The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ondo state

  • Akoko monarchs counsel Politicians on performance

    Traditional rulers in the four local government area of Akoko in Ondo state have enjoined politicians in the area to contribute meaningfully to the development of the area.

    They urged all legislators from the area at National and State levels especially the lawmaker representing Akoko North East/West Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Stephen Olemija to bring more dividends of democracy to the constituents.

    At a forum where all aspirants for the 2019 election including indigenes of converged on Ikare-Akoko, they spoke on  the good performance of Olemija and his efforts in assisting people in his constituency.

    Among the monarchs in attendance were the Olukare of Ikare and Chairman of Ondo State Council of Obas, Oba Akadiri Momoh, Olubaka of Oka,Yusuf Adeleye, Zaki of Arigidi -Oba Yisa Olanipekun, Olusupare of Supare, Oba Kalasi Adedeji and others.

    They acknowledged various challenges facing the people of Akoko especially on infrastructure and impassable roads, urging influential indigenes to assist the area in developmental strides.

    Olemija, while speaking with reporters at the forum, appreciated the traditional rulers,describing them as custodian of values in the land.

    The lawmaker who is the former Chairman, Akoko Northeast, said he had been identifying  with the people as their representative, stressing that if he became a Senator ,he would not sit tight in Abuja.

    He said he had sponsored three bills on roads in the lower chamber to better the lots of his people.

    Some of his supporters described him as a performer and true son of Akoko, adding that his achievements in leadership and philanthropy is legendary.

    They said “As a leader and trail-blazer, Olemija spearheaded numerous initiatives and accomplishments that have not only remarkably improved the quality of life of his constituents, but have also set new standards in innovative governance.

    “We saw in him a patriot, who is always resolute and forthright in canvassing for views on matters of progressive politics and national development.”

  • Osinbajo flags off market power intervention in Akure

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo flagged off the pilot project of Special Intervention in Energising Markets as Productive Clusters at Isinkan Market, Akure, Ondo state capital.

    The federal project being powered by the National Rural Electrification Agency and Ondo State Government’s Office of Public Utilities was aimed at ensuring power supply in all markets across the state.

    The VP explained at the flag off at Isinkan market that the project is being put in places by the Federal Government to ensure power supply in all public markets with a view to boosting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME-s) in the country.

    According to him, “We are focusing on major markets across the country to put an end to power problem. We are working at Ariria Market in Aba, likewise Sabongeri market in Kano and we focusing on markets in Lagos as well.

    “We can see how excited the market women are judging by their testimonies.

    “This technology is new and it is remotely monitored from the headquarters of the service providers. If anyone attempts to tamper with the meter it would be detected from the monitoring centre immediately and necessary action would be taken.”

    Osinbajo who was accompanied by Governor Oluwarotimi  Akeredolu, however, promised the market women that the project would be extended to all other markets.

    Special Adviser to the governor on Public Utilities, Engr. Tunji Light Ariyomo explained that Governor Akeredolu is working in conjunction with the Federal Government to ensure power problem is resolved in all public markets in the state.

    “The governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, is concerned about the plights of the market women in terms of poor power supply. He’s working with the Federal Government through its agency to power all our markets in Ondo State.

    “This would enable the people to run their businesses smoothly and make more profits which would invariably allow them to create more jobs and shore up the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state government,” Ariyomo said.

    A team, comprising market women, state government representatives and a representative of the federal agency, was inaugurated by the Director General,  National Rural Electrification Agency,  Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi and Engr. Ariyomo to ensure the safety of the gadgets.

    The team tagged Cluster Management Unit has five members.

    The solar power used as pilot project is 3kw capacity meant to serve 14 lock-up shops in Block I of Isinkan Market, Akure. A total of 8,750 matket shops in Akure across Oja Oba, NEPA and Isolo markets have been profiled as beneficiaries of the intervention consequent upon the success of the pilot.

    According to the Iyaloja of Isinkan, Chief (Mrs.) Bolarinwa Temidayo, the project is a solution to the main problem they have been facing for the past four years.

    She disclosed that they were suffering from outright blackout in all public markets in the state capital and across the major markets in towns and villages of the state which had undermined their rate of turnover.

    Bolarinwa, who revealed that there were 8,700 lock-up shops in major markets in the state capital, called on the Vice President to ensure the agency responsible for the installation of the solar power extend the project to other markets in Akure and across the state.

     

  • Akoko monarchs counsel Politicians

    Traditional rulers in the four local government area of Akoko in Ondo state have enjoined politicians in the area to contribute meaningfully to the development of the area.

    They particularly encouraged the lawmaker representing Akoko North East/West Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Stephen Olemija to bring more dividends of democracy to the constituents.

    At a forum where all aspirants for the 2019 election including indigenes of the area were in attendance,they spoke on  the good performance of Olemija and his efforts in better the lots of the people in his constituents.

    Among the monarchs in attendance were the Olukare of Ikare and Chairman of Ondo State Council of Obas, Oba Akadiri Momoh, Olubaka of Oka, Yusuf Adeleye, Zaki of Arigidi -Oba Yisa Olanipekun, Olusupare of Supare, Oba Kalasi Adedeji and others.

    They acknowledged various challenges facing the people of Akoko especially on infrastructure and impassable roads, urging influential indigenes to assist the area in developmental strides.

    Olemija, while speaking with reporters at the forum, appreciated the traditional rulers, describing them as custodian of values in the land.

    The lawmaker who is the former Chairman, Akoko Northeast, said he had been identifying  with the people as their representative, stressing that if he became a Senator ,he would not sit tight in Abuja.

    He said he had sponsored three bills on roads in the lower chamber to better the lots of his people.

    Some of his supporters described him as a performer and true son of Akoko,adding that his achievements in leadership and philanthropy is legendary.

    They said” As a leader and trail-blazer, Olemija spearheaded numerous initiatives and accomplishments that have not only remarkably improved the quality of life of his constituents, but have also set new standards in innovative governance.

    “We saw in him a patriot, who is always resolute and forthright in canvassing for views on matters of progressive politics and national development.”

  • “We can’t use all allocations to pay Workers’ salaries – Akeredolu

    Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Wednesday lamented a situation where 90 per cent of N5b monthly allocations of the state is being expended on salaries, pension and other worker’s allowances.

    He noted that it would be difficult to meet other obligations such as employment of more primary school teachers, construction of roads, classrooms and other infrastructural projects.

    The governor made the declaration at Owode-Obaile in Akure North local government area of the state during the inauguration of NULGE Ultra-modern Resort constructed by the Ondo State leadership of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).

    Akeredolu expressed satisfaction with the state NULGE President, Dr Olubunmi Eniayewu and his team for initiating projects that had direct positive impacts on local government workers across the state.

    He noted that the present administration had been regularly releasing N200m to offset backlog of gratuities of retired public servants and payment of car loan for workers at both state and local government levels.

    Akeredolu, justifying his statement over his administration’s inability to pay workers’ leave allowance until when the State is buoyant which prompted a protest at this year’s May Day celebration in Akure on Tuesday,said it was not a big deal because it was a fundamental human right of every Nigerian to protest or disagree with government’s decision.

    He however said he would continue to act in the overall best interest of the state.

    The governor said “we earn about N5b every month, N4b goes for salaries, allowances, how do we address the problems of shortage of teachers in primary schools, how do we build classrooms, how do we provide transformers for communities without light, majority want their roads constructed. The current state of affairs is depressing”.

    “It is a tragic irony that some people now refer to our state as a civil service enclave where governance has been reduced, virtually, to payment of salaries, allowances, grants and subventions”, He said

    Akeredolu pointed out that “so, you can shout, you can protest, is your fundamental human right, you can remain in sun for days but I will not change my style in the interest of the majority. We are paying salaries regularly, workers must not be selfish, allow us to take care of other people in the state”.

    He maintained that out of over Six million people in the state,workers constituted only two percent,stressing that it would be unreasonable to spend the whole state monthly allocation to take care of workers at the expense of other stakeholders.

    Earlier, the NULGE President, Eniayewu said the Union’s recreational facilities started in 2015, and would facilitate easy training and retraining of more local government workers through seminars and entrepreneurial skills acquisition.

    The Union leader, who commended Akeredolu for prompt promotion of his members, however urged the State government to urgently approve the promotion of local government workers who were due in January, 2018.

  • Commonwealth: Akeredolu to reward medalists from Ondo

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State says athletes from the state who won medals at the just concluded Commonwealth Games in Australia will be rewarded.

    Akeredolu disclosed this during a fund raiser and inauguration of the National Athletics Development Centre by the Nigeria Sports Development Fund Inc. ( NSDFI ) on Monday evening in Akure.

    “Going to the Commonwealth and winning medal is not easy, that is what the minister of sports said.

    “If each state had won two medals at the event, the country should have topped the medals table,” he said.

    The coach and athletes to be rewarded are Purity Akuh, a wrestling coach with the State Sports Council and national coach,  Aminat Adekuroye and  Odunayo Adeniyi, gold medal winners as well as  Bose Samuel, a bronze medalist.

    The athletes won medals in the wrestling event at the Games.

    Commenting on the Centre, Akeredolu said the initiative would engage the youths of the state positively.

    The governor noted that the programme was bound to succeed because the money would come from the masses and not government.

    Akeredolu encouraged people of the state and the country at large to key into the programme as it would benefit both the rich and the poor.

    Earlier, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung,  said the funds from the programme would go a long way in  preparing  athletes for the 2020 Olympics.

    Dalung, represented by Mr Ademola Are, Director, Federation and Elite Athlete Department of the ministry, said the programme was a practical example that ‘government cannot do it all’.

    The minister said that a similar programme was initiated in 1994 and before the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, urging people to see it as a Nigerian project.

    Read Also: ‘Osinbajo for Ondo MSME clinic Thursday’

    Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, said the programme and community lottery scheme was a partnership between Ondo State Government, Athletics Federation of Nigeria and NSDFI.

    According to Yusuf-Ogunleye, one of the benefits of the partnership was establishment of sports facilities in the three senatorial districts of the state.

    The Director General of NSDFI, Mr Olajide Fashikun, said the launch had a target of raising N900 million for 90 athletes in five sports for the Olympics.

    Fashikun said that the programme only needed 4.5 million Nigerians to donate N200 only in 90 days for the dream to come to reality.

    “For every of the 90 athletes, we shall as a nation give them what it takes to rule the world. The last time we did this was 1994 when our fund supported those preparing for 1996 Atlanta Olympics Games.

    ” We shall repeat the feat. By the last day of July 2018, we want to make sure we have delivered on this task,” he said.

    NAN

  • Akeredolu, El-Rufai make case for Curriculum review

    Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has expresed the need to restructure the education sector as a crucial step towards advancing development across all sectors in the country.

    Speaking at the 4th Distinguished Guest Lecture series of the University of Medical Sciences, UNIMED, Ondo, Governor Akeredolu said education policies should not be guided by political considerations but by serious concerns to accelerate pragmatic and systematic development of the country.

    The governor who is also the Visitor to UNIMED called on all stakeholders in the education sector to use the current challenges as a spring board to catalyze the country to greater heights by moving away from the unprofitable practice of certification which has rendered “thousands of graduates unemployable and helpless”.

    While emphasizing that education should be the veritable key to socio-economic development, Akeredolu agreed that the curriculum must be made to address peculiar problems confronting the country.

    He appreciated Governor El-Rufai who he described as a first-class brain for sharing his thoughts at the Distinguished Guest Lecture series of UNIMED.

    Akeredolu used the opportunity to assure that his administration’s policy on education will positively affect the present and future generations and its performance indices will be made manifest for all to appreciate.

    Delivering the 4th Distinguished Guest Lecture, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai who is the Governor of Kaduna State said for the Nigeria Education System to be reformed and made impactful to engineer development, the National Policy on Education was due to be overhauled.

    He said his state was already taking some steps in that direction.

    El-Rufai noted that the target of education should be knowledge acquisition driven by quality, based on Information Communication Technology, ICT, and not mere certification.

    According to him, teachers must be motivated to impact knowledge, while the school environment must be made conducive for teaching and learning process to be seamless.

    The governor who spoke on the topic ” Transforming Nigeria’s Educational System: Looking Back and Looking Forward, suggested the adoption of first degree as the minimum qualification for teaching in Nigeria as against the use of Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE).

  • ‘Osinbajo for Ondo MSME clinic Thursday’

    The Ondo State Government says the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, will  be in the state on Thursday for the inauguration of  the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises ( MSME ) Clinic in Akure.

    The clinic was an initiative of the office of the Vice President in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment as well as  11 other federal agencies.

    This was revealed during a news conference on Sunday in Akure by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mrs Olubunmi Ademosu.

    According Ademosu, the programme would kick off on Wednesday while the Vice President is expected in the state on Thursday for the inauguration.

    She said  the Ondo State Government had  put in place all the required structures and processes that would ensure the success of the programme, adding  that the state government was targeting no fewer than 10,000 beneficiaries.

    “The Akeredolu’s administration has always prioritised the people as a key point of his administration as all programmes we have carried out have been evenly implemented.

    “We have also ensured that political influence is avoided with the commitment to facilitate a sense of belonging to residents of the state.

    “The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Clinic will never be an exemption,’’ Ademosu said.

    She expressed confidence that the programme would go a long way in raising  a new set of entrepreneurs while the existing ones would be guided on the best steps to take to add value to their efforts.

    “ Owners of micro, small and medium enterprises are expected to focus on capacity building before accessing the most appropriate financial facility.

    “This is why you have businesses that open and shut down in less than few months of establishment.

    “Access to finance for at least five years is the right structure for these businesses and government is already working toward  addressing that with the establishment of the Development Bank of Nigeria ( DBN ), ‘’she said.

    The Special Adviser explained that the idea of the MSME Clinic is part of the efforts of the Buhari administration to close the gap between  enterprises and relevant government agencies.

    She also said that agencies like NAFDAC, Corporate Affairs Commission ( CAC ), Standards Organisation of Nigeria ( SON ), Bank of Industry ( BoI ), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and others serve as facilitators of businesses and not obstacles to business development in the country.

    Similarly, the Ondo State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Timehin Adelegbe, said the implementation of the programme was timely.

    “It is coming at a period that the Akeredolu administration is intensifying efforts at creating a conducive environment for small scale businessmen in the state,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Police arrest suspected operator of fake WAEC centre

    The Police Command in Lagos State has arrested a 48-year-old man suspected to be the operator of a fake West Africa Examination Council ( WAEC ) examination centre in Igbogbo, Ikorodu.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Edgal Imohimi, said the suspects were arrested on April 25 following a complaint by a senior member of staff of WAEC office, Ogba.

    “The complaint was that there exist a fake WAEC centre at El-Supreme Private School located at No. 3, Oseni Adekogbe Street, Igbogbo Ikorodu.

    “Operatives of the Command attached to Area ‘G’ Ogba, were mobilised to the above address where one Pastor Adeniyi Joshua of El-Supreme Church was arrested.

    “WAEC question papers and answer sheets suspected to be forged were recovered from the suspect.” Imohimi said.

    Similarly, four suspects who specialise in solving examination questions and circulating the answers through various websites and Whatsapp numbers were also paraded by the police.

    Read Also: Police debunk rumours of planned attack on mosques in Benue

    Imohimi said the Rapid Response Squad ( RRS ) decoy team traced and arrested the suspects from Edo, Osun and Ondo State.

    “Some other suspects had been traced to Ghana. We are working with Interpol to make sure they are arrested as soon as possible.

    “We are also working with the examination bodies involved to make sure we get to the bottom of this.

    “This is something of national interest and a great embarrassment. We will ensure that this does not repeat itself.

    “Parents, guardians and tutors must also guide their wards not to engage in exam malpractices,’’ Imohimi said.

    NAN

  • Workers hail Akeredolu on reforms in Ondo Electricity Board

    Recent reforms introduced by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in the Ondo State Electricity Board (OSEB) have been applauded by workers in the establishment.

    They described the development as appropriate.

    The workers while welcoming the new Acting General Manager, Engr. Stephen Fadoju to his office said the new changes would enhance their performances in discharging their statutory duties more than before.

    They assured the governor of their unflinching support, saying “we want to assure Governor Akeredolu of our renewed commitment and unalloyed support. We are ready to deliver to schedules on the key plans for electrification of Ondo State.”

    Read Also: Akeredolu hails plan to upgrade airport

    Speaking Fadoju’s appointment, who succeeded Engr. Julius Adeloye as General Manager in the past nine years, the Chairman,  Workers Union, Abidakun Emmanuel said it would catalyze the exploits of the establishment having been familiar with the terrain.

    He also promised that they would give him full support to succeed in his new office.

    According to him,”We the entire staff of OSEB pledge our support and we shall re-double our effort to ensure that the organization succeed under your leadership,”

    In his reaction, the new Acting GM appreciated the Governor for the opportunity given him to serve.

    He promised to do all within his power with the cooperation of all members of staff to improve on the performance of the establishment.

  • Ondo APC’s reaction to Boroffice’s statement

    The Ondo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticized the statement credited to the lawmaker representing Ondo Central District, Senator Ajayi Boroffice that elective congresses will be jettisoned for mere filling of the vacancies created  in the Ward, Local Government, State and National Executive Committee(NEC).

    The statement alleged that some party officials in the state have perfected plans to hoard nomination forms from legitimate party members

    But, in a statement by its Director of Media & Publicity, Steve Otaloro said members of the APC know that nomination forms are not yet out and those who are coming to conduct the election have not arrived the state yet, wondering why  Boroffice is cooking up this falsehood.

    He said “This electoral body would be responsible for the conduct of the election. They would call for stakeholders meeting where they would reel out the modalities of the election. We currently don’t know who are members of this electoral committee which would be sent down by the National secretariat in Abuja.

    “So, it is not the State Secretariat that would select and conduct the election. We are aware that Boroffice had compiled list of aspirants from his camp in his clandestine meetings, promising them nomination forms last week.

    “But to save his face from looming embarrassment, he’s now alleging the party leadership of hoarding the nomination forms even when they are not yet out.

    “No doubt, Boroffice has lost touch with our party as well as the people and it is obvious he would lose out in the coming congress.

    “This is another lie least expected of a distinguished personality like Senator Borofice Ajayi. It’s a sheer figment of his imagination. Nomination form is not yet out, so how could this be hoarded.

    “This falsehood revealed how distant Senator Boroffice is to our party and confirmed his scheming to defect from the party.  We know from good source that he has been holding series of clandestine meetings with some people in his bid to defect to another party to execute his obnoxious ambition.

    “How would a sitting senator be unaware of the happenings in his acclaimed party. Rather than contacting his party secretariat, he went to the media to cook up stories against our party leadership.

    “What would the party gain in disenfranchising its members or hoard nomination forms? The party stands to gain more with more aspirants accessing the nomination forms and participating in the election.

    “Senator Boroffice should know that APC Ondo State chapter has resolved to abide by the dictates of our party constitution. Boroffice is not in a position to tell us what our party constitution says about conduct of Congress because he’s double dealing.

    “No one knows where he belongs. He is far away from our party that’s why he doesn’t know what is going on in the party.

    “He should be asked when last he visited the party secretariat either in his local government or the state headquarters.

    “Boroffice is only trying to create crisis in our party by cooking up these allegations because he’s jittery having lost out in all his unholy scheming.  Although we are not surprised because this is his stock in trade, causing crisis and fighting constituted authorities right from when he was in Labour Party (LP)”.