Category: Uncategorized

By Olufemilade Oyinade

Lanre Bankole Sikiru has been deployed to take charge at the Ogun State Police Command as the new Commissioner of Police.

Sikiru’s redeployment to Ogun command followed the retirement of Edward Awolowo Ajogun, who clocked 60 years on Thursday.

According to a police wireless message dated DTO:060930/10/2021, from the Force Headquarters, Abuja, Sikiru was directed to report to Ogun State with immediate effect.

The police wireless message with reference number: TH.5361/FS/FHQ/ABJ/V.7/725, read: “INGENPOL (Inspector General of Police) has ordered the posting of COMPOL Lanre Bankole Sikiru to CP OGS. Posting is with immediate effect.

By Our Reporter

Wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun has charged wives of Local Government Chairmen to contribute their quotas to the upliftment of the society, through the implementation of programmes that would impact on the lives of the less privilege.

She gave this charge during their induction into the forum of Spouses of Ogun State Functionaries Association, (SOSGFA), in Abeokuta, urging them to complement the efforts of their husbands for a successful tenure.

Mrs. Abiodun who is the Chairperson of the Association called on them to be creative, embark on pet projects and partner with private organisations to fast-track development in their respective council areas.

“As wives of government functionaries, you have taken up a unique role and you should work to justify it. Let me also say that you will encounter challenges, but it is important for us to come together as sisters to look into them and proffer solutions. By the virtue of our position, our attention should be on how to partner with one another, empower and bring about development’’, she said.

In her remark, a former Deputy Governor in the State, Alhaja Salmot Badru, enjoined them to be conscious of their attitudes in the society and portray the attributes of a virtuous woman, adding that they should assist their husbands to give the best to the people.

Delivering a paper on ‘Orientate the Women on Protocol and Etiquettes’, the Director of Protocols in the State, Mrs. Kehinde Akinola enjoined the wives of the Local Government Chairmen to always carry other women along irrespective of their educational background, political and religious affiliations.

By Our Reporter

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has called for the cooperation of all and sundry with the traditional institution in order to entrench peaceful coexistence in the society and further pave way for a new, speedy and sustainable development in all spheres.

Governor Abiodun made the call while speaking at the installation and presentation of Staff of Office to the first Otufesojoye of Irete in the Odogbolu Local Government Area, Oba (Surv.) Ganiyu Awokoya-Yesufu, urging that necessary respect and support should be extended to the new Monarch in order to uplift the community.

Abiodun, represented by the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Afolabi Afuape, stated that traditional institutions were crucial to achieving meaningful and accelerated governance, adding that commitment of the citizens was also paramount.

“As a peaceful and noble community, all hands must be on deck to pave way for a new, speedy and sustainable development in all sectors of the traditional, social and economic spheres, to complement the government’s effort”, he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Odogbolu Local Government, Hon. Shuaib Ladejobi, called on the Monarch to ensure development, assuring that his administration would continue to accord traditional rulers necessary support for the overall progress of the council area.

In his goodwill message, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Adetona, represented by the Dagburewe of Idowa, Oba Yinusa Adekoya described ‘Obaship’ as a call to service, saying ’’you have been called to serve your people, and ensure that you serve them assiduously with full commitment on the throne. I pray for long and healthy reign”.

In his acceptance speech, Oba Awokoya-Yesufu, appreciated the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration and pledged his readiness to develop the community and Ogun State at large, praying for continued growth, development, justice, as well as peace in Irete.

By Bisade Ojoye

His Royal Majesty, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remo Kingdom has begun a drive to facilitate the establishment of a University in Remoland, Ogun in the Southern part of Nigeria.

The proposed university, tentatively named Federal University, Remo, according to our impeccable source would serve the education demand of the Kingdom which has produced a number of highly cerebral and prodigious people in the Nigerian nation such as Sagacious late Obafemi Awolowo, First Premier of the defunct Western Region; perspicacious late Dr. Tai Solarin, a renowned Educationists who founded Mayflower Schools; The Sofolas known to have producers a huge numbers of Lawyers; legendary Nobel Laurette, Professor Wole Soyinka etc but unfortunately has no university located or situated in it.

We gathered that the shrewd and clear-sighted Monarch and Remo Growth and Development Foundation (RemoGDF) have been working on the idea of setting up the university in Remoland, after series of preliminary meetings in the last couple of months and had set up a Steering Committee under the leadership of Tola Mobolurin who is the Head of RemoGDF Finance and Strategy as chairman and Prof Adewale Solarin, Head, RemoGDF Education and ICT directorate as Secretary with Wole Awe, Secretary of RemoGDF representing the EXCO.

According to a document jointly sighed by Aare Koka Oyefeso and tunji Lawal-Solarin, Co-Chairmen of RemoGDF, the Tola led Steering Committee which has been working behind the scenes for months and have now issued a Working Paper inviting Volunteers with various expertise to join the team.

The remarkably enlightened Traditional Rulers with degrees and Post graduate degrees in Accountancy and Law and RemoGDF EXCO would appreciate communal spirit of service by sons and daughters of the kingdom by participating in the exercise, declaring such move as a call of gigantic proportion in time, resources and other commitment or support to the cause.

By Olamide Yinusa

Born Hazel Oyeze Onou, popularly known as Whitemoney on Sunday defeated Liquorose, Pere, Cross, Angel and Emmanuel, to emerge as the winner of Big Brother Naija season 6.

The 29-year-old businessman and entrepreneur from Enugu state won the grand prize of N90 million worth of prices including N30 million cash, one two-bedroom flat, a brand new IVM G40 car from Innoson Motors, a trip for one to Seychelles, a trip to Dubai for two, cash in abeg wallet and so on.

He told Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, host of the reality TV show, that he would want to pursue “music and business”, going forward.

This year’s edition of BBNaija tagged Shine Ya Eyes had total of 26 housemates contested for the grand prize of N90 million and after 72 days, six housemates made it into the finals.

Earlier, Emmanuel was evicted. After his eviction he said he would be exploring everything modelling, lifestyle and fashion. On his relationship with Liquorose, he said he would like to explore what was next for their ship.

Angel was the next to leave the BBNaija House. The excited 21-year-old said even though she has lost the N90 million grand prize in the House, she will get more than that outside.

The Akwa Ibom born star said she would be focusing on starting a mental health blog, a salon and spar, and also venture into real estate.

The next housemate that got evicted was Cross. The 30-year-old from Anambra said he would venture into entertainment, politics and business. He said he would want to help his mother.

Pere was the second runner up. The 35-year-old actor and model the next for him was Nollywood.

Next up was Liquorose. Speaking, the Edo state born reality star said she would want to pursue a career in “movies and music”.

Meanwhile, the grand finale saw performances from 2020 BBNaija Lockdown winner Laycon, a 2019 BBNaija housemate, Saidat Balogun popularly known as Avala, musical artist Lojah and Omorinmade Kuti better known as Made Kuti.

By Olufemilade Oyinade

The Ogun State Government says it is determined to sustain the empowerment of women of reproductive age and families with the provision of quality family planning services to further increase the health indices of the State.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker made this known in Abeokuta, at the ‘End of Project Dissemination’ organised by The Challenge Initiative (TCI), a development partner on reproductive health, saying the State is poised to provide affordable, qualitative and efficient health care delivery for the people.

Coker, in a statement signed by PHCDB’s Press Officer, Mrs. Yemisi Fashola, noted that Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the State had been renovated, equipped and staffed to meet the daily health needs of people in various communities, adding that human and material resources for family planning services were also imbedded in the centres.

“This is not the end of our family planning programme in the State, rather it is a transition to self-reliance. I want to assure you that our women will not die as a result of pregnancy-related complications. We will ensure that we improve on the present Contraceptive Prevalence Rate which is at 32 percent”, Coker assured.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola said the State had drawn a strategic plan to enhance family planning programming, noting that support received from the partner over the four-year period would assist in improving the welfare of women of reproductive age.

On his part, the Director, The Challenge Initiative (TCI), Nigeria, Dr. Victor Igharo commended the government for showing interest in improving its family planning indices, saying the organisation would continue to give technical backing to stimulate demand for family planning uptake.

Igharo added that its four-year period partnership with the State has made high impact intervention in key areas of demand generation, service delivery, advocacy, as well as monitoring and evaluation.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of award to Dr. Coker for her immeasurable contribution to sustaining family planning and reproductive health intervention in the State and certificate of recognition to groups, including Inter-Faith, Advocacy Working Group and other State officers.

The Ogun State Government remains committed to capacity building programmes for healthcare workers, so as to keep them abreast of new trends in health care delivery for the benefit of residents, particularly, those at the grassroot.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker made this assertion in Abeokuta, while speaking at the opening of a two-day training on Mental Health Service Delivery in Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs), organised in collaboration with the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, for 118 primary health care workers across the State.

Dr. Coker described the initiative as a laudable step meant to improve the wellbeing of residents and meet the mental health needs of the people, especially at the community level.

Represented by the Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola, Coker revealed that the training was the first phase, covering PHC workers in Egba and Remo zone, emphasising that the Prince Dapo Abiodun led administration was set to deliver cutting edge mental health services to the people irrespective of their location.

Coker noted that the capacity building was important as learnings from it would be used to know what had happened in the past project, in order to measure its impact in communities, saying it was one of the essential trainings for PHC workers to ensure qualitative service delivery and assured that the existing interventions would be sustained.

Earlier in his address, the Provost and Medical Director, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Dr. Afeez Agboola, represented by the Chairman, SERVICOM and Quality Improvement Services, Dr. Imam Akeeb said the training was a timely intervention to ensure quality access to mental health at the local government level.

Also speaking, a former Provost of the Hospital, Dr. Timothy Adebowale who recalled that the Community Mental Health Project was initially implemented in 2009, expressed confidence that the move would yield the expected impacts in the State and the country at large. In their separate goodwill messages, the Head of Nursing, and her counterpart in Research and Training, Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, and Dr. Oluyinka Majekodunmi, as well as the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Kofoworola Olajide enjoined participants to make good use of the training, expressing delight at the collaboration between the State and the hospital to ensure the best in PHC service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of other participants, Mrs. Oluwabusayo Odidi and Mr. Taiwo Alebiosu from Abeokuta North and Odeda Local Governments respectively, appreciated the State government for prioritising health of the residents, saying the training would help to update their knowledge on mental health, as well as provide them with necessary skills needed to deliver quality services.

Ogun State Government has been given a pat on the back for maximal utilisation of the mechanised advantage under the Federal Government’s Value-Chain Development Programme Additional Funding (VCDP-AF)

The step, according to members of the 9th Joint FGN/IFAD team has been helping to increase rice and cassava production, enhance industrialization, create employment opportunities for youths and smallholder farmers, as well as link them to markets.

The team made this submission during a supervision mission to the State to assess some farms, processing centres and markets in Obafemi-Owode and Odeda out of the eight implementing Local Government Areas.

Speaking, the team leader, Madam Mariatu Kamara expressed satisfaction at the number of youths and local farmers that had been trained and empowered with modern inputs through the agricultural intervention programmes.

‘’Our mission is to review progress, look at implementation challenges and discuss with government on how to improve and strengthen the support. Ogun State has recorded tremendous achievement and will be beneficial to the community and the State’s economy”, she remarked.

She charged the beneficiaries to retain their commitment, support one another and protect the facilities.

Addressing the beneficiaries, VCDP National Coordinator, Alhaji Garba Bala commended the youths and encouraged them to influence others to also benefit from the programme.

Welcoming the team earlier, Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina, lauded the Federal Government, IFAD for their support towards job creation, food security, industrialisation and mechanisation of smallholder farmers with private sector participation.

“We are doing something very extra-ordinary because we are clinging into what has been approved by VCDP which tallies with our agricultural agenda and we cannot afford to joke with it. Our youths have been trained to produce high variety of rice and cassava and promote value-chain activities”, he said.

Other Local Government Areas where VCDP operates in the State are, Ijebu North-East, Ijebu East, Ifo, Yewa North, Yewa South and Odogbolu.

By Bisade Ojoye

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has declared that he would continue to conduct the business of governance without being distracted by “naysayers whose only interest are myopic and self-serving”.

The governor equally reiterated that he would continue to discharge the mandate given to him by the people and always be guided by the fear of God, to ensure a free, fair, and just society that promotes equity, fairness, and justice to all.

Abiodun gave this declaration while speaking on Saturday at the 2021 Odun Omo Olowu, held in Abeokuta, the state capital.

He said the welfare and prosperity of the Ogun state people irrespective of age, gender, religious or political affiliation or their geographical location, will always be of topmost priority to his administration.

This, according to Abiodun, will be pursued and achieved through transparent public finance management which provides an atmosphere that guarantees a more prosperous life for the people.

“We believe that people should not pull down the house simply on account of individual or group interest that may not be in alignment with general and overall interest of the state. We are amenable and receptive to robust engagement in order to ensure that the greater majority of our people and state prosper. That is why we have always have an inclusive approach to governance because what concerns one should concern all.

“Let me reiterate that we shall continue to uphold all the tenets of good governance by being A
accountable, transparent, responsive, consensus-oriented, inclusive, participatory, just, fair and equitable.

“We appreciate the fact that no government has all the necessary funds it requires for the development of the society and its people. For this reason, we will continue to welcome and appreciate sincere contributions and recommendations that will help develop our state and improve the socio-economic life of our dear people”. The governor stated.

He congratulated the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo who is the Balogun of Owu, Council
of Chiefs; and, sons and daughters of Owu Kingdom on the celebration Odun Omo Olowu.

He, however, assured that his administration will continue to support all genuine efforts by individuals and groups that are directed at improving the cultural heritage and the lives of the people in general.

Abiodun, who described the annual festival as an attestation to the economic, historical and spiritual antecedents of the Owu people, lauded the planning committee of Odun Omo Olowu, which according to him has helped immensely in projecting the rich cultural values and norms of the Owu people and by extension, Ogun State as a whole.

“It is a festival that helps to remind Owu people of their origin, as an essential component for stimulating communal understanding, love and unity and for augmenting steady progress, peace and development of the larger Community.

“This edition is particularly important because of the theme ‘Prosperity’; this fits very well into Our Building Our Future Together Agenda. The clear vision of our government is to give Ogun State focused and qualitative governance and to create the enabling environment for a public private sector partnership, which we consider fundamental to the creation of an enduring economic development and individual prosperity of the people of Ogun state.

“The Owu people are known for their industry, courage, valour and candour. We have to thank our Owu brothers and sisters for the support and solidarity given to us on our way to office and since our assumption in office. Yes, the Owu people are reputed never to mince words. We appreciate those who out of genuine desire for the economic growth and their people have offered plausible policy options, encouragement and candid advice to us like the Balogun Owu, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. He has been with us through thick and thin. This is the only way we can make progress and make amends where there are gaps”. The governor said.

Abiodun further thanked the Owu people for standing up for truth and for the mandate freely given to him in 2019, stressing that the mandate will not be taken for granted.

“Owu has always made us proud, we shall not let the people down. The recent appointment as African Union High Representative for the Horn of Africa of the Balogun and Alugbua Owu, Chief Obasanjo speaks of his profound experience and widespread network across the continent and the world. That is the essence of being a proud Owu man. It’s congratulations to the whole of Owu, Egbaland and our dear state”, the governor submitted.

By Olufemilade Oyinade

Barely few days to the 7th Triennal National Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) scheduled to hold from October 3 – 5, 2021 in Umuahia, Abia State, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Ibadan has stopped the conference.

The court ruled on a motion ex-parte filed by Soji Amosu and Ayokunle Ewuoso, the Chairman and Secretary of Ogun State Council of NUJ respectively.

The court also restrained members of the Credentials Committee of the Union and other respondents from performing, aiding or executing any act for the purposes of conducting any election into the national offices of the NUJ pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

The court further restrained the respondents and their agents from interfering with the offices of the applicants.

The presiding judge, Justice Opeloye Ogunbowale, who delivered the verdict on September 30, 2021, however, adjourned hearing into the matter to October 26, 2021.

The respondents in the suit marked NICN/IB/61/2021 include Mr Garuba Muhammed (Chairman, Credentials Committee), Mr Victor Ndukwe (Secretary, Credentials Committee), Mr Ladi Bala, Mr Isa Shuni, Mr Leke Adegbite, Mr Kenneth Ofoma, Mr Emmanuel Ogbeuwe, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim and Mr Victor Udi.

Other respondents are the NUJ, Mr Chris Isiguzo (NUJ President), Mr Shuaib Usman Leman (NUJ National Secretary), National Executive Council (NEC) of the Union, Mr Wale Oluokun and Credentials Committee.

A copy of the court ruling obtained on Thursday by our correspondent showed that the judge granted applicants’ prayers upon reading the affidavit of urgency and affidavit in support of the motion exparte deposed to by the first applicant and the exhibits attached thereto filed on September 27, 2021 at the court’s registry in Ibadan.

The applicants, through their counsel, Deji Enisenyin, had sought three prayers from the court which were granted.

“An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents jointly and severally by themselves, their agents, privies, officers or any person however described from performing, aiding and or executing any act for the purpose of conducting any election into the National offices of the 10th respondents pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice in this case.

“An Order of interim injunction restraining the Respondents jointly and severally, their privies, servants or agents from interfering with the offices of the Chairman and Secretary of the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, presently being occupied by the Applicants as recognized by the judgment of this court delivered by Honorable Justice J.D Peters, attached as Exihibit A in the affidavit in support of this application, as it related the National Delegates Conference of the 10th Respondents coming up between the 3rd to 5th of October, 2021, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed in this case.

“An order of suspension of all actions, proceedings, steps, processes relating to the National Delegates Conference of the 10th Respondents fixed to come up between the 3rd to 5th of October, 2021, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed in this case.”

The court also directed that the enrolment of the order should be served on the respondents.

By Olufemilade Oyinade

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Thursday, signed into law the Bill to Regulate Animal Grazing and Establishment of Cattle Ranching in Ogun State.

Abiodun, who assented to the bill during a Security Council meeting in the State Secretariat at Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, called on the security agencies to swing immediately into action and enforce provisions of the law.

He said that this is a subject matter that has been discussed along the length and breadth of the country and which “we southern governors have discussed and endorsed”.

Ogun, has enjoyed peace among various ethnic nationalities until the recent farmer- herder skirmishes.

Cattle rearers, according to Abiodun have a six- month period of grace before it becomes illegal in Ogun state for cattle rearers to occupy unapproved public areas and private land with their livestock for grazing.

The law also prohibits the act of moving cattle around public places by herders.

A committee headed by the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina has been set up to midwife the implementation and enforcement of the new law.

The signing of the anti-open grazing law by the Governor followed the decision of the Southern Governors’ Forum last August, setting the September deadline to pass the law across Member States.

There were pockets of crises witnessed in the State as a result of alleged open grazing in the Yewa axis of the State in April, necessitating the setting up of a peace committee headed by a former House of Representatives, Hon. Kayode Oladele.

The crises this year pitched Hausa-Fulani settlers against their Yoruba host communities.

It is expected that the anti-open grazing law will prevent the spread of the menace across the State.

Gov. Abiodun said, “By implication, in six months, it will become unlawful to openly graze cattle or other livestock in the state”

The Ogun State House of Assembly had on July 8, 2021, passed the bill.

Speaker Olakunle Oluomo subsequently transmitted a clean copy to Governor Dapo Abiodun for assent.

The bill was passed after unanimous votes by the lawmakers at the sitting where the bill was read the third time.