Tag: Olubadan

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin has unveiled the first digital classroom in Ibadan, aimed at equipping students with adequate technological skills.

The monarch, while unveiling the project facilitated by a tech company, FOUND Africa expressed full support for the programme.

Speaking at the event, the monarch, who was represented by his son, Prince Olasumbo Olakulehin said Ibadan is the pacesetter and home to different projects including the first skyscraper, the first University Teaching Hospital, the first television station, the first University, among several other buildings to its name.

He said: “As we all aware that we are in the digital age, so, making this project a digital classroom to Ibadan for the use of students, for young men and women will make them more accessible to use of Internet for knowledge of what it is all about.”

“Someone once said the illiterates of tomorrow will be those who are not computer literates. So, one needs to have good knowledge of computer. So, digital classroom in Ibadan is very welcomed because this project will develop Ibadan the more particularly digitally,” he said.

In his remark, the Managing Director of  FOUND Africa, Olajide Aboderin while explaining the rationale behind the project said everybody must be taught digital aspect of technology particularly students, artisans with a view of creating jobs and eradicate unemployment.

He emphasized that the world is advancing everyday and that artificial intelligence is the new technological component which makes online activities colourful and as such must be taught to all for adequate sufficiency and reliability.

Aboderin added that the goal was to establish digital classrooms and give it wider reach, saying that Ibadan was chosen as the centre point because the city is known for distinct language and smooth traditional lineage which has never caused disagreement hence, reason behind the theme and the paramount ruler’s attendance.

“We believe that Oyo State, Ibadan, where we are starting our mission is known to have distinct language and they even call it the ancient city of Ibadan. Now, I got the opportunity to inform the Olubadan’s Palace and explained the reason behind this initiative and they accepted it immediately.”

“So, we said to ourselves, is there a better voice to help change the narrative of Ibadan and Oyo state than to have the Olubadan himself coming to unveil this project which has a fifty year roadmap for inclusion among Meta which is Facebook, Google, Amazon. FOUND also being Africa’s pioneer technology company.”

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“We want FOUND to be a big tech company, that is why we kept our name so simple. So, there is no better person to introduce and lay the first foundation of a digital transformation in Africa than the pacesetter State of Oyo and Ibadan and also the Olubadan of Ibadan-land himself.”

“So by “tradition meets technology” tradition is pointing to the perception that Ibadan is the city of brown roofs into a state that you have this kind of Multi complex structures everywhere and the students are advanced.”

“We would have the highest consideration of Google certified experts in Oyo state and we have already started, he concluded. 

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde, Adebayo Akande, asserted that digital skills was one of the biggest currencies an individual can have today, thereby commending the initiators of the project for their proactiveness.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has solicited the support of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, towards protection of rights of children in the country, particularly in Oyo State.

Olubadan, who spoke through the Maye Olubadan, Senior Chief Olalekan Alabi at this palace, Oke Aremo Ibadan, said UNICEF team made a right choice to make Olubadan as a reference point of contact to other traditional rulers in the country. 

The monarch while speaking further, cited the importance of Ibadanland being the home of first in the socio, economic, political, educational, information, health care delivery and cultural development of Nigeria. 

He said: “Ibadan is the home of first in Nigeria, Ibadan has been at the forefront of political, information, social and economic development in Nigeria. To mention just a few, the first teaching hospital, University College Hospital (UCH) was established in Ibadan, the first university in Nigeria, University of Ibadan was established in 1948 and the first television station in Africa was established in Ibadan. 

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“Thus the aims and objectives of UNICEF towards reduction of maternal mortality, infant mortality and other social and health problems will be realised now that you have visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland”. 

The UNICEF team leader, Mohammed Okorie, said that the visit became necessary in order to solicit the support of the Olubadan to sensitise, mobilise and enlighten parents and guardians to ensure that the rights of children are protected. 

“That every child right must be protected, that Ibadan and Oyo state residents are not accessing UNICEF services as expected, thus the need to appeal to Olubadan, Olubadan in council, Chiefs, Mogajis and Baales to sensitise and mobilise their people to make use of the facilities and opportunities provided by UNICEF. 

“To ensure that pregnant expectant mothers attend ante nata care and save delivery, also, the care of the elderly persons and to impact on financial assistance to secondary health care institutions and other hospitals in general whenever the need arises,” Okorie said.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin will on Thursday 19th of September, 2024 unveil the first digital classroom in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The digital classroom, which was facilitated by a tech company, FOUND Africa Technology, will focus on empowering youth, particularly students with digital skills in underserved communities in 11 local government areas of Ibadan.

A statement by the chief executive officer and founder of FOUND Africa Technology, Olajide Aboderin, said the unveiling of the first digital classroom in Ibadan will be held at the headquarters of FOUND in Bodija.

The statement reads: “On September 19th, we’re hosting a momentous event, where the echoes of Ibadan’s rich heritage will harmonise with the pulse of cutting-edge technology.

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“This initiative will create a situation whereby tradition will meet technology. The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, will unveil the very first digital classroom, symbolising a powerful fusion of the old and the new.

“The palace will orchestrate a captivating showcase of Ibadan’s cultural traditions, while FOUND will present the transformative potential of technology.

“It will be the dawn of a new era for Ibadan, as we bridge the gap between ancient customs and modern innovation. This event signifies Ibadan’s evolution from a city steeped in history to a futuristic hub, poised to rival global tech giants like Tokyo in the decades to come.

“This will be a pivotal moment in African history as Ibadan will transformatively embrace its destiny as a beacon of technological advancement.”

Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, has hailed the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Ayodele Sonubi and his team over what he described as improved security.

Oba Olakulehin gave the commendation while receiving the CP and his team, who were at the palace located at Oke Aremo to pay courtesy visit to the monarch yesterday.

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The Olubadan, who spoke through the Asipa Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi, said security had improved since the CP resumed.

He assured the security team that the doors of the palace were widely open to the police boss and his men to see him whenever the need arose.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin has said that the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) is a vital and indispensable Inland Revenue collection agent especially as the nation treads the path to economic recovery.

Oba Olakulehin spoke on Thursday, September 5, while receiving the Customs Area Controller for Oyo/ Osun Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Dr. Ben Oramalugo, and his team during a courtesy visit to the monarch at the Oke Aremo palace in Ibadan.

Speaking through the Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Amidu Ajibade, the Olubadan said, Nigeria as a country seeking economic recovery cannot do without the revenue collection capacity of the Nigeria Customs Service.

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He noted that the Customs Service has over the years and more recently enhanced the collection of revenue and improved the prevention and suppression of smuggling in the nation.

He said: “Nigeria Customs is the major revenue collecting agent for the Nigerian government. Nigeria as a country cannot do without the Customs Service.

“After the money is generated through oil, the next in order is the revenue coming from the Customs. That is why our country will continue to find the customs service indispensable.”

The Customs Area Controller, Oyo/Osun Area Command, Dr. Ben Oramalugo earlier in his remark, noted that he and his team were in the palace to solicit the support of the Olubadan towards effective service delivery in their area of jurisdiction and to seek the royal father’s blessings.

He said: “It is a great opportunity for me to visit the Olubadan. Ibadan is too big to ignore in the area of revenue generation. Revenue generation is one of the functions of the Nigeria Customs Service. In Oyo/ Osun Area Command, most of the revenue comes from Ibadan.

At the event were the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Eddy Oyewole-Foko, Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Amidu Ajibade, and the Ekerin Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Akeem Bolaji Adewoyin.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin on Friday elevated six chiefs in the Balogun chieftaincy line.

The event was held at the newly built Olubadan’s palace, Oke-Aremo, Ibadan in were attendance members of the Olubadan-in-Council, family heads (Mogaji’s), traditional rulers, and government functionaries among others.

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The newly promoted chiefs include Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, who was elevated from Otun Balogun to Balogun of Ibadanland; Oba Kolawole Adegbola, who moved from Asipa Balogun to Otun Balogun of Ibadanland; and Oba John Isioye-Dada, who was promoted from Ekerin Balogun to Osi Balogun of Ibadanland.

Others include Oba Dauda Abiodun Azeez, who moved from Ekarun Balogun to Asipa Balogun of Ibadanland; Senior Chief Akeem Bolaji Adewoyin, who was promoted from Abese Balogun to Ekerin Balogun of Ibadanland; and Senior Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, who was elevated from Maye Balogun to Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland.

The Oyo state government has denied any involvement in rumoured plan to stop or disrupt the ambitions of anyone who wants to become the next Olubadan.

In a statement issued by the commissioner for information and orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the government expressed that it considers it premature, unfair, and preemptive for anyone to begin discussing the next Olubadan while a new Olubadan has just been successfully installed.

The commissioner said: “It is embarrassing that a few days after the coronation and presentation of staff of office to the new Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, Ige Olakulehin I, some citizens are already looking over the shoulders of the new Oba and ascribing the government gazette that implemented the recommendation of the Ibadan Chieftaincy Review Committee to a ploy to disqualify certain individuals.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the last Olubadan, Ọba Mohood Olalekan Balogun, Alli Okumade II, set up the Ibadan Chieftaincy Review Committee to review and deliberate on the needed reforms of the Ibadan Chieftaincy, the extant chieftaincy declaration and composition of the Ibadan land local government traditional councils and make the necessary recommendations.

“After extensive review and deliberation, the committee recommended among others that the 11 high chiefs who are members of the Olubadan-In-Council be elevated and approved as beaded crown-wearing Obas.”

The commissioner revealed that the late Oba Balogun, Alli Okumade II, in a signed letter to the Governor of Oyo State dated February 5th, 2023, proposed that the reform be incorporated into the Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957.

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He added: “A few months later on 14th July 2023 precisely, the amendments were gazetted.

“The governor did this not only because it was a legitimate prayer from His Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr. (Sen.) Mohood Olalekan Balogun, Alli Okumade II, but also in deference to the tradition and culture of Ibadanland.

“The state government advised the people not to heat up the polity as the government will continue to uphold what is right and the cherished tradition and culture of our people.

“Government wishes the Olubadan of Ibadanland, HIM Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, Ige Olakulehin I, good health and wisdom to pilot the affairs of Ibadanland.”