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Tag: founder

  • OUI holds convocation, Founder’s Day

    OUI holds convocation, Founder’s Day

    The 11th Convocation and 14th Founder’s Day Ceremonies of the Oduduwa  University, Ipetumodu (OUI), Osun State, will commence on Thursday, November 2, 2023.

    Read Also: Kogi guber poll: No room for ethnicity, says Bello

    According to a statement signed by the Ag. Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor C.I.N Uche, while the Convocation Lecture, titled ‘Exodus of Skilled Labour in Nigeria: Magnitude, Causes and Impact on National Development,’ will be delivered by Professor Elijah B.A. Agbaje on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at the Senate Conference Room, OUI, the award of postgraduate, first degrees and the presentation of prizes will be held on the second day.

  • Association honours founder with memorial lecture

    The Ikhwatul-Islam Society of Nigeria has immortalised its late founder with a memorial lecture tagged: “Ismail Sumbo Ileyemi Memorial Ramadan Lecture.”

    The late Ileyemi was a pioneer member of the then Islamic Fellowship of Nigeria (IFN) now renamed as Ikhwatul-Islam Society of Nigeria. Until his death, he was the serving President of the organisation.

    The maiden edition of the lecture titled: “Enduring Charity: An Islamic Prescription for Poverty Alleviation” was delivered by the Chief Imam of Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, Sheikh Ismail Abdul Quadri.

    The President of the Society, Alhaji Abdul Waheed Olalere, described Ileyemi as a distinguished personality, who was passionate about the propagation of Islam.

    He said: “He sacrificed a lot for Islam to ensure that the work of Islam continues to advance. His contributions to our project development were commendable. It’s rather unfortunate that he died before the completion of the project. But, before his demise, he was at the forefront of financing different projects of the society including the ongoing mosque building.”

    The organisation, Olalere said, decided to immortalise him because of his immense contributions to the society and Islam, adding that the lecture would continue to hold in his name.

    “He was a very humble person, who has respect for both the young and the elder. He was very accommodating. He never looked down on anybody. He always yielded to our calls anytime we needed him. He used to relate with everybody with love.  We love him and he also loved us, too,” he said.

    The late Ileyemi’s widow, Mrs Modupe Ileyemi, said her husband stood firm for whatever he believed.

    Mrs Ileyemi, who is the Director of Public Affairs in the Lagos State Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, said: “When he became the President, he dedicated full commitment to Islam. He was highly steadfast. He was always giving. He used to relate with everybody well. He supported everything Islam . I’m glad that the association is doing this for him. it shows that they appreciated his gesture.”

  • Crescent varsity’s founder gives scholarship to 30 freshers

    No fewer than 30 students, mostly indigent, clinched the Bola Ajibola Academic and Moral Excellence Scholarship at the 13th matriculation of the Crescent University Abeokuta.

    The scholarship was instituted by the institution’s founder and former judge of the International Court of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola.

    Announcing the scholarship on behalf of the founder, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Ibraheem Gbajabiamila, said the scholarship was part of the university’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which started since its inception in 2005.

    A total of 416 students admitted into the Colleges of Arts, Social and Management Sciences (CASMAS); Natural and Applied Sciences (CONAS); Information and Communication Technology (CICOT); Environmental Sciences (COES); Bola Ajibola College of Law(BACOLAW) and School of Postgraduate Studies, took the university’s matriculation oath.

    Congratulating all the 416 students, Gbajabiamila advised them to be focused and “make the best use of the golden opportunity presented by their admission into Crescent University Abeokuta.

    He assured them that they would get quality training at the institution, saying: “It is our resolve to train and produce men and women of strong character and integrity, who will build a virile and just society. All these are encapsulated in the vision and mission of the university and they have served as the elixir and driving force of our institution.”

    Gbajabiamila said an extension of admission deadline by one week by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) would increase the number of students.

    While expressing appreciation to Crescent University Parent Forum and alumni, he praised governments of Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara and Lagos states for their generous scholarship awards to students from their states in the past.

     

  • Playboy founder Hugh Hefner dies At 91

    Playboy founder Hugh Hefner dies At 91

    • My father lived an exceptional life, says son

    Founder of Playboy Magazine, Hugh Hefner, is dead.

    Hefner, according to Playboy Enterprise, “was surrounded by loved ones and peacefully passed away yesterday from natural causes at his home.” He was 91.

    In a statement, Hefner’s son, Cooper said that his father “lived an exceptional and impactful life as a media and cultural pioneer and a leading voice behind some of the most significant social and cultural movements of our time in advocating free speech, civil rights and sexual freedom.”

    He said: “He defined a lifestyle and ethos that lie at the heart of the Playboy brand, one of the most recognizable and enduring in history. He will be greatly missed by many.”

    Hefner’s dream of running his own magazine began while he was working as a copy editor at Esquire in 1952, and the following year he secured enough funding to launch Playboy.

    The December 1953 inaugural issue featured none other than Marilyn Monroe as its cover girl, and the magazine would go on to become a multibillion-dollar empire ¯ including TV series, websites, DVDs and endless licensed merchandise ¯ and one of the most recognizable brands in the world.

    In the 1960s, Hefner became the public face of the company and was known for his smoking jacket, his pipe and the assurance that wherever he was, a bevy of beautiful women surrounded him. He launched a series of private key clubs that he staffed with hostesses known as Bunnies for their now-iconic uniforms that included ears and a tail.

    Hefner was arrested in 1963 and charged with selling obscene literature after publishing nude photos of actress Jayne Mansfield. The charges were dropped after a jury was unable to reach a verdict, but the experience led Hefner to launch the Playboy Foundation, which provided funding to groups researching human sexuality and fighting censorship.

    The Playboy founder suffered a minor stroke in 1985, just a few weeks shy of his 59th birthday.

  • I thought I’d be first African to go to space -Newtown Jibunoh

    I thought I’d be first African to go to space -Newtown Jibunoh

    At almost 80, the founder of Fight Against Desert Encroachment (FADE), Dr. Newton Jibunoh, remains his agile and spritely self, engaging himself in some kinds of physical exercise considered preposterous for a man his age. But he has a ready answer to that: the environment he has cared for has in turn cared for him. In this interview with PAUL UKPABIO, the award-winning environmentalist relates how from nothing he got virtually everything he ever wanted, adding that although he is retired, he might still “stand up and run” if a new passion comes up.

    We understand that you are retired now. What are your days like now?

    I retired into the world of environmental sustainability and looking after my artworks. Retirement also affords me the opportunity to spend more time with my grandchildren. I also find time for travelling, writing, teaching, speaking engagements and public appearances.

    You are widely known a restless adventurer. What exactly was on your mind when you took the decision to go into retirement?

    I knew I was going to find more time for the environment and also for the role I have been made to play in various traditional matters that have to do with my age and responsibility to the community where I come from. I knew that all these would be enough to occupy me for the rest of my life. And in-between, I try to go on a few days holiday. For instance, any time I am out of the country, I make sure I take a few days to relax after completing whatever I travelled for at the time.

    We recall also that when you retired from Costain West Africa some years ago, you probably thought that you were going to rest, but it did not turn out that way…

    I have always believed that resting means going six feet below the ground, and I don’t have any such thing in my diary as I know that when that time comes, I will probably rest forever.

    Sooner than one knew it, you were involved in a whole new workload called FADE Africa. What did you really intend FADE Africa to be?

    My involvement in the founding of FADE was mainly as an advocacy body because of the catastrophic effect of climate change on the environment and the degradation we have subjected our land and environment to. For many years, I was involved in advocacy and even went on to implement pilot projects to show how some of these degradation problems can be combated. That was what FADE (Fight Against Desert Encroachment) was set up for and is still doing.

    Were you able to achieve your dreams for the organisation?

    It depends on how you measure achievements. Most of the projects that I started and the advocacies that went along with the projects I knew would take somewhere between 40 and 50 years to realise, and that I probably would not be around to see the results. But my achievements are a work in progress, which involves having a structure in place, especially amongst young people who can carry on when I am no longer around. I have quite a lot of young advocates, environmentalists and so on working with me in achieving the desired result.

    What prompted your first journey by road to Europe?

    My first journey was from Europe, actually. I wanted to be part of that space era. As a student in London, the civilized world started exploring the space and moon, coming out with innovations that have kept our lives the way it is today, and I wanted to be a part of that. It’s like the old saying ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’. Without such explorations, very little would have been discovered. In Africa, we never think much of such things, but I have found that the reason why the civilized world is what it is today is because of exploration. So, back in the 60s, as a young chap with a desire to explore space but no opportunity, I turned to the next best thing I could find, and that was exploring the Sahara, which was then seen as a forbidden territory. I had always thought that I would be the first African in space but sadly due too many constraints on the continent, that dream was not realised. My exploration, however, helped me to develop initiatives that are aiding the preservation of the environment.

    What memories and experience of that first trip are still on your mind?

    I have the desert beckoning to me all the time mainly because I am yet to realise the dream I had when I crossed the Sahara, which is to be part of an initiative that will green part of the desert and restore the grazing fields, restore the farmlands and restore communities. It was such dreams that led FADE Africa to go into partnership and collaboration with one of the most disciplined associations in the country, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). This is to ensure continuity as it is one body most likely to carry the whole goal of bridging the desert to the next generation.

    In what ways was the second journey better than the first? What memories of that trip have refused to go away from your mind?

    Well I cannot say the second was better than the first, because in exploration, you don’t worry about things like that. Every exploration has a theme, and you do it with the spirit of adventure. It was during the second expedition that I discovered the magnitude of the problem of desertification, and I felt there was a need to take it to the global arena. To do this, a lot of research work into desertification needed to be carried out, and at that time, Israel was the only place that had in one of their universities a department that dealt with the science of desertification. Going through the Israeli Embassy in Nigeria, I was able to secure the opportunity to study the science of desertification in the country.

    One memory that has refused to go away from my mind is how the Sahara keeps expanding by the day, depriving millions of communities of grazing fields and farmlands, displacing them from their natural surroundings. It haunts me and makes me want to go back all the time; not only to keep up with the education that I get from such an exploration but to keep up with my research on how best to tame the situation. In one of my writings, I described the love I have for the desert, even if it is a dangerous affair.

    How about the third trip?

    The third trip was mainly about passing on the torch to the younger generation, especially after realising that the initiatives and advocacies that came out of the expedition was something that will go on beyond me. There was that need to now hand over the torch to the younger ones so that they can continue with the whole process of getting something out of the Sahara, like a trans-Sahara highway, which is already being designed as part of our partnership with NSE.

    Are you also retired from the campaign against desert encroachment?

    I can never retire because it is something that has eaten so deep into me that I have dedicated my entire or whatever is left of my entire life to. It is something I will keep doing until I can’t do it anymore.

    Do you see your campaigns yielding fruits long after you are gone, from individuals, the Nigerian government and the international community?

    Yes, of course. Like I said earlier on, I am already seeing it. From the advocacies alone, I have seen the impact the campaign has had, not just from a local angle but internationally. Which is why I believe FADE Africa is one of the very few environmental organisations that is accredited by the United Nations, and that alone is something of joy to not just me but to the whole country. This also explains why a lot of the projects we have embarked on have attracted sponsorships not just locally but internationally. I know that FADE patronage and sponsorship will continue after me.

    As an emeritus environment ambassador, what advice do you want to leave with Nigerians and people of the world in general?

    To try to imbibe that biblical saying, ‘we should all live this world a better place than we left it’. The opposite is what we are experiencing today. So the message is to try as much as we can to replenish or give back to the land all we have taken from it all these centuries.

    But you have not been all about science and travels. You also have the creative side. What informed your interest in the arts?

    I didn’t know that there was a lot of art in me until I embarked on my expeditions, which led me to environmental advocacies. Subsequently, after being in the construction industry for more than four decades, I found all that relating to the art. This is because I discovered that before the written history, art was what we used to reserve the various stages of our development, and this captivated me. So, in the process of studying and learning more, I became an art connoisseur. Even though I have never produced any art work, my friends in the art have always joked that whenever I decide to do so I must ensure that they are there so they can be the first to collect it.

    What prompted you to establish Didi Museum? What does it stand for?

    Apart from collections that I had acquired over the course of my expedition, the course of my life in the construction industry and over the course of my relationship with different traditional rulers, I felt that I was in a better position to have an institution that would depict my love and admiration for the arts, coupled with the fact that I had always wanted to have a memorial for my sister that I lost at a very earlier age, Didi, which the private museum is named after.

    How have you managed to sustain Didi Museum over the years?

    Initially, I funded it from my meager resources, starting with what was then known as gallery exhibitions. That finally graduated into a museum. By the time the museum was fully established with the involvement of major traditional rulers in the country, the Presidency and a lot of gurus in the art, finding sponsors was not too difficult. So, even though it started with my own resources, we have found out ways of getting some kind of subventions from institutions, including government institutions.

    How would you say that your early life influenced the person you are today?

    My early life was such that I had to fend for everything myself, including in some cases, paying my way through my educational pursuit, paying my way through virtually everything I own. The experience is reflected in the way my life has developed. I have never depended on any institution or person to survive. I have always felt that whatever I want in life I have to go out and look for it or work for it, which I think is a major plus that can be attributed to my early life.

    You have been a restless person from boardroom to travels and newer things. How has your wife been able to cope with that?

    I think that question is better put to her. She is in a better position to tell how she has been affected by my restlessness. What I can say though is that it wasn’t easy on her at first. But over time, she grew to understand my person and fully supported all my adventures. She has even participated in a few, and that was during my third expedition. She followed me up to the edge of the desert.

    You are also well respected in the society for being able to hold on to a celebrity marriage. What is the secret of your lasting marriage?

    Endurance, I will say. We learn to endure and live with our differences. We learn to appreciate each other.

    You have aged gracefully, what has been your health secret?

    The environment (laughs). I think the care I give to my environment has in turn cared for me.

    There is also the philanthropic side of you. Why do you choose to support the dreams of so many other people?

    I can’t quite remember the name of the philosopher that once said when you share what you can do without, it is gracious, but when you share what you cannot do without, it is novelty. I was touched by that. When you see someone in need, unable to afford even basic education and even though you also can barely make ends meet, you still find the strength to give out of your little, I believe life has a way of paying you back. And not just your investment/contribution, but in giving you a lot more. All through my philanthropic endeavours, I have seen that happen over and over. This has kept me going to a point where I run into people who are, for instance, not able to continue with their university education and I see them coming from not so privileged background, I consider helping out first before even considering if I have the money to do it. I get a lot of joy from doing so.

    You are also a man of style. Where does that come from?

    I am not a great follower of fashion. Sometimes my inspiration comes from my environment, as I have been known to create unique pieces from my local attire that people have gone ahead to copy. If that is what it means to be fashionable, then I will take it as a compliment. As to where my fashion comes from, I believe it must be from my environment, my travels and interaction with people.

    What kind of clothes do you actually love wearing?

    It depends on my mood. Sometimes the weather also determines what I put on. I love making things out of my traditional fabric and looking very local.

    If you were not who you are today, what else would you have loved to be?

    Batman, Superman, a superhero, as I would have the power to make things better, to help people get justice, equity and to change society from ignorance to education, poverty to wealth. I would also have the power to save the environment and restore the greenery in the desert. Even knowing that I can’t have those super powers, I try to find the power by some other means to enable me still make these changes in one way or the other. On a more realistic note though, I would probably have been a farmer because of my love for nature.

    Any regrets?

    Not really, because I’m assuming I have some years to go and I will do my best to realise those things I am yet to attend to. However, in terms of where I have reached and what I have attained, I believe I have done better than I could have even wished for myself some 40/50 years ago.

    Do you consider yourself a fulfilled man?

    Yes, of course. I am a much fulfilled man to the point of being humbled with what I have been able to do not just for myself but for my friends and community. I want a situation whereby when it is time for me to go, I want to know that I have touched the lives of many people.

    Any new hobby you have developed in recent times?

    Not at the moment. I am happy with where my passion has taken me to in the environment, art world, construction business. But one can never say, as I might take up something tomorrow, like going to space.

    At this time of your life, what would you say you value the most?

    Good people. Good leadership. The kind of leadership that Mandela gave to his people and the whole world, the kind of leadership John F Kennedy gave to the people of America. I love good leadership and I am inspired by same. We are lacking this in Nigeria and this has slowed us down in many departments of life.

    What does success mean to you?

    Peace of mind. Every time I embark on any expedition, adventure or exploration, I come out of it with wonderful peace of mind, unlike not trying at all. That is when I get restless and worried.

    You have been honoured by President Muhammadu Buhari with Environmental Friendly Award. How did it feel?

    It was one of the finest points of my life, considering that he was just a few months in office when a few of us were honoured. I see this as something to be shared, especially for the kind of support I receive from my colleagues, friends of the environment and all those that have worked with me, supported me and believed in me. I hope through a medium like this they begin to realise how much I appreciate the honour.

    What worries you the most about Nigeria?

    The one thing that has remained worrying to me is lack of patriotism in our land. I do not see Nigerians loving their country as I have seen in some of the other countries that I have been to all over the world. I don’t know if I should blame the people, as you get a feeling that it is probably because the country is not doing what the country is supposed to do for the people, which is why it is difficult to gain their love.

    At the same time, I always remember what John F Kennedy said in the 60s about not thinking of what the country can do for you but what you can do for your country. So there is a conflict, and until we find out why we lack patriotism we might never be able to move forward. For example, how can someone go into a system like education, health, an infrastructure that supplies power to the country and loot the money? I have always believed that if the country prospers, we will all prosper with the country. Those who take from the country only get richer while the country gets poorer.

  • How we select film students for scholarship, by AFRIFF Founder, Chioma Ude

    How we select film students for scholarship, by AFRIFF Founder, Chioma Ude

    Founder/ CEO of the popular Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Ms Chioma Ude has shed light on the process of selecting film students as beneficiaries of the festival’s annual scholarship scheme overseas.

    Ude, while addressing a press conference at the new AFRIFF office at CBC Building, Lekki, Lagos on Wednesday said the segments of the festival are run by experts  from different fields, making the selection of 20 students from the 200 who attend the annual Talent Development Workshop a thorough and professional exercise.

    “AFRIFF is not a one-man show. We have different people and organizations handling different segments of the festival. For the training segment, the teachers handling the courses are involved in the selection. Last year, we had about three thousand entries and we had to select two hundred for thye training.”

    To underscore the democratic nature of the selection, Ude said, “The selection of the 20 students who get further training abroad is done by the different lecturers, some of them provided by Ford Foundation, some provided by other sponsors like African Magic. The lecturers choose a student based on their own professional criteria. That way, the festival team has nothing to do with the selection. However, because this is my brainchild, they always leave three spots for me. So, I come, watch these students on the last day of their training, interact with them, ask some questions and then pick three of them that I find exceptionally brilliant. Most of the times, I ended up picking students that the lecturers already selected. For example, last year, the three names I chose had been chosen by the lecturers.”

    Ude disclosed that while some of the teachers came from abroad, some are Nigerians with proven record of achievements in their fields. They include Script Writer Tunde Babalola and actor Segun Arinze. “For script writing, I know there is a template internationally, but the students connect better with the Nigerian teachers. So, we had to find one with very good repute and we stuck with Tunde Babalola. For the acting class, we started off with Segun Arinze and later paired him with a foreign teacher. Then, last year, popular actress, Hilda Dokubo, who has a training and vocational school in Port Harcourt took over the Acting class from Segun Arinze. For the Cinematography class, last year, we had Cannon bring in their experts to handle the classes.”

    On her staying power despite the challenges of organising the festival and seeking sponsorship yearly, Ude said, “For AFRIFF generally, my staying power has been the training. And the training, for me, is just knowing that a complete package for the ecosystem is here. We train them in different aspects of filmmaking. It’s important we do this because we need our films to improve, we need our stories told well. When we were coming out with the plan, we hoped that we will impact on the industry and the society at large and move from that to actually seeing them make such impact.”

    Out of the 20 film students on scholarship at CineF’ Abrique, a film school in Lyon, France, Ford Foundation will cater for 10. How does the festival make up for the remaining 10.

    “AFRIFF has other sponsors. We have other people and institutions backing us. They include Access Bank, Air France that will be flying the students, Alliance Francaise that will be offering the requisite intensive tutorial in French language before they travel, and several others. It is important to know that this French lesson is pertinent to the students even though they will be taught in English language when they get to Lyon. The French are very big in art and culture, so for them it goes beyond just training in the classroom. They’ve created a two-week program for them. They will also go on a tour of Paris and its beautiful sites,” she explained.

  • Old students celebrate founder

    Old students celebrate founder

    The feeling of nostalgia gripped the old students of Government High School Ilorin, as they celebrated the school’s Golden Jubilee.

    Coincidentally, both the school and host Kwara State celebrated their 50th anniversary.

    Part of the activities of the school formerly known as Ilorin College before the takeover of the Kwara State government , was the reception in honour of old and current students by the family of the founder and first principal of the college, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Abdul-Razaq.

    Interestingly, the occasion was an avenue for the old students to once again show their appreciation to the founder’s efforts at making lives and moulding destinies.

    National President of the ICI/GHS Old Students Association, Alhaji Raji Afolagbe, said the college established in 1967, had contributed greatly to the development of education in Kwara, North Central and Ilorin in particular.

    Afolagbe, who was a Commissioner of Education and Human Capital in Kwara State, noted that the founder’s generosity and community service provided great opportunity for many people in the state to have access to quality post-primary education which was not easy to come by.

    Afolagbe said: “The dream of the founding father was to have quality seed. His dream was to have a school that will blossom; and today that dream has come to pass.

    He continued: “He’s a man of big vision. He was our role model. He had lot of students that he was paying their school fees despite the fact that he established the school. What he did was to approach some of his friends and corporate bodies to give out scholarships. All you just see is that Baba has gotten a scholarship for you and you don’t know how.”

    According to him, the college’s greatest achievement lies in the quality and substance imbued in its old students who are making their alma mater proud in their various chosen fields.  To show their appreciation, Afolagbe said many of the old students flew in from Europe and America to be part of the golden jubilee.

    In his own remark, the first registered pupil of the school on nominal list, Alhaji Mumini Abdulmalik, noted that the founder of the school inspired him and generation of students to success.

    “He taught us hardwork, integrity and honesty and these are hallmarks of his own professional and public service career. I must confess Ilorin College now GHS prepared us well for life,”said Abdulmalik who was also the college first senior prefect and a retired Assistant Comptroller General of Customs.

    Another old student and former Attorney General of Kwara Staten Alhaji  Saka Isau,,  described the founder’s foresight as ‘unparalleled’.

    “In the entire North Central, that was the first secondary school. He gave some of us poor people the opportunity to attend secondary school and today, you can see us. I was the Attorney General and former Secretary to the Government of Kwara State. He is my role model. I decided to study law because of him, ” said Isau also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

    The founder in his address, identified policy inconsistency and lack of political will on the part of governments as encumbrances facing the education sector.

    Abdul-Razaq, who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said for Nigeria to have quality education, policies must match vision of development for the society.

    The founder represented by his eldest child Dr Alimi Abdul-razaq, implored the old students not to relent in contributing to their alma mater.

    He said: ”Let me admonish you to continue to give back to your alma mater as government alone cannot shoulder the burden of education in these times we are. I, therefore, appealed to all old students of this institution to develop a more positive disposition towards contributing to the development of the school.

    “Fifty years in the life of an institution such as ours is certainly an occasion for joy and celebration. You came in as boys and girls, you saw, and you conquered. I am proud of the great feats and accomplishments of some of you, in your respective careers and callings. As a father and proprietor, this is a source of joy to me.”

    The high point of the event was presentation of recognition awards to many of the distinguished ex-students by the wife of the founder, Alhaja Raliat Abdul-Razaq, who was the first administrator of the school.

  • Police nab two in Akwa Ibom over kidnap of polytechnic founder

    The Police in Akwa Ibom have arrested two persons linked to the kidnapping of Sure Foundation Polytechnic founder, Dr Idongesit Udom.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Donald Awunah, disclosed this to newsmen in Uyo on Wednesday.

    Awunah stated that the suspects were helping the police in their investigation.

    He explained that the police were doing their best to ensure that the victim was rescued alive.

    “This type of matter does not require force since the life of a person is involved. We are not relenting in our efforts to get the man freed from the kidnappers.

    “The Anti-Kidnapping Squad and the Operation Impact Strategy team have spread their intelligence; very soon, the man will be rescued,” he said.

    The commissioner appealed to the civil society to cooperate with security agencies by always giving information on crimes and criminal elements in their neighbourhood for prompt action.

    Udom was abducted by suspected kidnappers outside his country home in Ukanafun while walking to Qua Iboe Church on Sunday, April 9.

  • NGO seeks gender parity in national development

    Ms. Inimfon Etuk, Founder, `SHE Forum Africa’, a pan-African NGO, says the organisation is seeking gender parity in national development in order to harness skills and empower women in the society.

    Etuk told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that the world would be a better place if more women participate in decision making at various organs and system of governance.

    According to her, the `SHE Forum Africa’ is a women development, leadership and lifestyle organisation that represents women.

    She added that the` SHE’ acronym represents Strengthen, Harness and Empowerment, adding that it creates a platform that brings women together in an atmosphere of learning.

    Etuk said the foundation was organising its 3rd `SHE FORUM AFRICA’ Conference at Sheraton Hotel on Oct. 6, in Abuja, with the theme “Regroup, Reboot, Remove the mask’’.

    She said the conference aims at women reorganising and realigning their strategies and policies to building a better and brighter Africa that leverages on the skills of the African women.

    “She Forum Africa is an organisation that provides the perfect window for a shift in our value system as they impact women across development and decision making spheres.

    “The whole idea is to bring women together in an atmosphere of learning and sharing life experiences from role models that have excelled in their chosen endeavours.

    “Nigeria is strategically at the time we need more than just the men service; we also need women in the key decision making.

    “The message we are preaching is about seeing women as partners in development,’’ Etuk said.

    She stated that some women were successful in politics and developmental cycles as well as improving the livelihoods of people who were dependent on them.

    Etuk said it was important for men to build on those natural skills of women in their thinking and analysis, in order to acquire a better understanding of economic issues.

    She further encouraged the right women to come into politics such as those educated and experienced in managing systems and organisations.

    “Politics is a place for everyone but the well qualified women in Nigeria need to come forward so that we can altogether build a better and stronger economy,’’ urged the founder.

  • Founder names school after late wife

    Founder, Morning Glory Private Schools,  Amuwo Odofin, Chief Israel Moradeyo, has rechristened the school as Margaret Moradeyo Memorial Schools.

    Moradeyo announced the new name to a shocked but excited audience of guests, teachers and pupils during the school’s 10th graduation.

    According to him, the ‘Margaret’ in the new name reflected that of his wife, who passed on in February, last year.

    Going down memory lane, Moradeyo said: “The school was not established as a business venture; rather, it was as a result of the health challenge that my wife had. She was treated in London and when we were returning, the physiotherapist looking after her asked us where our grand children were; and I said they were in Lagos; and he said it’s a very good idea if the grand children come to play and  trouble their grandmother, that will be a form of physiotherapy.

    “I laughed and wondered how I could bring children from Lekki, Victoria Island and Ikeja to come and play with their mother in Amuwo Odofin. So, I had an idea, a flat was vacant here and I thought if I had a daycare centre here, the exercise the children will give my wife will be great.”

    He said he invited his wife’s friends of over a decade to help him set up the school which later grew to kindergarten, nursery and now primary section.

    “In the church programme, the tribute I wrote was that the school was established to make life better for her and, in fact, it prolonged her life. She got up early in the morning and stayed with the children till 5pm. I was so engrossed that my wife was now happy and the school was even growing. My tribute was that the school which was established on her account would be named. So, today, it will be renamed Margaret Moradeyo Memorial School,”, said Moradeyo.

    The founder announced that more classes will be aded to the school, and it would be refocused as a business venture to improve the quality  of the school, among others.

    ounder, Morning Glory Private Schools,  Amuwo Odofin, Chief Israel Moradeyo, has rechristened the school as Margaret Moradeyo Memorial Schools.

    Moradeyo announced the new name to a shocked but excited audience of guests, teachers and pupils during the school’s 10th graduation.

    According to him, the ‘Margaret’ in the new name reflected that of his wife, who passed on in February, last year.

    Going down memory lane, Moradeyo said: “The school was not established as a business venture; rather, it was as a result of the health challenge that my wife had. She was treated in London and when we were returning, the physiotherapist looking after her asked us where our grand children were; and I said they were in Lagos; and he said it’s a very good idea if the grand children come to play and  trouble their grandmother, that will be a form of physiotherapy.

    “I laughed and wondered how I could bring children from Lekki, Victoria Island and Ikeja to come and play with their mother in Amuwo Odofin. So, I had an idea, a flat was vacant here and I thought if I had a daycare centre here, the exercise the children will give my wife will be great.”

    He said he invited his wife’s friends of over a decade to help him set up the school which later grew to kindergarten, nursery and now primary section.

    “In the church programme, the tribute I wrote was that the school was established to make life better for her and, in fact, it prolonged her life. She got up early in the morning and stayed with the children till 5pm. I was so engrossed that my wife was now happy and the school was even growing. My tribute was that the school which was established on her account would be named. So, today, it will be renamed Margaret Moradeyo Memorial School,”, said Moradeyo.

    The founder announced that more classes will be aded to the school, and it would be refocused as a business venture to improve the quality  of the school, among others.