The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ekiti

  • Ekiti govt partners UN agency on urban renewal

    Ekiti govt partners UN agency on urban renewal

    Ekiti State Government has announced its partnership with the UN Habitat to develop structure plans that will guide its urban renewal drive and development.

    The Special Adviser, Bureau of Housing and Mortgage Development, Dr. Gboyega Olaniyo, made this known in Ado-Ekiti at a news briefing. He said the initiative was in response to the accelerated urbanisation of the state.

    Olaniyo said the partnership with the UN Habitat focused on preparation of a structure master plan for Ado-Ekiti that would help guide orderly growth and coordinated physical development of the city.

    Read Also: Ekiti govt arrests, prosecutes 33 offenders

    He said the UN agency would also help the state government in attracting funding from donors as well as support agencies towards the implementation of the structure plan.

    Olaniyo added that representatives of the UN Habitat would be in the state between October 15 and 17 to conduct a scoping mission towards the implementation of Memorandum of Understanding signed by the government and the UN agency.

    He said the three-day scoping mission visit would provide opportunities for the UN body to identify the areas of intervention and familiarise itself with the situation on ground towards coming up with workable template for the urban renewal drive.

  • When Ekiti governor’s wife offered community service at state varsity

    When Ekiti governor’s wife offered community service at state varsity

    Ekiti State Governor’s wife, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji during the week temporarily left the comfort of her office in the Government House to offer community service to students in the state university’s classroom, Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado-Ekiti reports

    Ekiti State Governor’s wife Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji for about two hours on Monday taught students of Education Management in the Ekiti State University (EKSU) students who were excited to listening to her lecture.

    Dr. Oyebanji, a senior lecturer at the University of Ibadan and presently awaiting her associate professorial title, said she was excited to be back in the classroom at EKSU, where she started her career in the academia and taught for 12 years before relocating to Ibadan.

    The third year (300 Level) students in the Department of Education Management at EKSU were thrilled and excited to see the governor’s wife in their class to teach them “Leadership in Formal Organisations”, in which she dwelt on “Theories of Leadership” and entertained questions from the appreciative students.

    The students listened with rapt attention as Dr. Oyebanji dissected five theories considered during the EDM 303 class which included Trait Theory, Behavioural Theory, Situational Theory, Contingency Theory and Path-Goal Theory.

    -Urging the students to feel free and bare their minds during the lecture, Dr. Oyebanji said one of the aims she wanted to achieve with teaching the course was to inculcate the art of public speaking in the students, especially the female ones, noting that public speaking is an ingredient of leadership and effective communication.

    Read Also: NIS to acquire aircraft, drones for border surveillance

    Speaking with reporters after the lecture, Dr. Oyebanji said she was fulfilled to be involved in a community service at the state university teaching students. She described her interaction with them as worthwhile. She added that she is contributing her quota to moulding the character and shaping the personality of future leaders in her community.

    She said: “I started here as a Graduate Assistant and I worked in this university for 12 years before I relocated to the University of Ibadan, where I was before we came to office. This is my own community service and I am fulfilled to give it for free in our state university.

    “I have taught all my life and I want to teach here while in office to share from my experience with these students. This is a course that I have taught for over 20 years. When I was given the course to teach, I said, ‘why not? It’s part of my community service’. We lecturers have three major areas: teaching, research and community service. So, what I am doing is community service to my dear state.

    “Since assuming office, it’s not that I am totally disconnected from academic activities. Recently, you followed me to UI when I went to attend to my Ph.D students and within one year of my assumption of office (as First Lady), I have gone to UI and I have graduated four of my Ph.D students.”

    One of the students who attended the lecture, Ismail Abdullahi, said he gained a lot from the various perspectives and true life experiences of Dr. Oyebanji, which she shared.

    “Some of the examples and experiences she gave will make her lecture to be unforgettable and I am happy to have gained a lot and I’m returning home with many takeaways from the lecture of today,” he said.

  • Ekiti begins building of rural roads

    Ekiti begins building of rural roads

    Ekiti State Government has disclosed its readiness to begin massive construction of roads across the 16 local governments under the World Bank Assisted projects Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Projects (RAAMP).

    The state RAAMP Coordinator, Mr. Sunday Adunmo, made this known in Ado-Ekiti at a one-day sensitisation training organised for the workers of the Project.

    He said construction would begin on some of the rural roads in the state next month, noting that Ekiti was officially added to the participating states last year August after meeting the conditions for the project.

    The RAAMP boss said the engineering designs for 12 roads totalling 77km roads had been received and would be launched by the end of October for construction work to begin.

    He added that RAAMP had last weekend opened tenders for consultancy services for the design and supervision of spot improvement of 122km of rural roads as part of phase one, while rural road upgrading would be advertised next year.

    The state project coordinator, who said the Project office was not unaware of the transportation challenges being faced by farmers in the state, noted that rural communities would soon become sites for massive road construction.

    Read Also: Keyamo: airlines must pay compensation for delayed, cancelled lights

    He said the delay in the commencement of the project was as a result of the need to adhere to the procedures of the donor partner, the World Bank, whose commitment to due process and transparency was irrevocable.

    “Permit me to use this medium to inform you that construction work will soon start on some of our road projects. I am aware that Ekiti people have waited for the commencement of the project since 2018 when former Governor Kayode Fayemi indicated the interest of Ekiti State to participate in the project. The delay is not unconnected to the fact that we must follow the necessary procedures for construction works to begin. I am happy that last week, Ekiti RAAMP had an opening of tenders from bidders for consultancy services for design and supervision of spot improvement in the state. About three months ago, we did a similar opening for consultancy services for design and supervision of backlog maintenance and negotiation and award are ongoing.

    “Soon, we shall advertise for construction. In a couple of weeks, Ekiti State will become a site for massive construction works on our rural roads. We are not oblivious of the challenges being faced by farmers particular in this rainy season, which has made it very hard for them to transport their farm produce from the farm to the market. I can assure people that very soon, we will provide accessible road for all farms across the state,” Adunmo said.

  • Ekiti at 27: We’re on course, says Fasuan

    Ekiti at 27: We’re on course, says Fasuan

    Elder statesman and Chairman of the Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State, Chief Deji Fasuan, says the state is still on course, in terms of actualising the vision of its founding fathers.

    Fasuan, who turned 92 on Sunday when the state marked its 27th anniversary, expressed satisfaction that Ekiti was making gradual progress against all odds, since it was created in 1996.

    Read Also: Ekiti govt arrests, prosecutes 33 offenders

    The elder statesman spoke during an interactive session with reporters when Governor Biodun Oyebanji came to congratulate him on his birthday in his home in Ado-Ekiti yesterday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oyebanji was the secretary of the state creation committee, while Fasuan was the chairman.

  • Ekiti govt arrests, prosecutes 33 offenders

    Ekiti govt arrests, prosecutes 33 offenders

    No fewer than 33 persons were on Saturday prosecuted at a magistrate court sitting in Ado Ekiti for not complying with the monthly environmental sanitation laws.

    Perishable goods like plantains, oranges, yams and other food stuff worth thousands of naira were also seized at Okesa and Bisi markets in Ado Ekiti.

    The Chief magistrate, Mrs Olubunmi Bodunde, said the culprits were guilty of various offenses levelled against them and therefore sentenced them to three months imprisonment each with an option of five thousand naira fine.

    While monitoring the exercise, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Chief Tosin Aluko,  frowned at the attitude of residents and market women who deliberately flouted the rules of the exercise.

    She recalled that the ministry had recently  invited the traders at okesa and Bisi markets all in Ado Ekiti to a meeting with a warning that displaying of goods would not be allowed during monthly sanitation exercise usually observed every last Saturdays.

    “We have been sensitising people through radio jingles to desist from contravening Environmental laws.

    “Getting to the market after the warning, we are shocked because we met more than five thousand people who came from different local governments to display their goods” she explained,” she said.

    Read Also:  How to prevent Military rule in Africa, by Ganduje

    The commissioner pleaded with all stakeholders in the state to support the efforts of the government aimed at nipping in the bud, poor attitude of people to sanitation exercise.

    Contributing, the Director, Environmental Health and Sanitation in the Ministry, Mr Tunde Balogun, noted that the task force team in charge of the monthly exercise would not relent at arresting and prosecuting any culprit.

    He said people should be conscious of keeping their environment clean by clearing their drains as well as doing other necessary things that were needful.

    “You do not need to wait until law enforcement agents push you around before you comply with the norms; environment is for everybody and whatever you put into it is what you get,” he said.

  • Ekiti tasks public servants on effective service delivery

    Ekiti tasks public servants on effective service delivery

    The Ekiti State Government has tasked Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to key into the developmental agenda of the vision and programmes of Governor Biodun Oyebanji to deliver effective service to the people.

    Special Adviser, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery, Dr John Ekundayo gave the charge at the opening of a two-day workshop with the theme: “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.”

    The Special Adviser said the vision of the Oyebanji-led administration was to build a virile and purposeful civil service that would drive government policies for the betterment of Ekiti people.

    Dr Ekundayo advised public servants in the state to show more commitment to service delivery and added that the approach of public servants to service delivery must change for the better.

    Read Also: Ekiti local government poll fixed for Dec 2

    He urged Heads of Ministries, departments, and Agencies to build synergies among themselves towards actualising the six strategic developmental pillars of the Oyebanji administration.

    He added that the training with a focus on Ekiti Performance, Assessment, and Improvement Report was organised to expose public servants to management approaches that would enhance their productivity.

    The Special Adviser said the Heads of MDAs are engaged to access the level of the state’s bureaucracy in executing the intervention of government by measuring their performance based on merits.

    He said, “EKPAIR report is all about knowing where the MDAs are and what are the opportunities that exist for improvement in service delivery and we will also measure performance.

    “All the ministries are engaged here to access the level of Ekiti State in executing the intervention of government and what the opportunities we are to improve on then, we can begin to think about measuring the performance of the Agencies based on merits.

    “The major aspect of this EKPAIR is the employment of the Public Service Assessment and Improvement model (PSAI Model) which was initially used in the USA and is now adopted in over 60 countries globally.

    “We will be applying this in Ekiti State, the first in the federation that will be using this kind of assessment to assess our Organisations, MDAs, how they are performing, what we need to do to support perhaps on leadership, structuring, workforce restructuring, strategic planning, all are in PSAI model.

    “What are the programmes and processes we have to impact the citizenry, constituents, and beneficiaries, all these are what we consider in this workshop so that we ensure that Ekiti state is performing well and better every year”, Ekundayo added.

  • Ekiti local government poll fixed for Dec 2

    Ekiti local government poll fixed for Dec 2

    The Chairman, Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC), Justice Cornelius Akintayo, has fixed December 3 for the conduct of the local government election.

    The tenure of the elected chairmen and councillors in the local governments and local council development areas (LCDAs) will end in December 2023.

    Justice Akintayo, briefing reporters yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, said the commission would conduct councillorship and chairmanship elections in the 16 local governments and 22 LCDAs.

    He said political parties were expected to participate in the poll, noting that the elections would be free, fair and acceptable.

    Akintayo said the commission had begun processes for the election, in line with the extant law, while electioneering campaign started since September 18.

    He added that ward congresses to elect councillorship candidates of parties had been slated for tomorrow, and the congresses for the emergence of chairmanship candidates of the parties would hold on October 7.

    Read Also: Ekiti gets new tutor-general

    He said: “All registered political parties in Nigeria are allowed by law to participate. They should gather their loins to participate.”

    He said as part of efforts to ensure larger number of registered voters in the state participate in the exercise, “the commission will step up political awareness, move round the local governments and LCDAs to sensitise the people that it is their right to participate in the civic exercise.”

    The electoral boss sought the support of the people of Ekiti for the commission to ensure smooth conduct of the poll that would meet global standard.

    He said: “We are prepared to conduct a free, fair and credible election. We are going to provide a conducive atmosphere for free, fair, credible and acceptable elections.”

  • Ekiti gets new tutor-general

    Ekiti gets new tutor-general

    Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has approved the appointment of Mr. Victor Amele as the new Tutor-General in Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Chief Information Officer, Mrs. Adejoke Ajayi, of the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) in Ado-Ekiti.

    Ajayi said the appointment of Amele as Tutor-General in charge of the Ekiti Central Education District was sequel to the retirement of Mr. Martins Ilori, who bowed out of service after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60 years of age.

    She said until his appointment, Amele was the Principal of Doherty Memorial Grammar School, in Ijero-Ekiti, and President of the All-Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Ekiti State branch.

    In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of TESCOM, Mr. Michael Omolayo, enjoined the new appointee to justify the confidence reposed in him by putting in his best in the new assignment.

    Read Also: INEC: insecurity threatens Nov 11 governorship polls

    Omolayo charged the new Tutor-General to key into the Educational Reform Development Agenda and Values Orientation of the present administration.

    He emphasised that the elevation was in line with the principle of merit-based appointment enshrined in the civil service transformation strategy, previous achievements, performance in the qualifying examination and interview as well as recognition of seniority in service.

    He congratulated Mr. Martins Ilori, the retired Tutor-General for his meritorious service and wished him success and the best in his future endeavours.

    The new Tutor-General expressed gratitude to the state governor for giving him the opportunity to serve the State in the new capacity and pledged to do his best to achieve the desired goals.

    He noted that the new appointment will enable him to further contribute to actualizing human capital development which is one of the six-point developmental agenda of the present administration.

  • NYG: Ekiti sport manager recalled over athletes’ poor Kitting

    NYG: Ekiti sport manager recalled over athletes’ poor Kitting

    Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has recalled the General Manager of the State Sports Council, Adekunle Adeyemi from the ongoing 7th  National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State over poor knitting of the state’s athletes.

    The directive followed the alleged shabby appearance of the State contingent at the march-past event during the opening ceremony of the National Youths Games.

    Read Also: Ekiti state performing troupe tours Netherlands

    A statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun yesterday  in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital described the development as not only unfortunate but also regrettable.

    According to the statement, Adeyemi is expected to explain the circumstances leading to the shabby kitting of the state athletes at the opening session, which photograph is circulating online.

    He was directed to hand over to the next most senior official at the Games and return home immediately.

    The official who will act as head of the delegation, is to oversee the welfare and wellbeing of the athletes at the competition.

    Olatunbosun, however maintained that the government made adequate provision for the state’s contingent participation at the National Youth Games.

    He restated the commitment of the Oyebanji administration to providing platforms for Ekiti youths to exhibit their God – given talents in line with the youth development and job creation agenda of the administration.

  • Ekiti state performing troupe tours Netherlands

    Ekiti state performing troupe tours Netherlands

    Award- winning Ekiti State Cultural Troupe will on Wednesday September 27 undertake a performance tour of Netherlands till October 8.

    While in Netherlands, the troupe will have a 2-hour command performance on October 1 for the Nigerian community at The Hague in commemoration of the Nigerian Independence Day. 

    The troupe will perform on October 4 at Wassernneer for the Diplomatic Corp to commemorate the National Day while on October 5, the troupe will also perform in Amsterdam at the Nollywood Festival 2023.

    Read Also: Yoruba elders seek return of Akintoye, Igboho from exile

     According to the leader of delegation, Ekiti State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Prof Rasaki Ojo Bakare, the troupe will use the opportunity of the tour to impress international stakeholders so as to attract international investors to Ekiti State creative and tourism sectors.

    He praised the state governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, for funding the trip and for always supporting the Ministry to excel.

    The troupe will return to Ekiti on October 8, 2023 to continue with the preparations for a command performance of FAJUYI, a stage play holding on October 14, 2023.