The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Akure

  • CVR: Akeredolu declares Thursday work-free in Ondo

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has declared Thursday, August 30, as work-free day to enable public servants participate in the continuous voter registration exercise in the state.

    Akeredolu, according to a statement on Wednesday by Mr Yemi Olowolabi, the State Commissioner for Information, in Akure, made the declaration following a resolution of the State Executive Council.

    The CVR, which was to have been suspended two weeks ago ahead of the 2019 general elections, was extended to enable more people register.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that it would now be suspended on Friday, Aug. 31, until after the 2019 elections.

    Read Also: Ondo Monarchs to BEDC: We are disappointed

    Akeredolu called on the people of the state to take full advantage to the opportunity to register and obtain their Permanent Voters Cards, to be able to vote in the forthcoming general elections.

    He said that the work-free day on Thursday be observed in the state to allow public servants participate in the CVR, ahead of Friday’s suspension of the exercise.

    The workers in state are expected back at work on Friday, August 31, 2018.

  • Ondo first lady launches 2018 Summer Tennis Clinic for children

    The Wife of Ondo State Gov., Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, on Friday launched the 2018 State Summer Tennis Clinic for children between four and 13 years old.

    Speaking at the ceremony, which took place at the Township Stadium in Akure, Akeredolu expressed joy that the dream of initiating the tennis clinic was gradually being realised.

    She said that she was impressed that the children who participated in last year’s edition attended other competitions and won laurels.

    “This clinic is essentially to identify and develop talents in our children.

    “It is important to encourage sports development among youths in the state, particularly at the grassroots level.”

    She said that the essence was to discover and develop the latent potential and skills of young ones who were capable of becoming champions.

    Read Also: ASUP re-elects chairman at Ondo poly

    “The benefits of catching our youth’s young, especially in sports, are enormous.

    “Let us look at champions like Venus and Serena Williams. They all started as young children.

    “Today, they have become world champions winning numerous awards. We have Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Billie Jean King, just to mention a few.

    The governor’s wife said that the programme “is not a government thing”.

    “You can give into it. Let nobody wait for the governor to bring money here,” she said.

    Mr Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, the state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, commended the governor’s wife for the initiative.

    Yusuf-Ogunleye said that the programme would go a long way in building future tennis players for the state and Nigeria.

    A participant, Aanuoluwapo Efunsile, said the participants would use the opportunity provided by Akeredolu to develop themselves and become great tennis players.

    300 students are participating in the programme holding from August. 23 to Septemper.1, 2018.

    It is organised by the Office of Wife of Ondo Governor in collaboration with the Ondo State Sports Council. 

  • Ondo School of Nursing now degree awarding institution

    Health workers under the umbrella of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, (NANNM) in Ondo State are happy with the State government for its decision to upgrade the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Akure to a degree awarding institution in line with global standard.

    The State Executive Council(SEC) led by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had this week after its meeting approved the absorption of the Nursing School by the University of Medical Science, Ondo (UNIMED) into a degree awarding institution.

    The State Chairman of the NANNM, Abel Opeyemi-Oloniyo said the decision of the government would boost the working capacity of nurses and midwives in the state.

    Comrade Oloniyo explained that the state government would become first state in Nigeria to carry oiut upgrading of its School of Nursing.

    Besides,he described as timely a proposed law aimed at upgrading the School of Health Technology in Akure to a College of Health Technology in line with global standard.

    Oloniyo said, “the upgrading of our school of Nursing is a welcome development, we were carried along from day one that government plans to ensure higher status for the school. Schools of Nursing across Nigeria have been given few years, to upgrade their status, we are happy Ondo state is taking a lead in this area, we are going to be the first state in the country to do this”.

    On the recent security breach by patients of the state Psychiatric Hospital, Akure, the NANNM Chairman reiterated his call on the state government to improve security of health workers and patients for adequate service delivery.

    Speaking on this year’s theme, “Nurses: a voice to lead health is a human right”, a don, Prof Adenike Olaogun described nurses and midwives as most critical personnel in the health care delivery hence the need to ensure their regular training.

    The state Commissioner for health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro said the state government was working hard to improve welfare of nurses and other medical workers especially in the areas of capacity building and security at hospitals.

    Head of Service(HoS) in the state,Toyin Akinkuotu charged nurses to be more proactive in implementing various state government’s policies in the health sector particularly the introduction of free health care service for pregnant women and children below five year old.

  • ‘We will implement Southwest regional agenda’

    Ondo State government at the weekend expressed its commitment to the implementation of South west agenda on regional integration.

    Commissioner for regional Integration and Special Duties, Prof. Bayonile Ademodi dropped the while declaring open a workshop on the implementation of Southwest programme document on service delivery held in Akure, the state capital. 

    Participants were drawn from all relevant ministries, Department, and Agencies on the development and implementation plan for Ondo State  on the south west  documentation plan for service delivery. 

    According to him, the workshop was organized  by the ministry in collaboration with the Development  Agenda for the Western Nigeria commission, DAWN as  part of South west agenda to enhance development in the region.

    Prof Ademodi  said the programme is to equally sensitize the workforce on the need to ensure reform in the public sector to enhance service delivery and kick-start the implementation of the south west agenda. 

    He said the ministry which was created by the present  administration in the state  has key in to the agenda of DAWN commission for rapid integration and development of the state in south western part of the country stressed that the ministry has been sensitising various sector to ensure they understand the agenda. 

    The commissioner added that the ministry had earlier sensitized top government officials and political holders  late last year on the agenda of regional integration. 

    To this end,he charged the participants to avail themselves the opportunity of being more informed and educated on western regional integration  so as to facilitate the programme in the state.

    The Director of Regional Integration in the ministry, Pastor Edmond Akintunde who gave overview of the ministry affirmed that each region have shared tradition,history,language among others hence the to unite together and speak with one voice to achieve development. 

    Read Also: We won’t tolerate cattle ranches in Southwest, says Afenifere

    He e said the state government will leverage on the south west programme document for it to be properly facilitated. 

    According to him, the programme was organised because of  a document called the southwest programme document for service delivery  which all states in the region are to accepted.

    He noted that it  will be used as a guide to develop implementation plan in each state to improve service delivery 

    Akintunde affirmed that all critical  MDA’s in the state are to look at the document at the event  and develop sectorial plan on how it relates with them saying the participants are to review the document together for the  state effective ways of implementation.

    The Director who informed that the ministry’s mandate is to be the coordinating hub and oversees all activities of regional groups and organisation noted that they are responsible to ensure enabling environment for the development of bitumen in the state  

    He further said the ministry is to ensure the state’ is  economically  viable,socially inclusive and politically relevant in the unfolding western Nigeria agenda through collaboration and partnership with other western states.

    The DAWN commission representatives  at the event who were the facilitator took the participants through what the commission is all about and equally sensitised them on the need for them as the drivers of government policies to key into the laid down objectives of regional integration in the southwest.

  • Advocacy for youth, empowerment will be my priority- Aspirant

    A presidential aspirant for the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) on Friday said that advocacy for youth empowerment, employment and emancipation would be the focus of his administration if elected.

    Akinlosotu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Akure that the image of the Nigerian youth was not good enough, but noted that rebranding would be among his plans.

    The NYCN aspirant said the past leaders of the council had laid a good foundation that must be upheld.

    Also read : Obiano: no going back on Okada ban

    “It is time to start image building, integrity repositioning and advocacy for young generation to be giving proper attention. The young people of this country are the best in Africa. They are full of talents and highly cultured.

    “We just need to start a system where every Nigerian youth will be valued again, we must all come together to reposition the council for better service delivery.

    “We need a leader with great innovation, creativity and foresight. We will allow the leaders and critical stakeholders to suggest and carry youths along in the day to day running of the council,’’ he said.

    Akinlosotu said he planned to inject “fresh ideas’’ into the system for the council of his dreams.

    “Together we shall restore the value. We will rely on the experience of the leaders and share views with them before taking decisions, we will defend the interest of the Nigeria Youths at all times,’’ he said.

  • Millions gone as fire razes 100 shops in Akure

    Property and goods estimated at millions of naira were destroyed yesterday when a fire razed a section of Akure South Local Government secretariat, beside Deji’s palace in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    It was learnt that over 100 lock-up shops were destroyed.

    Sources said the fire started from one of the shops around 1 a.m and spread to other shops.

    A victim, Ojo Owoeye, said he received a distress call around 1 a.m that shops were burning and he immediately rushed to the scene.

    Owoeye said he lost over N2.5 million to the fire, which he said was caused by power surge.

    A youth leader in Akure community, Tuyi Adekambi said: “The inferno started around 1 a.m as a result of power surge. The most annoying thing is that if we had functioning fire service in the state, the inferno wouldn’t have got to this extent.

    “For almost three hours, the fire service couldn’t get to the scene of the fire. It was the services of airport authority fire brigade service that rescued the situation or the fire would have got to the Deji’s place.

    “Government should be in a position to purchase vehicles for the fire service for each senatorial district.

    “My advice to the state government is that it should not come here and make empty promises to the affected shop owners. Government should buy fire service vehicles for each senatorial district and fuel them always, in case of any inferno in any part of the state.”

    The fire was said to have been curtailed by men of the airport authority fire brigade service.

    It was gathered that computer accessories and provision stores were destroyed.

    The President of Association of Office Documents and Computers in Akure, Mrs Elizabeth Orogun, told reporters that the fire was unfortunate.

    The businesswoman urged the state government to assist the victims.

    She said: “Over 100 shops were destroyed. Computers, generators, photocopying machines, cameras, clothes, among other items, were destroyed in the fire.”

    Mrs Orogun regretted that the shop owners could not salvage anything from the rubbles.

    She said: “No one could tell where the fire started from. We learnt that there was power supply around 12:30 a.m and, probably a resultant high voltage triggered the fire.

    “When people around here raised the alarm to the fire service, they said they did not have fuel in their vehicle.

    “Government should please come to our aid because of our numerous responsibilities as bread owners in our families. All our possessions have been destroyed by the fire.”

  • NSCDC rescues 3 abandoned children in Akure

    Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ondo State have rescued three children abandoned at different locations in the state.

    Corps Commandant, Pedro Awili, made the announcement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Akure.

    He said that the officers of NSCDC rescued the children aged one to four at two different locations in Akure on May 29.

    The commandant said that the NSCDC personnel rescued the one-year old child beside a road opposite National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Federal Secretariat, Oda road, Akure.

    “On May 29, by 6 am, a young baby-girl of less than a year was abandoned opposite NYSC secretariat, Oda road, Akure.

    “This baby was in critical health condition and it was suspected that the baby ought to have been abandoned by her parent, who covered her with a small towel and kept her by the road side.

    “It rained heavily on that morning and the baby almost gave up until NSCDC officials rescued her.

    “In conjunction with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Ondo State, and from its Traffic Unit, we took the child to an intensive care.

    “Presently, as I speak, the baby is receiving treatment at Police Clinic, Akure and doctors are helping us to ensure that the baby survives,” he said.

    He said that the other two children were rescued by a radio presenter in the state, Gbenga Fulani, who informed the command and the NSCDC operatives took action to rescue the children.

    He explained that the two children – a boy and a girl (Ariyo Success) and (Samuel Ariyo) – were found wandering on St. Micheal Ijoka road, Akure.

    “These children were abandoned by their mother who took them to her father in-law, Ayodeji Ariyo, when her husband abandoned her and the children.

    “The father in-law, who could not take care of them, also dumped them close to a hospital in Akure and left while the children began to wander.

    “Through our investigations, we are able to locate where their mother is and invited her for questioning, including Ayodeji, her father in-law.

    “We discovered that the father of the children had abandoned them for their mother more than two years and disappeared to unknown destination; they, however,  signed undertaking to take proper care of the children,” he said.

  • Falae, monarch: Akure deserves railway

    The Deji and paramount ruler of Akure Kingdom in Ondo State, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun II, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae, have urged the Federal Government to include Akure in the proposed railway route that is expected to pass through the Southwest.

    The monarch spoke at the weekend while inaugurating this year’s Odun Ulefunta/Oyemekun Committee at his palace.

    The advertised route of the railway is said to pass through Calabar-Uyo-Aba-Port Harcourt-Yenagoa-Otuoke-Ughelli-Warri-Sapele-Agbor-Asaba-Onitsha-Benin-Ore-Ijebu-Ode-Sagamu- Lagos.

    Oba Aladetoyinbo said: “As we speak, Akure remains a vital link between the North and the South. It is strategic to the proposed bitumen exploration and the seaport in the riverine area of the state.”

    Falae hailed the monarch for his love for the progress and development of Akure.

    The former SGF expressed happiness at the new crop of Akure sons and daughters who had shown interest in the development of the land.

     

  • Akeredolu endorses ‘Laffmattazz Live in Akure’

    ONDO State’s first citizen, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, has pumped a fist in the air, in support of the rave making comedy show, sweeping the length and breathe of south western states, now making its next stop in the Akure edition tagged, Laffmattaz Live In Akure.

    The comedy show has promised to be the mother of all comedies slash entertainment convergence in the history of Ondo State come Tuesday, June 12 at the DOME, Akure.

    On the shuffle list of entertainers billed to deliver stellar performances for the evening are;

    Omobaba no 1, Koffi, Woli Agba, Kennyblaq, Peteru, Woli Arole the prophet, Dr. Smile, Baba Alariya, Sweet Steve, Hondastevo, MC. Ajele and a host of other fine acts.

    Musical acts that will be thrilling the audience are, Reminisce, Small Doctor, Slimcase Oshosondi, CDQ, Dorman, Faze, Sound Sultan, Lord of Ajasa and many others.

    Tickets are on sale at Sweet Savour Futa, Ceci Supermarket, Alagbaka Film House Cinema, Shopnig UN Building Adeyemi College of Education. Regular 1k, VIP 5k, VVIP 10k, table of six, 150k.

    Laffmattaz Oma Sha prapra edition is powered by Maltina Supported by Firstbank, FIRS and EIE Nigeria.

  • Osinbajo flags off market power project in Akure

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo flagged off the pilot project of a special intervention in energising markets as productive clusters at Isinkan market, Akure, the Ondo State capital. The federal government project being powered by the National Rural Electrification Agency and Ondo State Government’s Office of Public Utilities, was aimed at ensuring power supply in all markets across the state.

    Osibanjo explained that the project will boost micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME-s) in the country. According to him, “We are focusing on major markets across the country to put an end to power problem. We are working at Ariria Market in Aba, likewise Sabongeri Market in Kano and we are focusing on markets in Lagos as well. We can see how excited the market women are judging by their testimonies.

    “This technology is new and it is remotely monitored from the headquarters of the service providers. If anyone attempts to tamper with the meter it would be detected from the monitoring centre immediately and necessary action would be taken.” Osinbajo who was accompanied by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, however, promised the market women that the project would be extended to all other markets.

    A team, comprising market women, state government representatives and a representative of the federal agency, was inaugurated by the Director General,  National Rural Electrification Agency,  Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi and Engr. Ariyomo to ensure the safety of the gadgets. The team tagged Cluster Management Unit, has five members. According to the Iyaloja of Isinkan,  Chief Bolarinwa Temidayo, the project is a solution to the main problem they have been facing for the past four years.