EKSU Disavows Damaging Report on Ekiti First Lady, Highlights Her Contributions to Education.

EKSU Disavows Damaging Report on Ekiti First Lady, Highlights Her Contributions to Education.

In a recent press release, the Management of Ekiti State University, Ado - Ekiti (EKSU), has strongly disassociated itself from a disparaging report circulating on social media platforms concerning the activities of Ekiti State's First Lady, Her Excellency, Dr. (Mrs.) Olayemi Oyebanji.

The report in question, attributed to an individual claiming to be an EKSU graduate, criticized the First Lady's decision to provide services, particularly in advocacy and education, at the Afe Babalola University, Ado - Ekiti (ABUAD). The report alleged that children of well-off individuals were attending ABUAD while insinuating that the First Lady was neglecting the educational needs of the masses who voted for her husband.

Her Excellency, Dr. (Mrs.) Olayemi Oyebanji, Ekiti State's First Lady.

However, the Management of EKSU was quick to clarify that Dr. (Mrs.) Olayemi Oyebanji has not violated any regulations by choosing to offer her professional services wherever she deems fit, with the intention of imparting knowledge and contributing to her community's betterment.

The university also highlighted the First Lady's continued support for EKSU since her husband, His Excellency, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, assumed the governorship of Ekiti State. Dr. (Mrs.) Oyebanji has actively engaged with the university community by supporting events like the Medical Students' week and candidates of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group. She has also attended various faculty conferences and inaugural lectures.

Remarkably, Dr. (Mrs.) Oyebanji has expressed her commitment to education by volunteering to teach at EKSU's Department of Educational Management. As a result, a 300-level course has been assigned to her, commencing from the first semester of the 2022/2023 academic session.

EKSU's Vice Chancellor, Prof. Edward Olanipekun, publicly acknowledged the First Lady's dedication to education during one of the inaugural lectures she attended.

The Management of Ekiti State University expressed its complete disassociation from the damaging report and its author. It emphasized the importance of understanding the purpose of community service and acknowledged Dr. (Mrs.) Olayemi Oyebanji's unwavering commitment to education and community development.

President Tinubu appoints Zacch Adedeji FIRS’ acting chairman.

President Tinubu appoints Zacch Adedeji FIRS’ acting chairman.

Zacch Adedeji, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on revenue, has been appointed acting chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Adedeji, who, at 33, was former governor Abiola’s finance commissioner, was asked to fill the void created by the retirement leave of the outgoing chairman of the commission, Mohammed Nami whose tenure ends in December 2023.

The certified accountant who hails from the Iwo-Ate area of Ogo-Oluwa local government of Oyo state, recently bagged his doctorate degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Communal Crisis: Your Suspension Stands, Ekiti Govt Tells "Erring" Traditional Chief.

Communal Crisis: Your Suspension Stands, Ekiti Govt Tells "Erring" Traditional Chief.

The Ekiti State Government, insisted that the suspension slammed on Chief Adesoye Bodunde, the Olokun of Imesi Ekiti, in Gbonyin Local Government Area of the state still subsists, having challenged the government's action in court.

The government said the reversal being sought by the Chief can't be entertained due to the pendency of the case challenging his suspension in the court of law, saying this will be grossly subjudicial.  

Chief Bodunde, had been having a frosty relationship with the Onimesi of Imesi Ekiti, Oba Olatunji Olatunde, which forced the monarch to report him to the state government, citing allegations of the Chief's  involvement in acts that could cause problem in the community.

Sequel to this, Chief Bodunde was slammed with suspension by the state government on August 10, 2023 for his failure to attend a peace meeting convened by it, warning that he should stop parading himself as Olokun, pending the resolution of the matter.

Fighting to have his suspension reversed, Chief Bodunde, had in a letter dated August 30,2023, and addressed to the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, pleaded for another peace meeting with Onimesi to resolve the matter.

But while presiding over the matter on Thursday, Mrs Afuye said the government would have loved to resolve the impasse, but for the fact that the Chief had rushed to court to invalidate his suspension.

The Deputy Governor's action followed the submission of the Writ of Summon filed by Chief Bodunde by Onimesi, where the Ekiti State Government was joined as a defendant.

Addressing the embattled Chief, Mrs Afuye said: "It surprises me that you wrote a letter on August 30,2023 seeking for a peace meeting, but I didn't know you had filed a suit on August 24, challenging your suspension for not attending the meeting called on August 10 to settle the matter.

"It is customary in this office not to entertain any case in court, that will be prejudice and presumptuous. If you want us to reverse this suspension, you won't be challenging us in court. You can't be approbating and reprobating at the same time.

"So, pending the time you will do the needful in this matter, your suspension stands and subsists", she said.

However, Oba Olatunde has said he is ready to make peace with all the stakeholders in Imesi Ekiti to make the town great in terms of progress and development.

The monarch said all the issues being raised by Chief Bodunde could have been resolved by government, but for the suit he filed against him and the state government over his suspension.

The traditional ruler appealed to the estranged Chief to respect leadership and hearken to the voices of reasoning that he shouldn't stoke the ember of discord and acrimony or disrespect the government on this matter.

Tracing the Genesis of the crisis, Chief Bodunde said his problem started in 2018 when he resisted attempt to bend the Onimesi Chieftaincy Declaration to favour the installation of the current monarch because of his believe that issue of tradition should embrace honesty and transparency.

The Chief  added that another area of disagreement was the allegation leveled against him by Onimesi that he was challenging his authority and causing a breach of peace in the town. 

He clarified that the suit he filed was against his suspension by the Onimesi-in-Council and not against the state government as being misconstrued by the monarch.

Ekiti Govt. Approves Rehabilitation Of Ado-Ilawe, GRA Extension-State Pavilion Roads.

Ekiti Govt. Approves Rehabilitation Of Ado-Ilawe, GRA Extension-State Pavilion Roads.

As part of efforts to ensure that all roads in the State are motorable and well-maintained to provide free-flow of traffic and unfettered access into and around the State capital, the Ekiti State Executive Council has approved the rehabilitation of the Ado-Ilawe Road and construction of the dual carriage way between G.R.A III Extension and the State Pavilion along NTA road.

In a statement made available to the Press in Ado Ekiti on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting, the State Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun explained that the focus is to significantly contribute to economic growth and boost social activities.

Rt. Hon. Olatubosun stated that the State Government decided to rehabilitate the Ado-Ilawe road where some sections of the road had deteriorated due to high water-table in some locations which led to failure of the road causing serious discomfort to motorists. Describing the Governor Oyebanji administration’s intervention on road as strategic, Olatunbosun noted that it was designed to ensure alternate routes for motorists to maneuver across the State with minimum stress.

Olatunbosun clarified that the Oyebanji administration formulated a system of sustaining good State road network that link communities with major roads and ease movement around the State in recognition of the fact that the State Government has no control on construction, maintenance and repairs of Federal roads.

Using the on-going rehabilitation of Igede-Ilawe road as an example, the Commissioner stressed that, on completion, the road would ease traffic from Kwara up north to Akure or Lagos in the south as well as serve as a ring road that would help reduce traffic volumes in the State capital by providing alternate route around the city for drivers that do not essentially need to stop in the center of the metropolis. 

“Same goes for the Ikere – Igbara Odo road that links the State with Igbara Oke in Ondo State and beyond without going through the avoidable rigors of driving through the State capital and compounding the traffic situation”, Olatunbosun noted.

He listed other road interventions by the State Government to include the Ilawe Igede road, completion of the bus terminal in Ado Ekiti that was inherited from the previous administration; rehabilitation of Agric Olope-Moferere/Agric Olope-Odo Ado road; reconstruction (excavation and casting) Igbara-Odo-Ikogosi lined drain road; rehabilitation of Ado-Iworoko road.

 

Others are rehabilitation of Ilawe-Erijiyan road; reconstruction of ikere-Ilawe road; construction of Atlas (Ajebamidele)-Deeper Life- Alasia-Shepard-Omisanjana road in Ado Ekiti and the general rehabilitation of Ado township roads.

Olatunbosun assured that the State Government would continue to partner and encourage the Federal Government to maintain its share of roads in the State, adding that though the State do not have resources to cater for Federal roads, the administration would work round the challenge to ensure free flow of traffic in and out of the State without stress. 

The State Executive Council also approved the presentation of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2024 – 2026 documents to the State House of Assembly for legislative processing and passage.

The revenue for the approved period was projected as N235,332,401,626.00 for 2026, N207,974,197,512.00 for 2025, N187,280,552,421.00 for 2024 and N159,754,889,425.00 for 2023 which was use as the base-line.

According to Rt. Hon. Olatunbosun, total expenditure for the same period are estimated as N232,332,401,626.00 for 2026, N204,974,197,512.00 for 2025, N184,280,556,421.00 for 2024 and N156,754,889,425.00.

The Commissioner stated that with due cognizance of the Six Pillars of the administration namely: Governance, Agriculture and Rural Development, human Capital Development, Infrastructure and Industrializations, Youth Development and Job Creation as well as Arts, Culture and Tourism.

He added that the MTEF is made up of Medium-Term sectorial Strategy (MTSS) and The MULTI-Year Budget Framework (MYBF) which is , traditionally, reviewed annually to mitigate the volatility of the National and global economic indices, new government policies and the need to accommodate fresh government’s programmes and projects.

Olatunbosun explained that parameters assumptions and indicators (PAIs) considered include global oil price, Nigeria’s daily oil production, exchange rate of naira to dollar as well as inflation rate and the effect of fuel subsidy removal, adding that all Government ministries, departments and agencies; civil society organisations and other stakeholders were involved in the preparation of the MTEF 2024-2026 towards the 2024 budget.

APC to begin e-membership registration.

APC to begin e-membership registration.

In Pic: Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress.

In a bid to consolidate its membership strength, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has concluded plans to embark on electronic registration of over 40 million members nationwide.

The National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje disclosed this when he played host to elected Deputy National Officers and National Executive Committee (NEC) members of the party at the National secretariat in Abuja.

He said the essence of electronic registration is to have the exact number of party members.

Disclosing the innovation, Ganduje said: “Another step that we have taken is that we are reviewing our registration electronically now. The work has already started, so you should be ready that all our members will be electronically registered so that we have an exact number physically”.

Former Governor Mai Mala Buni-led National Caretaker Committee of the party conducted a nationwide membership registration exercise in 2021 which brought over 40 million members into the party’s registration file.

The National Chairman however lamented that the outcome of the 2023 presidential election was not a true reflection of the number of registered party members.

“If you will recall, we had 41 million members, while after the presidential election, we had 8 million, What happened to the rest? So, we need to be digital and ensure that we are working with the correct data.”

He further said that the party has concluded plans to establish a National Institute of Democratic Studies that will help Nigerians shape their pattern of behaviour in alignment with democracy and progressive ideas.

Leader of the team and Deputy National Treasurer of the party, Hon. Omorode Osifo-Marshall congratulated Ganduje on his election as the 6th National Chairman of the party and pledged their support and loyalty to the new leadership of the party.

Governor Sanwo-Olu Inaugurates 37-Member Cabinet, Emphasizing Excellence and Public Engagement.

Governor Sanwo-Olu Inaugurates 37-Member Cabinet, Emphasizing Excellence and Public Engagement.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sworn in a new cabinet comprising 37 commissioners and special advisers to assist in implementing his agenda for the next four years. The inauguration ceremony took place at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Lagos State Government Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

Addressing the newly appointed officials, Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized the need for excellence and humility in their roles, as the expectations of the people are exceptionally high. He urged them to work together, involve the public, make grounded decisions, and prioritize the best interests of the citizens.

During his first term, Governor Sanwo-Olu's administration made significant strides in various sectors. In transportation, efforts to alleviate traffic congestion included a Traffic Management Intervention Plan and the expansion of the Rapid Bus System. Additionally, Lagos introduced new transportation options like LAGRIDE.

In the health and environment sector, the government celebrated success in managing COVID-19 and built world-class Mother and Child Centres in different areas. Tele-medicine was introduced through the IleraEko app. In education and technology, the administration established two new universities and invested in numerous projects at the primary and secondary levels.

Governor Sanwo-Olu's second term focuses on legacy projects in transportation, health, and agriculture. The Blue Line Rail Service has commenced operations, joining cities worldwide with modern metro rail systems. The Red Line Rail Service is nearing completion, promising to serve iconic parts of Lagos.

The extension of the Blue Line from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko is also in the pipeline, with the potential to serve over one and a half million commuters daily, significantly benefiting the economy and improving citizens' quality of life.

Governor Sanwo-Olu's second term is marked by a commitment to social inclusion, gender equality, and youth development, encapsulated in the T.H.E.M.E.S+ agenda, promising a more equitable society and a Greater Lagos.

As the new cabinet takes office, they face the formidable task of building on past successes and delivering on the governor's vision for a better Lagos.

The list of the newly appointed commissioners and special advisers includes prominent names like Lawal Mohammed Pedro (SAN) as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Prof. Akin Abayomi as Commissioner for Health, and Gbenga Omotoso as Commissioner for Information and Strategy, among others. 

The full list of the Commissioners are:

Lawal Mohammed Pedro (SAN) – Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General

Prof. Akin Abayomi – Commissioner for Health

Wahab Adetokunbo – Commissioner for the Environment

Moruf Akinderu-Fata i- Commissioner for Housing

Gbenga Omotoso – Commissioner for Information and Strategy

Layode Ibrahim – Commissioner for Home Affairs

Bolaji Cecilia Dada – Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA)

Olusanya Abisola Ruth – Commissioner for Agriculture

Abayomi Oluyomi – Commissioner for Finance

Ayantayo Afolabi Waheed – Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions

Oyerinde Olugbenga – Commissioner for Special Duties

Adetoke Benson-Awoyinka – Commissioner for Tourism

Ogunlende Mobolaji Abubakar – Commissioner for Youths and Social Development

Yakub Ekundayo Alebiosu – Commissioner for Waterfront Development

Mosopefoluwa George – Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget

Olatunbosun Alake – Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology

Alli-Balogun Jamiu Adedeji – Commissioner for Basic Education

Bolaji Kayode Roberts – Commissioner for Local Government

Osiyemi Oluwaseun – Commissioner for Transportation Ambrose Folashade Kaosara 

– Bada-Commissioner, Industry, Trade and Investment

Dr. Oluyinka Abiodun Olumide – Commissioner for Physical planning

Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe – Commissioner for Wealth creation

Tolani Sule Akibu – Commissioner for Tertiary Education

Special Advisers

Dr. Fashola Rotimi – Special Adviser, Agriculture

*Engr. Adeyinka Lukmon – Special Adviser for Works and Infrastructure

*Dr. Finnih Awokoya Oreoluwa – Special Adviser, Health

*Dr. Iyabo Ayoola Oyeyemi – Special Adviser, Central internal Audit

*Olajide Abiodun Babatunde – Special Adviser, EGIS and Urban Planning

*Rotimi Akodu Oladosu – Special Adviser, Environment

*Ogungbo Abdul-Kadir Opeyemi – Special Adviser, Taxation and Revenue

*Aregbe Olayiwola Idris – Special Adviser, Tourism

*Lawal Bola Olumegbon – Special Adviser, Central Business District (CBD)

*Barr. Barakat Olawunmi Bakare – Special Adviser, Housing

*Dr. Afolabi Abiodun Tajudeen – Special Adviser, Political and Civic Engagement

*Dr. Nurudeen Yekini-Agbaje Lanre – Special Adviser, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs

*Sola Giwa – Special Adviser, Transportation

*Engr. Moshood Olowu – Special Adviser, Commerce

Osun State Government Launches Ambitious Plan to Revitalize Technical Colleges and Boost Vocational Education.

Osun State Government Launches Ambitious Plan to Revitalize Technical Colleges and Boost Vocational Education.

In a significant move aimed at strengthening vocational education and driving job creation, the Osun State government, led by Governor Ademola Adeleke, has unveiled a comprehensive plan to revitalize all Technical Colleges across the state.

This groundbreaking initiative was announced by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Technical and Vocational Studies, Arc. Dapo Ademola-Adesina, during a recent visit to Government Technical College in Osogbo.

Under the visionary leadership of Governor Adeleke, the government is fully committed to providing a complete facelift to all Technical Colleges in Osun State. The primary goal is to foster the growth and development of technical and vocational education, ultimately contributing to the creation of employment opportunities and the overall economic prosperity of the state.

Arc. Dapo Ademola-Adesina expressed concern over the current unemployment rates and emphasized that technical and vocational studies represent the most promising path to meeting the state's current and future socio-economic needs.

Governor Adeleke, known for his dedication to Osun State's development, is championing this initiative, assuring that his administration will usher in a transformative era for technical and vocational studies in the state.

Significantly, key stakeholders in the education sector have already been engaged to explore collaborative opportunities that will yield positive outcomes in this ambitious scheme.

Arc. Dapo Ademola-Adesina underscored that all nine technical colleges in the state will be beneficiaries of this comprehensive facelift, heralding a new era of opportunity and growth for the youth of Osun State.

This visionary move by the Osun State government reaffirms its commitment to providing quality education and creating pathways for skill development, thereby bolstering the state's economy and empowering its citizens for a brighter future.