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  • As MicCom Foundation for bursaries, scholarships returns

    As MicCom Foundation for bursaries, scholarships returns

    • By Gafar Atitebi

    In his first cabinet shake-up since he took over the reigns of government on May 29 last year, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu disengaged five ministers on October 23. It would not come as a surprise to any discerning mind that one of the affected ministries was education, the bedrock of development on which any imaginative government must place a premium.

    A nation whose population is made up of illiterates is as good as dead; only waiting to be consigned to the anthill of inglorious history.

    The foregoing informs the sarcastic saying that any nation that thinks education is expensive should try ignorance. It is an experiment that appears to have been put to test in some parts of the country with grave consequences in form of banditry, sectarian killings and other forms of terrorist acts.

    The seeds for the wave of insecurity that has engulfed some parts of the country, particularly the Northeast and the Northwest geo-political zones, were planted wittingly or unwittingly by parents and guardians who failed to send their children to school and thus turned them into willing tools for extremist religious groups, bandits and other anti-social elements who exploit their ignorance to recruit them for unwholesome activities that threaten the very foundation of our national existence.

    These anomalies informed the decision of MicCom Cables and Wires Limited to launch a foundation aimed at helping indigent children and youths whose educational future is in jeopardy. According to statistics from the UNICEF no fewer than 10.5 million children are out of school in spite of an existing law making primary and secondary education compulsory.

    Established in 1987 by patriarch and matriarch of the MicCom family, Dr (Prince) Tunde Ponnle (OON, OFR) and the late Engr (Mrs) Olufunke Ponnle, the MicCom Foundation for Educational Development (MIFFED) is focused on academic excellence, moral uprightness and the belief that education is the best legacy that parents as well as the nation can bequeath to their children and upcoming generations.

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    It was towards the foregoing end that MIFED saddled itself with the task of awarding bursaries and scholarships to deserving students in Osun and Oyo states every year from 1987 until the laudable programme was truncated by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, following restrictions that were placed on public gatherings and activities. It is instructive that the unsavoury development occurred immediately after the 2019/2020 annual awards presentation ceremony.

    Before then, more than 7,000 students from various educational institutions in the aforementioned states had benefitted from MicCom’s bursary and scholarship awards. They included secondary school students, undergraduates and postgraduate students of Osun and Oyo states origin.

    Besides financial assistance, the foundation also donated foodstuffs and Christmas gifts to the Schools for the Special Needs in Ikirun and Osogbo. These were besides a block of fully equipped classroom each donated to the two schools.

    The foundation had also donated textbooks to the secondary schools in Osun State through the Ministry of Education. It donated a motorised borehole to Saint James Middle School Osogbo upon the schools emergence as the best in the 2017/2018 session MIFFED Assessment examination.

    Also included in the foundation’s gestures was the donation of solar street lights to Methodist High School Ilesa, being the best school in the 2019/2020 Assessment examination.

    Other educational philanthropic accomplishments of MicCom Foundation include the institution of two prizes in four departments at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife; the donation of a science block to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso; the equipment of a six-classroom block for Baptist Day School, Ada and the institution of the WAPCO Scholarship fund for workers’ children.

    Thus, it was a smooth sail for the foundation until two brutal incidents conspired to throw a spanner in the works. The first was the COVID-19 pandemic aforementioned, which locked down not just the entire nation but the entire world, while the second was the untimely demise Engr (Mrs) Olufunke Ponnle, a massive brain behind the founding of both MicCom and the foundation, who but for her passing in 2012 would have celebrated her 80th birthday this year.

    Still, the significance of the milestone age is not lost on the family members and other well wishers, who have decided to honour the deceased matriarch with a posthumous birthday bash coordinated by her daughter and accomplished medical consultant based in New York, USA, Dr (Mrs) Temitope Imevboren. The momentous event by Dr. Imevboren and her team will feature award of bursaries to deserving students, honours for the parents of the awardees and luncheon for dignitaries from Osun and Oyo states.

    The late female engineer reputed for excelling in a male-dominated profession was not only a co-dreamer, co-actualiser and co-driver of the foundation, she was also the very pivot on which its wheel rotated.

    Underscoring her impact on both MicCom and the foundation in an interview he granted a national newspaper, Dr (Prince) Tunde Ponnle said it is the reason why he has set October 29 of every year apart to celebrate her since her departure on October 29, 2012.

    Dr Ponnle said: “Whatever I am or whatever MicCom is today, we did it together. Because of me, she studied engineering as well.

    “So when we started our engineering business, we were together. She did one thing and I did the other. She was managing the factory while I was going out for marketing.

    “In everything, we were really, really compatible. We were so close that my children thought I would not last one year after her death. So that calls for remembering her every year.

    “The first seven years when I was alone was terrible. I moved to the village and played golf. But golf is not something you do 24/7. Even if you play it every day, it is only for four hours. So when you are back to the house you are lonely.

    “In the village, there is no one at your level. So it was a very lonely life until maybe the lady herself sent somebody exactly like her to me in the person of my present wife (former Osun State Deputy Governor, Titi Laoye Tomori).”

    From the foregoing, it was a natural consequence that the death of the female engineer would cause a lull in the foundation’s activities before the ugly incident was compounded by the outbreak of COVID-19.

    Thankfully, the ugly times are over as MIFED’s donors have returned to the drawing board for necessary re-strategising and repositioning with a view to put it on a stronger footing to address her core aims and objectives.

    We hereby thank God the Almighty that the Foundation is now back to continue her service to God and humanity. It is in this regard that we solicit for your maximum cooperation towards ensuring the success of the 2025/2026 edition where the Foundation will pay the WAEC fees of successful candidates from different schools.

    Each school is therefore enjoined to present their five best students in SS2 for our assessment examination at a date that will soon be communicated to you. The awards will be based purely on merit.

    •Atitebi is the executive secretary of MicCom Foundation for Educational Development (MIFFED)

  • Equipment for MicCom Cancer Foundation

    A don, Dr. Doris Kyeremateng, has donated a mammogram machine to the MicCom Cancer Foundation, Ada in Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State.

    Kyeremateng of the University of Mannitoba, Canada, said the donation was meant to intensify cancer awareness programmes across the globe.

    She added that the donation would help the foundation’s renewed efforts to ensure prevention and treatment of the deadly disease in Nigeria.

    The foundation’s Programme Manager, Dr. Tolulope Kuye, said the “equipment would add value to the foundation’s avalanche of sophisticated world-class facilities that account for the series of successes being recorded in its medical operations”.

    She added that with the new machine, the foundation would be able re-engineer its sensitisation programmes to detect, prevent and treat cancer in rural and urban areas.

    Kuye reiterated the Foundation’s determination to checkmate cancer and its attendant death toll in the country.

    The manager said the Foundation had assisted Osun State by helping women to detect cancer early for prompt treatment.

    “Twenty cancer patients have been diagnosed between January and December.

    “We have embarked on a series of awareness programmes at the NYSC orientation camp, schools and markets.

    “Through our partnership with the Women and Children Development Initiative Foundation in Osogbo, we have given free talks to and screened over 500 women, 7,000 corps members and 500 teachers for breast and cervical cancers.”

    Also speaking on the causes and prevention, Dr. Ajenifuja Kayode, a consultant gynaecological oncologist, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said certain cancers are hereditary while others are predominantly due to patients’ poor lifestyle.

  • MicCom Foundation: Another feather in its cap

    MicCom Foundation: Another feather in its cap

    Cancer has killed many Nigerians this year. In 2012, it killed a leading light and wife of the founder of MicCom Cables and Wires, Prince Tunde Ponnle, who has now started a foundation to rescue people from the scourge. OLUKOREDE YISHAU writes that another feather will be added to the foundation’s cap as it takes delivery of a mammogram machine, which will change the face of managing the disease in Osun State and its environs. 

    The vision began with the death of a great woman, who, for decades, was an amazing partner to her husband. They helped the poor, contributed to education and were active in church development.

    But on October 29, 2012, death parted them. Olufunke, an engineer and Princess, left Tunde, also an engineer, to face the challenges of life alone. No thanks to endometrial cancer. Prince Tunde Ponnle, founder MicCom Cables and Wires and MicCom Gold and Resort, has had to live painfully in the last three years without a woman who contributed to making

    Prince Ponnle and The late Mrs Poonle
    Prince Ponnle and The late Mrs Poonle

    him what he is.

    The good news, however, is that Mrs Ponnle’s death made her husband learn more about cancer. He has realised that cancer kills more people worldwide than malaria, HIV and AIDS and tuberculosis. He also discovered that when detected early, cancer could be cured. He equally discovered that the prevalence rate of cancer was on the increase among Nigerians.

    Worse still, he realised that 10 people die from cancer every hour and yet only a few African countries were sufficiently funding cancer control programmes. It also became known to him that no fewer than 80,000 Nigerians die from various types of cancer annually and this may increase; given the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) projection that about 84 million people may die worldwide as a result of one form of cancer or the other this year.

    These discoveries made Ponnle to consult with his children and the result is the MicCom Cancer Foundation (MCCF).

    The Ibokun Road, Ada, Osun State-based foundation is out to help women fight breast cancer and also help men who may have prostate cancer. The foundation chose these two types of cancer because statistics show that they are the most prevalent among Nigerians.

    Any moment from now, the foundation will take delivery of a mammogram machine. It was donated by a respected family physician, Dr. Doris Kyeremateng, who has also joined the board of MicCom Cancer Foundation.

    A mammograph machine
    A mammograph machine

    Dr. Kyeremateng, a Canada-based Ghanaian, was, in 2006, installed as the President of the Manitoba College of Family Physicians. As President, Dr. Kyeremateng represented the province of Manitoba on the board of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC).

    She migrated to Canada in 1995 and has been practising in Winnipeg. She owns and runs the Autumnwood Medical Centre in Windsor Park in Winnipeg. She obtained her Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree at the University of Bergen, Norway in 1992 where she practised as a General Practitioner until 1995, when she moved to Winnipeg with her family.

    She completed a two-year Family Medicine residency programme at the University of Manitoba in 2000.

    The centre has solid professionals either as technical experts or full-time members of staff. One of the technical experts behind it is Dr. A. Akinsola, a Professor of Internal Medicine and Consultant Nephrologist, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who has broad-based skills and capacity in programme coordination and administration.

    Also supporting the centre technically is Dr K.T. Ijadunola, who is an Associate Professor/Consultant Public Health Physician at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He has proven expertise in communication, health education, promotion and programme management and execution.

    There is also Dr. A.A Salako, who is an Associate Professor/Consultant Urologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.  He is a urologist with special interest in screening and management of benign prostatic enlargement and prostate cancers. He has also been involved in community surveys.

    The centre also has the technical backing of Dr. K.O Ajenifuja, a Senior Lecturer/Consultant Obstetrics ad Gynaecologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Dr Ajenifuja has ample experience in community screening and treatment of cervical cancer. He has been part of a similar programme in India.

    Last but not the least is Dr O.A Esimai, an Associate Professor/Consultant Public Health Physician at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who coordinates the Well Women Clinic which provides awareness and screening services for breast and cervical cancers.

    The foundation runs a Cancer Preventive and Treatment Centre at its secretariat. The centre focuses on providing screening, counselling services and other support for treatment of early stage of cancer. It has the capacity to ensure adequate information management that will enable academic institutions conduct research into these cancers.

    “The data being generated will also be made available to the concerned government parastatals either for evaluation and/or research purpose. The programme managers, assisted by an Assistant Programme Manager provide services.

    “The foundation links up with secondary and tertiary health institutions in identified target communities in Nigeria (the OAUTHC Ile-Ife at inception) to facilitate access to management and quality care of patients with established lesions.

    “There is a plan to support and invest in the capacity development of the institution. This will be in the form of equipment (laboratory, radiology) and capacity building in diagnosis and treatment and facilitation of treatment of early lesions through a cost-sharing strategy between stakeholders,” the centre said.

    The foundation said it would continually mount advocacy and awareness campaign in Osun State, the neighbouring states and ultimately throughout the country.

    “This will be done through various media–radio and television, print media and visits to community leaders. This has commenced in earnest in the first month of the foundation’s operation through visits to traditional rulers of the six communities identified namely Ada, Ororuwo, Iragbiji, Aagba, Iree, and Eripa. The foundation has created awareness through media (radio and television) programmes in the form of jingles and lectures on “the cancers and their prevention” on the radio.

    Other advocacy will include sourcing for increased national, regional and international investment in the prevention and management of breast, cervical and prostate cancers in Nigeria,” the centre said.

    It is also taking serious partnership with hospitals, development partners and government parastatals. In the area of capacity building, the centre is focusing on human, infrastructural and institutional capacity building.

    “With respect to human capacity building, it will provide fellowship awards for short stay of experts to acquire skills for management of these three focal cancers in institutes with such expertise. We will also invest in training and building capacity of local experts to be able to manage these lesions in many medical centres all over Nigeria.

    “With respect to infrastructural and institutional capacity building, MCCF shall invest in installation of equipment and production of materials that will enable our various partners at all levels to conduct health education in order to create awareness about cancer prevention, screen and ensure early diagnosis of cancer and effectively manage all referred cases,” it said.

    But how will the centre be sustained? It explains: “MCCF is planned to be an ongoing concern. It will therefore strongly invest in partnership and institution capacity building. Also it shall create an environment that can support continued research and academic affiliation that will enable the foundation continue to generate the needed evidence for policy development and review for cancer prevention and management in the country. It shall start small, but evolve to be a major cancer centre in the future.”

    The foundation also encourages volunteerism among health care providers locally, nationally and in the Diaspora. It will campaign against predisposing lifestyle practices that have been linked to cancer such as smoking, excessive alcohol intake, exposure to carcinogenic product, multiple sexual partners, early exposure to sex and unprotected sexual intercourse. It will also champion the need for regular medical check-ups, monthly self-breast examination, need for healthy diet, regular exercise and prevention of obesity.

    The screening services available at the centre include histopathology of pap smears, mammography, ultrasonographic examinations, breast biopsy, PSA determination, digital rectal examination and clinical breast examination.

  • Cancer scourge…MicCom Foundation to the rescue

    Cancer scourge…MicCom Foundation to the rescue

    Statistics from the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) show that cancer accounts for more deaths worldwide than malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. It has killed many Nigerians this year. In 2012, it killed a leading light and wife of the founder of MicCom Cables and Wires, Prince Tunde Ponnle, who has now started a foundation to rescue people from the scourge, writes WALE AJETUNMOBI

    For decades, they were partners. They helped the poor, contributed to education and were active in church development. But on October 29, 2012, death parted them. Olufunke, an engineer and Princess, left Tunde, also an engineer, to face the challenges of life alone. No thanks to endometrial cancer, the Prince Tunde Ponnle, founder MicCom Cables and Wires and MicCom Gold and Resort, has had to live painfully in the last two years without a woman who contributed to making him what he is.

    The good news, however, is that Mrs Ponnle’s death made her husband learn more about cancer. He has realised that cancer kills more people worldwide than malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. He also found out that when detected early, cancer could be beaten. He equally discovered that the prevalence rate of cancer was on the increase among Nigerians. Worse still, he got to know that 10 people die from cancer ever hour and yet only a few African countries were sufficiently funding cancer control programmes. It also became known to him that no fewer than 80,000 Nigerians die from various types of cancer annually and this may increase given the World Health Organisation (WHO) projection that about 84 million people may die worldwide as a result of one form of cancer or the other in 2015.

    These discoveries made Ponnle to consult with his children and the result is the MicCom Cancer Foundation (MCCF). The Ibokun Road, Ada, Osun State-based foundation is out to help women fight breast cancer and also help men who may have prostate cancer. The foundation chose these two types of cancer because statistics show that they are the most prevalent among Nigerians.

    The centre has solid professional either as technical experts or full-time members of staff. One of the technical experts behind it is Professor A. Akinsola, a Professor of Internal Medicine & Consultant Nephrologist, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who has wide based skills and capacity in programme coordination and administration.

    Also supporting the centre technically is Dr K.T. Ijadunola, who is an Associate Professor/Consultant Public Health Physician at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He has proven expertise in communication, health education, promotion and programme management and execution.

    There is also Dr. A.A Salako, who is an Associate Professor/Consultant Urologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.  A urologist with special interest in screening and management of benign prostatic enlargement and prostate cancers, he has also been involved in community surveys.

    The centre also has the technical backing of Dr. K.O Ajenifuja, a Senior Lecturer/Consultant Obstetrics & Gynecologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who has ample experience in community screening and treatment of cervical cancer. He has been part of a similar programme in India

    Last but not the least is Dr O.A Esimai, an Associate Professor/Consultant Public Health Physician Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who coordinates the well women clinic which provides awareness and screening services for breast and cervical cancer.

    The foundation runs a Cancer Preventive and Treatment Centre at its secretariat. The centre focuses on providing screening, counseling services and other support for treatment of early stage of cancer. The centre has the capacity to ensure adequate information management that will enable academic institutions conduct research into these cancers.

    “The data being generated will also be made available to the concerned government parastals either for evaluation and/or research purpose. The programme managers assisted by assistant programme manager and programmes assistant provide services. The foundation links up with secondary and tertiary health institutions in identified target communities in Nigeria (the OAUTHC Ile-Ife at inception) to facilitate access to management and quality care of patients with established lesions. There is a plan to support and invest in the capacity development of the institution will be in the form of equipment (Laboratory, Radiology) and capacity building in diagnosis and treatment and facilitation of treatment of early lesions through a cost sharing strategy between stakeholders,” the centre said.

     

     

  • Night of tributes for MicCom’s matriarch

    Night of tributes for MicCom’s matriarch

    Mrs Comfort Olufunke Ponnle, wife of the chairman, MicCom Cables and Wires Ltd and MicCom Golf Hotel and Resort, Ada, Osun State, Prince Michael Ponnle, began her final journey at the Olona Hall on Thursday night. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO covered the Night of Tributes.

    It was a night full of emotions. One that revealed many sides of a woman whose death many are yet to come to terms with.

    The late Mrs Comfort Olufunke Ponnle, wife of the chairman, MicCom Cables and Wires Ltd and MicCom Golf Hotel and Resort, Ada, Osun State, Prince Michael Tunde Ponnle, died on October 29 in Cardiff, United Kingdom.

    Her death came barely three weeks and three days to her 68th birthday.

    Some 52 days later, those who converged on the MicCom Golf Hotel and Resort last Thursday night, spoke about her as if she was with them.

    The Night of Tributes, was one of the events of the three-day funeral.

    A documentary on the late Mrs Ponnle was screened for the gathering.

    It was Mrs Ponnle who did the introduction in that documentary.

    Decked out in a beautiful Nigerian dress (Iro and Buba), a high-flying gele (headgear), lovely eye glasses, stunning jewellery and royal beads dangling on her ears, neck, wrist and matching pair of shoes, Mrs Ponnle said: “Ladies and Gentlemen, what you are about to watch now is the life journey of an amazing woman. Sit comfortably, relax and enjoy yourself. I wish you a happy viewing.”

    The Olona Hall was quiet; the light put off, allowing the audience to see clearly the video of the life and times of the matriarch on various giant projectors hung at strategic places.

    After watching the documentary, the hall clapped for the late Princess of Osogbo.

    Earlier before the documentary that signaled the end of the special night, guests paid glowing tributes to the silent philanthropist.

    Among the speakers were former Governor of Osun State Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; the late Mrs Ponnle’s classmate, Mrs Oluremi Awofisan; Chief Executive Officer BISCOM Mr Bisi Olatilo; Dr Fowoke Akinleye; Captain of MicCom Golf Resort Club, Dr Bayo Faforiji and former Director of A.G Leventis (Nigeria) Plc Prince Ademola Adetona, who read a moving tribute that was applauded by the audience.

    Mrs Awofisan described the deceased as brilliant and humble.

    “I was her Chief bridesmaid when she married in 1966 and she was also my Chief bridesmaid the following year. I would have died in 1969 due to illness if not for her and her husband who took care of me. She built a three-bedroom flat in my name and handed the key to my child. I never knew my conversation with her on October 14 was going to be the last.

    “Haah Olufunke! You are a friend in a million,” she said.

    Oyinlola said the late Princess Ponnle displayed an uncommon support for the welfare of many.

    “She was a pillar to my family and my government. The stoic mien of an amazon is always displayed. She made money legitimately with her husband and spend it in the way of God,” he stated.

    Prince Adetona, who did not want to take part in the tributes, summoned courage to say a few words.

    The ex-Leventis chief said the deceased had a glorious exit.

  • MicCom’s funeral unites Aregbesola, Oyinlola

    MicCom’s funeral unites Aregbesola, Oyinlola

    Barely two years and 25 days after reclaiming his mandate, Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and his immediate predecessor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, met for the first time.

    They met yesterday at MicCom House at Ada, Boripe Local Government Area in Osun State, during the final funeral service of a bridge-builder and philanthropist, Mrs Comfort Olufunke Ponnle, an engineer and co-founder of MicCom Cables ad Wires.

    It was a gathering that saw many of the dignitaries and guests anxiously wanting to know how the duo would face each other.

    Aregbesola and Oyinlola displayed high level of maturity to the admiration of all. They exchanged pleasantries, hugged and pat themselves on the back. They spoke for a few minutes before returning to their seats. The gathering gave them a rousing ovation.

    Co-incidentally, the governor arrived at the point the husband of the deceased, Prince Tunde Ponnle, mounted the podium to pay tribute to his departed jewel. He could not but pause for a while to watch the scenario.

    The MicCom boss expressed delight watching the two statemen embracing each other not minding the turbulent years of political struggle for the leadership of the state.

    Prince Ponnle described their peaceful meeting as a good omen, hoping it will be the end of political bickering in the state.

    He told the governor his and the deceased’s plan to build an eight-storey building to beautify the state.

    “When the physician told my wife that she had barely a week to live; one of the things we discussed is about the building and she told me to build it before joining her. We have secured a land, we are only waiting for the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to commence,” he said.

    Afterwards, he exchanged pleasantries with the governor and was joined by Oyinlola and the state former Military Administrator, Colonel Theophilus Bamigboye, for a photograph.

    Aregbesola, while greeting the guests, described Oyinlola as his brother. He prayed for the former governor to continue to prosper.

    The governor seized the opportunity of the gathering to debunk insinuations that his government did not like the Ponnles.

    He said his relationship with the Ponnles began in 1989 during one of his political struggles in Lagos. He said the deceased assisted him even to become the governor of the state unknowingly.

    “But because my programme is not in tandem with the MicCom establishments, people thought I hate them. No, I don’t play golf like my predecessor does. We love you and very soon, we will do something to show that we truly have you in mind. Let it be on record that I and MicCom are not fighting but golf is not a gift to me from God,” he said.

    On the proposed building, Aregbesola jokingly asked where the building would be situated. “Is it Ada, Osogbo or Okuku,” this drew laughter from the gathering, including Oyinlola.

    “Osogbo Sir,” Prince Ponnle replied.

    “Don’t wait for the C of O, I have approved it today,” Aregbesola assured him. The guests, including the clerics, yelled in joy.

    He later prayed for the deceased family and the gathering.

    The remains of Madam Ponnle were lowered in the grave within the compound at exactly 2:33pm.

  • MicCom chair Ponnle’s wife dies at 67

    MicCom chair Ponnle’s wife dies at 67

    The death has been announced of Mrs. Olufunke Ponnle, wife of Prince Tunde Ponnle, Chairman of MicCom Cables and Wires Limited and MicCom Golf Hotels and Resorts, Ada, Osun State.

    The late Mrs. Ponnle, an Osogbo princess and golf enthusiast, died in Ilandough Hospital, Cardiff, United Kingdom yesterday after a brief illness. She was 67.

    The late vice chairman of the MicCom Group is survived by her husband, Prince Ponnle and children.

    No date has been fixed for the funeral, according to the family.