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Tag: Ondo state

  • Ade-Ojo, others urge Yorubas to embrace culture, entrepreneurship

    The need to promote the Yoruba culture took the centre stage at the second edition of the Yoruba Heritage Annual Lecture and Awards held recently in Akure, Ondo State.

    Tagged “Economic Integration: Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities and Raising Business Leaders for Sustainable Development of Yoruba Land,” the event was graced by dignitaries such as the Olowo of Owo, Oba Victor Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi, the Chairman, Toyota Nigeria, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo; President, Africa Dialogue Mission, Barister Adewole Adebayo; President, La Campagne Tropicana, Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye, among others.

    In his welcome speech, the convener of the Yoruba Heritage Group, Omo’ba Segun Adesemoye, stressed the importance of cultural rebirth and value reorientation among the Yoruba people.

    “The only way to economic independence and prosperity is for young people to engage in entrepreneurial activities and shift their focus from short routes that lead them to engage in criminal activities and later destruction,” he said.

    Also, Ambassador Akinboboye advised the Yoruba people to embrace their culture and explore the huge opportunities in tourism. He said, “We must take advantage of our advantage so that we can have an advantage.”

    The event was chaired by Ade-Ojo, who also admonished the Yorubas to embrace their culture and entrepreneurship.
    Dr Rhoda Makinde, the wife of Hon Abiola Makinde, was awarded the Ondo State Woman of the year. This is in recognition of her philanthropic achievement with DROMI, a foundation where she is said to have empowered thousands of women.

     

  • APC supporters protest Akeredolu’s alleged alliance with opposition

    Supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akoko Northeast local government area of Ondo state on Tuesday marched on the streets of Ikare-Akoko to protest alleged anti-party activities of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu ahead of Saturday’s rescheduled polls.

    The protesters include party leaders and youth from all the 13 wards of the local government.

    They urged the leadership of the party at the national level to sanction Akeredolu for his alleged disloyalty to APC, the party he rode to power.

    Read Also: 2019 polls will be hitch-free, says Akeredolu

    Speaking to reporters, the duo of Chief Elemeje Idris,the APC Senatorial leader and Apostle Oloruntoba Johnson of Akoko East Elders Assembly condemned in strong term ,the visible support given to Action Alliance candidates for the next Saturday’s election at the expense of APC candidate, Prof. Ajayi Borrofice and Bunmi Ojo who are bonafide candidates of the ruling party.

    They said: “Governor Akeredolu and the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the local government, Rafiu Eniayewu with other political appointees are now agents of AA as they distanced themselves from APC and its candidates for the Saturday’s election”.

    The APC stalwarts urged the national leadership of the party not to put logistics of the party through the governor, stressing such would be used to work against President Muhammadu Buhari and other APC candidates in the area.

    However, Akeredolu had repeatedly denied the claims that he was working for AA candidates instead of APC flag bearers.

  • Police rescue man from kidnappers

    The police in Ikare Akoko, Ondo State, at the weekend rescued a middle-aged man, Isaiah Asemisoye, who was abducted by gunmen at Auga-Ise-Akoko axis.

    He was reportedly heading for his home town, Oka-Akoko, for the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Sources said the four gunmen waylaid him and dragged him out of his vehicle registered as KTU 137 DD, into the bush.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Adeniyi Agboola, said the prompt intervention of the police in combing the forest led to the abandonment of the victim, who was later rescued by the police and had rejoined his family.

    A source said the kidnap occurred at the spot where an official of the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), returning from Abuja, was abducted last week with his aged father and sister.

    Their whereabouts were unknown last night, as their family at Alade-Idanre has not made any comment on contact with the kidnappers.

  • Boroffice raises alarm over alleged attack on supporters

    The senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo North District, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice has raised alarm over assaults and attacks on his party members in Owo local government area and other parts of his senatorial district.

    Sources said the brazen attacks on APC members in Ondo North, particularly in Owo local government area, have forced many loyal party members to flee from their homes.

    Properties owned by APC members were attacked and some injured party members have been rushed to the hospital.

    Furthermore, many APC leaders in Owo LGA including serving members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have been issued death threats.

    Read Also: Boroffice faults invasion of Ondo Assembly

    It was learnt that the residence of Mukaila Musa in Iyere, Owo was attacked by gunmen on Thursday night.

    A statement by Boroffice’s spikesnan, Kayode Fakuyi said ” We understand that loyal APC members in Ondo North senatorial district are subjects of attacks because they have refused to work for the senatorial candidate of Action Alliance (AA) in Ondo North.

    It said “It is instructive to note the coordinated attacks on APC members have been linked to the supporters of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

    “At this point, if the brazen intimidation and unprovoked assault on APC members persist, Senator Ajayi Boroffice cannot guarantee that there won’t be breakdown of law and order.

    “Finally, the Inspector General of Police is urged to provide adequate protection for APC members in Ondo North senatorial district. The Police should immediately assume full control of the internal security machinery of Ondo North senatorial district and Ondo State in general”.

     

  • Akokoland…New, safe road to travel

    The story of Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State has been re-written.

    Its dreadful township road was notorious for resulting in deaths.

    Its Oke Alabojuto area had a dangerously steep hill. For vehicle owners plying the road, especially articulated vehicle drivers, ascending and descending the hill was trickish.

    However, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has found a way around the hills. Now, the woes are over.

    At the beginning of the project, very few believed the hill could ever be brought down and reduced to ground level to give way to a dual carriage way, the first in Akokoland.

    Today, the doubting Thomases have continued to throng the site of the once notorious hills.

    The paramount ruler of Ikare Akoko, Oba Akadiri Momoh, Olukare of Ikare-Akoko,  said he was elated at teh development.

    Oba Akadiri said: “I received the news with joy. Everybody in the town was very happy about the new development, because they knew the project was going to put a stop to the recurring needless accidents on the road.

    “The construction of the Oke Alabojuto road is a wonderful thing to happen to the people of Akokoland and Nigeria in general, because the road links Ondo State to other parts of the country.

    “We do appreciate the governor’s determination to permanently arrest our fears about this road. Our major concern, before the construction of the road by Akeredolu, was how to put a stop to the countless deaths on the road.

    “Most vehicles, especially trucks and other big lorries would lose control and crash while ascending or descending the road due to break failure or other mechanical faults. And these resorted to loss of lives and properties.”

    Also, the Olokeruwa of Okeruwa, Ikare-Akoko, Chief Dele Akerele, said casualties on the road reached a scary height when about five crashes, all resulting in fatalities, occurred within one week.

    He said: “The days of wailing and gnashing of teeth over auto crashes and deaths on Oke Alabojuto are finally over.

    “I feel very delighted that something good is coming to my town. Before the current state government started the constructing of this road, there had been series of fatal accidents. In fact, there was a week about five fatal accidents were recorded on this hilly portion of the road.

    “Our people are also delighted to see this road being constructed. It is a miracle, because it appeared that we have lost hope on the possibility of the community attracting the attention of the state government to put an end to the perpetual fear of losing lives to avoidable crashes on the road.”

    Chief Jacob  Maku thanked the government for the project.

    Maku said: “At a point, we even took steps to appease the gods to put an end to the recurring accidents on the road. We invited religious leaders like pastors and Imams to help intercede for us, but we thank God for the government of Akeredolu for sharing in our pains and for making ‘Oke Alabojuto’ to become ‘Isale Alabojuto.’

    “Everybody in the town has been praying for the success of Akeredolu’s administration. One thing we are asking God to do is to give our governor the power to complete the project.”

    Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the story for the people is the prompt payment of compensation to people whose houses were affected by the construction of the road.

    To many of the beneficiaries, the distribution of cheques by the government further rekindled their trust and love for Akeredolu.

    Apparently excited after receiving the cheque for the compensation for his building that gave way to the construction of the new road, Akeem Jimoh described Akeredolu as an exemplary leader.

    According to him, “Akeredolu is an example of a leader sent by God to rescue the people of Ikare-Akoko from recurring motor accidents.”

    Also, Omotola Johnson, 46, is particularly happy that compensations were paid to owners of buildings affected by the construction even before the completion of the project.

    His words:  “We are particularly happy that Akeredolu compensated us as earlier promised by him. I was among those who were presented with cheques as compensation for our properties demolished to give room for levelling the hilly Oke Alabojuto.”

    The feeling was the same for 35-year-old Rasheed Ramon, whose father’s house was affected by the demolition exercise.

    He said: “I thank God for giving us somebody like Akeredolu. I also thank the governor for fulfilling his promise to compensate people whose properties were demolished in the course of bringing the Oke Alabojuto down to give room for the construction of our road.”

  • 150,000 women farmers train on enhanced agric scheme

    Over 150,000 farmers from the Niger Delta region including Ondo State are being trained in modern technologies in the agricultural sector to boost their capacity and incomes.

    Already, Ondo state government has approved N60million for the Agro-women initiative in this year’s budget

    The Manager, Advocacy, Communication and Public sector Engagement for the Market Development Programme (MADE) in the Niger Delta region, Fidelis Ekom disclosed that out of the figure, 75,000 which represent 50 percent shall be female farmers in order to increase their income and to ensure they have a means of livelihood.

    Ekom stated this in Akure, the Ondo state capital during a workshop training of agro-women initiative organised by the Life and Peace Development Organization (LAPDO) in collaboration with PERL, DFID, MADE and Ondo state Agricultural Development Projects, (ADP).

    Speaking on a paper titled, “opportunities at MADE for Adoption under the Agro-women Initiative”, the MADE official said “training of farmers on best ways to carry out their business in the sector. For instance, there are new technologies on how to process palm oil and smoking of fish, such will earn farmers more income and optimize their returns”.

    Read Also: CBW charges women on election

    He said “at the end of the day, our target is to see how we can reach over 150,000 farmers in the  Niger Delta region, 50 per center of whom should be women, to increase their income and to ensure they have a means of livelihood”.

    Ekom said “we work in the market system where we try to address challenges that associated with market system, for instance in the areas of fishery,  cassava, poultry, palm oil, we intervene in the provision of the right agric inputs like fertilizer, product services to farmers”.

    In an address, Franklin Oloniju of the Life and Peace Development Organization (LAPDO), said

    Agro-women initiative is a budget line dedicated for women, noting that in 2019 budget of the State government, a sum of N60million was allocated for the project.

    According to Oloniju, Ondo state is the only state in Nigeria that has done that for female farmers, stating that the essence of the training is to ensure that women farmers develop their own work plan, especially now that Ondo state government’s 2019 budget has been passed.

    LAPDO boss said, “we now feel that it is not going to be good to just be only the government and ADP that will say what the money will be used for, rather bring the women together let them tell us what they want the money to be used for, let them say particular commodities they are look at, that is why they in the training, to develop a work plan”.

    “Luckily for us, because of what ADP is doing with us, International partners are also interested, we have  MADE supported by DFID, PERL which is also the programme of DFID is co-funding this initiative and we have participants drawn from all the 18 local government in Ondo state”

    One of the resource persons and former State Commissioner for women affairs, Mrs Yinka Alabi, described the agro-women initiative as timely and laudable.

    The Desk Officer, Agro-women Initiative at ADP, Mrs Bola Ajibade stressed the need to develop workplan for proper implementation of the agro-women project.

    Also,the state Programme Manager, ADP, Mr Babalola Adeniyan, the ondo state Commissioner for budget & Economic planning as well as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor on agriculture, Akin Olotu delivered goodwill messages at the training.

  • Man arrested for stealing pants in Ondo

    A-25-year old man, Ojonugwa Adejoh has been arrested by the Ondo state police command for allegedly stealing pants belonging to his brothers’ wife for rituals.

    Adejoh was arrested alongside with one Prophet Olajide Ogunleye (53), of Celestial Church of Christ, ‘Ibanujemidopin’, Uso, in Owo local government area of Ondo state.

    Parading the suspects in Akure,the state capital on Wednesday, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Femi Joseph, a Superintendent of Police(SP) said they were arrested last week following the report by the victim.

    Adejoh said, “I went to the prophet to pray for me because of my work when I got there he asked me the type of my work and I told him I am  panel beater, he said he wanted to pray for me asking me to open my hands and  put something  on it for me to shallow and prayed for me before leaving the place.

    “But when I got home I don’t know what I was doing again I just started looking for my brother wife’s pants and when I got the pants I went back to him. I didn’t steal the pants for rituals. Hours after, my brother’s wife raised an alarm that she didn’t see her pants and I was arrested. When the police arrested me, I was taken to Uso police station before they transferred me to Akure.

    Read Also: ‘Stealing pants for rituals shameful’

    “Two pants belong to my brother’s wife and three others belong to my younger sister are in my possession”.

    The prophet however denied the allegation,saying he didn’t ask him to go and steal the pants.

    Joseph however enjoined ladies and women in the state to guard their under wears jeolously,saying  “this is a very dangerous phenomenon now”.

    He said  “we are using this opportunity to enjoy our ladies and women that this is a very dangerous phenomenon now, we have to guard whatever we are putting on as underwear.

    “Parents should also warn their children particularly female ones to be very careful where they keep their wears.

    The command also arrested two local security guards for alleged attempt to rape one woman (name withheld) who was coming back from church around 8pm along popular Agbogbo road, in Akure.

    The suspects, Daniel John (25) and Longbap Bongven (25) from Plateau state according to police spokesman said they normally hide somewhere around the area whenever they wanted to perpetuate their acts.

  • Police arrest woman, in-law over killing of 14-year-old

    The Ondo State Police Command on Monday said it had arrested a woman, Mrs Ajoke Adebayo and her brother-in law, Idowu Adebayo for  allegedly killing a 14-year-old Mathew Adebayo at Oda area of Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    The incident which occurred last Saturday was said to have thrown the community into pensive mood.

    Sources said the JSS 3 student was allegedly tortured to death by the suspects for stealing a sum of N21,000 naira from the bank account of his mother, Ajoke.

    It was learnt that after she noticed that her son had stolen money from her bank account, Ajoke called her husband, Ayodele Adebayo, a police officer to inform him about the development.

    Adebayo was alleged to have ordered his brother, Idowu to punish the deceased.

    According to a source “The woman (Ajoke) called her husband,to inform him about what the son did, the husband then called his younger brother to discipline the boy.

    “In the process of beating the boy, Ajoke too joined him,and inflicted injuries on his body. After assaulting the boy, they also locked him inside a room and went away.

    “A friend of the boy living in the area reportedly called the attention of the neighbours to the torturing of the boy. Later when they opened the door, where he was locked in, he was already unconscious and had to be rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead”.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill policeman in Edo

    Men of the state police command were said to have been invited to the scene and later arrested the two suspects.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, . Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incident, said investigation had commenced and efforts were ongoing to arrest the father of other boy.

    According to him” We have arrested the two suspects and very soon, we will arrest the police father who gave the order to beat the boy. He is not serving in our command here but he would soon be arrested. “

  • Suspected thugs injure 10 in Ondo

    There was uproar on Thursday when hoodlums suspected to be political thugs reportedly assaulted residents of Ala Elefuson community in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo state.

    No fewer than 10 persons were said to have sustained injuries in the attack.

    Sources said the attack was hinged on the palliative measures by some members of a political party to grade the road leading to the area.

    It was learnt the hoodlums, numbering about 30 invaded the community and attacked the operator of the grader working on the road.

    He was said to have been beating to a pulp for daring to embark on the reconstruction of the road to gain political sympathy.

    Read Also: How to curb insecurity in Ondo, by experts

    Eyewitnesses said the hoodlums led by a man identified as Kobu, were angry with members of the community for allowing members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to facilitate the grading of the road leading to the community.

    He said the thugs contended that grading of the road was carried out to score political goal ahead of the next month general election.

    According to him, the chairman of the community had approached members of the PDP in the area to assist them in the grading of the road after their pleas had been turned down by the chairman severally.

    Speaking on the attack, one of the community leaders, Festus Makinsun, described the development as barbaric.

    He alleged those who invaded the community were APC members who had failed to attend to their plight.

    He said the road had remained a death trap and affecting the movement of their farm produce to the market.

    He explained some members of the PDP, who were at the area to monitor the grading, were beaten to coma saying no fewer than 10 people were rushed to the general hospital in Idanre.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Femi Joseph was not available for comments.

    The APC Director of Publicity, Steve Otaloro, however denied the allegation, saying members of the party would not participate in activities that would disrupt the peace of the land.

  • Lab scientists inducted at Achievers varsity

    Sixty-nine out of 70 qualified Medical Laboratory Scientists from Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State for the 2017/2018 academic session have been inducted.

    One of them, the late Akindumila Akintunde, who specialised in Haematology/Blood Group Serology died before the induction.

    The representative of the Acting Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, Tosan Erhabor supervised the oath taking at the Trinity Hall of the University.

    The Guest Lecturer at the event and Head of Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Prof G.A Okogun,  said Medical Laboratory Science played a pivotal role in the promotion, curative and preventive aspects of the nation’s health delivery system.

    According to him, medical laboratory scientists must ensure continued competence by maintaining professional skills, while they should practice according to protocols.

    Okogun said they should maintain safety guidelines, existing legislation and environmental considerations.

    “You must always verify relevant data and ensure that appropriate specimens are procured in accordance with the established protocols,” he said.

    The professor of Medical Microbiology urged the new laboratory science professionals to respect colleagues and work in harmony, stressing that they should be sympathetic and considerate to the sick and their relatives.

    Head of Department, Medical Laboratory Science, Dr A.O Hassan appreciated the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria and Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria for their efforts aimed at bringing innovations with respect to qualitative training of medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria universities.

    The Achievers University Vice Chancellor, Prof Tunji Ibiyemi, urged the new Medical Laboratory Scientists to be good ambassadors of the institution.

    He also appreciated the Pro-Chancellor, Dr Bode Ayorinde, the Governing Council and Management of the University for their unalloyed efforts in uplifting the institution.