.