Wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has said accurate birth registration is a viable tool for national development.
Mrs. Anyanwu-Akeredolu spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting on Accelerated Birth Registration at the International Event Centre, the Dome, Akure.
The initiative was organised by the Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu Foundation (BAAF), in partnership with the Ondo State Primary Healthcare Development Board and the National Population Commission (NPopC). It was to ensure that all children are covered in birth registration across the state.
The First Lady described birth registration is the first right of a child which would give the child access to many privileges.
She said: “Although the Nigerian government is responsible for ensuring that no child is deprived of this right, very little commitment is shown by the government. But it is not only the right of our children, it is everyone’s right.”
According to her, the government cannot plan for unregistered children.
“They will also not share the little infrastructure and amenities set up by the government for the few births that are captured. This becomes a burden on everyone and nobody enjoys the full dividends of democracy. Therefore, ensuring the visibility of missed children is everyone’s responsibility,” she added.
Mrs. Anyanwu-Akeredolu lamented that the state had one of the worst birth registration coverage in the Southwest, as only 68 per cent of children were covered. She, however, promised determination to change the tides this year.
“No more will our children be without an identity, no more will our children lack access to social infrastructure. They are our children and they must be planned for,” she said.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu promised that his administration would provide policy statements to ensure effective registration of children so that they can have better lives.
The governor appreciated the foundation and all partners for the initiative.
UNICEF Chief, Akure Field Office Mr. Tejinder Sandhu, praised Mrs. Akeredolu for organising a meeting to better educate parents on why they should register their children. According to him, birth registration will help the child, parents and the government.
Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has described as victory for democracy, the judgment of the Supreme Court, which struck out the case instituted against him by Olusegun Abraham.
Abraham came second in the keenly contested September 3, 2016 All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in Ondo State.
Appreciating the Ondo people and APC members for their steadfastness throughout the period of the litigation, Akeredolu called on Abraham to join hands with him in the task of building a new Ondo State.
The governor, in a statement by Commissioner for Information and Orientation Yemi Olowolabi, said there was no victor, no vanquished.
He said: “The victory is for everyone who wants the best for Ondo State and Segun Abraham is one of us. In other words, we are all winners.”
The court, yesterday in Abuja, thrashed the suit filed by Abraham in which he was challenging Akeredolu’s victory on the party’s governorship primary.
The apex court held that in line with the provision of the fourth alteration, especially Section 285(11) of the 1999 constitution, Abraham failed to file his case within the stipulated 14 days after the cause of action, thus statute barred.
Akeredolu, therefore, dedicated the victory to the people of Ondo State, who he described as ever progressive.
But, the state APC yesterday described the judgment as a watershed in the quest for genuine reconciliation in the party.
Its chairman, Ade Adetimehin, noted that there was no victor; no vanquished,” stressing that the two parties belong to a family.
The court decision, he contended, came at a critical moment when the party is exploring every democratic and lawful means to ensure enduring reconciliation of the parties within its fold.
Adetimehin said the judgment created the elusive opportunity for Akeredolu and Abraham to unite for the state’s growth.
“Besides, the governor can now concentrate on policies that will further promote and enhance the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people of Ondo State,” he argued.
The party stalwart warned followers of the two leaders to desist from fanning the embers of disunity.
Adetimehin assured that machinery for reconciliation would be set up after the election on Saturday to place the party on a new and stronger pedestal.
He hailed the duo for exhibiting a high sense of restraint and maturity while the case lasted in court.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the request by Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to strike out a suit by Olusegun Abraham, challenging his (Akeredolu’s) emergence as candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last governorship election in the state.
The court also rejected Akeredolu’s arguments that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit; that the suit relates to issues that are internal to the party: that the suit was inchoate, among others.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, in a ruling on Friday, although agreed with Akeredolu that the suit was wrongly commenced, he however refused to strike it out, as requested by the governor.
Instead, the judge converted the suit, originally commenced by way of Originating Summons, to be heard under the Writ of Summons rules, on the grounds that facts in the case were contentions and would required parties to file pleadings.
Justice Dimgba, whose ruling was on two notices of objection filed by Akeredolu, APC and the party’s National Chairman, gave parties up to November 30 this year, to file and exchange all pleadings.
He adjourned to December 6 and 7 for hearing.
Abraham is, by the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/788/2016, seeking the nullification of the APC’s September 3, 2016 governorship primary, from which Akeredolu emerged as the party’s candidate, on the grounds that it was allegedly manipulated.
Ondo State governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, yesterday said his administration planned to reposition the state’s education sector for global competition.
He said the move became necessary to produce competent professionals who would be agents and drivers of societal development.
Akeredolu, who spoke when the four panels on the state-owned tertiary institutions presented their reports at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office, assured the panels that their recommendations would be critically looked into.
It will be recalled that Governor Akeredolu in November last year inaugurated the four visitation panels to look at the plethora of problems bedevilling the four state-owned tertiary institutions as well as recommend solutions to them.
The tertiary institutions are Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; University of Medical Science, Ondo and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.
He said: “We are determined to efficiently use the limited resources available at this dire time to ensure optimal service delivery in all sectors of the economy with pride of place given to the education sub-sector.
“We are unwaveringly committed to the delivery of 21st Century compliant tertiary education. We are not interested in rhetorics but delivery of people-oriented service that will be a lasting legacy.
“As part of our efforts at revamping this critical sub-sector of our economy, we intend to improve on the funding of these schools as soon as our finances improve to enable them to improve on their infrastructure and payment of outstanding emoluments and staff entitlements.
“Different measures will be taken to ensure that the fortunes of these institutions are in tune with the visions and aspirations of our administration.
“Our passion is to reinvigorate the education system to make it vibrant, enviable and admirable globally.
The Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has said that his major priority in office is to make the state the number one destination for investors in Nigeria by the year 2020.
Speaking during the Inauguration of the board of the State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA) on Thursday in Akure, the state capital, Akeredolu said the state has no reason to rely on federal allocation from Abuja before she could meet her commitments to the people if the large deposits of mineral and agricultural resources in the state are well annexed.
The Governor said Nigeria spend N300bn annually on importation of bitumen despite the fact that the state has the largest deposit of bitumen in Nigeria which is processed, can reduce pressure on our naira and boost the nation’s foreign exchange.
Speaking on several investment opportunities in the state, he said he established ONDIPA to ensure that corporate organizations and businessmen and women interested in doing business in the state do their transactions without any hues.
The governor also declared that his administration has dedicated 150,000 hectares of land to boost cocoa, oil palm and cassava plantation in the State.
Akeredolu also announced that the first company for Bitumen Exploration and Processing in Nigeria would commence operation in the state before the middle of 2018.
In his word, Akeredolu said: “We are the largest producer of cocoa in Nigeria. We are the largest producer of cassava in Nigeria. We have the largest deposit of limestone in Nigeria; let me inform this gathering that Ondo has the largest deposit of bitumen in Africa and second in the world.
“I want to use this opportunity to announce to this gathering that the first company for Bitumen Exploration and Processing in Nigeria will commence operation in our state before the middle of 2018.
“We are the largest producer of oil palm and cashew nut in South West. We have dedicated 150,000 hectares of land to boost cocoa, oil palm and cassava in Ondo State. We have major cash crops; maize, rice, soya beans, citrus, plantain; coffee, cowpea; we have the highest load of granite in South-west. We have large rubber plantations in Ondo. We have oil and gas; we are the 4th largest producer of oil and gas in Nigeria, we can use gas to power electricity.
The Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. David Oloyeloogun (left), the Deputy Governor, Hon. Agboola Ajayi (middle) and the Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, during the launch of the Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA) held at the International Culture and Event Centre (DOME) – Photo credit: Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye.
“We are also the hub of tourism. The Smoking Hills and golf resort at Ilaramokin is the largest in Nigeria and the third largest in Africa. The longest hill on the continent of Africa is here. Ebomi Lake Tourist Centre is here. The International Culture and Event Centre (DOME) where we are hosting this event is the biggest in South West.
“The popular igbo olodumare is in my town at Okeigbo and to the glory of God, the largest palace in Africa, the Olowo palace domicile here in our state. From Lagos to Akure and Akure to Lagos now take 25 minutes by air.
“We now have Air Peace flying our once moribund airport every day. Overland Airline has increased the frequency of its flight from Akure to Abuja to three times daily. I am sure many of you fly Air Peace to Akure today. So why can’t you come do business here?
“Furthermore, to ensure that inter-state movement is made easy, Ondo State just signed a memorandum of understanding with Niger/Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the construction of 45km Araromi-Epe road to be completed before the end of 2018,” he stressed.
Assuring the investors of their safety in the state, Akeredolu said “ONDIPA means business. The mandate of ONDIPA is to ensure that private sectors have no problem doing businesses in Ondo State. Today, you do not need to go to ministries to register your business and process papers; ONDIPA will do everything for you.
“I want to assure investors that whatever Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) we sign with you will be fulfilled with sanctimonious attention. We would not compromise integrity. In three years, I want to see Ondo being the number destination of investors in Nigeria.
I want to export our cash crops and mineral resources to reduce pressure on our naira to boost our foreign exchange. My office is opened to investors. ONDIPA is open. The office of ONDIPA is even beside my office,” he stated.
Established by the House of Assembly of Assembly, (ONDIPA)is saddled with the responsibility of managing the State’s investment promotion and multilateral cooperation; structured to meet all corporate best practices to ensure seamless integration of potential investors, development partners and investments into the growth and development of the state’s economy.
The Agency, which has the Governor as its Chairman, has the Special Adviser to the Governor on Development and Investment, Mr Boye Oyewumi is to act as Vice-chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Others members of the board of the agency are the state Commissioners of Commerce and Industry and Agriculture, the Vice-President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Mrs Cecilia Akintomide, CEO, Delta Africs, Engr. Olu Odumakinde who are both indigenes of the state.
In his speech, Oyewumi said he and his team shall be focusing on Investor and sector Targeting/Marketing, Promotion of Tourism, Business facilitation and Partnerships with Multilateral and Donor Organizations and most importantly, Management of the state economic zones aimed towards creating jobs, transfer of technology/skills, reduction of capital flight and value chain improvements, Import substitution, Industry/Economic Diversification, Infrastructure development and most significantly, Improvement of Internally generated revenue.
Oyewumi said to get the goals and objectives of ONDIPA achieved, sectors such as Agriculture, Information technology, Oil and Gas, Energy and Mining, Tourism, Manufacturing and Agro-allied industries and Transportation sectors would be prioritised.
Several investors and corporate organizations who thronged the International Culture and Event Centre (DOME) where the event took place declared their readiness to partner the state government.
An investor, Mr Yomi Adewumi who is the CEO of Investment Technology Limited, a firm specializing in Mining and Processing said his company would be investing $3m dollars in the state. He thanked Akeredolu’s administration for creating an enabling environment for investors to thrive in the state.
Present at the event was the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi, deputy Governor, Hon. Agboola Ajayi and his wife, Secretary to the state Government, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, members of the state executive council, permanent secretaries and several other government functionaries.
Others present were the first Professor of Investment Promotion in Nigeria, Professor Adesoji Adesugba, representatives of the British Department for International Development (DFID), Nigerian Investment and Development Corporation, Bank of Industry, Kaduna State Development and Investment Corporation, David Lukadu, Yewande Sadiqu, Mohammed Afeez respectively.
Also present were the representative of the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Mr Omolola Adegbenga, Lagos lawyer and human rights activists, Mr. Femi Falana, Executive Director, Energy Renewal Division, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, Director General, National Emergency Agency (NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha amongst others.
One hundred students have received a computer set each from the wife of Ondo State Governor, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu. The gesture was aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the girl child ICT programme organised for girls picked from 23 secondary schools in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Speaking at the event which held at the Public Service Training Institute, Ilara-Mokin, Mrs Akeredolu expressed optimism that the digitally-empowered girls would deploy the knowledge acquired at the programme to become key players in the global space.
Mrs Akeredolu, who recalled her growing days in Emeabiam, a remote community in Imo State, gave insights to the dream behind the vision.
“I was born when women were not supposed to go to school and all you get is that they prepare you for that graduate husband. That is why I have been championing the cause that God has given me the opportunity to. I am running with it. We need to make extra effort to make our young girls understand that they have the capacity to be more. That is the foundation we are laying now.
“I don’t just want to bridge the gender gap; I want these girls to be part of the solution to our societal problems. Here is the connection. The Solar Girls will fix the panels in their school and the ICT girls will operate the computer. In a few years’ time, we should have a Digital Academy here in Akure- a virtual classroom. That is how to use skills to solve societal problems.”
She further acknowledged the place of ICT and Solar Energy Technology as being able to help in the development of virtual classroom all over the nation, most especially in the remotest villages one can imagine.
Earlier in his remark, the facilitator from SAO Capital, Temitope Runsewe highlighted the skills impacted on the girls while also calling for sustainability of the programme.
Mr. Runsewe, who stated that the digitally-empowered girls will go home with a computer tablet each, reiterated that each of the tablets have been loaded with Jamb Questions, School Curriculum and West African Examination Council (WAEC) syllabus, among others in order to encourage them to continue with the training at home.
In her keynote address, the Managing Director of Mainone Cables, Mrs. Funke Opeke stressed the need to bridge gender gap in ICT as there is less than 10 per cent gender gap in advanced countries while in Africa, it is over 30 per cent.
Mrs. Opeke advised young women to pursue careers in engineering and sciences as it is quite fulfilling, noting that it is part of efforts to close the gender gap in the nations’ drive towards development.
The climax of the event was the distribution of the 100 computer tablets to the girls. Two of the beneficiaries, Ayomiposi Christopher and Bukola Ayodele from St. Dominic’s High School and St. Francis High School, Akure respectively expressed joy at the opportunity given to them to benefit from the programme. They thanked Mrs Akeredolu for impacting their lives.
Ayomiposi Christopher said: “I have never had the opportunity to touch a computer before and I am not sure I would have because I spend most of my holidays washing plates and sweeping as my parents could not afford the cost of an extra lesson.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Akeredolu had, by the appeal, challenged an order by a Federal High Court in Abuja, granting permission to Olusegun Abraham to serve Akeredolu through substituted means, court documents in relation to the suit he (Abraham) filed.
Abraham’s suit is challenging the outcome of the primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which produced Akeredolu as the party’s candidate for the last governorship election in Ondo State.
The Court of Appeal, in a unanimous judgment yesterday, upheld the ruling of the Federal High Court, grabting leave to Abraham to serve Akeredolu thorugh substituted means.
Justive Abdu Aboki, in the lead judgment, said the lower court was right in ordering substituted service on Akeredolu through the headquarter of the APC.
He also considered as proper service the decision of the court to allow Abraham serve the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through its headquarters in Abuja.
Akeredolu’s appeal was against the ruling by the Federal High Court delivered on December 16, 2016 granting leave to Abraham to effect service through substituted means on the defendants.
Reacting to the judgment yesterday, Abraham’s lawyer, Johnson Usman expressed delight over the court’s decision.
He said the verdict of the court will afford his client the opportunity to expose the irregularities in the APC primary election.
Usman said the coast is now clear for his client to prove, through his case, that the September 3, 2016 primary election of the APC that produced Akeredolu as the party’s candidate was marred with irregularities.
Lawyer to Akeredolu, Oluseyi Adetanmi said he will consult with his client before deciding on what further steps to take.
Proceedings in the substantive case before the Federal High Court, Abuja has been adjourned indefinitely to await the outcome of Akeredolu’s appeal.
Abraham, who was the first runner up in the primary election, is praying the court for among others, an order nullifying Akeredolu’s election
Ondo State governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), commiserates with the former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, over the death of his wife.
Akeredolu described the deceased as a disciplined, God-fearing and understanding woman who stood behind her husband to record landmark successes in both private and public services.
The governor asked the Akande family, the people of Osun State and Nigerians to take solace in the fact the deceased lived a good and fulfilled life.
According to the governor, the late Mrs Omowunmi Akande will be missed by all those whose lives she touched in her walk through life.
Akeredolu, therefore, wished the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Ondo state governor,Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has been commended for flagging-off the 10,000 hectares afforestation project at Omotosho in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo state.
The project is in partnership with the State government and a Chinese company, Wewood Limited.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC) Orimisan Adelokiki,said the project would have positive effects on the economy and social status of Okitipupa local government and the southern senatorial district of the state.
He noted that despite the short period of his administration, Governor Akeredolu has been able to initiate such laudable project in the state.
Adelokiki assured that the people of the sunshine state will reap more dividends of democracy under Akeredolu government than its predecessor.
He said despite the economic challenges in the country presently,the governor has started delivering on his electoral promises.
The community leader maintained that Akeredolu has began industrialisation of the state by partnering with the Chinese company to provide jobs for over 10,000 youths in the state.
He expressed appreciation to the governor for kick starting his road to redemption on industrialisation,stressing that the people of the area will benefit from the wewood project in Omotosho.
The Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, says his administration has zero tolerance for indiscipline and corruption.
Akeredolu made this known during the swearing-in ceremony of interim caretaker committee chairmen in the 18 local government councils of the state.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Mr Agboola Ajayi, warned the new appointees that his administration would not tolerate indiscipline or compromise on anything.
He appealed to the chairmen to carry out legitimate revenue drive to run the councils effectively.
“Your appointment is critical at this time of economic recession because the local government is the closest to the people. I enjoin you all to key into the cardinal points set up by this government to drive the administration.
“In the next two weeks, we will embark on massive construction of primary school buildings across the 18 local governments.
“Go to your councils and implement projects to touch the lives of the people; do your best.
“I advise you, the local government is the most sensitive, so you go there to promote yourself or ruin yourself,’’ the governor said.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Gani Omoluka, the Owo Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairman, expressed his appreciation of the present administration.
He pledged to work hard to justify his position and work together with the people to move the local government forward.
NAN reports that an Ondo High Court in Akure had on Friday dissolved the executives of the 18 local government councils elected during the April 23, 2016 local government election.
