The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Amuwo Odofin

  • Women unveil empowerment programme

    The day Urunnebo Improvement Union gathered in Lagos will linger in people’s memory. Urunnebo is in Anambra State.

    It was the day the women’s wing of its Lagos branch unveiled an empowerment programme geared towards improving the lives of its women.

    It was their day and the women  were all out to show it. The Enugwu Ukwu Hall of the Lakeview Estate in Amuwo Odofin, where the event held, was literarily painted coffee-brown as they came gaily dressed in coffee-brown attires, With headgears finely wrapped around their heads, and shoes and bags to match, right from the start of the programme to the end, the ladies bubbled with excitements.

    Tagged: Ozom Women empowerment initiative, the event also brought together families, friends and well-wishers from far and wide.

    The colourful ceremony was spiced with thrilling cultural performances. There was dance by the all women orchestra, and reading of the news in Igbo Language. The event was anchored by Nollywood actor Chuks ‘Bambino’ Anachina and MC Papa, who spoke in Igbo Language throughout.

    For the president of the association’s Women’s Wings, Mrs Ifeoma Susan Okekearu, women play key role in the development of any society. The earlier their creative potentials are tapped, according to her, would spell good fortunes for their nation. This, she said, inspired the need to establish initiative to empower the women of Urunnebo.

    She said: “Just like the saying goes “train a woman, you have trained a nation”, we, the UIU women recognise the place of women in national and societal development. Most of our women lack the capital to start-up trades and business so as to support their husbands and children. We intend to change all that. It is hoped that through this women empowerment initiative, we would be able to raise funds in order to empower our women.”

    The event was also used honour women of Enugu-Ukwu/Urunnebo who have distinguished themselves in their professions. “We wish to utilise this opportunity to recognise daughters, wives and friends of Enugu-Ukwu/Urunnebo who have made their marks in their various fields of endeavours,” she said.

    Awards were presented to Lady Elizabeth Emoka, Mrs Ekwu Anyaenechi, Mrs Ifeoma Ugom Onisora, Mrs. Nneka Moses, Chief Benice Okeke, Mrs Chinwe Nnune and Mrs Ann Omesu, among others.

    Also at the event were Barrister Jude Ekwunife and Senator I.G. Abana, who chaired the occasion.

  • Expect project delivery till last day in office-Fashola

    Lagos state governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday said he is not planning to slow down on project delivery until his last day in office.

    He assured residents to expect more projects and service delivery from his administration.

    Fashola spoke at the 2014 Interdenominational Divine Service of the Lagos State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

    The service with the theme “Remember now thy creator” held at the Apostolic Church Nigeria, International Convention Grounds Ketu.

    On recent developmental projects, Fashola said: “We have delivered 16 roads in Mushin, two in Badagry, two in Ikeja, one in Ajegunle, two bridges and four roads in Ejigbo, Maternal and Child Care Hospital in Amuwo Odofin and two blocks of classrooms in Iba Housing Estate.

    “Our partnership with the private sector also gave birth to another 18 classrooms in Sabo Oniba, two Ferry Jetty and Terminal in Ojo and Ijegun, all in the last five to six weeks”.

    He assured he won’t look back until his successor takes over.

    On religious tension, the governor advocated the organising of interfaith services to break down the wall of religious biases.

    Fashola said the alleged missing of $20 billion from the Federation Account would have built infrastructure that will benefit Nigerians.

    The missing fund, he said, would have built over 50 of the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge, which cost Lagos N30 billion.

     

  • Cleric decries divorce

    A cleric, Pastor Emmanuel Chima Okereke of the Global Success Ministries, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, has urged Nigerians to shun divorce, saying the high rate of broken homes is responsible for vices in the society.

    Okereke, who said he was happy to reunite with his wife after over seven years of separation, decried divorce, adding that children from broken homes become prostitutes, armed robbers, fraudsters and the likes.

    He said people, especially clerics, having problems with their marriages should sort things out with their spouses “because God is against divorce.”

    Said he: “Marriage calls for tolerance and understanding because it is a union of two people from different backgrounds, who have united to become one.

    “So there are bound to be conflicts. This is why couples must brace and ensure their marriages work.”

    “When you have a problem, don’t look at that problem. Look unto God, who will solve that problem. Believe that the problem is already solved. Faith is important, it can move mountains. Thank God in all situations and He will turn things around. Make God the foundation of your home.”

  • Council holds essay contest

    The fourth edition of the Amuwo Odofin Youth Essay Awards, which focused on the revelance of the social media to the education of youths, provided a platform for the participants to discuss the gains and ills of the 21st century ICT invention.

    The competition featured 20 public and private schools within the council.

    As usual, the competition, which held at M8 Event Centre, Festac extension, was in two stages – oral and written debate on the topic: “Is social media a welcome plus to youth education and morals, or a minus with grave consequences?”

    The overall winners of the competition, Master Orji Victor of Loral International Secondary School, went home with N70, 000 cash prize. Ezugwu Chidimma of St. Jude’s Private School and Ezenwa Jessica of Amuwo Odofin Community Junior Secondary School came second and third, and won N50, 000 and N25,000.

    This year’s edition was attended by Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, who was accompanied by the former Mayor of Greenevers, North Carolina, United States, Alfred Dixon.

    Adewale noted that while social media could attract negative consequences, its importance in the 21st century cannot be over emphasised. He encouraged participants to tap into the positive side of social media to better their lot.

     

    In her welcome speech, CEO of Meljenstin Youth Empowerment Initiative, Mrs Chibuzor Patrick, noted that despite the daunting task of pursuing a project most people are not interested in, she is glad that the effort has brought many pupils from the backwater to limelight.

     

  • Council inaugurates projects

    Council inaugurates projects

    he member representing Amuwo-Odofin State Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Ramotalai Akinlola-Hassan has praised the chairman of Oriade Local Council Development Area Hon. Ibrahim Babatunde Sanusi for his commitment to the welfare of the people.

    Hon. Akinlola-Hassan, who gave the commendation while inaugurating some projects completed by the council, said that the various people-oriented projects which the council chairman executed demonstrate deep dedication to the well-being of the people.

    She urged the council chief not to relent in his efforts to bring development to all the nook and cranny of the council area, even as she advised the residents to reciprocate government’s keenness to better their lives by paying their taxes and levies promptly. This, she said, would enable the council to provide more amenities for them.

    She also advised them to protect the facilities so far provided for their well-being because, she said, if the amenities are located in their areas are allowed to be vandalised, it would make life miserable for them.

    Some of the projects she inaugurated were the Abija Road constructed with interlocking stones, borehole at Police Barracks Satellite Town, Ibaasa Jetty, and presentation of official cars to some council functionaries, among others.

    In his speech earlier, Hon. Sanusi had said that the focus of his administration is to evolve policies and programmes that would touch the lives of the people in a more rewarding way, even as he promised that his administration will carry out more development projects in all the nook and cranny of the council.

    He said: “Since the inception of this administration, we have painstakingly targeted and rolled out those projects that we believe would impact most positively on the lives of the people.

    “We are committed to ensuring that our people’s well-being is paramount in our conception and execution of projects.”

    While pleading to the people for their continued supports to government’s policies and programmes, the council chief said: “The benefiting communities of these projects should regard them as their personal belongings by protecting them jealously. The council will roll out more life-touching projects.”

    Hon. Sanusi appealed to the private sector to help the council in its determination to develop the area.

    He noted: “It is a fact that government alone cannot provide all our infrastructural needs. We therefore appeal to the private sector to partner with government in providing the much-needed amenities to our people. We also urge the private sector to be alive to their corporate social responsibilities.”

    Judged by the numerous development projects which the council had completed and inaugurated recently, stakeholders have unanimously agreed that the council chairman has shown sufficient commitment to fulfilling his promises to the people.

    At the inauguration of Abija Road, Hon. Sanusi expressed his happiness for the opening ceremony which he said was a manifestation of the enduring commitment of his administration to serve the people in a more rewarding manner.

    He recalled that Abija Road was in a deplorable condition, even as he said that the plight of the people compelled him to construct the road.

    Sanusi said: “In view of the over-riding need to assuage the plight of the people, we embarked on the construction of the road whose opening ceremony we have here today. The very poor soil and sub-soil condition of the terrain informed our use of the expensive interlocking stone paving.”

    While gathered declaring the facility open, Hon. Akinlola-Hassan expressed her satisfaction with the level of development in the area, which she attributed to the council chairman’s uncompromising commitment to making life bearable for the people.

    After the inauguration ceremony, some Area Boys accosted the chairman of the council. They eulogised him with the aim of receiving some money from him. He gave the some money and they reacted in a very uncomplimentary manner, claiming that the money he gave them was small compared to the millions of Naira he spent on the official cars for the council’s functionaries.

    They converged on the council secretariat and became hostile to the extent of attempting to fight the staff. They demanded the sum of N200, 000. The council chairman had to sneak away when situation became awry.

  • Infrastructure development takes centre stage in local govt

    Infrastructure development takes centre stage in local govt

    Lagos State has become a reference point in infrastructural development in the country. This is as a result of the dynamism of Governor Babatunde Fashola, which has impacted on some areas in the state, including Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area.

    The local government is, probably the first in massive housing development, such as the FESTAC Housing Estate and the Durbar Hotel (now Golden Tulip Hotel), among others.

    Before now, the infrastructure development in this all-important axis that serves as the gateway to other West African countries was derelict until the massive infrastructure upgrade in the area recently.

    The Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area Council pushed the frontiers of transformation to a point where even the opposition and critics of the government applauded its drive.

    In the past four years of the administration, there have been alot of changes aimed at improving the lives of the people and preparing the environment for private sector investment that will not only enhance the revenue profile of the council but also create jobs and empower the people.

    The Local Government Chairman, Mr Ayodele Adewale, he said: “There are some things that the government needs to put in place to improve their living standards because government is all about the people.”

    “In preparing the local government to attract both local and foreign investments, Ayodele said the administration has, among other things, improved on its overstretched infrastructure; tightened security and also assisted in the education of its citizens who are expected to provide the needed manpower to feed the incoming investments.

    “This administration has executed many projects that have direct impact on the lives of the people and also geared towards attracting private sector investment. A major project in this drive, he said, is the rehabilitation and resurfacing of 21 Road (Phase One) starting from 11 Road Junction to12 Road and the interlocking of same.”

    He listed some of the road projects he completed as 72 Road, 24 Road, 51 Road, 52 Road, 31 Road, 71 Road, 32 Road and 4th Avenue.

    Others were the beautification of 41 road, First Gate, First and Second Avenues.

    ”In the same vein, we have provided 15 modern toilet facilities with boreholes, water treatment plant and 6KVA generators to power each plant,” he added.

    Ayodele revealed his administration intends to embark on more capital projects in his second term, including the rehabilitation of schools, encouragement of sport and investment in ICT to help reposition the youth to face the competition of the jet age.

    “The council,” he said, “has embarked on the renovation of 22 primary schools and the construction of one block of six classrooms at Igbologun. Importantly, this administration has also distributed 500 freeUTME forms and 600 GCE forms to indigent students in the last three years. Underscoring the importance the council put on education, the chairman said they went to the extent constructing a new one.”

    He also built an office for the Head Mistress at Sagbokoji Primary School and engaged the services of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) members to organise free tutorials for pupils, and renovated and refurbished the Abule Ado Vocational Centre.

    He recalled that former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was at the local government to inaugurate executed projects and also lay the foundation of proposed ones which would be private sector driven.

    On his projections for the local government in the future, he said: “We have a plan to develop a stadium, an industrial park and recreational centres. We also have plan to go into some form of real estate development that will yield two and three-bedroom apartments to accommodate the middle class and the expatriates that will work at the industrial areas.”

    On the funding, he said because the council has a market, the private sector was willing to partner with them.

    According to him, a microfinance institution has invested about N30million in real estate.

    He appealed to more developers to take advantage of the healthy investment climate and invest the area.

    On transportation, the local government chairman said his administration has moved to fill the gap following the ban on commercial motor cyclists and tricycle operators in FESTAC Town by the state government, by discussing with Ashok Leyland to release 100 buses to close that gap.

    He revealed the United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI) Department is supporting the administration in bringing investment to the local government, which include a private sector investment of over $800 million in the power project.

    “So many of these projects and investments are nearing maturity stage; what is delaying them is the legal framework all things been equal we expect to roll out the first 50 buses that will be carrying at least 42 passengers each,” he said.

    The chairman said when these projects and investments mature and are operational,they would have the capacity to create many jobs that would empower the people.

    According to him, over 3,000 jobs will be generated from the transportation, the industrial area, the recreation centres, among others.

    There would be ample job opportunities for drivers, support staff and artisans such as vulcanisers, mechanics and even cleaners who will ensure the bus is clean always.The transportation sector will also employ administrative staff, including IT specialists, who will be engaged to monitor the movement of the buses, including legal and account staff.

    On health, he said his administration operates a health policy that provides free drugs to vulnerable age groups (0-16; 60 and above), and dispenses drugs at 10 per cent discount to others outside it; increases the number of doctors in its Primary Health Centres from one doctor to 21.

    “We have three major partners, including Profis Pharmaceutical, Sunlab and El-lab in our health drive. These are investors that are interested in our health care sector and they are really happy about their investment,” he added.