The provost of the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH) in Igboora, Prof Gbemiga Adewale, has congratulated the chairman and members of the interim Governing Council of the college for their inauguration.
The council, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education, Mrs Aderonke Makanjuola, was recently inaugurated by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
The governor said the composition of the council became necessary, considering the need to boost the standard of education in the state.
Ajimobi charged the five members of the council to justify the confidence reposed in them by using their wealth of experience to transform the institution.
Responding, Mrs. Makanjuola pledged the members’ commitment to the vision of the government, saying the council would help the governor to drive his developmental policies to enhance quality education in the state and the college in particular. She promised to justify the confidence reposed in her by the governor.
Other members of the council include Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Finance, Mr David Olatunde, and Acting Director, Higher and Continuing Education, Mrs Foluke Akande, among other.
In the face of government commitment to education, the Executive Secretary of Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Deaconess Modupe Ajibola- Ojodu has made significant efforts to improve quality of education in the schools in terms of infrastructure development and otherwise.
For her: “Having realized the effectiveness of education as a powerful instrument for national progress and development, we set out our plans in tandem with the reality on ground. A nation develops to its achievement in education. This explains why contemporary world attention has focused on education as an instrument of launching nations into the world of science and technology and with consequential hope of human advancement in terms of living conditions and development of the environment.”
Recently, the desire of 100 students in the Local Government to write the November/December General Certificate of Examination (GCE) came to fruition as the Local Government gave out free forms to the students.
Ajibola- Ojodu said: “I believe we should encourage the youths. We are not going to stop at the form distribution; we are moving further by organising extra classes for the beneficiaries. And we promise that the sky is the beginning of our pursuit for standard education in the Local Government.”
She also said the council has renovated the Vocational Centre to modern standard and assured that: “This simple and singular exercise will mould their destinies and transform their lives” as well as veer the minds of youths from vices, while strengthening their entrepreneurial capabilities.
The Executive Secretary also distributed 200 magic boards to all the 22 primary schools in the local Government area.
She however appealed to corporate bodies to assist government in its pursuit for academic excellence for the youths in the Local Government.
“Organizations like commercial banks and other wealthy individuals should assist immensely in funding education at all levels. Development partners and other crucial stakeholders should also do more in the above direction, as the era of leaving the funding to government alone had passed,” she averred.
In a related development, the Executive Secretary urged pupils of Charles Lorie School, Festac Town, Lagos to pay more attention to their studies and be good ambassadors of their school, the Local and State Government at a courtesy visit of the school to the Local government Secretariat.
As part of its commitment towards ensuring safe and healthy environment for the well-being of the residents, the Executive Secretary of Oriade Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Hon. Bola Badmus–Olujobi has advised members of the public to be dedicated in their garbage generation and disposal.
Hon. Badmus-Olujobi gave the advice during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the council’s secretariat.
At the meeting whose theme was “Community Advocacy Review on the Private Sector Participation (PSP) and Household Refuse Collection in Lagos State”, she expressed discontent over the unbridled manner in which residents litter the environment indiscriminately without minding the health consequences.
She said: “I implore all communities to imbibe the culture of keeping our environment clean and healthy. All of us should patronise operators of Private Sector Participation (PSP) as they are the people that Lagos State Government has commissioned to cart away our garbage as at when due. Also, all households should cultivate the habit of bagging their garbage and dropping them at the designated points. They should not patronise the cart pushers (kole-kole).
“All community heads should try and inspect their surroundings at all times and not only on Lagos State Environmental Sanitation days.
“I want to inform us all that Meteorological (MET) office has forecast that rainfall in latter part of this year will be heavier than that of the previous years. We should recall the recent flood disaster in Kaduna that destroyed a lot of lives and properties.
“Let’s imbibe the culture of dislodging our gutter and stay away from littering our surroundings. I would urge us all to embrace these causes so as to stay away from communicable disease.”
Also speaking at the event, the representative of the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA), Mrs. O. A. Osonuga said “through the advocacy programme, we have been able to influence individual and collective behaviours on waste generation and disposal. It is a continuous enlightenment campaign. We educate on waste sorting, reduce re-use and recycling for a cleaner and healthier environment. We are joining the whole world by having recovery facility to recycle our wastes and turn them into wealth.
“The establishment of the resource recovery facility demonstrates the state government’s resolve to ensure a clean, healthy and sustainable environment in line with the vision of the Ministry of the Environment.”
She advised the residents to take the programme seriously as it will assist them in staying safe, noting that waste bins are placed at strategic locations, while sweepers remove litters and bags for collection. The garbage bags were distributed to residents for proper waste storage.
Some of the residents complained about the inadequate services of waste managers in the metropolis. They said evacuation of refuse was always delayed by waste collectors.
However, some who live in Ade-Oshodi Street, Ijegun expressed satisfaction with the performance of waste managers.
The Executive Secretary of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Deaconess Modupe Ajibola-Ojodu has urged local governments to concentrate more on enhancing their internally-generated revenue (IGR).
She spoke during this year’s local government budget appraisal retreat preparatory to planning the council’s budget for next year. The retreat held at the Jata Events and Resorts Lagos.
Deaconess Ajibola-Ojodu noted “we are gathered here to critically reflect on our past performances, X-ray our present position, and realistically project our future.”
She hinted that this year’s budget performance is not too encouraging, even as she urged the revenue collectors of the local government to look inwards and improve on the dwindling IGR.
“Everybody needs to pay their taxes and rates. It is mandatory. We will use all legal means to collect our revenues from defaulters. We will also use massive public enlightenment on revenue generation”, she said.
The Director of Planning, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Hakeem Balogun advised the local government to adopt pro-active strategy to push up the IGR of the local government, so that the people will feel the dividends of democracy.
Meanwhile, the Head of Administration of the local government, Alhaji Shakiru Omotayo noted that government cannot perform its constitutional role, and the desired dividends of democracy cannot be achieved, if we negate the payment of rates and levies as enshrined in our constitution.
He, therefore, appealed to defaulters to assist the government in realising its set goals and objectives for the citizens.
Thirty institutions are expected at the Education UK Postgraduate Exhibition 2015 organised by the British Council in Abuja and Lagos next month.
The Abuja fair would hold November 4, while the Lagos version holds on 6 and 7.
The exhibition, in its third year, is designed for prospective students interested in an international education at the postgraduate level.
They would be able to meet with representatives of the institutions and get direct advice on the opportunities available to them for study in the UK.
Each year, students from Nigeria study in the UK, joining close to two million local students from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, plus around 500,000 other international students from 200 countries.
Sephora Imomoh, Project Manager at the British Council said the UK is a popular destination for international students because of its education system is reputed to lead “to internationally recognised qualifications,” which offer good career prospects in Nigeria.
“With a strong reputation for research, innovation and creativity, UK universities and colleges attract some of the world’s leading academics and industry professionals. Students are encouraged to express their ideas and think for themselves,” she said.
Students can register online to attend the fair free of charge.
On Saturday, October 10, 2015, joy and excitement enveloped the Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), as some people-oriented projects were inaugurated by the Office of Auditor-General for Local Government, Mr. M. O. Jimoh.
Though residents of the council area were in festive mood for experiencing what some of them described as unprecedented development programmes being executed by the leadership of the council that aim at making life easier for them, the Executive Secretary of the council, Hon. Moshood Mustapha Abiola’s euphoria was indescribable.
When he assumed office as the Executive Secretary of the council a couple of months ago, Hon. Abiola vowed to deploy all his energy towards making life meaningful for residents of the council. He had promised that he would evolve people-oriented policies and programmes as well as execute projects that would have direct impact on the lives of the people. These he pursued religiously.
Any wonder he was exceedingly excited while receiving the Auditor-General for Local Governments at the Onigbongbo LCDA.
Mr. Jimoh visited the LCDA for the 7th edition of capital projects inspection.
The programme, which is an annual event, takes the Auditor-General round local governments and LCDAs to inspect some projects being embarked on. After the inspection and assessment, the local government area or LCDA that executed not only best capital projects and programmes but also people-oriented projects, is chosen for the inauguration ceremony. His visit was an indication that the Onigbongbo LCDA has performed creditably well.
Hon. Abiola expressed his gratitude to the people of Onigbongbo for their co-operation, even as he remained obliged to the Auditor-General for local government for appreciating the efforts of his administration.
•One of the roads inaugurated
He further explained that in addition to the construction of the two roads, Allen Lane, Folawewo, Esugbayi and Akerele streets, among others, have been rehabilitated to ease people’s movement.
The council chief noted that the council has started some programmes such as vocational training for youths and adults where hairdressing, vulcanizing, video and photography, catering, soap making, bead making and other skills were imparted to them, adding that the aim was to make the residents to be self-reliant in order to contribute their quota to the growth of the council’s economy.
Responding, Mr. Jimoh praised the council chief for his commitment to the people’s welfare. He later inaugurated the construction and rehabilitation of Alhaji Muili and Ayinde Sanni streets in Oregun.
Dignitaries present at the inauguration ceremony were the Executive Secretary for the LCDA caretaker committee, Hon. Moshood Mustapha Abiola; Head of Administrations, Mrs. B. A. Dalumo, Local Government Area Chairperson, Alhaja Iyabo Akerele; party chieftain, Chief Akingbolade; Obas, Baales and other prominent personalities.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said yesterday that the Chairman of Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State, Mr. Muktar Yarima, was in its custody.
The commission spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Yarima was arrested on Saturday in Kano for alleged fraud.
He said the chairman was assisting the commission in its investigation.
A source at the Government House, Kano told NAN that the arrest was in connection with alleged misappropriation of an unspecified amount of money.
The source said the money was meant for an empowerment programme under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), now Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
For the elderly people in Shomolu Local Government Area, it was another time to feel nostalgic. Despite ageing gracefully, they proved that they still possess the dance skills that could daze even the younger folks and prompt them into endless applause.
•From left: Apex Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Shomolu/Bariga, Alhaji Moshood Oshiyemi; Hon. Orekoya; Mr. Oduguwa and a beneficiary, Mr. Wole Odubiyi at the event
The event was what has come to be termed “welfare package” for patriarchs in the council. The aged, from 60 years and above, looked forward to re-uniting with one another. They were grateful to the council chairman, Abiodun Orekoya for his generosity.
As usual, they sat in a roundtable manner and ate lunch with Orekoya who also ensured the patriarchs did not go home without some food stuffs and other items.
Aside playing various games which formed the preliminary aspect of the event, the dance contest was simply a spectacle. Three elderly females were paired with their male counterparts. In another phase, only the males took the dance floor; and then the females also had their turn, all amid thunderous applause as onlookers cheered the dancers for their dexterous dance steps.
Though the third edition of the event, Orekoya, nonetheless, has promised it would be a monthly exercise in fulfilment of the council’s resolve to assist the working class in taking care of their aged relatives.
“We take care of the aged in order to ensure that they don’t regret coming to life,” Orekoya, an engineer said.
“In developed countries,” he continued, “it is part of government’s social services towards taking care of the aged and the under-age. That’s the only way you can reduce the burden on the working class. At present, there is too much burden on the working class in terms of catering for their parents, grandparents and children. In the circumstances, therefore, the worker may be tempted to steal when he doesn’t have enough to take care of his responsibilities.
“If government at all levels can take care of these responsibilities, the working class will be in much relaxed frame of mind to work. This will help in immensely in achieving our goal of a corrupt-free society. You are afraid of going home because your mother, father or children have not eaten; you will want to go somewhere to do something bad. All those vices can be taken care of if the government takes care of the aged. Therefore, taking care of yourself with your meagre salary will not be a problem.”
He restated the council’s resolve to take care of 500 aged persons currently in its database, pending when the economy would improve and more aged can be accommodated into the programme.
“I’m a grassroots person, and identifying the aged in our communities was not a problem. We have wards and areas where we have a database of the aged, especially those above 60 years.
“But because we are not buoyant enough to take care of everybody, we have started with 500 of them and we will do it monthly,” Orekoya said while responding to the criteria adopted in selecting the 500 beneficiaries.
On what the council intends to achieve with the programme, the council chief added: “We want to get to the level when it becomes a norm for the council to be taking care of the aged. We already have their addresses and names in our databank and we will continue to update it.
“For now, we are managing 500 of them. We want to ensure that every month we give them something. So, we can boldly say that we have been taking care of these people. By God’s grace, feeding them will not be a problem.”
Orekoya implored the beneficiaries not to let their age be a hindrance to community policing, adding that the council prioritises security in its scheme of things.
The leader of the Community Development Committees (CDC), Mr Dapo Oduguwa, said he was impressed with the initiative.
Responding to the issue of community policing, Oduguwa urged his colleagues to always report any strange movement or objects around them to the police.
One of the elderly persons, Alhaja Sola Abimbolu, noted that the event was unique.
“This edition of the event is different from others we have been attending. We danced and ate. Our Executive Secretary sat with us to discuss issues bothering the community,” she said.
The Federal Government on has said the domestic production of sugar would take off from next year with an estimated initial output of 700,000 tons.
Dr Latif Busari, the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), said this in an interview in Abuja.Busari said the projected take off output would be contributed by three private investors, Dangote, Bua and Flour Mill Sugar Companies.
To this effect, he said the three companies had already signed separate agreements with the government for the execution of backward integration projects, which the council was monitoring.
“The Savanah Sugar Company in Adamawa, which was acquired by the Dangote Group in 2002, has also given its commitment to commence production in 2016. Currently, they have expanded their field in Numan to about 7,000 hectares and they are planning to further expand it to 10,000 hectares by 2018 with an installed capacity of 100,000 tons.
He explained that the sugar project owned by Flour Mill at Sunti, Niger State, will also begin operation by 2016 with an estimation of 50,000 ton per hectare sugar mill.
Busari, who was appraising the sector since independence, noted that major achievements had been recorded, especially in the area of establishment of sugar refineries in the country. He said: “Twenty years ago, the Savanah Sugar Company and the Nigerian Sugar Company, which were the two major sugar companies in the country, were at a point of collapse.
What happened between 1995 and 2005, ten years later, was mainly the establishment of refineries, first was the Dangote Sugar Refinery in 2000 followed by Bua refinery in 2006,’’ Busari said.
Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has sworn in four new members of the State Security Council, urging them to address without delay the resurgence of violent crime in the state.
The new members of the council include: Col. Osa Omoregbe, the Garrison Commander, 82 Division Nigerian Army, Air Commodore Emmanuel Festus Golit, the Commander 337 Base Services Group, Nigerian Air Force, Enugu, Mr. Abdul Malik, the Director of Security, State Security Services, Enugu and Mr. Lar Stephen Zwali, the State Commander, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Enugu.
Uunderscoring the need to beef up security in the state, the governor noted that recent media reports of violent crimes being on the increase in the state.
He said, “I, however, hasten to say that much as the state’s rating in the area of security remains enviably and comparatively high, I am certain that from recent media reports you would have observed that the incidences of such violent crimes as kidnapping, ritual killings, cultism and armed robbery has been on the increase in both the rural and urban areas of the state.”
The governor said that he summoned the council meeting for the discussion on the undesirable development with a view to coming up with a plan of action and identify the necessary measures that would help address the situation promptly, effectively and satisfactorily.
The governor assured the security agents of the state government commitment to provide the assistance and support that may be required in discharging their duties successfully.
Ugwuanyi commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for the successes they have continued to record in their determined efforts to end the insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country and generally making Nigeria a safe place for all to live.
