Tag: Ooni of Ife

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has unveiled the Ojaja Park smart city in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Former Head of State, General Abdusalam Abubakar and Bishop Mathew Kukah led other members of the National Peace Committee to visit the Ojaja park.

Bishop Kukah officially unveiled the project with special prayers.

Speaking to journalists after a tour of the project, Oba Ogunwusi said the Ojaja Park has a five-star hotel, game center, children’s park, shopping mall, school and residential estates.

Oba Ogunwusi said his idea was to model something that has never been done in Nigeria.

The Ooni said he constructed the smart city from homemade goods.

He said Nigeria has to make do with its resources to solve problem of housing deficit.

According to him: “We have a mall here that basically let us be very proud of our home. This is the only way we can grow the economy. We don’t need to leave government to do everything and this is the  why I invited  General Abdusalam Abubakar and Bishop Mathew Kukah to come and bless this place, because they believe in peace, and they believe in youth engagement, because for us here, it’s all about youth engagement and I believe Nigeria will be a better place.

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On the number of youths that are expected to work at the park, he said:  “They are in thousands. We can’t even count because it’s a lot. You can see they are all working. It’s over a hundred thousand square meter land that was condemned. It was a condemned land.

“It took us almost two years to even reclaim the land back and we have a lot of youths here that have actually shown their strength, things they can do and how they can make it happen.

“We are not driven by money. When you are driven by money, you can’t do such a project, it’s not possible, but for me, on the throne, I just want to see a lot of youth and their lives being turned around. And I’m happy, I’m fulfilled. 

“I have thousands of youths that, from nothing, they are something today. So, that’s my objective. The numbers, you can’t even count, they are into billions. But, we don’t want to talk about  number here. It’s about passion. What can we do for our dear country? We always blame  government but what are we all doing  individually?”

In a bid to actualise the value-added component of the seven-point agenda of the mining sector, a local mining firm, Jupiter Lithium Limited, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a South African mining giant, Bevex Mining Services, to set up modular plants for exploration and processing  of lithium.

The agreement marked a significant step in the development and operation of modular Lithium Concentrator Plant (LCP) sited in Kafanchan, Kaduna State.

The MOU tagged “Jupiter Project” aims to harness rich spodumene deposits to produce premium Spodumene Concentrate (SC6) which will process into lithium for the production of batteries.

The MOU outlines an immediate three-month scoping study, involving drilling and metallurgical test work, to finalise the process plant’s design.

Speaking for the local investor, Dr. Hassan Tukur said, “This MOU signifies a vital partnership between Nigeria and South Africa in leveraging advanced lithium processing technology. It aligns with our mission to enhance Nigeria’s mining sector and boost local employment.”

He added that the South African firm, “known for its extensive experience in lithium processing across Africa, will bring its expertise to the project. The collaboration aims to utilize Dense Media Separation (DMS) technology, a tried and proven method in South Africa, to create modular process plants. These plants will be positioned close to spodumene outcrops, reducing transport costs and minimising environmental impact.”

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Assuring all stakeholders of it’s readiness to ensure the success of the project, Dave Griffiths, the Chief Executive Officer of Bevex Mining Services said they are committed to local development and environmental sustainability as the core values of their operations.

Shedding light on the advantages of the DMS technology in modular plants, Griffiths said the innovative approach reduces transport costs and minimizes local community disruption.

According to him, “the modular concentrator plants will process spodumene ore, averaging 1.5% to 2% grade, to produce high-quality Spodumene Concentrate (SC6) with a 6% Lithium Oxide (Li2O) content. The SC6 will be sold domestically for further processing, enhancing Nigeria’s value chain in lithium production.

Dr. Stephen Davis, Director of Jupiter Lithium Ltd., stated, “Our partnership with Bevex will expedite the development of the Jupiter Project, setting a new standard for lithium processing in Nigeria. This is a significant leap towards meeting global lithium demands while fostering local industry growth.”

Endorsing the agreement Kaduna State government through the  Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba  assured the investors of government’s readiness to give necessary support for the modular plants.

 “His Excellency, Sen. Uba Sani and the state government warmly welcome this partnership and look forward to a fruitful collaboration. This agreement promises significant benefits for our state’s development.”

The “self-serving” traditional functionaries, who engaged themselves in a sacrilegious show of shame and falsehood against the Benin customs, have been barred from the palace of Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, in Edo State.
The “integrity-challenged” individuals, identified as Johnbull Igbinosun, Iduhonre (Ihogbe), S.E. Aigbiremwen, Efesoghoba (Ogbelaka) and two other Ogbelaka functionaries: Ogbeide Osagie and Osamudiame Edo, according to the Chief Press Secretary to Oba of Benin, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, yesterday in a statement, falsely claimed to be emissaries of the first-class monarch, in the presence of the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ọjaja II, at his palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Iguobaro insisted that the banished traditional functionaries rendered inaccurate and disjointed account of the link between the Benin royal dynasty and the Ooni-ship of Ife at Ooni of Ife’s palace.

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Iguobaro said the traditional functionaries admitted before the committee led by the Uwangue of Benin, Chief Ekhoerovbiye Oviasogie, that they erred against Benin customs.
The Uwangue of Benin, who described their action as a deliberate attempt to undermine Benin kingdom, pronounced the suspension of the palace functionaries.
Consequently, they were stripped of Benin royal beads, recognition as palace functionaries, and their traditional titles, which were handed over to the ancestors.
The suspended palace functionaries were also barred from parading themselves as Benin palace functionaries and stopped from participating in traditional rites in Benin, and they were escorted out of the palace by Benin chiefs, including Ewaise (traditional seers), with occipital horns, invoking ancestral spirits to bear witness.