The Nation Newspaper

Tag: building

  • When Synagogue’s building collapsed

    When Synagogue’s building collapsed

    Four days after the mysterious collapse of the foreigners’ guest house inside Pastor T B Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) at Ikotun on the outskirts of Lagos, the government and the church’s management still do not know what brought down the building; but the founder of the church seems to have an idea. PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU reports.

    Like every other Sunday, vehicles were parked on all sides of the road including the culverts demarcating the lanes. The long stretch of different brands of cars on Saturdays and Sundays is not abnormal because to commuters and residents around the Ikotun axis of Lagos, it indicates “service ongoing’ at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).

    Despite the collapse of the church’s foreign guest house that has killed no fewer than 49 persons last Friday, with many others suspected to be trapped under the rubble, church activities were not disrupted last Sunday when The Nation visited for an update on the tragedy.

    There was a striking overflow outside the main auditorium, along the Ikotun road as members lined up in twos watching Prophet T.B. Joshua through one of the numerous projectors, conduct the day’s affair.

    While worshippers who could not get seats inside the high rise main church building were restricted around the service ground to avoid their going close to the site of the incident, all other visitors save for cleared emergency agency workers, had to report to Gate Five, which is adjacent to the collapsed structure.

    Entering the church compound, which appears to be a community of its own with well tarred road, it was observed that the CCTV footage, corroborating SCOAN’s position that the collapsed six-storey was fell by a ‘strange aircraft’ was being aired on all the screens in the premises, with a narrator explaining the images to the viewers.

    As the congregation watched the images with gloomy faces, they wailed at the point the building sank, with most of them cursing the “strange aircraft” and “masterminds” of the misfortune.

    While the service progressed with a fatigued Joshua commending the congregation for keeping the faith and coming to church despite the disaster, the church’s security department as well as its media crew tried to keep reporters off the site of the tragedy.

    As tractors and caterpillars excavated the debris, oozing stench rent the air, lending credence to the assumption that more victims may be trapped.

    Mattresses, slippers, clothes and other personal effect belonging to the victims were also sighted in the debris, while fumigants were being distributed to avert spread of any disease.

    The church however, exhibited high level of coordination, such that there was no stampede despite the huge crowd present at the scene. It was also observed that the church has high quality emergency equipment, most of which were used by the government officials in carrying out their functions.

    The Prophet’s messageý and the strange aircraft

    Although efforts to get the church to comment proved abortive, ýProphet Joshua during his sermon attributed the incident to the works of the evil one.

    A black and white CCTV  footage showing a “ýstrange aircraft”, going back and forth the building four times before it collapsed was shown to the congregation.

    Speaking on the issue, Joshua brought out a white sheet, in which had an email sent by a converted Boko Haram member, Emmanuel Anaja.

    “I did not bring this out before now because I did not want people with little faith to be scared and stop coming to church.

    “Even my wife did not know of the existence of this mail. Only the people at the email department and myself knew of it and I told them not to disclose it to anyone.

    “The picture on the mail is that of one Emmanuel Anaja from Kogi State, residing in Jos with his soldier parent.

    “He was a Boko Haram member who came to SCOAN to plant a bomb but could not do it because of our God and got converted and went back to Jos with the explosives.

    “I am showing members for them to know the God they serve. If I had shown it in the past, faithless people may not want to come to church again.

    “We have to believe what happened so that our people can learn and be educated to be on the alert at all times.

    “Boko Haram will not stop here. I have said it before. It won’t stop here but our God will get back at them such that they will know it is because of what they have done in this church.

    “Maybe, this one will be the end of the whole thingý.

    “I have remained silent because I have to. My life has been like that. People will lie from the beginning and later realise the truth. It is my life and I accept it. It is a good life,” he said.

    Speaking further, the Prophet saluted the “heroes and God’s generals. It is a security matter and so, I have to allow the security people to do their job.”

    The aggressiveness of the church workers

    For the church’s workers particularly security operatives attached to the premises, the presence of journalists since Friday when the incident happened was anything but welcoming. Their hostilities were in sharp contrast to the humility exhibited by Prophet Joshua who, though refused to speak on the crisis, admonished reporters to ensure professionalism in reporting the mishap.

    Reporters and cameramen were assaulted for doing their jobs or attempting to take news worthy pictures.

    The members till Monday night, refused to give details of those affected, the number of people in the building; their names or where the injured are being treated. All information regarding victims of the mishap or their identities and family members were shrouded in secrecy, as the church’s ambulances took turns in evacuating the victims.

    Even officials of the National Emergency Management Agency; Lagos State Emergency Management Agency; Red Cross and Fire Service did not have an easy ride as they were not allowed by the church members to carry out their functions.

    Rather, some Germans were initially brought in to coordinate the search and rescue but for the intervention of higher authorities including the Lagos State Governor.

    The arrest order by Fashola

    Immediately Governor BabatundeFashola got to the scene, he queried the presence of church members ordering security personnel to send them out in order for rescue workers to do their jobs.

    “What are they doing here? This is now a national disaster. Cordon-off thisý area and let anyone who is not a rescue operative be sent out so that professionals can do their jobs.

    “Anyone obstructing the duties of emergency agencies should be arrested.”

    To Prophet T.B. Joshua, who arrived while the governor was still issuing the arrest order, Fashola said: “We understand that this is an unfortunate situation but we need your men to understand that it is an emergency situation.

    “Let them allow those who are trained to do their jobs. We cannot carryout emergency and rescue operations in this situation.”

    While walking with the Prophet to his office for a closed door meeting, the governor, who observed that construction work was ongoing in the main building of the church queried the legality of the action.

    The agonies of loved ones

    As the excavation exercise began at the scene, relatives of missing persons who had come to make enquiry could not help but cry uncontrollably. While most of them who insisted on going to the site of the collapsed building to see things for themselves were directed into an inner chamber at the main building by church workers, others were seen roaming restlessly.

    A pathetic case was that of an old man from Delta State, who claimed his son was among the workers and he was yet to see him.

    The old man, who spoke Yoruba, had approached the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning, Olutoyin Ayinde, crying uncontrollably just as he demanded funds to return to his home state, Delta.

    He claimed that nobody has attended to him since the incident occurred, adding that he has neither eaten nor had good rest.

    But he was swiftly taken away by security agents, who said they would look into his claims.

    Similarly, the relatives of one Dayo Abbas on Monday created a scene as they arrived at the church with a coffin, demanding the remains of their son.

    Abbas, according to his relatives was working as a carpenter in the collapsed building.

    The coffin, which was inside a “Danfo bus”, was not allowed to drive inside and security personnel stopped journalists from taking shots of the scene.

    A Television Continental (TVC) cameraman who tried taking visuals of the coffin was beaten up by a policeman with force number, 211703, just as the man threatened to damage his camera.

    A lady, who had a white paper containing the details of a Zimbabwean,  Greenwich Ndanga told The Nation that the church has refused to tell her his whereabouts.

    She alleged that he was among the occupants of the foreign guest house, adding that they have not been able to get across to him since the incident occurred.

    “No one is talking to us. I have been here since Friday, looking for him but no one is saying anything. Please help me because I do not know what to do again,” she said.

    The hypocrisy of government workers

    Contrary to the church’s claims that the collapse was an act of sabotage, emergency responders believed that the building must have caved-in following defective foundation.

    They argued that the additional two floors being added to the existing four-storey might have affected the foundation, which they described as already weak.

    According to the Lagos State Building Inspection and Control Agency, the church had no approval to add structures to the exiting building.

    But while government officials claimed that the building must have caved-in following the addition that was being made to the existing four-storey building, they turned a blind eye to the church’s main auditorium which has also added additional structures.

    Both state and Federal Government officials who saw the main auditorium, refused to comment on it or assess its risk levels to forestall another mishap.

    Drama as Congolese prophesies collapse of main auditorium

    Another drama ensued after a Sweden based Congolese prophesied the collapse of the church’s main auditorium.

    The prophet, Jean-Claude Kibonzy, who was detained by security operatives manning the entrance of the church and later chased out of the premises, alleged that he had warned the church two years ago about last Friday’s disaster that has killed 49 people so far.

    Showing copies of printed mails dated as far as August 2012, Kibonzy said he was forced to speak to the media because the church authorities have prevented Prophet T.B. Joshua from receiving his messages and emails.

    He alleged that he has come to the church on several occasions to deliver God’s message to the man of God, but that each time he came, the guards and security operatives always treated him with disdain.

    Kibonzy, who came with his Kenyan wife, Christene and their two kids, warned of a ceaseless rain and severe calamity to befall Nigeria should anything happen to Joshua, adding that the attack was aimed at Joshua.

    “My ministry is Rock of God Ministry. I am a man of God and I got revelation in 2012 about the falling of this church. God showed me everything and I saw the part of the church where people eat collapse. I came here at the end of 2012 and before I came, I called but they did not even want to pick the call.

    “I paid my air ticket and came. Most of the evangelists and security people know me. That is why they do not want to see me today and treated me the way they did. They know that if Prophet Joshua should know about this, he will cast them out.

    “I informed them in 2012 that God showed me this. I told them they have to act in order to safe lives but because they want to embarrass me and think that there is only one Prophet in the world.

    “They do not know that God showed me the vision so that I can pass the message to them to safe people. It is because God loves Nigeria. After all, I am not a Nigerian. So, why should I be concerned about Nigeria? But it is God who sent me.

    “But they embarrassed me even in 2012. I even began to cry and I said they do not know what they are doing because their people will die. I told them they are playing with fire.

    “I went back and God sent me again with another message that Boko Haram want to attack Synagogue church. I came three months before it happened and I informed them but they assaulted me here.

    “I told them I am here because God wants to safe the Prophet but they are threatening his life. They denied receiving my emails and I showed them copies of all the mails I have sent from Sweden.

    “I do not know if they deleted all the mails and yet they did not act. God showed me the last attempt to bomb the Lagos airport and I wrote to the police. Two weeks after, they caught a suspect at the Lagos airport.

    “Before I came, God showed me that it is the life of the prophet that is in danger. Anything can happen today or tomorrow because there are people threatening his life. This is the reason I came.

    “I came with a message to the Nigerian nation. I am warning that if anything happens to the Prophet T.B.Joshua, there will be rainfall (in the country) that will never stop and the leadership will take control but no leadership will be alive.

    “It is a warning to the people of Nigeria. All seven prophecies I gave earlier have come to pass and this is another one. I am here to show the power of God because I have tried to talk to the prophet. I have been here seven times but no one will allow me talk to him.

    “They have tightened the prophet inside a cage. I am going back as soon as possible because I have passed the message.

    “God has also shown me that another building will collapse in this church. This time around, it will be the overflow of the main auditorium. The prophet T.B. Joshua should take this warning seriously and act fast now in order to avert another major disaster,” he said.

  • Synagogue death toll hits 45

    Synagogue death toll hits 45

    Fashola calls for inquiry

    NAMA probes mystery aircraft

    Joshua shows ‘video’

    Rescuers were still busy yesterday at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Ikotun on the outskirts of Lagos where a building collapsed, killing 45 persons —as of yesterday.

    When the incident happened on Friday, 17 were said to have died.

    Many are believed to be trapped underneath the six-storey building.

    The church has declined comments on the number of persons in the building when it collapsed. Besides, it insists that nobody died in the incident.

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola was at the scene yesterday. He called for an inquiry.

    Government officials have said there was no approval for the erection of additional floors.

    Commissioner for Physical Planning Olutoyin Ayinde, who was on Fashola’s entourage, said the church’s engineers were yet to  present their permit to make such modifications.

    Ayinde said: “Our meeting with the prophet was a closed-door meeting but it surrounds the collapsed building. It is a sad situation; lives have been lost and many others have been rescued.

    “We use this opportunity to express our sympathy to the affected people.

    “We have no proof that the church had permit to add to the existing structure. We have asked the engineering team to meet us and for about two hours now, no member of the team has come.

    “We also have questions for them. Even if the building does not have approval, it ought to be built professionally. We have asked for their team and we hope in the course of the week, they would get to us.

    “It is necessary to take the final inventory before we can say the number of people affected. Right now, we do not know how many people are involved. When a final inventory has been taken, the ministry of special duties will take a decision as regards relieve,” he added.

    On whether the ýgovernment plans to seal the premises, Ayinde said: “There are no plans for that yet until investigation as to the cause of the collapse has been concluded.

    “I have said I have no proof of a permit. Maybe they have one and are yet to show us. We will give them the opportunity to defend themselves and action can only be taken after investigation has been concluded.”

    But the General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Mrs. Abimbola Animashaun, affirmed that the church had no approval.

    She said: “We have investigated and found that they had no approval for the additional structures. Even the main church, which they have added about three floors on, was sealed two days ago, but it is now open.

    ”You cannot have an existing building and start putting up more buildings on it. Before you can do anything like that, you must confirm that the structure is still stable and can stand additional buildings.”

    The Nation gathered that the collapsed building, which was a three-storey that had another three added to it, had been vibrating for sometime before it collapsed.

    It was also gathered that over 200 people were in the building, most of them having lunch at the basement, while the construction workers were on the sixth floor.

    There were many foreigners, according to sources.

    Mattresses, clothes and other household items, including air-conditionersý, were seen lying in the rubble of the building. Besides, a foul odour oozed out of the site.

    Fumigants were being distributed to the workers.

    National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Red Cross, medical personnel from the state and federal governments  and Lagos State Building Inspection Agency personnel were all at the site as excavation continued.

    The workers were on the sixth floor, cutting the rods to create an opening to into other floors.

    The Nation gathered that all the 130 people rescued alive and the 45 dead were removed from the sixth floor and the basement, which are the only areas the workers have been able to access.

    It was also observed that most of the pillars of the collapsed building were still standing.

    Confirming the death toll, NEMA’s Southwest spokesman, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the cause of the collpase was still being investigated.

    “We were able to work overnight and so, as at now (6pm), we have 130 rescued alive and 45 dead. Nobody can say what caused the collapse. But from the footage shown to me, where all the foundation of the building was shaking before it caved in, it could have been caused by the additional structure.

    “Investigations will confirm what really happened. You can see that some of the beams and blocks are still intact. So, some of the permutations cannot be ruled out.

    “We are working on worst case scenario that the foundation might have been weakened, which would have led to the collapse.”

  • Tracing victims of Synagogue building collapse

    There are the victims of the collapsed Synagogue Church building being treated?

    These were the questions unanswered last night.

    There were 130 people rescued from under the rubble as at 7pm yesterday, but our reporter could not trace where they were being treated.

    Those evacuated on Friday and Saturday were taken to the Igando General Hospital and the Isolo General Hospital.

    But by yesterday, no victim of the collapsed building was at any of the hospital.

    They were said to have been taken to private hospital.

    Many of those asked in the church declined to give information.

    At the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) only one patient, a two year-old, was admitted at the Surgical Emergency Unit.

    A security official in the unit said the ward received the child last Friday.

    He said there is the possibility of some victims being admitted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

    “But at the moment only a child of about two years was referred to the unit here,” he said.

  • Unknown men destroy church building

    It was a sad day for the Anglican Church in Anambra State, when unknown persons pulled down the Ebenezer Anglican Church, Oyolu-Oze, 3-3, Nkwelle Ezunanka in Oyi Local Government Area of the state.

    Though the Nkwelle Ezunanka community denied knowledge of the action, the Anglican Church authority accused the community of masterminding the demolition of their church.

    The church cited some lingering crises between the church and the community which, according to them, has lasted for over a decade.

    Our correspondent gathered that the destroyed building was an ongoing project embarked upon by the worshipers at Ebenezer’s Anglican Church in Nkwelle Ezunaka community.

    The multi-million Naira building project which was at its completion stage, having been roofed, was allegedly pulled down at midnight on Monday by unknown persons suspected to be leaders of the community.

    The crisis had erupted between the community and the worshippers about two months ago when the school premises, housing the compound, was de-roofed by a contractor suspected to have been engaged by the state government, in collaboration with the community following an ongoing crisis between the church and the community over the ownership of the school.

    Following a protest by the worshippers over the de-roofing of the school building, the community, through its President-General, Elder Chris Eluemuno, announced the ejection of the worshippers from the school premises.

    He also announced the suspension of all religious activities in the premises in the community.

    Reacting to the development, the Anglican Archdeacon in charge of the Church Building project, Venerable Frank Obi, accused Elder Eluemuno of being responsible for the demolition exercise.

    He recalled a meeting between the community, the police and leaders of the church at the Police Area Command Headquarters, Onitsha. The meeting aimed at brokering peace between the two parties.

    The meeting, according to the cleric, took place on Monday, barley 12 hours before the church was demolished.

    Describing the incident as ungodly, he called on the Anambra State Government to intervene in the matter.

    The church, according to him, as the conscience of the society, shall remain calm and await the response of the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano. He also urged the members of the church to remain calm as God is in control.

    But Elder Eluemuno denied any involvement of the community in the demolition of the church building.

    He added that the church had written the community through the Headmaster of the Oyolu Primary School sometime in 1990 requesting to make use of the school building on temporarily as service centre which was granted to them only for the church to start laying claims to the school which, according to him, they were not part of.

  • Media vital for nation building -Mercy Ebuetse

    Media vital for nation building -Mercy Ebuetse

    Publisherof Shalom Truth Magazine (STM), Mercy Ebuetse, has called on media owners in the country to down play stories that promote violence and immorality in the society.

    She made the call during the launch of the magazine at Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja Lagos State.

    Information Minister, Labaran Maku; Abia State Governor, Dr Theodore Orji and General Overseer of Faith Tabernacle, Bishop David Oyedepo, were duly represented at the ceremony which took place during the week.

    The publisher identified the need to save Nigerians from distasteful publications as her reason for establishing the magazine, saying: “We believe that in building a strong nation, the role of the media is very paramount. Therefore, stories that promote sex and other vices should not be encouraged by the media.

    “If you look through the media these days, all you find are daily reports of war, ritual killings, kidnapping, insecurity and other several unpalatable stories that are unhealthy for the consumption of an average Nigerian. STM seeks to play a refreshing role of shifting the mind of an average reader to issues that promote peace and development. We are out to celebrate life in its entirety, especially at this period where moral decadence breeds insecurity in our country.”

    She stated that the establishment is concerned about working with the government to build a virile nation, adding, “We are joining forces with the Nigerian government to ensure that we have healthy minds in the society, people that can stand intellectual discourse. We are also concerned about the growing rate of unemployment in our country and would try to contribute our quota towards reducing it.”

    The Covenant University graduate identified access to finance as a serious challenge to young entrepreneurs in the country and called on the federal government to address the challenge. “Institutions should be put in place to help out those who need assistance to birth their dreams. Those at the helms of affairs in the country should assist young entrepreneurs to grow in the overall interest of the nation and the people,” she said.

    Representative of Abia Sate Governor, Mao Ohuabunwa, lauded the publisher for her courage to float the magazine and encouraged other youths in the country to emulate her.

    “Mercy read engineering in the higher institution but has veered into publishing today. She didn’t stay at home waiting for when her dream job would come. I will encourage other youths to emulate her. We are planning to hold a youth summit in Abia State later in the year and would invite her speak to our youths,” he stated.

  • Collapsed building kills three

    Two sons and a housemaid of Edo State Chairman of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) Osamudiamwen Osagiede have been killed in Benin, the Edo State capital, when a building collapsed.

    They were at the building to repair a bicycle when the tragic incident occurred.

    The names of the boys were given as Junior and Martins, aged 15 and seven.

    Their dad said: “It is a great pain to me. They were my only sons. They went there to repair their bicycles when a section of the building collapsed on them. They were killed instantly.”

    He said the matter has been reported to the police.

  • Photo: Collapsed building in Lagos

    Photo: Collapsed building in Lagos

  • Olajumoke donates building to Scouts on 70th birthday

    Olajumoke donates building to Scouts on 70th birthday

    Senator Bode Olajumoke has donated a four-bedroom apartment to the Lagos State Scout Council as part of activities marking his 70th birthday.

    The building, located inside the Baden Powell Training Centre at Ibeshe, Ikorodu, is for the use of Lagos State Disabled and Special Scouts.

    Dr Olajumoke said he was giving back to the society, especially to the physically challenged, to give them a sense of belonging.

    He said: “This land was donated by Justice Adeoba 10 years ago. It has been lying fallow. So, I decided to build the four-bedroom chalet to help the disabled Scouts in Lagos to have a place to live whenever they come for training in the institute.”

    Lagos State Scout Council Commissioner, Chief Joseph Tawose, thanked Olajumoke for the donation and his assistance for the growth and development of the national and Lagos State Scout Council.

    The Chief Commissioner of Scout in Nigeria, Olori Omo Oba Olusoga Sofolahan, hailed Dr Olajumoke for his sundry philanthropic gestures.

    She urged other wealthy personalities to emulate the senator, adding that wealth would not be taken to heaven.

  • Building a critical mass for leadership

    Building a critical mass for leadership

    What are the qualities that would make a woman stand out and be singled out for leadership positions? In this encounter with some women who have been entrusted with leadership roles, Yetunde Oladeinde takes a look at the challenges and the way forward for women.

    Political, social and economic empowerment have taken the womenfolk closer to their dreams. More women are now being elevated into roles and they have begun to reshape their dreams, leave a remarkable legacy as well as set a pace for the younger generation of women.

    As women continue to make significant strides in different spheres of life, it is also important to look at ways to remain relevant in mainstream politics.

    These were some of the topics x-rayed by the African Women Foundation for Nation Building recently during its annual conference tagged ACOWINB 2014 from June 4-6 2014 at the Barcelona Hotel, Abuja Nigeria, with the theme: ‘The Role of Women in Nation Building’.

    Speakers and resource persons at the event included Professor Mike Kupolati, Barrister Elizabeth Ayodele of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Representative of the Director General of SMEDAN, Alhaji Bature Umar Masari, Mrs Kemi Adebayo, MD Bold moves Capetown, South Africa, Madelein Mkuru and delegates from countries like Ethiopia led by Mekedes Mecuria.

    The presentations took critical look at the challenges facing women in public life and how to be able to make a difference in their various communities. Issues around building a critical mass for good governance, youth empowerment, networking and entrepreneurship skills were examined.

    In a thought-provoking presentation, Mrs Ayodele of the EFCC took the women through the need to be law abiding and careful in the process of nation building. She also admonished the women to stand out and always strive to leave a legacy behind.” Women should go out there to make a mark. This is possible because as women we can adjust and multi task. You must help your community, your family and take good care of yourself. You must have your own life and give birth to great ideas, give birth to something that would live after you have gone.”

    According to the international president of the organisation, Mrs. Bukola Bello Jaiyesimi: “This is simply a vehicle for WINB to honour and put the spotlight on remarkable women doing remarkable and extraordinary things in Africa.”

    The targets, according to the Amazon, include “Any woman in business or the workplace who is the founder or co-founder of a new project, product, service or concept. The award is also for any woman who has been a part of building her nation in the economic sector, the political sector, human capital development and the business sector. It must be original, have the potential or capability of having an impact in the society and the nation at large such as providing a better quality of life or creating jobs or wealth.”

    Jaiyesimi adds that “Women’s participation in nation-building is an important ingredient in achieving an equitable, peaceful and more prosperous society. A society that shows greater concern for the rights of the weaker strata (women and children) is less likely to initiate violence. It has been proved that economic and social developments are strongly elevated when women enter the marketplace and participate actively in nation-building. Gender equity and women’s inclusion are vital in shaping a more democratically stabilised and developed society. Incorporating women in nation-building process as much as possible will help facilitate these.”

    African Women Foundation for Nation Building (WINB) is the Pan African Women Foundation that will provide a balanced scorecard on political leaders, corporate executives and all other leaders involved in nation building. WINB is set to transform African women for effective nation building. This is meant to address women issues and not to be influenced by political or religious interests, but with a passion for positive change.

    WINB will make opportunities available for women to brainstorm on issues affecting their welfare, status in society, roles in governance. They will also be aided to generate practical and achievable solutions to any identified problems or challenges. WINB’s work is to involve all African women who share the view that the input of women should be recognised and valued in the economic and political equation of our nation states in Africa.

    During the gala and awards night, outstanding performances were rewarded. Two gentlemen, Architect Yomi Lawal and Barrister Allen Onyema of the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria, bagged awards recognising their contributions to nation building and peaceful co-existence in the country. Other recipients included the first female majority leader in the House of Representatives, Hon Mulikat Adeola Akande, Fifi Ejindu, Medinat Emovon, Bolu Olutayo, Patience Dickson, amongst others.

    Hon Mulikat Akande also threw her weight behind the need to empower women aspiring for leadership positions across the country. “I believe that women are not yet there. It is therefore important to do anything you can do to help no matter where you come from.”

    She adds: “I use this opportunity to pledge my support for the organisation, whether I am house leader or not. The position is transient but I am first and foremost a woman.”

  • AAUA’s five-storey Senate Building opened

    Students and staff of the Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) were excited when the management took delivery of its new four-wing and five-storey Senate Building from Charvet Nigeria Limited, the contractor that built the edifice.

    The building, which occupies an area of 10,000 square metres, has over 250 offices, three elevators with seven stair halls, two large conference halls, senate chamber, council chamber, an open piazza with capacity of 2,500, among others.

    Vice-Chancellor, Prof Femi Mimiko, who received the keys and photo album of the building, described the edifice as “imposing”, saying it would serve as an enduring legacy of his administration.

    Prof Mimiko noted that the problem of infrastructure which had confronted the varsity had been finally resolved.

    He said: “When we came on board in 2010, we did promise to build a 21st century university and one of the challenges we had to confront was the acute deficit of infrastructure in the university and four years down the line, we are witnesses to the rapid infrastructural development the university has witnessed. We can now confidently say that AAUA is on the march to greatness indeed and we can compare with many other universities in terms of infrastructure.”

    He thanked the Governor Olusegun Mimiko; the immediate past Governing Council of the university and individuals who made the project a reality. The consultant, Architect Akin Olusola, described the building as the biggest in Nigeria.