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  • Olubadan, Sunmonu, others bag doctorate at Lead City varsity 

    Olubadan, Sunmonu, others bag doctorate at Lead City varsity 

    The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, and veteran trade unionist, Com. Hasan Sunmonu, were among prominent figures awarded honorary doctorate degrees by Lead City University, Ibadan, during the grand finale of the institution’s 18th convocation ceremony.

    Oba Ladoja was conferred with a Doctor of Science in Public Administration (Honoris Causa) in recognition of his contributions to leadership and public service. Com. Sunmonu, pioneer President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and former General Secretary of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, received the Doctor of Public Administration (Honoris Causa).

    Other honorees included Mr. Olalekan Bello, Chairman of FCSL Asset Management Company, and Mr. Olakunle Williams, President and CEO of Tetracore Energy Group, both awarded Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa) degrees.

    In his address, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kabiru Adeyemo reported that a total of 3,379 students graduated this year, comprising 2,162 first-degree recipients and 1,219 higher-degree holders, including 290 students who graduated with first-class honours.

    READ ALSO; Nigeria’s First Lady gives N50m grant to Rivers PWDS, disabled veterans

    Prof. Adeyemo explained that the honorary degrees were awarded to acknowledge the recipients’ exceptional achievements, leadership, and contributions to society. 

    He also noted that the convocation coincided with the university’s 20th anniversary, marking two decades of academic development, scholarship, and innovation.

    The Vice-Chancellor described the ceremony as a culmination of the graduands’ diligence and perseverance, highlighting the support provided by families, mentors, and the university community in their success.

    He described it as a dual celebration: honouring the Enterprise Class of 2025 as they take their place in the world, and acknowledging the remarkable progress Lead City University has made over twenty years in shaping individuals who contribute meaningfully to society.

    The Vice-Chancellor highlighted significant investments by the university, revealing that over N200 million has been committed to staff training, workshops, professional development programmes, and sponsorship for national and international conferences. 

    This, he said, has raised the quality of teaching and administration and enhanced the ability of the university’s staff to compete globally.

    Addressing the graduands, Adeyemo urged them to uphold integrity, pursue excellence, embrace service, and equip themselves with emerging digital skills and innovative mindsets. 

    He encouraged them to become employers rather than mere job seekers, to champion peace, justice, and nation-building, and to contribute meaningfully to global development, noting that their education has prepared them for these responsibilities.

    Earlier in the event, Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Gabriel Ogunmola thanked parents, guardians, and families of the graduands for their unwavering support, sacrifice, and commitment, which ensured the successful completion of their academic journeys.

    Responding on behalf of the honorees, Mr. Olalekan Bello expressed profound gratitude for the recognition and described the institution as a true citadel of academic excellence, pledging their continued partnership and support.

    He, however, urged the graduating students to strive for excellence and to embrace Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies in order to equip themselves for future challenges.

  • Nigerians will enjoy deregulation gains, says Sunmonu

    Nigerians will enjoy deregulation gains, says Sunmonu

    • ‘Regular tax payment key’

    Deregulation will come with pains, but at the end, it will bring stability, which will bring growth, chairman of Julius Berger PLC, Dr. Mutiu Sunmonu, said yesterday.

    Sunmonu, former Country Chair, Shell Petroleum Development Company, urged Nigeria to move from being a country of importers to a country of productivity.

    He spoke on the topic: ‘Nation-building in a deregulated economy: a clarion call for citizens,’ during the University of Lagos Alumni Association lecture held at Ade Ajayi Hall, UNILAG, Akoka.

    At the lecture was hosted by the association president, Ife Oyedele, and was chaired by Dr. John Momoh. Present too were Vice Chancellor Prof. Folasade Ogunsola; Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa, Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu-Ode Dr. Sunny Kuku, and Emeritus Prof. Olayide Abass, Prof. Khalid Adekoya and Lekan Fatodu, Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission.

    Sunmonu reflected on the bold and courageous reforms of the Tinubu administration, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy, the floating of forex and the tax reforms, saying they were very critical and necessary.

    He lamented that Nigeria had failed in some ways, stressing that its economy had derailed.

    Sunmonu, who graduated from UNILAG with a First Class in Mathematics and Computer Science, noted that people are complaining bitterly and accusing the government of neglect.

    However, he frowned at the assessment of the economy by some people not based on logic and empirical evidence.

    He acknowledged that everyday, there is a huge debate about prices and the value of Naira in relation to the dollar.

    Sunmonu pointed out that Nigeria has been sick for a long time, having been assailed by low productivity and soaring unemployment.

    Describing fuel subsidy as evil, he said it was a problem that had gulped $40billion annually while the gains are not felt by all.

    Sunmonu said the money spent on subsidy can be channeled towards the development of education, social infrastructure and subsidy targeted at direct public welfare.

    He said the best form of subsidy is ‘target subsidy,’ including subsiding food production.

    Read Also:Tiger’s rapid progress excites Sunmonu

    Sunmonu said the argument that cheap petrol for the masses may be fallacious.

    Urging Nigerians to expect the gains of deregulated economy, he said: “Deregulation will come with pain but at the end, it will bring stability which will bring growth.

    “I don’t want us to lose hope based on the short term effects of the current economic reforms. In the future, we will have much to gain, if we sustain the momentum.”

    Sunmonu urged Nigerians to pay their taxes accurately and promptly.

    Welcoming the guests, Oyedele urged the alumni to come to the aid of the institution so that it can meet its needs.

    He said: “UNILAG has a lot of needs. Electricity bill for one month is over N430 million. They still buy diesel. Your certificates will be worthless if your university cannot be the standard. We want the University of Lagos to be the best in Nigeria and one of the best in Africa.”

  • Residents praise Ajimobi, Sunmonu over road repair

    Residents praise Ajimobi, Sunmonu over road repair

    Motorists and residents of Ibadan have commended Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Senator Monsurat Sunmonu for their intervention in the repair of a portion of the Ibadan/Ife Expressway.

    The failed portion of the highway at Adegbayi area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, caused nightmare to motorists and residents for several months; with many spending hours in the traffic.

    On report of alleged death of some motorists in the area on October 16, Senator Sunmonu visited the portion the following day to assess the extent of failure and attendant consequences on motorists.

    While assessing the site, the lawmaker invited Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) which constructed the road.  Based on her appeal, the construction firm commenced repair work on the site the following day.

    Sunmonu said: ‘“My visit was prompted by local news reports of recent deaths on that section of the road, where unfortunately five people were reported to have died. The accidents and subsequent deaths were caused by the poor condition of the road.

    “I went to the site with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC). On getting there, I called the Managing Director of the construction company. He promised the company would resume work at the location the following day to reduce accidents on that road. I also called the Director of Federal Ministry of Works for Oyo State.

    “After the visits, we went to the governor, Senator Ajimobi, to report the incident and he promised to also monitor the situation.

    “Following affirmative action, it is with pleasure that I inform the people of Oyo Central that the company fulfilled its pledge and indeed went to the site to begin remedial work.”

    She said the action was in fulfilment of some of her campaign promises.

    Motorists and residents have expressed their gratitude to the lawmaker and the governor for the gesture.

  • How Oyo/Ogbomoso road made budget, by Senator Sunmonu

    After about eight years of foot dragging, the Oyo/Ogbomoso expressway project received N6 billion appropriation in the 2016 budget for its completion, it was learnt at the weekend.

    Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, representing Oyo Central, disclosed this in an update to her constituency. She said the budgetary allocation, which will see the once abandoned road completed, was as a result of her concerted efforts to deliver on her campaign promises.

    According to her, after co-sponsoring a motion on the need to complete ongoing road projects at the Senate, she emphasised the increasing number of deaths occasioned by accidents on the Oyo/Ogbomoso road in recent years.

    The lawmaker added that she leveraged on her relationship with the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, and her Works, Power and Housing counterpart, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), which started when she was the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly.

  • Why Grazing Bill can’t fly, says Sunmonu

    Why Grazing Bill can’t fly, says Sunmonu

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, yesterday said the controversial National Grazing Reserve Bill should be considered dead on arrival.

    Senator Sunmonu, who represents Oyo Central, noted that although her investigation showed that no such bill was pending in the Senate, she had been consistently inundated with telephone calls by her constituents about the “Grazing Reserve Bill” and the massacre of Nigerians by people alleged to be “herdsmen.”

     She noted in a statement entitled: “My thoughts on the #GrazingReserveBill and “Herdsmen,” that legally there could never be an Act of the National Assembly providing for the compulsory provision or confiscation of land.

     The Land Use Act, she said, is unequivocal that all land is vested in the governors to hold in trust for the people.

     She said any such law, promoted for compulsory acquisition or confiscation of land, would be unconstitutional and therefore void.

     The former Oyo State House of Assembly Speaker noted that the Land Use Act had been elevated beyond the realm of being a normal Act of the National Assembly, because it could only be amended in the same way as the Constitution.

     Sunmonu said: “As a Nigerian, a legislator and representative of the people, I have had recourse to think long and hard about these issues and ask myself what I, as a senator can do to help.

    “The genesis of land law in Nigeria is the Land Use Act 1990, CAP 202, Laws of the Federation (“the Act”).

    ‘’Section 1 of the Act unequivocally vests all land in a State in the Governor of that State and such land shall be held in trust and administered for the use and common benefit of Nigerians in accordance with provisions of the Act. The tenors of the law are clear: Governors are in control of land within their states on trust for the people.”

  • Sunmonu to resolve NLC leadership crisis

    Sunmonu to resolve NLC leadership crisis

    An end may be in sight to the leadership crisis that is rocking the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), with the constitution of a seven-man reconciliation panel headed by a former president of the congress, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu.

    There are two factions in the union –– one is headed by Comrade Ayuba Wabba, who was elected in Abuja at delegate  conferene.  Comrade Joe Ajaero heads the other. He was elected in Lagos.

    Former President of the Congress and Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole told reporters at the end of the reconciliation meeting called by veterans of the congress that a seven-man committee headed by the founding President, Comrade Hassan Sumonu has been set up to iron out all issues that were raised by both parties in the crisis.

    Oshiomhole said that each of the two factions are to be represented by three people including  Comrades Wabba and Joseph Ajaero.

    The mandate of the Committee, he said, will be to meet regularly to iron out the issues in contention until they are resolved. He said the major issues are not about positions since the two factions recognised that only one person can be President at any given time.

    He explained that the reconciliation meeting looked at the issues that arose and concluded that these are all family issues and in every family, it is not unusual to have some disagreement, adding that  “we all deeply regret all that has happened that led to the discordant voices that people were beginning to hear from among the leadership of the NLC”.

    He said that they have all resolved to work together and build peace within the labour movement as well as in the state councils, adding that those who were thinking that the NLC will break up have been disappointed by the out come of the reconciliation.

    He said: “Having listened to all the parties, we all agreed that there is only one NLC and at any given time, only one person can lead and other will follow. But leadership and followers is not a relationship between a tenant and owner. Everybody is a member of the movement.

    “Having deliberated on this, we agree that a committee of seven persons be drawn up with members of three each drawn up from each shade of opinion from the NLC family and our founding president, Comrade Sumonu will provide leadership for this committee of seven and they will meet and ensure that NLC is managed on the basis of inclusion and not exclusion.

    “They will help the leaders of the congress to operate in such a way that everybody will have a sense of belonging. We all agreed that all the issues that has been raised should be revisited. Issues of ethics, morality, customs and practice, traditions of the trade union movement and law.

    “All these issues and others will be addressed in a manner that will help NLC regain internal cohesion and have a coherent voice, not only in running its affairs, but being able to comment authoritatively on matters affecting the politics and economy of Nigeria”.

    Oshiomhole said they have also directed that the matter before the National Industrial Court should be withdrawn unconditionally because the Congress has the internal mechanism to resolve its own crisis.

  • Pre-trial closed in petition against Sunmonu

    The pre-trial in the hearing of the petition against the election of the Oyo Central senator, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu, was concluded yesterday.

    Accord candidate Bisi Ilaka is challenging the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.

    At the resumed hearing, the petitioner’s counsel, Olawale Omoloye, said he was ready for the trial.

    Sunmonu’s lead counsel Tola Oshobi urged the court to hasten the trial process.

    Justice J. G. Abundaga, who heads the three-man panel,  asked the counsel to straighten out details as to how many days are needed before trial begins, number of witnesses, time frame for each witness as well as other administrative requirements.

    He added that a counsel would lead his witness in evidence for 10 minutes; cross examination will be 20 minutes while re-examination will last for only five minutes.

    He explained that discretion would be used in situations where a witness is very important and will be tendering a lot of documents.

    Justice Abundaga said the court would issue a report to all the parties on the trial’s continuation and the trial date.

     

  • Sunmonu is Petralon Energy chair, Aig-Imoukhuede Director

    Sunmonu is Petralon Energy chair, Aig-Imoukhuede Director

    Petralon Energy Limited has appointed Mutiu Sun-monu and Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede as Chairman and non-executive director  to its Board of Directors.

    Sunmonu is the former Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) & Country Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN) with an oil & gas career spanning over 36 years in Nigeria, United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

    He was the pioneer responsible for mobilising the private sector to set up the National Business Council for Sustainable Development (NBCSD) and currently serves on the board of various organisations across multiple sectors of the economy including real estate, construction, oil & gas and education.

    Sunmonu is the recipient of many awards including; Sustainability Champion (2014 SERA Awards) and Commander of the Order of The Niger (CON). He is a Fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (FNSE) and a board member of Imperial Homes (Formerly GT Homes), and Julius Berger Nigeria.

    Aig-Imoukhuede is the founder and chair, Coronation Capital, a private equity and propriety investment firm targeting the financial services, digital technology, upstream oil & gas and real estate sectors in sub-Saharan Africa, operating out of Mauritius. He is president, National Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and chair, Wapic Insurance Group, an emerging West African underwriter. He also serves on the Board of the Africa Finance Corporation.

    Aig-Imoukhuede has a long and successful career in the banking industry at both Guaranty Trust Bank Plc where he rose to Executive Director and Access Bank where he led the Access Bank transformation team. His leadership witnessed the transformation of the institution into one of the largest banks in Nigeria. Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede is the recipient of several awards and National Honours including African Banker of the Year (African Banker), West African Entrepreneur of the Year (Ernst & Young) and Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

    Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Sunmonu said: “I am honoured to serve on the board of an indigenous oil and gas company dedicated to global best practice. I look forward to working with the Petralon board and management team as they work towards their vision of collective energy and value for all.”

    Aig-Imoukhuede also commented: “I am excited by this opportunity to play a role in building a world class leading indigenous E&P company. I am looking forward to contributing to Petralon’s continued success with a focus on delivering tangible results.”

    Founder & CEO of Petralon Energy, Ahonsi Unuigbe, also said: “Mutiu’s 36 years of extensive experience in the oil and gas sector will add a valuable perspective to our Board of Directors. We appreciate his willingness to serve as the Chairman and look forward to benefitting from his counsel.

    “We are equally pleased about Aigboje’s appointment and the decades of experience he brings to bear. We have no doubt that the board can draw on his vast experience in building successful businesses from start-ups, will provide tremendous benefits to the board and the organisation as a whole.”

    Petralon Energy is an indigenous exploration and production company in Nigeria with regional expansion plans across Africa.  The company, which has already raised over $50 million to fund its immediate growth plans, is set up to acquire, develop, and operate assets in the oil and gas sector.

     

  • Akinjide, Sunmonu, Ilaka for Senate in Oyo Central

    Akinjide, Sunmonu, Ilaka for Senate in Oyo Central

    The race for the House of Representatives and the Senate in Oyo central District is gathering momentum. Aspirants are setting up campaign structures, ahead of primaries, and perfecting strategies to have an edge. Correspondent BISI OLADELE reports.

    House of Representatives and Senate are six months away. But, political gladiators in Oyo Central Senatorial District have hit the ground running. They are working assiduously  to emerge as flag bearers in their respective political parties.

    The senator representing the district, Ayo Adeseun, will complete his tenure next year. The All Progressives Congress (APC) senator has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he hopes to contest for governorship. Adeseun has been changing parties as he changes clothes. Before his defection to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), he was in the PDP. He had defected to the PDP in 2002, following the crisis in the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

    Adeseun is a formidable politician. However, since he has now changed his political gear, some gladiators are jostling for his position. The fear of incumbency has collapsed. Adeseun’s posters have flooded the state, signaling intention to bid for the Agodi Government House. But, sources said that the politician from Ogbomoso is using the governorship ambition as a cover-up for his actual ambition to return to the National Assembly.

    National Assembly aspirants in the district include Chief Jumoke Akinjide, Chief Bisi Ilaka, and Mrs. Jumoke Sunmonu. The three actors are eyeing the Senate. However, Prince Akeem Adeyemi, the son of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, Hon. Bimbo Kolade and a few others want to go to the House of Representatives.

    Akinjide is the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT.  Sunmonu is the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly. Ilaka, a United Kingdom-based tax consultant, is the Ladilu of Oyo. He lost the battle to Adeseun in the 2011 election.

    Before she joined the senatorial race, Akinjide, the lawyer-daughter of Chief Richard Akinjide, former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, was a governorship aspirant. In 2011, she had wanted to represent the district in the Senate. But, she lost to Adesun. She has not explained why she is backing out of the governorship race.

    Ilaka is a veteran governorship and senatorial aspirant. She had pursued the ambition in the ACN, the PDP and the Accord Party (AP).

    Sunmonu has not publicly declared her ambition. But, close associates disclosed that she has begun underground moves. Some said that she is likely to get the ticket in the APC.

     

    Akinjide

    Akinjide’s daughter is a brilliant lawyer. He has garnered experience in the public service for over a decade before she entered politics. In 1959, her father entered the House of Representatives and became the Minister of Education. However, she has not been lucky as a parliamentary aspirant, unlike the old man. Efforts by her to represent the district in the past had failed. But, Jumoke is a competent politician. The 55-year old minister had served as Special Assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo from 2001 to 2003. She was appointed minister in 2011 after her failed senatorial bid. She came third in the election.

    The PDP’s defeat at the governorship poll was painful to her. She worked toiled for the party during the campaigns. Since 2011, she has been funding many party activities. She is the pillar of support for the PDP faction loyal to her. She is a serious contender for the senatorial ticket.

    Akinjide is not unmindful of the danger posed by the multiple crises in the PDP to its chance at the polls. Thus, she been preaching unity. She has also made efforts to reach out to some communities and the under-privileged through her Oloye Jumoke Akinjide Foundation.

    But, the minister faces some hurdles. The PDP is factionalised in the state. The second faction, which is perceived as the mainstream, may  thwart her ambition. Also, the mainstream seems to be the only recognized faction. Hence, Akinjide will have to close ranks with major stakeholders to get the ticket.

    Oyo Central has 11 local governments. Five are in Ibadan. Four are in Oyo and two are in Ogbomoso. Among the five in Ibadan, the PDP is only popular in one. It is not popular in Egbeda, Lagelu, Akinyele and Oluyole, going by the result of the last election. The fortune of the PDP has not improved in the four local governments in Oyo town, since the last election. However, the PDP is not doing badly in the two councils in Ogbomoso.

    If Akinjide gets the ticket, as she did in 2011, she will have to work harder to improve her chances in those local governments.

     

    Sunmonu

    Sunmonu has succeeded in restoring peace to the House of Assembly, which was widely known for its recklessness, violence and assault on democracy in the past. ‘Madam Speaker,’ as she is fondly called by her colleagues, is also an ally of Governor Abiola Ajimobi. Under her leadership, the House has not recorded any crisis, violence and disharmony. The feat has contributed immensely to the peace of the state. Three parties-the APC, the PDP and the AP-have members in the House. Yet, Sunmonu has succeeded in stabilising the legislature. The reason is that she is fair to all members, irrespective of their political leanings.

    There are some factors that may work for her. Her closeness to Ajimobi and the Alaafin is an advantage. The Oyo-born lawmaker also maintains a cordial relationship with her constituents. She is popular at home. When it became public knowledge that Adeseun may not re-contest, stakeholders in the four local governments in Oyo have gravitated toward the Speaker. Their calculation is that an Oyo indigene may emerge as a senator for the first time since the restoration of the civil rule in 1999. For this reason, Sunmonu is most likely to enjoy the blessing of key leaders and the masses.

    An Ibadan man, Dr. Lekan Balogun, won the seat in 1999. He was succeeded by another Ibadan man, Senator Teslim Folarin in 2003. Adesun, who succeeded Folarin, is from Ogbomoso.

    However, the APC will have to find an alternative senatorial slot for Ibadan indigenes in the two districts, if Sunmonu gets the Oyo Central ticket. The contest will be hot for her in the four local governments in Oyo as the Accord Party is likely to field Ilaka, a prominent Oyo chief.

     

    Ilaka

    The former PDP chieftain defected to the Accord Party during the preparations for 2011 elections. That was after he failed to get the ticket in the ACN. He gave Adesun a good fight at the poll. He came second. That meant that he was also popular. Some even said that he was not defeated by Adesun, but by the popularity and the goodwill of the ACN in the district. Then, the votes were divided among the three candidates in the five local government areas of Ibadan.

    If Ilaka picks the ticket under the Accord Party,  votes in Oyo will be split between him and Sunmonu while the three of them will make Ibadan their major battle ground. Ilaka will have a much bigger ground to cover because the Accord  Party’s fortune has not improved in Ogbomoso. Besides, Ilaka has maintained a low public profile since the 2011 election.

     

    Adeyemi

     

    In Oyo Federal Constituency, the Chairman of Atiba Local Government, Prince Akeem Adeyemi, is leaving no stone unturned to get the House of Representatives ticket. He is in mobilising grassroots’ support for his ambition. His rival at the primaries is the Commissioner for Works, Hon. Bimbo Kolade.

    The prince of Oyo has served as a council boss for about seven years. He is serious about succeeding the incumbent, Hon. Kamil Akinlabi, who also hails from Atiba. He also has the backing of his illustrious father, the paramount ruler of Oyo Kingdom. However, Akinlabi is still in the race.

    The constituency consists of the four councils-Atiba, Oyo East, Oyo West and Afijio. Oyo East produced the Hon. Moroof Akinwande (2003-2007). Atiba produced Hon. Segun Taiwo (1999-2003) and Hon. Akinlabi (2007 till date). Afijio and Oyo West have not enjoyed the slot.

    The APC candidate will face likely AP and PDP candidates at the general election. For now, the battle for the Accord Party  ticket is between Prince Nurudeen Gbadegesin (Oyo East) and Kazeem Kolawole Raji, who also hails from Oyo East.  In the PDP, the former Chairman of  Atiba Local Government, Hon. Busari Omoriyeba and Saheed Arowosafe from Oyo East will slug it out at the primaries.