The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oyo

  • Oyo distributes relief materials worth N13 million to schools

    The Oyo State government has distributed educational relief materials worth N13m to schools affected by rainstorms in the 33 Local Government Areas as well as the 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who made the distribution on Thursday at the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Warehouse, Secretariat, Ibadan, said that the relief materials were donated by United Nations International Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Akure Field office for schools affected by rainstorms in the state.

    Gov. Ajimobi disclosed that the distribution of the relief materials was to maintain the State’s leading status in education.

    Ajimobi said it was a pity that the natural occurrence affected the structures of schools in the state.

    Some of the relief materials distributed are educational/Instructional kits, sporting kits, building materials, recreational kits amongst others.

    Ajimobi, who was represented by his Deputy, Otunba Moses Adeyemo said: “Education is the bedrock of any progressive society/state and we will not relent in our continuous strides to enhance the standard and quality of education in the state.”

    The governor further stated that the distribution of these palliative materials by UNICEF became pertinent so as to ensure that the learning process is not hindered pending the time the classrooms would be renovated.

    Sen. Ajimobi however appreciated UNICEF for its continuous support in complementing the state government’s activities and for its keen interest in Socio – Economic Development through Intervention programs.

    In his goodwill message, the state’s Head of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade, charged parents and teachers to uphold public trust in order to justify the support of the donor partners.

    He advised teachers to make judicious use of the materials for the benefit of the children, saying that they (teachers) are the bridge between the government and the parents.

     The representative of UNICEF, Akure field office, Muritala Adogi Muhammed appreciated the state government for the laudable partnership and its quest to develop education, pointing out that generational poverty can only be broken by Education.

     Muhammed, who is the Education Specialist covering Southwest, stated that the mission of UNICEF is to make Oyo state a model in the Southwest and that the relief materials distributed is a model for future donations.

  • Oyo, Osun constitute LAUTECH’s Governing Council

    Oyo, Osun constitute LAUTECH’s Governing Council

    Osun govt urges parents, students to plead with unions

    The Osun State government has urged parents, students and other stakeholders of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) to plead with the institution’s joint unions to stop frustrating steps by owner-governments to get it back on track.
    The government said it was uncomfortable with the prolonged strike that has kept Nigeria’s future leaders at home for months.
    In a statement yesterday in Osogbo, the state acpital, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Adelani Baderinwa, expressed shock over the suit filed by LAUTECH’s joint unions to stop the auditing of the university’s accounts, as recommended by the visitation panel set up to investigate and resolve the crisis that has crippled the institution.
    According to him, the state government found it shocking and counter-productive the suit filed by the unions at the Oyo State High Court.
    Baderinwa said the auditing of the LAUTECH’s Ogbomoso accounts was recommended by the Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) visitation panel, adding that the owner-states appointed a reputable accounting firm, KPMG, to do the job.
    The commissioner said the LAUTECH unions, besides chasing out the KPMG workers from the university, have allegedly persistently been working against the recommendation of the Olanipekun panel, except where the owner-states are asked to raise funds.

    THE Oyo and Osun state governments have constituted a seven-man Governing Council for Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).

    They said the council will be headed by a retired Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF), Prof Oladapo Afolabi.

    In a statement yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Olalekan Allli, named Prof Lai Olurode, Prof. (Mrs) Olaide Adedokun, Mr. Abiodun  AbdulJelil Owonikoko (SAN), Mr. Isiaka Olagoke, Mr. Tise Adenipekun and Bade Adesina as members of the Governing council.

    Alli said Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his Osun State counterpart, Rauf Aregbesola, acted on the powers conferred on them by the laws establishing the institution as visitors, met and approved the Governing Council of LAUTECH with Prof Afolabi as chairman and pro-chancellor.

    The SSG noted that the tenure of the Governing Council, as mandated by the University Law, shall be four years from the date of its inauguration, unless determined by the visitors.

    Alli said the visitors also directed the immediate inauguration of the Governing Council, whose mandate “shall also be guided by the provisions of the relevant laws establishing the university”.

    He added that the visitors were confident that with this development, the crisis in the institution would be resolved.

    The SSG urged the stakeholders to cooperate with the council in its determination to realise its mandate.

     

     

  • Oyo Exco members, others register for health insurance scheme

    Members of Oyo State Executive (Exco), the Speaker of the House of Assembly, political appointees and senior government officials are among the over 3,000 people who have enrolled for the recently launched Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme (OYSHIA).

    Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, spoke yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, on the need for the residents to register under the scheme.

    The commissioner urged the public to take advantage of the registration for the scheme at the nearest government and accredited hospitals around them to benefit from what he called a cheap, affordable, accessible and unique health insurance programme.

    Arulogun said the Exco members were led for the registration by Deputy Governor Moses Adeyemo in demonstrating the commitment of the government to quality health care and health insurance scheme.

    The registration of Exco members was done at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office.

    The commissioner said Speaker Michael Adeyemo registered when the House of Assembly team visited the Assembly complex.

    Ajimobi had registered at the formal launch of the scheme, as part of the sixth anniversary of his administration.

    Executive Secretary of OYSHIA, Dr Sola Akande, noted that the residents had  embraced the scheme, following the enquiries and warm reception for its team.

    He advised the residents  to register under the scheme, which he called the of first of its kind by any state government.

    Arulogun said the scheme covers almost all ailments, adding that it is free for expectant mothers  and children between the ages of one and five years.

    He added that the insurance scheme was carefully designed for the rich and the less privileged in the state.

  • Davido thrills as Shina Peller honours late father

    Davido thrills as Shina Peller honours late father

    NIGERIAN superstar, Davido thrilled the audience at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp, Iseyin, Oyo State last Tuesday.

    The singer performed alongside other popular acts like Sound Sultan, Base One, and Que Peller during the opening ceremony of Peller Unity Cup sponsored by Chairman Aquila Group of Companies, Shina Peller to mark the 20th remembrance of his late father, Africa’s foremost magician late Professor Moshood Abiola Peller.

    Davido, who made yet another impressive appearance on stage as usual, didn’t fail to keep the fans singing along with him.

    The excited crowd, obviously thrilled by performances from the If crooner, cheered on as he performed hit after hit at the event.

    Speaking with The Nation on the competition which has a total of 300 players from 20 teams in 10 Local Government Areas of the state competing for one trophy, the popular socialite and acclaimed King of night life, Shina Peller said his gesture is not politically motivated as he is only keen at bringing football development to the youths of Oyo State through the 20 year remembrance of his late father.

    “The main objective for this event is to promote unit among our diverse community because they say charity begins at home. I’ve been looking forward to this opportunity to be able to make something up for my people here and I can assure people of Oke-Ogun that they will be seeing me more because I am committed to this cause. It’s something I’ve been doing in Lagos and I’m doing it in Oke-Ogun and I don’t think that is bad,” said Peller, who presented free sport kits to all participating teams.

    The competition which ends on Thursday, August 3 will see winners going home with cash prizes.

  • Oyo, Lagos to partner on agric, Southwest integration

    Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode has said the state will partner Oyo State and other Southwest states to boost agriculture and other economic activities for the region’s socio-economic integration.

    Ambode spoke on the partnership when he visited his Oyo State counterpart, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, in Ibadan, the state capital.

    With the steady progress Oyo State is making in physical and social infrastructure, as well as the establishment of a commercial hub on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to attract investors, the Lagos governor said Ajimobi had demonstrated that he was purpose-driven.

    In the last six years of the Ajimobi administration, Ambode said Lagos State had leaned towards his exemplary leadership to drive some of its activities.

    Ambode said: “Lagos activities towards the commencement of integration of Southwest leaned towards the activities of Oyo State government in the last six years.

    “For the first time, we can see an upward progress of Oyo State. I believe strongly that the capital projects carried out by the government in this state through public-private-partnership (PPP) are just the right steps in the right direction.

    “In the last one and a half years, Lagos State has decided to join the crusade for the economic and political integration of the Yoruba dynasty. May I say that Governor Ajimobi has been an exemplary leader with the ingenuity he used in bringing the Southwest governors together.

    “Lagos is ready to partner Oyo and our sister-states in the Southwest on agriculture and other economic activities that will enhance the renewed integration agenda of our region. The Southwest, especially Oyo, has arable land capable of growing crops that will guarantee food security for the nation.”

    Ajimobi said Oyo had location advantage as the gateway between Lagos, the nation’s commercial nerve centre, and the rest of the country.

    The governor said Oyo State, being the largest producer of cassava and poultry products, would benefit immensely from the proposed partnership with Lagos State to drive its economic revival programmes.

    He said: “Lagos, being the most viable, stable and economic nerve centre of the country, can be of great help to the nation, if it consumes what other states in the Southwest produce.

    “Look at our own advantage in Oyo State as the gateway between Lagos and the rest of the country. We are the highest producer of cassava and poultry products. So, if Lagos consumes our products, it will assist our people and our economy.

    “I am of a strong conviction that we will soon put pen to papers on this partnership, especially in the area of sustainable food security where we have a comparative advantage over other states. Oyo has the largest arable landmass in the South with its vast population.”

    Also, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday described his Lagos State counterpart, Akinwunmi Ambode, as the Governor-General of Nigeria.

    The Osun governor noted that the position of Lagos as the nation’s economic nerve centre and Ambode’s brilliant performance could not be downplayed.

    Aregbesola spoke at the Government House in Osogbo, the state capital, when he hosted the Lagos governor.

    The Osun governor noted that the Lagos economy is about the summation of the economies of 30 other states in the country.

    He said one would be denying the obvious not to recognise the vantage position of Lagos State and its governor in the affairs of the country.

    Aregbesola said: “I recognise the Governor of Lagos State who, by my own assessment, is the Governor-General of Nigeria. I say so for a very good reason. It is not a question of age of the occupant of that office or his tenure. It is simply an attestation to the fact that the economy of Lagos is about the summation of the economies of 30 states in Nigeria. One will be deceiving himself not to recognise that fact.”

    The Osun governor recalled similar visits to former Osun State Governor Bisi Akande by former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    He described Ambode’s visit as historic and apt coming at a time the state lost some illustrious indigenes and in the wake of democratic assault he suffered recently.

    Aregbesola said the visit encouraged, motivated and cooled him down.

    Ambode said he was amazed at the pace of development in Osun State, despite its meagre resources.

    The governor said his administration would support Aregbesola to record further successes in his efforts to take the state to greater heights.

    Both governors renewed calls for and reaffirmed their commitments towards the actualisation of Southwest’s integration.

    A statement by the Director of the Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, said the two governors spoke when Ambode visited Aregbesola at the Government House in Osogbo.

    Ambode said the time had come for the region to exploit its potential and stand by what Aregbesola had championed since the beginning of his administration.

  • LAUTECH to Oyo, Osun govts: use refund to pay our salaries, pensions

    THE Ladoke Akintola University chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday appealed to Oyo and Osun states governors to channel the latest tranche of the Paris Club loan refund into the payment of the outstanding salaries of workers and pensioners in the institution.

    It is also urged the governors of the two owner-states – Abiola Ajimobi and Rauf Aregbesola – to use the opportunity granted by the refund to solve the perennial funding problems that has brought LAUTECH to its knees.

    In a statement, LAUTECH’s ASUU Chairman and Secretary, Dr Biodun Olaniran and Dr Toyin Abegunrin asked the two governors to overlook whatever imagined sins committed by some staff members to warrant what they called “horrendous suffering unleashed on the system”.

    The union spokesmen maintained that the duo of Ajimobi and Aregbesola should consider the plight of over 30,000 students who have been at home for a very long time.

    They urged the governors to act fast in public interest by using the opportunity of the windfall to address the LAUTECH matter.

    The ASUU statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the release of another tranche of Paris Club Refund by the Federal Government to the states. This is done with an express advice to state governments to use the fund for settlement of indebtedness to workers and pensioners.

    “It is in this connection that our Union uses this medium to appeal to the governors of Oyo and Osun states to use the opportunity of this financial relief to solve the perennial funding problems that has brought LAUTECH to its knees.”

    ASUU further reminded the governors of the need to use public resources which they manage on behalf of the people to service public interests by funding the university properly.

    The union went on: “The governors are called upon to overlook whatever ‘imagined sins’ must have been committed by some staff members to warrant this horrendous suffering unleashed on the system.

    “They should use the milk of human kindness in them to pity the plight of the over 30,000 students who are wasting away the good part of their youthful energies at home. The university is a public institution ministering to the educational needs of the mass of poor citizen of the states.”

    The governors were also reminded by the union that they hold their “offices by the grace of the people to whom those positions rightly belong. So, using resources at their disposal of the state to service public interests like funding the university properly is part of the mandate and pact signed with the people.”

  • Oyo govt warns against illegal pension processing

    Oyo State government has warned pensioners in the state to desist from patronizing individuals who collect illegal fees before processing their pension arrears and gratuities for them, urging that they should rather follow due process.

    The State Commissioner for Finance and Budget, Mr. Abimbola Adekanmbi, who gave this admonition during the sensitization tour by the Management of Oyo State Pension Board to the twenty-nine (29) pension offices in respect of the forthcoming verification and Biometric capture of Civil Service Pensioners in the State, posited that pensioners are not expected to pay any amount as processing fee for their pensions and gratuities.

    Mr. Adekanmbi, who spoke through the Executive Secretary, Mr. Olaleye Ajagbe after the board’s visit to Eruwa, Igboora, Saki, Igboho, Igbeti, Kisihi, Iseyin, Oyo, Jobele and Ogbomoso, assured the pensioners that government will not relent in its effort to have accurate, efficient and effective database of its Pensioners so as to be able to take proper care of their welfare.

    The commissioner also enjoined all pensioners to bring along their necessary documents for verification during the forthcoming biometric capturing in which the date and the venue will be announced later.

    The State Chairman, National Union of Pensioners, Mr. Gbadegesin Akande commended the efforts of the Oyo State government under the leadership of Senator Abiola Ajimobi for ensuring that the welfare of the pensioners are well taken care of, pledging the union’s unflinching support for the success of this administration.

    In a related development, teachers have been urged to desist from securing loans that their net pay cannot cover.

    The Coordinating Director, Oyo State Post Primary Schools Teaching Service Commission, (TESCOM) Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, made the charge while addressing the officials of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) at the TESCOM headquarters.

    Oni urged teachers to be decent in their approach and appearance, and consequently advised the teaching and non-teaching staff who are retiring, to stop giving tips, patronising touts or any intermediary while processing their pensions and gratuity.

     

  • Oyo gets farm imput from Dangote’s firm

    Oyo gets farm imput from Dangote’s firm

    The Oyo State government at the weekend said it got 25 metric tonnes of fertilisers and rice seedlings from Dangote Group of Companies.

    The items are to be distributed to 292 rice farmers in the state.

    In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, the government said the distribution of the seedlings will start on July 19.

    It noted that the fertilisers and rice seedlings showed the commitment of the state government to the Dangote Rice Outgrowership Scheme under the Oyo State Agric Initiative (AgricOyo).

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi announced the scheme last month during the launch of WAMCO Milk Collection Centre at Saki.

    Receiving the seedlings on behalf of the state government at OYSADEP Warehouse at Saki, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture, Fajimi Shakirullahi, noted that about 800 bags of fertilisers had been delivered at a warehouse in Awe for rice farmers in the area.

    He said the remaining seedlings were for farmers in Oke-Ogun with about 500 hectares of farmland.

    The governor’s aide said they were earmarked for pilot project, adding that the farmland was expected to increase to 6,000 hectares during next farming season.

    Fajimi allayed fears that the fertilisers and seedlings might not get to genuine farmers, saying: “Farmers who registered with the government will benefit from this gesture. We know them. We have been meeting with them and they will surely benefit.

  • A tale of two Oyo schools

    A tale of two Oyo schools

    It will be four months tomorrow that the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State,  was shut. It was closed down barely two months after it resumed from an eight-month lecturers’ strike. In the ancient Oyo town, the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education (EMACOED) has not been re-opened, six weeks after it was shut, following a students’ protest. GABRIEL OGUNJOBI, reports. 

    By now, Gbenga Ojo should have completed the compulsory one-year National Youth Service. His mates in other schools have completed the programme and some of them have since started working.

    But Gbenga, a 400-Level student, cannot say when he would graduate, having spent almost seven years on  a five-year programme at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

    Crestfallen, the Physics student regretted the day he chose at LAUTECH, saying the crisis rocking the school has disorganised his future plan.

    In the last two years, LAUTECH’s academic calendar has been disrupted because of perennial workers’ srike. The school has been shut many times. The latest closure on March 15 followed the inability of its  joint owners – Oyo and Osun states – to fund the school and pay workers’ salaries.

    “I have lost hope in our education,” Gbenga said, expressing fear that the crisis may linger for as long as the school’s Visitors are not  committed to the joint ownership structure.

    Noting that he has remained on the same academic level since 2015, he said: “Being stagnated at 400-Level since 2015 has not given me hope whatsoever. By now, I am supposed to have either gone for National Youth Service or be preparing to go. The fate of thousands of students studying in the school are being put on hold, because of the inability of Oyo and Osun states  to fund the school.

    “It is not as if the country has anything to offer us after graduation. Instead of wasting my time while the university is closed down, I had to start learning graphic designing to keep myself busy. There is the tendency that I would set up a big business when I eventually leave school.”

    Like LAUTECH, another tertiary institution in the state – Emmanuel Alayande College of Education (EMACOED) – has been shut and the students sent home.

    EMACOED was shut indefinitely by the Oyo State government, following last month’s students’ protest over welfare.

    Since LAUTECH was shut early this year, its students have held street protests and rallies to draw attention to their plight. They have written  to the government canvassing intervention in the crisis, all to no avail.

    Their resolve to make a coordinated appeal to the Oyo and Osun governments over the strike is being constrained by the absence of Students’ Union Government (SUG) leadership. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the union was banned weeks before LAUTECH was shut.

    Wasiu Amobi, a student and member of the proscribed union, called for the Federal Government’s intervention, saying the crisis may become protracted if “superior authority” did not mediate in students’ interest.

    He said: “It would be in the best interest of the students if the Federal Government, as a superior authority, rises to the occasion and intervenes in the crisis rocking LAUTECH. The governments of Oyo and Osun states have shown they are not buoyant enough to continue funding the institution. If this is true, what would be the fate of thousands of students studying in the school?”

    Another student, Ahmed Oyedeji, said they were concerned about the continued closure of the school, adding that they were being careful in organising rallies so that their struggle is not hijacked by criminals and politicians.

    “We appeal to the Federal Government to intervene in this issue to save our future. The prolonged strike is a bad signal for our education. We cannot organise rallies to draw attention to our plight because we are afraid hooligans may hijack the protests to perpetrate evil. Some politicians may also use it to their own advantage, breeding conflicts and disunity among students. These considerations sabotage our efforts as we strive to resolve boiling issues on ground.”

    The continued closure of the school, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, may give some students licence to engage in crimes and immorality. There are fears that some students may have ventured into cyber fraud, prostitution and related vices.

    Rather than engage in immorality, Faith Oyedele, a student, said: “I had to start learning fashion designing against my will. But, I didn’t have a choice, since I don’t want to be seen idle. I hope the strike is called off soon.”

    Adewale Adediran, an Applied Chemistry student, is eking out a living as a Disc Jockey at outdoor a parties in Ibadan.

    Kemi Alabi, who was admitted to study Animal Science and Crop Production last January, has not resumed because the school is yet to complete its 2015/2016 academic session.

    “I might have to consider sitting for another Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) if the school is not reopened on time. It is better to choose a faraway institution than to be delayed by the neighbouring institution whose owners are not serious about its development,” she said.

  • Lagos firms, Oyo strike housing deal

    TWO Lagos firms are to build two estates in Oyo State that will accommodate over 2000 people including civil servants.

    Transformation Housing Development Company Limited (THDCL) and HCP Architectural Engineering Limited will handle the Lakeside and Transformation Estates which will be sited at Idi Ishin and Elenusonso.

    To be developed in phases, they will be built under the Oyo State government’s Transformation Housing Luxury and Affordable Schemes. The houses will comprise 3-bedroom bungalows, 3-bedroom semi-detached and detached houses; 4-bedroom maisonette and detached houses and 5-bedroom detached houses. The 3-bedroom bungalows will go for N10million under the affordable housing scheme, and between N20million and N50million, for the luxury units.

    The estates will have modern landscaping and green areas,  sewage treatment plant, recreation ground, schools, 24-hour power supply and security.

    THDCL Managing Director Jacob Esan and his HCP counterpart Olawale Demola said in Lagos yesterday that Ibadan was chosen for the scheme because of the ancient city’s social and commercial importance.

    According to Esan, the projects were borne out of the necessity to provide accommodation for the growing Ibadan population.

    Besides, he said, the increasing number of Ibadan indigenes in the diaspora that will relocate home had made it imperative to embark on the projects to relieve the stress on Lagos.