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Tag: Ekiti STATE

  • Why education policies fail in Nigeria, by Adelabu

    A former Deputy Governor, Ekiti State, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, has highlighted the reasons education policies fail or are ineffective in Nigeria.

    She stated that basing education policies on inaccurate financial and political postulations, failure to address rural and urban dichotomy, reliance on public funds to finance education and failure to integrate communities and other non-state actors in developing education policies make them fail or ineffective over the years.

    Adelabu disclosed this in her inaugural lecture entitled: As It Was In the Beginning, As It Is Now: Politics and Education Policies in Nigeria at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife yesterday.

    Highlighting relevant findings of her research in educational administration and management for over 30 years to establish how politics influence education policies, Adelabu explained that education policies largely derive from political goals and interests of a nation.

    To overcome policy failure and ineffectiveness in Nigeria, Adelabu called on the government to incorporate non-state actors in education, embrace Public Private Partnership (PPP), stop reliance on oil money to fund education stop ignoring the political, economic, and international environment in developing education policies.

    She further advocated appointment of educationists as chairmen of state and federal basic education boards and other relevant education agencies in the country.

    She highlighted gender inequality in education leadership at the level of principalship and heads of tertiary educational institutions, ineffective approach to teacher training, ignoring globalization, rural-urban dichotomy and poor national development as some of the areas requiring urgent attention by the Nigerian government.

    Being the foundation of education, Adelabu emphasized the strategic importance of primary education boards to effective education of children.

    As a former Chairman of the Ekiti State Basic Education Board, Adelabu recalled that she introduced trade fair and exhibition of pulpits to facilitate their interest in technical and vocational education, introduced the PPP and encouragement of inclusive education. She said she could achieve them because of her background in education.

    “Consequently,  I wish to recommend without mincing words that because of the importance of basic education to education, any chairman to be appointed across the state should have an education background just like any other professional parastatal in the country.” She said.

    Adelabu expressed gratitude to those who either influenced or paved way for her in life. They include Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Dr Kayode Fayemi and his wife, Bisi, Gen. Alabi Akinrinade (Rtd) and Chief Pius Akinyelure.

    In attendance at the lecture were dignitaries including Kayode and Bisi Fayemi; Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; Oyo State Deputy Governor Moses Alake-Adeyemo; Ekiti State Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi and Chief Judge, Ekiti State Justice Deji Daramola as well as traditional rulers from Ekiti State.

    The institution’s Vice-Chancellor Prof. Temitope Ogunbodede and Registrar Mrs Margaret Omojuyigbe also attended.

  • ‘Embrace PDP defectors’

    Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Chief Joseph Alake has urged members to embrace defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The party leader spoke at the APC victory party in Efon-Alaaye.

    He said: “I urge Efon APC members to embrace any PDP member that wishes to join APC. Alake admonished the youths to extend hands of fellowship to their PDP counterparts. He also prayed that members of APC will enjoy the dividends of democracy.

     

  • Ekiti to conduct psychiatric test on sex offenders

    In a bid to tackle child defilement and rapists in Ekiti State, the government has resolved to put stringent measures that will serve as check on sexual violence.

    It will henceforth conduct compulsory psychiatric test and publish the names and photographs of offenders on the website of the Ministry of Justice.

    The names of such offenders, according to the government, would also be announced on the state-owned radio and television stations, while the monarchs of the towns the culprits hailed from would be alerted.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, Attorney General and Justice Commissioner Wale Fapohunda expressed worries that the menace kept increasing despite high number of convictions recorded.

    He said Governor Kayode Fayemi was disturbed by increasing cases of sexual violence, adding that there was need for proactive actions to nip the situation in the bud.

    Fapohunda said the new measures would support the aggressive prosecution and exclusion of offenders from governor’s prerogative of mercy that were already in place.

    “The additional measures put in place include pasting the photographs of convicted offenders in prominent public spaces in their communities and local government headquarters.

    “Issuing an advisory to the traditional rulers of the offenders’ communities on the status of the offenders. Uploading the sex offenders’ photographs on the website of the Ministry of Justice.

    “Showing photographs of sex offenders on Ekiti State Television, announcing their names on radio and television.

    “Compulsory psychiatric test for persons of whom the Director of Public Prosecution has issued a case to answer legal advice for the offence of child defilement. This also includes persons standing trials,” he said.

  • INEC to hold Ekiti Assembly supplementary poll March 23

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday said that it had fixed the only constituency poll for the Ekiti State House of Assembly that was not concluded on March 9 to March 23.

    The election in Ekiti East Constituency 1 had been declared inconclusive by the INEC, following reported cases of violence and other factors.

    INEC’s Administrative Secretary in the state, Dr Muslim Omoleke, who also doubles as the Commission’s Acting Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state announced the new date in Ado Ekiti.

    He asked those political parties that would be participating in the supplementary election to be getting ready.

    He assured the parties that the commission would not deviate from the tradition of neutrality and fairness in the forthcoming supplementary election.

    He said that the election would hold in five polling units in the constituency area, in line with the directive from the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

    NAN reports that the election of Ekiti East Constituency 1 was suspended by INEC on March 9, when the house of assembly and governorship elections were being held across the country.

    The INEC official had declared the results in the other 25 constituencies which were in favour of the ruling APC.

    Omoleke said that INEC would meet with the security agencies during the week and brief them on the need to be well prepared for the conduct of the supplementary election.

    He explained that the commission decided to suspend elections in the polling units, thereby making the outcome inconclusive, in line with its promise to be neutral and be fair to all contenders in any election.

    “We are prepared for the election and we will not deviate from the practice of fairness and neutrality to all political parties.

    “We will meet the security agencies this week and brief them on how the conduct will look like, so they can plan their own strategies on how to deliver a free, fair and credible election.

    “We have already received materials from the headquarters and they are being kept in the Central Bank of Nigeria, the materials are under safe custody.

    “We want to assure voters that we will not let them down. Let them come out massively and vote and we assure them that their votes will count.

    “INEC did not disappoint in the conduct of the presidential, the state and national assembly elections in Ekiti, this also will not be an exemption,” Omoleke said.

    NAN

  • Crush, bury PDP completely in Ekiti, Fayemi charges APC members

    Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi on Friday called on members of the Presidential Campaign Organisation, Ekiti State Chapter and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure the dominance of the party ahead of 2022 gubernatorial election.

     
    Dr. Fayemi said the next task is to ensure that the influence of the rival People Democratic Party (PDP) was reduced to the barest minimum.
    The governor further disclosed  that unity of purpose and togetherness that earned the party victory during the just concluded general elections are sustained ahead of the 2022 governorship election in the state.

    A successful outing for the APC in the 2022 governorship election in the state, according to Governor Fayemi would confirm the party’s dominance in Ekiti politics as well as ensure continuation of good governance that would put the state firmly on the path of  irreversible development.

    He stated this in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, during a meeting to appreciate members of the Ekiti State Council of the PMB/PYO Presidential Campaign Organisation and leaders of the party, for the success of the Presidental, National and State Assemblies elections in the state.

    Fayemi who lauded the members of the campaign organisation for their demonstrated dedication and commitment to the success of the party, said the credit for the peaceful conduct of the election and timely collation recorded in Ekiti State should go to them.

    He said the unity of purpose demonstrated by both the council and the party leaders during the elections made the party record enviable result.

    The Governor who also conveyed the appreciation of President Buhari to the members, later presented letters of appreciation to the council members.

    He said: “When we inaugurated the Council, I was very clear the job the council would do in conjunction with the party leadership would produce a report that everyone would be proud of and that is exactly what the
    council has done as the results have shown.

    “I remember I was with Mr President a couple of days ago, to discuss some challenges facing our state, and as soon as he came into the meeting, the very first thing he said was Mr 100 percent.

    Read Also: Umahi: I am not leaving PDP

    “That credit really goes to the work that we all did and I think it leads to what happen when we have unity of purpose. We all started on this journey from different points, but ultimately, we came together, we decided
    that we need to give the election all the attention it deserves and everybody pulled in their weight to ensure that we succeeded.

    “However, the outcome of the election tell us some things, that we cannot be complacent about this issue, we still have to work to completely crush the PDP in all our local government areas and state to a point where they are a minute fold rather that a sizeable number that can threaten the consolidation of our gains in the course of next couples of election.

    “The only way to guarantee this effort you have all put in this election is to ensure that the 2022 governorship election in Ekiti goes to APC.

    That’s the message we have to take from this exercise, we would put in every effort to ensure that this happen.”

    Fayemi explained that after the heat of election, there is now need to focus more on governance adding that he would soon appoint more people into positions for ease of governance as well as make them more useful for the
    services of the state.

    “By now, we would have a respite to now focus on governance which is really the reason why our people have put us in charge of the state. Yes, we started that process and we have to invigorate it now, we have to energize by putting more people in positions so that they can be of service to our party and the state.

    “As much as our resources can carry us, we must put our people first in the ‘Project Ekiti’ via empowerment programme or appointments. Not everybody can get appointments, but everybody can have access to feeling that they are also major contributors to the party’s success.”

    Speaking earlier, the Director General of the Campaign Organization, Oluomo Segun Osikolu appreciated Governor Fayemi for giving them opportunity to
    serve in that capacity.

    Osinkolu said party’s successful outing at the polls was as a result of the commitment and hardwork of members of the council as well as party leadership.

    He, however, commended members of the council for their cooperation in the prosecuting the entrusted project without any flaws.

  • ‘Join hands with Fayemi to develop Ekiti’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Prince Adesola Gold, has charged the newly elected members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly to partner Governor Kayode Fayemi for good governance.

    Adesola, a House of Representatives aspirant in the last APC’ primaries, said harmonious relationship between the executives and legislature would guarantee speedy and quantum socio-economic development.

    He further urged them to refrain from any crisis that could derail governance in the state, saying the current administration was aptly determined to bring dividends of democracy to the people.

    In the House of Assembly election conducted on March 9, the APC won 25 of the 26 seats while that of Ekiti East constituency II, was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    A new assembly will be inaugurated by Governor Fayemi on June 6, the day the tenure of the present one will elapse.

    Speaking in Osun Ekiti in Moba Local Government Area of the state, Gold assured that with the calibre of governor like Fayemi, that the lawmakers can’t be reduced to mere rubber stamps in the discharge of their duties.

    He added that the alleged suppression which characterized the assembly under former governor Ayodele Fayose won’t dog the assembly that will be constituted in June.

    “Under the immediate past government, lawmakers voices were subjugated, nobody dares looked the governor in the eyes.

    “Those lawmakers who tried to assert themselves were suspended indefinitely and some were expelled from the party despite being members of the PDP.

    Read Also: Ekiti elders greet Fayemi at 54

    “But with the kind of refined governor like Fayemi that we have, I am sure that there would be mutual respect and there will be partnership that will make Ekiti great in all spheres.

    “I want to also charge the lawmakers to come with the determined mindsets to serve Ekiti and not to engage in any battle with the executive”, he said.

    Speaking about the patterns of voting, which predominantly favoured APC; Gold added that the electorate in Ekiti are now better informed about how to make the right choices for good governance.

    “Our people decided to vote for real governance and moved away from stomach infrastructure at the detriment of Infrastructural development.

    “The four Local Governments of Efon, Ikere, Emure and Ado-Ekiti, won by PDP in July 14 Governorship Election were not left behind, they all moved with the moving train of the  Next Level.

    “In less  than six months in office, governor Fayemi has opened our eyes to how a globally recognised government should be and I applaud our people for believing in APC and took the right choices”.

    He, however, urged the elected officials to work hard and carry their constituents along , in order not to betray the confidence reposed in them by the electorate.

     

  • Buhari deserves victory, say Ekiti elders

    Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Forum has congratulated Governor Kayode Fayemi on his 54th birthday and grateful that President Muhammadu Buhari won the 2019 election.

    In a statement, the chairman of the forum Asiwaju George Akosile, said the efforts of the governor amplified Buhari’s victory in the state.

    He noted that APC’s brilliant performance was due to the support from its members and people of the state, hoping that it would translate to rapid development of the state.

    Read also: Ohanaeze Southwest mourns Debe Ojukwu

    Akosile said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Ekiti State Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi’s support were exemplary.

    “We commend both the governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his deputy Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi for their transformational agenda in redefining the image of Ekiti State.”

  • Ekiti elders greet Fayemi at 54

    Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Forum has congratulated Governor Kayode Fayemi on his 54th birthday.

    The elders also said they were grateful to God that President Muhammadu Buhari won the 2019 election.

    In a statement, the forum’s Chairman, Asiwaju George Akosile, said the efforts of the governor amplified Buhari’s victory in Ekiti State.

    He noted that APC’s brilliant performance was due to the support from its members and Ekiti people, hoping that it would translate to rapid growth.

    Akosile lauded Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Ekiti State Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi for their exemplary support.

    “We commend both the governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his deputy for their transformational agenda in redefining the image of Ekiti State,” the forum said.

  • Four women win Ekiti Assembly seats in APC clean sweep

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared all the 26 House of Assembly seats in Ekiti State.

    In the House of Assembly election conducted on Saturday, APC candidates were declared winners in all the 26 constituencies by the returning officers across the state.

    Four women were among the victorious APC candidates who defeated the flag bearers of other parties including the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which failed to win a single seat.

    The four women are Mrs. Kemi Famuagun-Balogun (Ado 1), Princess Teju Okuyiga (Gbonyin), Mrs. Bunmi Adelugba (Emure) and Mrs. Yemisi Ayokunle (Ekiti Southwest 1).

    Former Majority Leader, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye, who won the Ikere Constituency 1 seat, was returned to the Assembly eight years after leaving the legislative chamber.

    Afuye who was in the Third Assembly (2007-2011) first served as the Minority Leader before becoming the Majority Leader after the the defection of five PDP members crossed over to the then ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    He also served as Commissioner for Information and Integration and Intergovernmental Affairs during the first tenure of Dr. Kayode Fayemi after completing his term in the Third Assembly.

    Being a returning member and the speakership zoned to Ekiti South by the APC, Afuye, a lawyer, is now the favourite to emerge the Speaker of the Sixth Assembly.

    Read Also: Low turnout mars Ekiti Assembly Election

    Another returnee is the Leader of Business in the outgoing Fifth Assembly, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan, who retained the Ikole Constituency 1 seat.

    He hails from Ekiti North, the same senatorial district with Fayemi hence may be ruled out of the race for Speaker.

    Other winners at the Saturday poll are Mr. Hakeem Jamiu (Irepodun/Ifelodun 2), Mr. Femi Akindele (Irepodun/Ifelodun 1), Mr. Oluwatoyin Lucas (Ado 1) and Mr. Babatunde Idowu (Ikere 2).

    Also victorious are Mr. Adeoye Aribasoye (Ikole 2), Mr. Juwa Adegbuyi (Ekiti East 1), Mr. Lateef Akanle (Ekiti East 2), Mr. Reuben Awoyemi (Oye 1), Mr. Yemi Osatuyi (Oye 2), Mr. Abiodun Fawekun (Ido/Osi 1) and Mr. Akin Oso (Ido/Osi 2).

    Other members-elect are:  Mr. Tajudeen Akingbolu (Ekiti West 1), Mr. Johnson Bode-Adeoye (Ekiti West 2), Mr. Goke Olajide (Efon), Mr. Adeyemi Ajibade (Moba 1) and Mr. Olatunji Joseph (Ekiti Southwest 2).

  • Election: Low turn out recorded in Ekiti

    There has been low turn out of voters in the Governorship and state House of Assembly elections in Ekiti State on Saturday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports  that it  is, however, not clear if the trend will change as the exercise progresses.

    The number of voters that came out for the exercise was far below expectation.

    The number is a far cry from what obtained during the last Presidential and National Assembly polls that witnessed huge turnout of voters.

    A number of residents were seen moving about freely on the streets contrary to INEC order on restriction of movements.

    NAN also observed that  security, which was tight during last election, was relaxed as there were only few armed security agents on the roads with none manning the polling venues in some places.

    Some towns where voters’ apathy was remarkable in the early hours of the day include Ado Ekiti, the state capital, Ifaki Ekiti, Ijero Ekiti and Emure Ekiti, among others.

    NAN