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Tag: Adebutu

  • Fayose, Dankwambo, Adebutu bag chieftaincy titles in Ado-Ekiti

    Fayose, Dankwambo, Adebutu bag chieftaincy titles in Ado-Ekiti

    THE Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III, on Friday conferred chieftaincy titles on Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose; his Gombe counterpart, Ibrahim Dankwambo; his wife, Hajia Adama and House of Representatives member representing Ikenne/Shagamu/ Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State, Hon. Ladi Adebutu.

    Fayose was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Apesin Apogun Pote of Ado-Ekiti, Dankwambo bagged the title of Akinmuagun of Ado-Ekiti, his wife, Adama became the Yeye Akinmuagun. Fayose was conferred with the Apesin Apogun Pote of Ado Ekiti, while Dankwambo was bestowed with the title of Akinmuagun of Ado-Ekiti. Dankwambo’s wife was conferred with the title of Yeye Akinmuagun of Ado- Ekiti. Adebutu was honoured with the title of Ajirosola of Ado-Ekiti. The two governors commissioned the new ultramodern palace hall built by the Fayose administration. Oba Adejugbe said the Ado-Ekiti community was honouring them with the titles for the service to humanity.

    The two governors commissioned the new ultramodern palace hall built by the Fayose administration. The event was attended by traditional rulers, political office holders and other prominent citizens of Ekiti and Gombe States. Fayose turned the event to a campaign event by boasting that he would install a successor to continue his legacies in office.

    He declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would be roundly defeated in the 2018 governorship election saying he commands goodwill in the state which he said would swing victory in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

  • Ogun’s revival requires grand coalition, says Adebutu

    Ogun’s revival requires grand coalition, says Adebutu

    To genuinely revive Ogun State, the mission requires a grand coalition of the People Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other parties.
    These were the words of Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, House of Representatives member from Ogun State while reacting to the various romours suggesting he had decamped to the APC because he attended a meeting at the residence of former Governor Olusegun Osoba in Abeokuta, the state capital.
    In a statemen, Adebutu said: “We are hereby constrained to yet again set the records straight concerning the deliberate misinformation currently being perpetrated by some mischief makers on the presence of Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, alongside selected Ogun state PDP bigwigs at a meeting called by United Progressive Forum at the residence of Akinrogun Olusegun Osoba on Thursday, 18th May, 2017.
    “We wish to state that the meeting was at the instance of the United Progressive Forum and Honourable Adebutu, as a responsible and respectful person would do no less than honour the invitation of such an eminent gathering of seasoned politicians and elder statesmen alongside some foremost elders of his own group.”
    Adebutu maintained that only a grand coalition of tested politicians and experienced statesmen can effect power shift in Ogun state.
    He added: It is our advice that those in the habit of spreading unfounded rumours or passing unsubstantiated innuedoes to unsuspecting public and party faithfuls to desist forthwith.
    “We are quite aware that Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu has become the beautiful bride and center of attraction to his admirers and traducers alike, yet we urge all persons of good fate not to play cheap and dirty politics with his soaring profile.”
    Hon. Adebutu is not, and will not abandon the collective aspiration of millions of the deprived Ogun citizens for him to lead them to the Promised Land.
    Rumour mongers beware!

  • Re: Ogun 2019, anxiety grips APC over Adebutu’s rumoured defection

    OUR attention has been drawn to yet another report of rumoured defection to the APC by Oladipupo Adebutu, Chairman, House Committee on Rural Development, and member of the House of Representatives from Ogun State, but sadly this is not from a faceless online media platform, but from a highly respected and widely circulating tabloid like The Nation newspaper of Sunday, 7th of May, 2017.

    This is coming barely five months when we had to react to similar story which we strongly believe is the handiwork of some political detractors and a sinister plot to alter the political balance in Ogun State against the rising political profile of Honourable Oladipupo Adebutu.

    Our initial reaction was to ignore this latest antics but the several phone calls and visits of eminent citizens and associates of Honourable Adebutu asking for clarifications about the news report cannot be ignored; hence, the need to set the record straight once again.

    The news report raised three main issues which bother on rumoured defection by Honourable Adebutu to APC; rumoured decision to drop his gubernatorial ambition for Senate; and sadly the most wicked attempt to cloak the cerebral, God-fearing politician in a garb of violence.

    Let us state clearly and emphatically that Honourable Oladipupo Adetutu is a social democrat and a humanist; he can choose to express his franchise under any political party of his choice. His major interest is about service and touching the lives of the highest number of people. This is his ultimate goal in politics.

    However, we need to reemphasize once again that joining the All Progressive Congress (APC) is not even a remote option for Hon. Adebutu if he were to consider any other political party where he can actualise his aspirations. The reason for this is clear; the ruling party itself both at the national and state levels is troubled at the moment, battling not only with credibility problems with the electorate over several failed electoral promises, but also having its own fair share of crises of confidence among its members.

    It is equally important to restate that Honourable Oladipupo Adebutu’s entire political aspirations are God-driven and people-focussed; as such they are not within the control and manipulation of mere mortals, definitely not even from his detractors or those that are feeling threatened. So, their wild speculation and attempt to de-scale his preference and the Will of God cannot materialise.

    Most importantly, the malicious attempt to attach violence to the politics of Honourable Adebutu in the said report is rather unfortunate, wicked and in bad taste. Honourable Adebutu’s brand of politics is people-centred; it fails logic that a man who spends all his years and resources trying to make people happy and uplift a greater number of people out of poverty even at the risk of his own comfort will be painted as one bringing or supporting violence with a potential to export same into a dying political party.

    Since the question of seeking to join the APC did not arise in the first place, the attempt to paint such fearful disposition of bringing violence into the APC itself is unwarranted and uncalled for.

    It will be desirous if the APC will desist from the culture of governance by propaganda. Why would someone who has successfully gained control of a political platform having structures in all the local government council areas and 236 wards of Ogun State relinquish that and become a joiner in a party that is deliberately being dismantled and dismembered by its leaders. We hereby seize the opportunity to welcome all our new members arriving from All Progressive Congress and other political parties, while assuring them that they have arrived on a platform where fairness and equity prevail and genuine participatory democracy thrives.

    -Lado Media Office

  • Another feather in Adebutu’s cap

    Premier Lotto boss, Chief Kessington Adebutu, brings to mind the biblical promise to open the windows of heaven and rain down a deluge of blessings on the deserving. A philanthropist with a heart of gold, Chief Adebutu, who runs the Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation (KAAF), that brings succour to the less-privileged, has more than earned the accolades pouring his way. What’s surprising, however, is that the honours have not stopped coming, especially in recent times, that one begins to wonder whether the Asoju Oba of Lagos will soon run out of space on his cap to attach the feathers.

    Chief Adebutu, who turned 80 not too long ago, is no stranger to awards and conferment, as he has received numerous accolades throughout his business, social and philanthropic career. The latest elevation is in form of recognition by his kinsmen in Ijebuland. The popular and exclusive age grade group, Regberegbes ‘Egbe Bobagunte’ of Ijebuland, penultimate Saturday installed Kessington Adebutu as the Baba Egbe Bobagunte, the equivalent of a group patron. He was given the honour alongside Madam Bisilola Edioseri a.k.a Cash Madam, who became Iya Egbe Bobagunte, the female equivalent of his title.

    Eminent sons and daughters of Ijebu extraction were on hand to witness the event, which took place at the palace of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona. The respected monarch was also present to oversee proceedings and bless the two honourees.

  • Why I want to govern Ogun, by Adebutu

    Why I want to govern Ogun, by Adebutu

    House of Representatives member Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu (Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Constituency) spoke with Assitant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN on his governorship ambition, the crisis in the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the way out of the logjam.

    What is responsible for the split in Ogun State PDP?
    Having divergent interest groups within a political party is not unheard of. The question is why the polarisation in Ogun PDP? The answer is we have people that have their heart and soul in the party working for the progress of the party while there are those who are in PDP to make fortunes; they are not committed to the ideals of the party. That is to say, the latter group have an agenda other than the progress of the party and the progress of our people.
    The Adebayo Dayo-led executive loyal to Senator Buruji Kashamu claims to be authentic. Do you agree?
    There is a Yoruba wise saying that if you are abroad, you can create all manner of stories and give yourself whatever names you like. Adebayo Dayo can claim to be chairman of Omo Ilu Foundation, Ijebu Igbo. The fact is the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) recognised the Sikirulai Ogundele-led PDP executive as the authentic group in Ogun State. It was on the basis of that recognition that the state electoral commission accepted the list of our candidates for the recent local government held in the state. We fielded candidates for the position of Local Government chairmen and councillors across the state. This is a fact that cannot be denied by Kashamu and his group.
    Which faction do you belong, Ahmed Makarfi or Ali Modu-Sheriff?
    I am a member of National Assembly. In accordance with the constitution, I belong to the PDP. Today, there is only one PDP led by Senator Ahmed Markafi. Whatever Shenanigans that may have occurred, by the virtue of the fact that the highest organ of the party, the National Working Committee (NWC) has pronounced Makarfi as leader of the party. I have no choice than to abide by that decision. Anything other than Makarfi is illegal.
    Is it true that you were almost attacked by Kashamu’s men in Port Harcourt?
    I was attacked. Kashamu laid ambush and pursued me from the car park to the reception of the Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt during the last convention of the PDP. He detailed about 50 thugs to apprehend and kill me. I escaped by the grace of God. Not that I was about to, I was physically attacked by Kashamu, I was only fortune to have escaped.
    Why did your group suspend Senator Buruji Kashamu and other chieftains from the party?
    We have explained our position in a statement through our Chairman, Hon Sikirulai Ogundele. Senator Kashamu is an agent of destabilisation. Contrary to the avowed claims by Senator Kashamu that he is the sole financier of our great party, we need to clarify that many members of the PDP have contributed in no small measure to the development of the party. Kashamu in concert with the former chairman of the party, Mr Bayo Dayo, and some other members of his executive committee, have not properly rendered the accounts of the party. The money paid into the party account was diverted.
    We have since reported this matter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation. The decision to suspend Kashamu, Dayo, Chief Pegba Otemolu, Mr Semiu Shodipo, Mr Fatai Adeyanju, Mr Segun Seriki, Hon Daisi Akintan and Hon. Bowale Solaja were done in good faith and it will take effect, following its ratification by the national leadership of our great party. We must reposition PDP in the state for it to be in a position to win elective offices in 2019. One way of doing this is to get rid of questionable characters from the system.
    Is it true that you are warming up for governorship election in Ogun State come 2019?
    I have the ambition of serving my people in whatever capacity they found me fit. If it is the wish of my people to be their governor, it is my joy and pleasure.
    What is your plan for the people of Ogun State?
    The foremost thing in my mind is to create an enabling environment for prosperity to flourish; to create conducive environment for people to engage in agriculture, trade and commerce. If we can do this, every citizen will be able to fend for himself. We should move away from the thinking that government should provide everything. Once there is an enabling environment for business to thrive, people would depend less on government.
    Do you have working relationship with Dimeji Bankole group?
    The former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole means well for the people of Nigeria and the people of Ogun State in particular. We are on the same page in politics. Both of us are determined to work for the progress of our people and the development of Ogun State.
    Why were you absent at the Southwest PDP reconciliation meeting held recently in Ibadan?
    Like I mentioned earlier, there are two different groups in the party: those who are committed to the ideals of the party and those that want to use the party to further their business fortunes. The Ibadan meeting was organised by the latter group. The meeting didn’t achieve anything because the convener (Kashamu) organised it for personal aggrandisement.
    Are you aware of moves for the realignment of political parties across the country?
    Yes. We will realign and realign. At the appropriate time, we shall get it right. We are in democracy. There is no permanent foe but permanent interest. I am sure before 2019, people of likeminds cross the country will come together to create alternative platform.
    What empowerment projects have you executed in your constituency and Ogun State in general?
    I am passionate about education and vocational training. Education is crucial to the nation’s development. We assist in this area through scholarship awards for indigent and brilliant students. I have deep interest in health and well being of the people. We sponsor free surgery for patients of fibroid and other prolonged ailments. The ultimate goal is to restore hope and change the life style of the patients. For whatever it worth, I also believe we should serve our religions for impacting good morals and inter-relationship on us. I find it necessary to promote religion for the betterment of our souls and our persons. I truly believe the well being of the nation is based on food security. We encourage the youth to take to farming.
    What is the way forward for the PDP?
    There is hope for PDP. It will bounce back stronger. In the next two months all the various court cases would have been resolved. Then the party will move forward. We will be able to redefine and realign our position. What the party is going through is a temporary setback. We shall get over it very soon.

  • Kashamu, Adebutu’s grassroots battle in Ogun

    Kashamu, Adebutu’s grassroots battle in Ogun

    As Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prepares for the October local government election, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, examines the likely effect of the lingering political rivalry of the factions to the fortunes of the party

    WITHIN the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the October 8, 2016 Local Government Election in the state is no longer just another local council poll. It is now considered a veritable battleground to settle, once and for all, the lingering power show between two money bags, Senator Buruji Kashamu and Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, who are laying claims to the leadership and control of the party in the state.

    For the two National Assembly lawmakers, the stake is very high as they both have their eyes on the possibility of becoming fully in charge of the state party structure before 2019 general elections. While Kashamu, the senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District at the Red Chamber, wants to consolidate his hold on the party in the state as a step towards his big dream of becoming the party’s South-West leader by 2019, Adebutu, who represents Remo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, according to insiders, has his eyes fixed on the next governorship race.

    Already, the rivalry between these two lawmakers, which has lingered for so long, has left the party in the state fatally wounded. The Nation investigation during the week shows that as the party prepares for the October local government polls, the matter has become even more pronounced as some members are confused following the factionalisations and the conflicting influence of the leaders.

    The factionalisation of the opposition party at the centre has further worsened the matter. This is aptly captured by the confusion caused by the litigation at various courts which gave conflicting judicial verdicts on the party’s bona fide state executive. It has been alleged that the faction led by Chief Adebayo Dayo is loyal to Kashamu while Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele-led faction allegedly has Adebutu’s support.

    At the onset, aside the Kashamu and Adebutu factions, there was another group, led by Chief Wale Egunleti, which had sympathy for the former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, then alleged to be also interested in contesting the governorship race. It was not until after the three factions had held their different conventions on May 11 that the Bankole group merged with Adebutu’s group.

    So, today, in virtually all the 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state, PDP members remain overtly divided amongst the two factions, making the party possibly the most disadvantaged amongst the 17 political parties that have reportedly indicated interest to present chairmanship and councillorship candidates in the election.

    The grand confusion

    So, as Ogun State prepares for the proposed local government election in October this year, insiders said there is deep confusion in the PDP, the leading opposition party which held power in the state for many years before it was dislodged by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last elections. A source traced the confusion to the development last May when the three factions in the state held parallel congresses and produced different state executives.

    Since then, no one has been able to provide feasible solution to the confusion in Ogun State PDP probably because the PDP national leadership itself is also deeply factionalised. It is still common to hear rival groups in Ogun hinterland expressing their loyalty to either Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee or Senator Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the party.

    The overall result of this confusion, according to a top official of Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), is the difficulty of knowing the authentic faction to accord recognition in the forthcoming local government election.

    Already, we gathered that in all the local government areas, two separate lists of chairmanship and councillorship candidates from the Dayo and Ogundele factions were submitted to the electoral body.

    The confusion deepened and became almost institutionalised when the state electoral umpire screened lists from the two factions. When observers expressed fear over the likely effect of the action of the state electoral body, Mutiu Agboke, the Commissioner III in OGSIEC, who chaired the Screening Committee, in an effort to justify the action said that day, “We have so many court judgments with us; they are not contradictory… They are judgments on different issues and we are not the Court of Appeal to decide on which judgment is superior to the other…

    “The INEC has not responded to our letter; no clear-cut direction and that is the reason. But we don’t want to be caught in the web and that is why we are screening the two factions.”

    It is noteworthy that when INEC later replied OGSIEC via a letter dated August 9, 2016, saying it recognises only the Dayo-led executive as the authentic state executive, the much expected reply could not resolve the crisis.

    Instead of settling the matter finally, the rivalry took a new turn when OGSIEC came up later to announce that it would recognise the list of candidates submitted by the Ogundele-led faction. Agboke explained that the decision was informed by an order of an Abeokuta High Court delivered by Justice Mobolaji Ojo on May 26, 2016.

    Pointing out that the court specifically addressed the issue of giving recognition to Ogundele’s faction as against the conflicting judgments of Federal High Courts of Abuja, Lagos and Port- Harcourt on the party’s leadership squabble, he said, “so, we are going to recognise the list of candidates that has been put forward by Sikiru Ogundele-led faction of PDP and we are going to release the list of eligible candidates to the faction.”

    As would be expected, Kashamu’s faction cried blue murder, vowing to challenge what they described as the commission’s “illegality and injustice” in court.

    After an emergency stakeholders meeting in Ijebu-Igbo, Dayo told newsmen that his group will fight its exclusion from the local government elections. The angry leadership of the faction also dragged the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, to court, seeking stoppage of the allocations due to the local governments in the state.

    The plaintiffs also joined the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Olumide Ayeni, and OGSIEC as defendants in the suit filed before a Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Justifying the decision of the Dayo-led faction to go to court again, Kashamu said INEC had recognised the Dayo-led executive and duly notified OGSIEC about it. He therefore expressed surprise that the state electoral body should take a different path.

    Responding, Ogundele denied that the crisis rocking the party was all about the rift between him and Kashamu, pointing out “that PDP members must unite and forge a common front during the council polls. Our victory at OGSIEC is that of no victor, no vanquished. That’s how I can describe it. We are just one PDP family and we must just bury the hatchet. We just need to come back together,” he added.

    Just last month, at the botched PDP National Convention, the animosity between the two Ogun State lawmakers was again brought to fore in far away Port Harcourt. There, Adebutu alleged that he was attacked by Kashamu’s touts.

    Adebutu had reportedly told newsmen that “Kashamu mobilised hundreds of thugs from Lagos State to the venue of the convention. The thugs swooped on me at the car park of the hotel where we lodged. The thugs told me that the convention we came for was illegal and I told them to allow us go ahead, whether it was illegal or not.

    “They just descended on me and stripped my dress and continued to beat me. They overpowered me. They said I was stubborn and would force me to bow to Kashamu. I started shouting ‘help, help, help.’

    “I ran to the reception of the hotel to take cover. My distress shout attracted the attention of other delegates and those from Senator Ahmed Makarfi’s camp, who came to rescue me from the jaws of death.”

    Reacting through his media aide, Mr. Austin Oniyokor, Kashamu said there was no contact between him and Adebutu.

    According to Oniyokor’s account: “Senator Kashamu had gone to the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt, in company with members of the BoT of the party;

    “As he made to leave and walked towards the car park, he saw Honourable Adebutu and instead of him to extend the usual courtesy expected from a younger one to the elderly, he (Adebutu) began to shout in Yoruba, saying ‘what are you doing here? Go to Sheriff’s convention.’

    “At that point, a stupefied Senator Kashamu wondered what was wrong with Adebutu and beckoned on one of his aides to ask why he (Adebutu) was so unruly.

    “When Senator Kashamu sought to move closer to him to have a brotherly discussion, Adebutu rebuffed him and then sped towards the hotel’s reception, where he again began to shout on top of his voice, asking Kashamu to go to Sheriff’s convention.

    “At that point, the senator left him, entered his vehicle and drove off. You can, therefore, imagine our consternation upon reading the report of an imaginary attack,” Oniyokor said.

    Hard nut to tie

    Given the intricate link between the power game in Ogun State PDP and that of the national leadership of the party, observers say it is a hard nut to crack and that it may remain so until the problem at the centre is fully resolved. This is because Ladi Adebutu’s current influence derives partly from the fact that he aligned with the Makarfi- led Caretaker Committee while Buruji Kashamu is believed to be the main architect of the Senator Ali Modu Sherriff’s legal battles to retain control of the PDP.

    After the PDP National Executive Council (NEC) extended the tenure of the National Caretaker Committee by one year within which a fresh National Convention must be organised, we gathered that many party stakeholders in Ogun State have also joined forces with the Adebutu faction, describing it as the likely option to reposition the party in the state.

    It remains to be seen how far this will go in ensuring victory for the party in the state at the LG polls. Most informed observers agree however that the inability of the leaders to agree amongst themselves is a bad omen for the party that once held sway in the state.

  • Unilag honors Adebutu, others

    Philanthropist and Chairman of the popular Premier Lotto Baba Ijebu Sir Kensington Adebutu, was the only individual bestowed with the ‘honoree alumnus’ award  at the University of Lagos alumni Association distinguished award at the weekend.

    Though Chief Adebutu, who celebrated his 80th birthday few weeks ago, was not an alumnus of the 52 year old institution; yet he was deserving of the award owing to his philanthropic gestures in health and education  through this Kensington  Adebukola Adebutu Foundation, said Bisi Olatilo of the Bisi Olatilo show, who anchored the show.

    Bankole Cardoso, the only son of Dr Ameyo Stella Adadavoh also received the alumni post humous award on behalf of her mother. Adedavoh, it will be recalled, forestalled a national calamity when she detained a Liberian national Patrick Sawyer who was already infected with ebola virus disease, from leaving First Consultant Medical Centre Obalanded where she then worked as the lead consultant physician and endocrinologist.  She later contracted the disease from sawyer and died in Tuesday August 19 last year.

    Spotting an ash suit with ash flowery tie and milk coloured shirt to match, the octogenarian stood tall as Olatilo read his profile. Kessington was later joined on the podium by friends and family members as his award was presented to him by UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Prof Rahamon Bello and Chief Funsho, wife of the Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun,

    Expressing his acknowledgement, Adebutu said he would have proceeded on his vacation immediately after his birthday bash, but had to put that on hold because of his love for UNILAG.

    “I am so overwhelmed (with the award)” said the octogenarian.

    “Sincerely, I love UNILAG so much that I had to reschedule my holiday which I’d planned to embark upon after my 80th birthday.

    ‘I had been associated with over 100 universities since 1984. I was even appointed the chairmen Board of Trustees of a university; yet I’ve not seen one so dear to my heart like UNILAG.

    “In Kessington Adebutu Foundation which I set up, our main job focuses on health and education because we believe a healthy and educated soul can never go hungry. My foundation has always partnered with UNILAG and we shall continue to partner with UNILAG in her laudable programmes.”

    Chief Adebutu promised to meet with Prof Bello after the event to see further areas of collaboration between his foundation and the university.

    Speaking with reporters Mrs Amosun, also a UNILAG alumnus, and one of the special guests of honour, said the honourees are deserving of the honours owing to their contributions to their country and their alma mater.

    On the message of the event to other old students generally, she said:

    “I’ll like to tell the media to help us spread the word that it is important for every single person to take responsibility for the environment that we live in. We need to sustain it otherwise it will become extinct and we shall have nowhere to live. We need to use our resources wisely to the benefit of our amla mater.”

    UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Prof Rahamon also said of the event.

    “When people of that caliber were honoured, they you know that Nigeria is moving in the right direction. UNILAG believes in honouring our own and this is just one of the occasions.

    “We appreciate our alumni and what they are contributing to the economy. This is our own little way of acknowledging them to do more for the nation.

    On what current students need to learn, Bello added: “We use this event to make them (students) realise that when they are steadfast and consistent, they can always reach any height they attempt to. We use this occasion to tell them that it’s not every alumni that you see here are from a rich background. They all came from diverse backgrounds but attained heights by dint of hardwork.  We are therefore using this to challenge them that they can even surpass these people in their own times.”

    Earlier, the National President of the alumni association Olor’ogun Dr Sunny Kuku, who congratulated the awardees, drew their attention to the some projects with which the association is in partnership with UNILAG.

    According to him, there is a proposed 500-capacioty bed hostel project put at N2 billion; remodeling of the old alumni building, as well as the planned Moremi cab shuttle park Project which would gulp N20 million and N15 million respectively.

    Other projects, according to Kuku include, construction of alumni park/BRT terminal (N15million); seed capital for a functional secretariat (N20 million); include: mini bus (N11 million); and30KVA generator for the new alumni building (2 million).

    Others  honorees include veteran journalist Prince Tony Momohin, Nimi Dimpa Briggs,  Mr Bola Temowo, Adenuga David Adewale of the Wale Adenuga Productions, and former vice chancellor Tai Solarin University of Education Ijagun Ogun State Prof Victor Olusegun Awonusi, and executive Governor Gombe State  Hassan Dankwambo, among others.