The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ekiti

  • Strike: Ekiti workers shut down schools, courts, ministries

    Strike: Ekiti workers shut down schools, courts, ministries

    Government activities were paralysed on Monday, June 4, across all ministries, parastatals, and public institutions in Ekiti state as the workers shunned their duty posts.

    Our correspondent who monitored the strike action observed that at the state secretariat located along Bank Road in Ado-Ekiti, the High Court and public schools were under lock and key.

    It was observed that few workers who reported for work in isolated places, did so on special arrangements, especially at the State House of Assembly where the lawmakers were marking their one-year celebration in office.

    Read Also: Strike: WAEC exams ongoing, state hospitals working, as labour shuts banks MDAs in Kaduna

    It was also observed that the state mini Secretariat located at Oke Ori Omi which houses some ministries and parastatals as well as agencies was shut down.

    Public primary and secondary schools in the state were deserted, as the gates of were locked while only private schools were opened for normal academic work.

    The electricity supply to the state was not available thereby making commercial business owners to switch to generators.

  • Policeman shoots two dead in Ekiti

    Policeman shoots two dead in Ekiti

    Two middle-aged men have been shot dead by a police man attached to the Ekiti State Police Command.

    The incident happened on Tuesday night at Omisanjana Area of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital when one of the team of policemen deployed to prevent breakdown of law and order, following an accident in the area, had an accidental discharge from his gun.

    The Nation gathered that while trying to disperse some irate youths, who had wanted to lynch the the driver, the bullets hit two of the youths.The victims were rushed to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital  (EKSUTH) where they were confirmed dead.

    The spokesman for the Ekiti State Police Command, Sunday Abutu, said the cop responsible for the shooting was in custody.

    Abutu, in a statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, said investigation into the incident was ongoing, adding that justice would be served.

    The statement reads, “On 28/05/2024 at about 22:30hrs, a serious motor vehicle/ motorcycle accident occurred involving a Lexus car and a Jincheng motorcycle along Omisanjana Area of Ado-Ekiti.

    Read Also: Ekiti to launch education for out-of-school girls

    “The Command, upon receiving the information, deployed the State Traffic Section to the scene to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order as well as ensuring the safety of the victims.

    “On getting to the scene, the operatives met a resistance as some irate youths disallowed them from performing their lawful duty and insisted on carrying out jungle justice. This necessitated a call for re-enforcement to assist the officers on ground.

    “However, in the process, one of the officers accidentally fired a shot that fatally injured two persons.

    “The officer responsible for the shooting has been disarmed, arrested and detained and shall be made to face disciplinary action immediately.

    “While the Command is already in touch with the two families of the deceased, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, CP Akinwale Kunle Adeniran, condoles with the families and assures them that discreet investigation has commenced and justice shall prevail.’’

  • Ekiti, SMEDAN lift business owners

    Ekiti, SMEDAN lift business owners

    Ekiti State government, in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigerian (SMEDAN), has empowered 75 business owners.

    Beneficiaries were drawn from across all strata of the state, trained and given N50,000 each and materials such as sewing machines, gas cooker, camera among others to expand their businesses.

    Governor Biodun Oyebanji reiterated his administration’s commitment to forging strategic partnerships that will uplift the socio-economic status of the state and create economic opportunities for the people.

    Read Also: Ekiti to launch education for out-of-school girls

    He noted that potentials in the state’s informal sector would be adequately harnessed to achieve his administration’s economic prosperity through an effective Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative.

    Oyebanji, who reiterated his government’s effort to support small and medium-sized enterprises, noted that partnering SMEDAN and other financial institutions is to further provide MSMEs with necessary capital to grow and prosper their businesses.

  • Ekiti to launch education for out-of-school girls

    Ekiti to launch education for out-of-school girls

    Ekiti State government will launch the second chance education programme to assimilate out-of-school girls and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 20 into the formal school system.

    Commissioner for Information Taiwo Olatunbosun said this in Ado-Ekiti after an assessment tour of the World Bank-assisted Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning Projects across the state.

    Olatunbosun said the programme, tagged ‘Ekiti State Girls’ Finishing School’, would begin in September to give girls who dropped out due to financial difficulties, unplanned pregnancies, GBV, among others, another opportunity to complete school.

    Read Also: Obasanjo eulogises Ekiti REC Ayoka Adebayo

    Free admission forms are already out for interested persons, he noted.

    According to the commissioner, the programme offers opportunity to assimilate them into the formal education system with necessary support to complete their education with vocational and entrepreneurship training to equip them with skills to make them self-reliant and financially independent.

    He added that the programme would provide value-based education in basic numeracy and literacy, as well as psycho-social support services, such as group and individual counseling, expressive therapy, and sexual reproductive rights education aimed at reducing vulnerability of girls to GBV and early marriage.

  • Ekiti to launch second chance education for out-of-school girls

    Ekiti to launch second chance education for out-of-school girls

    Ekiti state government has concluded a plan to launch a second chance education programme to assimilate young girls and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 20 who dropped out of the formal school system in the state.

    The commissioner for information, Hon. Taiwi Olatunbosun, disclosed this in Ado Ekiti after an assessment tour of the World Bank-assisted Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning projects across the state.

    Olatunbosun said that the World Bank-assisted programme tagged ‘Ekiti State Girls’ Finishing School’ would commence in September 2024 to give adolescent girls who dropped out due to financial difficulties, unplanned pregnancies, and GBV another opportunity to complete school.

    He stressed that admission forms are already out free of charge for interested adolescent girls between the ages of 10-20 who for a variety of reasons, never attended or abruptly left schools before completion of the level of education in which they were enrolled.

    He explained that the programme offers the opportunity to assimilate them into the formal education system with the necessary support to complete their education with Vocational and entrepreneurship training to equip them with skills to make them self-reliant and financially independent.

    He added that the programme would provide value-based education in basic numeracy and literacy as well as psycho-social support services such as group and individual counselling, expressive therapy, and sexual reproductive rights education aimed at reducing the vulnerability of girls to GBV and early marriage.

    Read Also: Fresh crisis hits Ekiti PDP as SWC members tackle chairman

    Olatunbosun said that the World Bank-assisted AGILE project in Ekiti State has surpassed its primary target of boosting school enrolment, assisting economically disadvantaged students, and reducing the number of out-of-school children in the state.

    He attributed the achievements recorded by the AGILE programme to the commitment of the government, saying the initiative was in tandem with Governor Oyebanji’s resolve to provide qualitative education at all levels.

    Olatunbosun said that the AGILE project had substantially boosted the teaching and learning environment in the state with the overhaul of critical infrastructures in 203 public schools through the School’s Improvement Grants.

  • Ekiti forum seeks advancement for girl-child education

    Ekiti forum seeks advancement for girl-child education

    The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), a World Bank-sponsored programme in Ekiti State, has advocated for greater girl-child education to curb out-of- school children menace.

    Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Olayemi Oyebanji, at a stakeholders meeting, said the Biodun Oyebanji-led administration has invested a lot in education, particularly in providing conducive learning environment for pupils and students in public schools.

    Mrs. Oyebanji stressed the need for stakeholders to unite towards ensuring that the investments do not go down the drains, and called on religious leaders to sensitise their followers on the need to enroll their children and wards in schools.

    Read Also: Ekiti: Ara-Ikole road and beauty of continuity

    She also emphasised allowing female children and the physically-challenged to attend school as the government has renovated and provided instructional materials and facilities that would make learning easier for them.

    Special Adviser to the governor on Special Education, Mrs. Adetoun Agboola, highlighted the government’s effort in providing quality education for the physically-challenged.

  • Ekiti: Ara-Ikole road and beauty of continuity

    Ekiti: Ara-Ikole road and beauty of continuity

    • By Olusegun Adetunji

    Sir: When the news broke that Governor Abiodun Oyebanji would beam his search light on Ikole-Ara road, I took it with the same pinch of salt because the road has remained unattended to since 1963. But to my surprise, the governor didn’t only walk the talk but took a pragmatic step to convince us that he meant business with full mobilization of contractors to the site.

    Between 2007 and 2010 when Engineer Segun Oni was at the helm of affairs, he was the only governor who showed interest in constructing the road and he did begin from Ikole and worked on it up until he was unceremoniously sent packing from office. Based on the general belief that government is a continuum, we assumed that the successive administrations of former governors Kayode Fayemi and Ayo Fayose would continue from where Oni’s administration stopped but we waited in vain. When Governor Oyebanji came on board, we didn’t press much button because we had almost lost hope but he surprised us by giving it a priority. Thank to our forward-looking king, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, who championed the course and kept assuring us that BAO would do it.  

    Read Also: Army probes attacks on soldiers at Abuja Banex plaza

    Since the job on the road began, people of Ekiti, Akoko part of Ondo, Kogi and even Kwara have been in high ecstasy because of the strategic importance of the road. With the Ikole-Ara-Isinbode-Uro-Irun road in place, the economic activities in the three states would pick up because the road links the three states. In those days when the road was still fair to middling, it was a sure bet for commuters and transporters who follow the route to Abuja. Besides, farming is the mainstay of scores of towns and villages along the corridors and this will give them ample opportunities to bring their farm products out of the farm to the market.

    In all these, what we have learnt is that Oyebanji’s background as a home-grown politician has so far shaped his approach to governance. He has used the last one year to demonstrate to us that he is keen about the welfare of the people. With this road in place, we can be sure the communities will be livelier, abandoned markets in various communities would be resuscitated, artisans will move to towns.

    I want to appeal to members of the various political parties in Ekiti to always see the government as one as BAO has consistently demonstrated. Whether you are in the All Progressives Congress or Peoples Democratic Party, you must see the entire Ekiti as one and yours to govern, with little or no discrimination.

    •Olusegun Adetunji

    Ara-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government,

    Ekiti State.

  • Ekiti begins audit of MDAs

    Ekiti begins audit of MDAs

    The Office of Transformation and Service Delivery (OTSD) in Ekiti State has initiated a verification exercise across the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    The aim is to conduct on-site assessment of the challenges reported by the MDAs which have hindered effective quality service delivery.

    The OTSD team covered well over 50 MDAs that are having challenges.

    Read Also; Court rejects Kanu’s bail application for relocation from DSS custody

    Special Adviser and Director-General of OTSD, Dr. John Ekundayo, praised some workers for their commitment to duty vis-a-vis their conscientious management of available tools, equipment and scarce resources, while not losing the sense of actualising intended outcomes.

    In the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ekundayo stressed the importance of stakeholders’ inclusivity in the ministry’s programmes. He reiterated that such collaboration would enhance citizens’ participation, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability.

  • Urban Renewal: Ekiti doles out N300m compensation to property owners

    Urban Renewal: Ekiti doles out N300m compensation to property owners

    The Ekiti state government on Monday, May 20, disbursed a sum of N300 million to owners of properties acquired for the Urban Renewal Project in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital.

    The beneficiaries were those whose buildings were acquired in the Atikankan Area, Ado metropolis for the construction of the Ultra-modern central business district and Modern Park.

    Distributing cheques to the beneficiaries, Governor Biodun Oyebanji pledged that his administration wouldn’t subject the property owner to undue bottlenecks before being paid their compensation.

    The governor stated that though the properties were acquired as part of the determined strides to rid Ekiti of slums and shanties, as represented by the Atikankan area, it won’t deter him from offering compensation to the original owners of landed property in the axis.

    The governor, represented by his Deputy, Mrs. Monisade Afuye, said Atikankan has been a notorious hideout for criminals perpetrating evils and represented a dirty and shanty view constituting a threat to the people because of high proclivity for the breakout of communicable diseases.

    Oyebanji stressed that one of the cardinal objectives of his administration is the transformation of urban slums into befitting central hubs that will boost economic opportunities in the state, which he said spurred the acquisition of the Atikankan/ Igbehin area.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Ekiti oba-elect docked for alleged certificate forgery

    “The proposed project will be one of the major trading hubs in the state where government, private individuals, business, and corporate organizations can buy and sell goods and services in a decent and more coordinated manner. The projects will have an impact and improve the living standards of the people as it is capable of generating employment for the youth.

    “Let me reiterate that none of the developmental projects where structures, crops, and property are affected will be demolished without payment of full compensation to the beneficiaries of such property. My administration is committed to prompt payment of compensation, no matter how small it might be, so that the little amount paid will not be consumed by the inflation rate.

    “Although the amount might be meagre compared with the cost of erecting new structures, I want you to bear with us as this is part of the collective sacrifices we have to make to enjoy the prosperity of industrial and infrastructural development of our dear state”.

    Speaking earlier, the Head of Service, Engr. Sunday Komolafe described the proposed Central Business District and Park legacy projects as facilities that would add aesthetic values to Ado Ekiti and upscale the state’s economic prosperity.

    Komolafe added that the government shared the pains of those who lost their property and businesses to the construction of the facilities, but clarified that the urban renewal policy was initiated in the public interest.

  • Commissioner, chief whip extol deceased Ekiti chief

    Commissioner, chief whip extol deceased Ekiti chief

    Ekiti State Commissioner for Physical Planning, Karounwi Oladapo, and Chief Whip of the House of Assembly, Bose Olowookere have extolled the virtues of the deceased Obanla of Aaye Quarters, Efon Kingdom, Chief John Fakorede.

    Fakorede, former civil servant, prime minister, and head of kingmakers, was buried in the ancient town at the weekend.

    He reigned for 45 years.

    In a message to his son, Dr. Johnson Fakorede, the commissioner described the departed chief as an icon of tradition endowed with native intelligence courage, candour, and capacity, adding that he was an asset to the community.

    Urging the family to take solace in the fact that Pa Fakorede led a honourable and fulfilled life, Oladapo said the people will greatly miss him.

    In her tribute, Olowookere described Obanla Fakorede as a highly respected leader, a bridge builder, and a kind kind elder, who upheld the interest of Efon-Alaaye.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Ekiti oba-elect docked for alleged certificate forgery

    The chief whip, who represents Efon Constituency, hailed his leadership style and approach to societal challenges, saying that they were devoid of ulterior motives, selfish or pecuniary interests, or concealed agenda.

    Noting Fakorede’s contributions to crisis resolution and human capital development, the lawmaker said his decisive interventions in conflict have brought peace and “many individuals in positions of high responsibilities, civil service, political offices, and traditional stools in the Efon Kingdom today have High Chief Obanla to thank for their attainments.”

    She added: “We honour and cherish what you have done for the landscape of our rocky home and recognise your life stretching out in the hearts of our province and it is without further ado, that we bid you adieu.”