The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Immortalise

  • Beneficiaries immortalise Afe Babalola with statue

    •Monarchs, others hail ABUAD founder’s philanthropy

    Legal luminary and renowned philanthropist, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), has received a lifetime honour from people who have benefited from his milk of human kindness.

    Acting under the aegis of Afe Babalola Beneficiaries Worldwide, they erected a befitting statue in his honour at Agbonna Tourist Centre in Okemesi Ekiti on Tuesday to keep his memory alive in the Hearst of the people.

    The President General of Aare Afebabalola Beneficiaries Worldwide, Oba Justice Ademola Ajakaye, the Oluyin of Iyin urged Nigerians to draw strength from the legacies and exemplary life of the Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD).

    Babalola spoke yesterday at Okemesi Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government Area at the unveiling of a sculpture and garden built in his honour by his beneficiaries worldwide.

    He said: “I want to emphasise that the only change that can change the country for better and pave way for the evolution of the nation is the change that changes the structure of Nigeria.

    “It is the duty of government to provide road, electricity, airport, rail line and other infrastructure. Unfortunately, all these are not there, resulting in spiral unemployment, destitution and criminality.”

    The legal luminary noted that restructuring remained the change that would make politics less attractive, make each state develop and thrive at its own pace.

    He said: “And it is the change that will make every component of Nigeria to develop its resources, provide employment, eradicate poverty and make individuals to become true Nigerians.

    “It is restructuring that will curb overconcentration of power at the centre and reduce corruption, promote harmony and unity.”

    Laying the wreathe at the Ekiti Parapo Heroes Museum at Ita Balogun in Okemesi in honour of fallen heroes, Babalola saluted the bravery of the war commanders who prosecuted the Kiriji War between 1877 and 1886.

    The eminent lawyer said their efforts were instrumental to the liberation of Ekiti from Ajeles from Ibadan.

    He said: “It is shameful that these heroes, who fought for the unity and amalgamation of Ekiti, were not being celebrated. The tourism potentials in this town alone, I mean those relics we gathered from the warfront, can turn the economy of this state around.

    “Today, the only thriving industry in Ekiti in particular is politics, while other sectors are neglected. The government must invest in this sector and turn around the moribund economy of our dear state in line with the dream of the founding fathers of the state.”

    The Oowa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Adedeji Gbadebo; the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaye and the initiator of the project, Chief Morakinyo Ogunniyi, lauded the Babalola’s giant strides and contributions to the state’s development.

     

     

     

  • ‘We want to immortalise Henry Townsend’

    It will be 160 years since journalism began under the Scottish evangelist Reverend Henry Townsend in the hilly country-side of Abeokuta, which is now the Ogun State capital. The Nigerian League of Veteran Journalists (NLVJ) is set to celebrate the milestone. Its President, Otunba Eddie Aderinokun, speaks to EVELYN OSAGIE at a media briefing to unveil the group’s plans to immortalise Henry Townsend with the landmark event.

    Many may not be aware that it is 160 years since the Scottish evangelist the late Rev. Henry Townsend published the first newspaper in Nigeria from Abeokuta, Ogun State. This also marks 160 years since journalism, the fourth estate of the realm, began under the auspices of Townsend in the hilly country-side of Abeokuta. “I will not blame them if they do not know, but as a profession, we all have embraced as our own over the years, it is worth celebrating. For me, celebrating 160 years of Nigerian journalism is not only the culmination of a major milestone in the media history of the nation, but remembering and immortalising Townsend,” said Otunba Eddie Aderinokun, President, the Nigerian League of Veteran Journalists (NLVJ).

    He added: “We have kick-started the preparations towards the grand event with a press unveiling of the event, announcing the process, which will culminate with a grand finale on March 22 to 24, 2019 in Abeokuta – the same place where it all began.”

     

    Celebrating Nigeria’s rich journalism history

    “Nigeria has a rich history of newspapers and newspapermen and women without whom today’s long list of great writers and editors would have evolved. What we are celebrating is a journey that started in Abeokuta in 1859 with the Iwe Irohin and today that newspaper has given birth to countless journalists and publications and an independent Nigeria. I think it is worth mentioning that the woman, who christened Nigeria, Flora Shaw, was also a journalist, while it was the journalistic elements in Nigeria at that time beginning with Herbert Heelas Macaulay, the first publisher of a daily newspaper in Nigeria (Lagos Today) that began to move for Nigeria’s Independence. His struggle was then carried on by his protégées like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the fiery Anthony Enahoro and the rest of them.

    “Without editors like Ernest Okoli, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, who edited the West African Pilot, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who published the Nigerian Tribune (still on the news stands till date), Chief Anthony Enahoro, who edited the Comet of the ZIK Group of Newspapers at 22 and was later to move a motion for Nigerian Independence at the House of Representatives as a young parliamentarian, we wont be where we are today as the fourth estate of the realm.”

    “I have only mentioned a few names that sort of led from the frontline of Nigerian Journalism in the 1940s and 50s, but I cannot avoid mentioning a host of others like Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Bisi Onabanjo, Dapo Fatogun (Daily Express), Gab Idigo, Roy Ezeabasili, (Nigerian Outlook), Babatunde Jose, Angus Okoli, Peter Osugo, Peter Enahoro better known as “Peter Pan”, Gbolabo Ogunsanwo, and Theresa Ogunbiyi (Daily Times) and many others of historic note.

    “We must not forget today’s leaders in this process. Sam Amuka-Pemu, the founder and publisher of Vanguard newspapers and past founder of Punch, and as well as Editor of Sunday Times is today 85, still playing an active role in the Newspapers Publishers Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and the biggest fish of today’s publishing empire, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, the publisher of ThisDay Group of Newspapers and its Television Wing, Arise News Television, which operates internationally with offices in Lagos, Abuja, London, New York, United States.

     

    Celebrating the link between education and Christian faith

    “As we roll out the drums to celebrate 160 years of journalism in Nigeria, we also are celebrating education and the blessings of education indirectly. It was very important to note that the power to read and write was given to Nigerians through journalism. How so? Before the first newspaper, Iwe Irohin was printed in Abeokuta on November 23, 1859, by a certain English Reverend gentleman Townsend, whom I refer to as the father of education and of all journalists and publishers in Nigeria, there was no formal way to teach Nigerians how to read and write. And because the missionary work of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ was impossible except the person to which you are preaching can understand your preaching, faith is impossible.

    “Interestingly, this is what Townsend said about his mission: “I have set on foot a Yoruba Newspaper. My first number is out, I am writing the second. My object is to get the people to read, i.e. to beget the habit of seeking information by reading, it is difficult.”

    “In this case, the people preaching were English speaking, and the only way they could establish that their work was successful was to ensure that converts can on their own find time to study the scriptures by reading. So, it follows that the ‘ready-for-harvest fields’ of Nigeria at that time had to be cultured for harvest. Thus, the reverend had to innovate by creating the local newspaper to stimulate reading. And just imagine what the man had to contend with. But today, we take for granted the fact that we can read and write as good as the oyinbos themselves, if not better in some cases; remember Prof Wole Soyinka’s literary feats, remember Chinua Achebe, remember Chimamanda Adichie et al.

    “So as a body, we felt we had to remind us all as a people, that journalism practically gave birth to Nigeria as we know it today and that we must remember our roots and water it properly, so that we can navigate the future with sure footedness and clear headedness.

     

    Celebrating the veterans

    “As we celebrate the Nigeria Media Sexacentennial, we must therefore, thank God, who in his infinite mercy, has kept alive many of us who practiced journalism in 50s, 60s, and 70s. Even as we celebrate 160 years of Nigerian journalism, we would also be marking the 30 years anniversary of NLVJ. The league was officially founded in 1989 by a group of veteran journalists under the leadership of myself, Chief Ajibade Fasina-Thomas, Ben Lawrence, Elder Sam Amuka and others like Dayo Duyile and Ambassador Moses Ihonde, Temple Benson, Olu Akaraogun, Abba Dabbo, Lindsay Barret, Tony Amadi and a long list of veterans, who worked tirelessly to ensure the longevity of the association after due consultations with senior colleagues, like the late Chief Anthony Enahoro, Alhaji Alade Odunewu and Alhaji Babatunde Jose; our forbears and practitioners of the 50s, 60s, and 70s.

    “I was asked the other day “what informed the decision to celebrate 160 years of journalism in Abeokuta, called the Nigeria Media Sexacentennial by the Nigerian League of Veteran Journalists? The celebration of 160 years of Nigerian journalism is, therefore, a major turning point in the history of the association.

    “Also, we have records to show  that over the years, the NLVJ has been instrumental to steadying the ship of state of Nigeria during turbulent times, using lectures, seminars and talk shops. The NLVJ is thus a patriotic conclave of eminent Nigerian journalists, who are passionate about Nigeria and are committed to the highest standards of the media profession through continuous interactions and interventions.

     

    Celebration highlights/partnership

    “Beginning from November 22 to 24, 2018, diverse activities are lined-up as build-up to the grandfinale billed for March 22 to 24, 2019, which would feature the inauguration and ground breaking of a Nigeria Media Hall of Fame and an Institute of Media Research and Training Center. There shall also be a Gala/Awards ceremony where past and present practitioners as well as performing public servants past and present shall be honoured. Amazingly, amidst a media exhibition and an international colloquium the descendants and representatives of Townsend with whom we are currently in talks as regards being present in Nigeria at the event, which will be lavishly hosted by the Ogun State government spearheaded by the governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

    “It was heartwarming when at a meeting with the governor, he agreed in principle, to host the event with fanfare just as he has been doing in the last three years with the now African Drum Festival. And as he completes his eight years of celebrated stewardship, what better way to sign out than in a blaze of glory with celebrating the phenomenon (journalism) that raised the profile of Abeokuta and Ogun State into one where giants of literature like Soyinka, governance guru like Obafemi Awolowo and music avatar like Fela Anikulapo Kuti, spring to fulsome. Not forgetting that there would be NLVJ annual convention, an important programme in the proceedings.

  • Prince Nico Mbarga’s children move to immortalise ‘Sweet Mother’ dad

    Prince Nico Mbarga’s children move to immortalise ‘Sweet Mother’ dad

    Late African singer, Prince Nico Mbarga will be happier more than ever wherever he is in his death as his children are putting everything in their best to immortalise their late father.

    Mbarga, a leader of the Rocafil Jazz music group and founder of the Panco system of music remains a celebrated African music figure known for his timeless popular ‘Sweet Mother’ song that still sweeps across the Africa and beyond till date.

    At the time, Mbarga’s ‘sweet mother’ song sometimes dubbed ‘African anthem’ was suggested to be the top twenty bestselling songs in history and voted as Africa’s favourite song by BCC readers and listeners in 2004, even years after the music legend had left the surface of the earth.

    Born on January 1, 1950, Mbarga had an active music career from 1970 until he met his untimely death in Calabar on June 24, 1997 while heading to catch up a visa collection for a tour of 50 states in the U.S.

    To canonize their late father, the late music legend’s children in conjunction with well-wishers, over months, erected a statue of Mbarga, organised a music concert and launched a foundation in the music legend’s name.

    The statue is sited on border road of Ikom and overlooks the road heading towards the Nigeria/Cameroun border, a symbolic message to the music legend’s dual nationality of the two countries. The statue in Ikom reiterates the fact that Mbarga lived and did business in the locality while fostering his music career.

    The concert tagged ‘Nico Mbarga 20th Anniversary’ was held at Jandged Resort in Ikom to mark the 20th anniversary of the legend’s unfortunate demise.

    The concert also provided upcoming musicians the opportunity to perform archival songs from the music Mbarga recorded. It also attempted to reunite members of the Rocafil Jazz musical group, but only Francis Mbu, one of Mbarga’s lead back-up vocalist among the five still living, could make it to the concert.

    Mbu performed alongside Nico Mbarga jnr, Slimphilz Barga and Estelle Mbarga attempting to mimic the exact performance style and voice of the late music legend drawing afresh memories of the late singer as the show’s danced to familiar tunes.

    The high point of the event was the launch of the Nico Mbarga Sweet Mother Foundation (NMSMF) to relive the values Mbarga stood for.

    Meanwhile, Nico Mbarga jnr, the executive director of NMSMF, in a statement, disclosed that he and his siblings are planning a full rebirth of their late father’s Rocafil Band with particular interest in promoting the late icon’s ‘Panco’ genre of music.

    A member of the band, Louisiana Tilda, reportedly moved to Paris while the location of the other three members is unknown.

    When he died, Mbarga was survived by 10 children, but Pauline, his eighth daughter died in 2011 after a brief illness. Among his remaining nine children, four (Nico, Descrow, Estelle and Slimphilz) are actively involved in promoting their late father’s ‘panco’ style of music while the other five (Joan, Lillian, Lucy, Lionel, and Nicoline) are engaged in business and in the civil service.

     

  • Imo to immortalise 10-year-old victim of Owerri market protest

    •Douglass Road, new project to be renamed after victim

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday said the famous Douglas Road, where the demolished Eke-Ukwu Owerri Market was located, as well as any other project that will be built on the plot of land, will be renamed after Somtochukwu Ibeanusi, the 10-year-old boy who was killed by a stray bullet during the demolition.

    He said the exact place the boy was killed did not matter because the government had decided to honour him, though the circumstances were confusing.

    Okorocha, who spoke at the Government House in Owerri, the state capital, when he hosted traditional rulers and leaders of Owerri, said he had been able to “liberate the people of Owerri from a wicked clique made up of one or two families that had held Owerri people in bondage”.

    He said: “Government has decided to honour Somtochukwu, although the boy’s death was confusing because an action can’t be taking place on Douglas Road and the person died on Mbaise Road.

    “No matter what happened, whatever be the case, since that boy died within that period of liberation, that boy must be honoured. This is besides the fact that Owerri leaders are mourning him, wore black, even to Catholic and Anglican churches. And if Owerri leaders can mourn a boy from Nnewi, Anambra State, that shows there is something great about that boy.

    “For every activity at Ekeukwu and on Douglas Road, the boy will be honoured. This is because he died on the day of the event. That boy is more important than any Eke or Afor, Ekeukwu or Ekenta.

    “So, Douglas Road and any project to be sited there will be named after Somtochukwu. The project will be named Somtochukwu and the road, Somtochukwu Road, in line with the way all of us are mourning that boy. I will not go back to a deity again by naming it Ekeukwu Road. Imo State has gone past that level.”

    He added: “They (political opponents) are fighting me because I have liberated our people. What do I benefit by building a township school, rebuilding Emmanuel College, Akwakuma Girls School, Government College, Government Technical College, Owerri Girls School, inland roads, ICC, trade and investment centre, two flyovers, two tunnels, heroes’ square, roads?

    “What do I benefit as Rochas Okorocha, if not for the development of Owerri? No governor has done, in the history of Owerri, what I have done for Owerri people? My crime is that I have liberated you people from bondage…”

     

  • Immortalise late Justice Obaseki, NURTW tells Edo Govt

    Immortalise late Justice Obaseki, NURTW tells Edo Govt

    …As Dangote, Oshiomhole pay tribute

     

    National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has urged the Edo State government to immortalise late Justice Andrews Otutu Obaseki.

    Late Justice Obaseki served as Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria at various times and retired as a Supreme Court justice in 1991.

    He died on July 13 and was interred Friday beside the tomb of his father, late Gauis Ikhuobase Obaseki, in Benin City.

    State Chairman of NURTW, Chief Odion Olaye, who spoke at the interment of Justice Obaseki said law institutions in the state should be named after Justice Obaseki because of landmark judgments he delivered.

    Chief Olaye stated that the late Justice Obaseki left a good legacy in the law profession.

    According to him, “He was a man of his words. He believed in the truth which was why he served the country in various capacities until he retired as a Supreme Court judge.”

    Africa richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, described the late Justice Obaseki as an upright man whose name should not be rubbished.

    Alhaji Dangote urged Edo residents to produce more late Justice Obaseki.

    Former governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, said Justice Obaseki represented the finest tradition of judges who in their time delivered judgement in its purest form.

    “As a small boy in Kaduna, there were notable judgments you could memorise. He is an emboldenment of our culture and symbol of truth.”

    His eldest son, Edosa, said his father’s legacies of love for family, humility and personal integrity were priceless.

    He stated that his father’s generosity and encouragement were felt far and wide.

     

  • Edo students unveil plans to immortalise Amodu, Keshi

    •Sports festival in motion

    Tertiary institution students from Edo State have taken the bull by the horns as they unveiled plans for an annual Sports Festival to honour two of the greatest coaches Nigeria has ever produced in Shuiabu Amodu and Stephen Okechukwu Keshi.

    The students under the aegis of the National Association of Edo State Students (NAESS), said through their Planning Committee Chairman, Comrade Oloke Emmanuel and their Director of Sports, Comrade Adeoye Raphael, that the plan is to hold an annual Sports Festival to honour two of the best coaches Nigeria and indeed Africa has ever produced.

    The duo said they have spoken to relevant authorities in  Edo and Delta states as well as football managers at the federal level and that they hope to get support for what they have tagged NAESS National Sports Festival in honour of Shuiabu Amodu and Stephen Keshi. Venue of the maiden event has been scheduled for the University of Benin Sports Centre, as  stakeholders meet to fine tune the date for later this year, with the middle of the year already touted.

    Comrades Adeoye and Oloke, were emphatic that they were not kidding on the project as they wish to use the sports festival to redefine the way heroes are treated in Nigeria, declaring that they were not quite satisfied at the way the duo of Amodu and Keshi were treated at both Federal and state levels when they passed on.

  • Bishop to Etim Inyang’s children: immortalise your dad

    Bishop to Etim Inyang’s children: immortalise your dad

    The Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria and former Bishop of Owerri, Dr. Samuel Emeka Kanu Uche, has urged children of the late Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Sir Etim Inyang, to immortalise their father, to keep his legacies alive.
    The cleric described the late police chief, who was a Knight of John Wesley, as a cheerful and happy man, who had the fear of God.
    He said Nigeria lost a personality of no mean value.
    Prelate Uche spoke on Monday night at a sermon during a tributes session for the late Inyang at Methodist Church of the Trinity, Tinubu Square, Lagos.
    The cleric said the late IGP lived a decent life, adding that this was why he had a glorious exit from the Police and the earth.
    Etim Inyang died on September 26; he was 86.
    Urging all to learn from the life of Inyang, Prelate Uche said: “Inyang never stole any property, even though he was IGP during the military era. He was meticulous in discharging his duty as a policeman and, in fact, he was a consummate and quintessential gentleman, who developed humans and communities.
    “During his time, prison houses were not congested because there were no charges for bails and culprits were not kept for more than 48 hours in cells.”
    The Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Sunday Ola Makinde, noted that the children of the late police chief should not allow memories of their father to die.
    The eminent cleric hailed the late Inyang for being active in his village and town.
    He described him as a rare gem, who rather served than see others serve him.
    The late Inyang’s son, Inyang Jr. said he would miss his father’s humility, simplicity and patriotism.
    He said: “As a child, I remember my father was passionate about crime fighting and building the kind of police force that would be respected by the public.
    “He began his career as a detective, trained at the Scotland Yard and was head of Interpol in Nigeria from 1961 to 1971. He set up the traffic warden scheme, police hospital, detective training school that started out in Enugu, the Police Community Relations Committee and part of what we all wanted the police force to be. Subsequent IGs have made it a point to build on what he began and a few more things he initiated.
    “My father believed that humility, service and love are the core pillars of who he was and lived by the principles of service and philanthropy.
    “Those virtues are not lost on us as a family and those who met with his counsel and wisdom to imbibe. We as a family benefited from it and we will carry on that legacy.
    “He also believed that children are the mirror through which God sees the world and never believed in anything but the best for us. He kept saying that education was the best legacy he could give all of us. When he had the opportunities, he would crack jokes of what we could become if we didn’t leverage on the opportunity we had to get educated.”

    In attendance were: former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, former IGP Mohammed Abubakar, Senator Mulsiu Obanikoro, former Petroleum Minister Dan Etiebet, Lagos State Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, among others.
    The late Inyang was the first National Vice President of the Council of Knights; founder of Enwang Development Union and President, Oron Development Union.
    His funeral service will hold on Saturday at Enwang Stadium in Mbo Local Government of Akwa Ibom State.

  • Kwara Assembly wants late Rashidi Yekini immortalised

    Kwara Assembly wants late Rashidi Yekini immortalised

    The Kwara State House of Assembly on Tuesday urged the state government to immortalise Rasheed Yekini, the late Soccer giant in view of his contributions to sport development in the country.

    The House made the call in its resolution after adopting a call to that effect by the House Leader, Hassan Oyeleke.

    The House Leader, who spoke under matters of urgent public importance, said the invaluable contributions of late Rashidi Yekini deserved recognition and compensation.

    He said the late soccer ambassador scored 37 goals for Nigeria in 58 appearances with active participation in many national and international soccer tournaments.

    All the members of the House unanimously in their contributions said the late soccer legend deserved to be immortalised.

    They said the deceased had placed Kwara on the global map with his brilliant performances in his soccer profession.

    Yekini, a native of lra in Oyun Local Government area of Kwara, died in May 2012 at the age of 48.

    Meanwhile, the House had called on the state government to increase monthly subvention to all state government hospitals to allow them to perform optimally.

    The House made the call in its resolution after adopting a motion on improving healthcare delivery services in Kwara.

    The motion, which enjoyed the support of other members, was moved by Ahmed lbn-Mohammed representing Kaima-Wajibe constituency.

    The Deputy Speaker, Mathew Okedare, who presided over the plenary while reading the resolutions, urged the state government to buy more operational vehicles to hospitals.

     

  • Ogun to immortalise Fela, Ogunde others

    Ogun to immortalise Fela, Ogunde others

    If the quality of guests and the colourful atmosphere at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, were a measure of the success of the recent presentation of Abeokuta…Beyond the rocks, the organisers of the event may have realised one of their objectives.

    The guests included Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Oba Michael Gbadebo Adedotun, Alake of Egbaland; Senator Daisy Danjuma, Omooba Yemisi Shyllon, Oloye Lekan Alabi, Mrs Bolanle Austin-Peters, Tunde Kelani, Segun Odegbami, Air Vice-Marshal Okanlawon (rtd).

    Governor Amosun, who pledged to buy many copies of the books for distribution, reiterated his administration’s determination to immortalise the illustrious sons and daughters of Ogun State who have contributed immensely to the growth of the state.

    He disclosed that there were plans by the state to create memorials for legends, such as the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti and the doyen of theatre, the late Hubert Ogunde. “As for development, we have not scratched the surface because there is a lot to be done. We will buy the books and send to all our embassies, schools and libraries. We will like to have memorial for the late Fela who is a music legend. Also, the late Ogunde will be remembered too. We will look at all of these in order to add value to the state heritage. Nothing else excites me now than to develop Ogun State. Let’s put our heads together for the overall development of the state,” he said.

    He recalled that he wanted to launch the book earlier to distribute to relevant bodies in the state, but changed his mind.

    “I realised that it would make greater impact and more symbolic to distribute the book when the state will turn 40 in February. The book is not for us alone but for the Diaspora and younger generations of Egba.

    Governor Amosun, who commended the author of the book, Hakeem Adenekan, said the state occupies a prime place in the country and the world, noting that before the advent of Nigeria as a country, the Egba had been accessing loans from international bodies.

    According to the governor, there are new things in the book he never knew, saying there is more to Abeokuta than Olumo rock, which the author has proved in the book. “Let us tell our story. We want to see more of this,” he added.

    Oba Adedotun said there are many books on Abeokuta by many authors, but that the latest by Adenekan captures the scenic views of the ancient city known for its rusty roofing sheets and rocky hills of Olumo. He hoped that there would be more books on Abeokuta, a community that has moved from a small town 185 years ago to a city.

    Chief launcher Omooba Shyllon drew the attention of the state to tourists’ sites, such as Oyan dam and Olumo rock, saying they are capable of generating revenue for the state. “With all the firsts in Abeokuta, we can attract tourists to the city thereby generating revenue,” he said.

    Senator Danjuma described Abeokuta…Beyond the rocks as one of the best coffee table books that will be valuable to tourists and researchers to Abeokuta. “Hakeem has written a book that will preserve the heritage of Egba,” she said.

    Reviewer of the book, Jahman Anikulapo lamented that Nigerians have not done enough to document and preserve their heritage, saying no one book can capture all about the local councils in the state. He, therefore, called for the involvement of writers in the local council areas in the documentation of the state heritage.

    Adenekan described his book, which took him five and half years to complete, as one way to put Abeokuta on the world map. He regretted that Nigeria doesn’t have quality record, commending the Alake of Egba for his support.

  • Oyo to immortalise Arisekola

    Oyo to immortalise Arisekola

    The Oyo State Government has announced plans to immortalise the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abudul-Azeez Arisekola Alao, by naming the newly-rehabilitated Tollgate-Challenge Expressway after him.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi disclosed this at the Basorun, Ibadan residence of the deceased business mogul during a civic reception marking his 70th post-humous birthday. Ajimobi further disclosed that the state government, in collaboration with Arisekola Foundation, would sponsor unspecified number of muslim faithful on Lesser Hajj  otherwise known as Umrah. Apart from this, Ajimobi said some other projects would be named after Aare Arisekola Alao in due course.

    The Ajimobi  remarked that Alhaji Arisekola-Alao was a special breed who, throughout his life, used his God-given endowments to impact positively on the society, adding that it will take another 50 years to find another Aare Arisekola in this part of the world.

    Earlier in a special sermon at the ceremony, an Islamic cleric, Shikh Suleiman Onikijipa, acknowledged the virtues of late Alhaji Arisekola-Alao whom he described as a good example of a godly person who not only used his wealth in the service of mankind, but also left behind a household comprising well-trained children with the fear of Allah. Dignitaries from the cross section of the society across the country graced the occasion.