Activities Marking Fayemi’S 60th Birthday Begin Monday.

Activities Marking Fayemi’S 60th Birthday Begin Monday.

…Mbeki, Mahama, others to speak at the anniversary symposium.

Activities marking the 60th birthday of former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, will commence on Monday with a roundtable discussion on “Beyond Administrative Boundaries: Reimagining Nigeria’s Development Through Regional Integration”, organised by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, (DAWN Commission) at its offices in Cocoa House, Ibadan.

Also, a commemorative colloquium with the theme: “Renewing the Pan-African Ideal for the Changing Times: The Policy and Leadership Challenges and Opportunities”, will feature a keynote address by elder statesman and former President of South Africa, Mr Thabo Mbeki followed by a seminar in which leading scholars and political thinkers will discuss the place of Africa in the changing global context on Thursday, February 6 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. The event will also feature the presentation of the celebrant’s own new book, “If This Giant Must Rise”

According to a statement by the Secretary, of the Planning Committee for Dr Kayode Fayemi’s 60th Birthday Celebration, Mr Egghead Odewale, the formal launch of the Amandla Institute For Policy and Leadership Advancement, founded by Dr Fayemi, will also hold during the colloquium.

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), will also hold an event in honour of the former Governor, who served as its founding Director, on Friday, February 7th at its headquarters office, in Abuja.

A Youth Festival in honour of the former Governor, put together by Ekiti youths, will take place at Adetiloye Hall, Trade Fair Complex, Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, February 8th while the Commissioning of a block of classrooms built and donated to the Command Secondary School, Isan- Ekiti, by the celebrant, will hold in Isan Ekiti same day.

The week-long activities, according to the release, will be rounded off with a thanksgiving service at St Martins' Catholic Church, Isan-Ekiti on Sunday, February 9th, to be followed by a reception at his residence in the town.

Dr Fayemi, who is currently a Professor in the School of Global Affairs at King’s College, London, served two terms as Governor of Ekiti State (2010-2014 and 2018-2022) and was Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. He also served as Minister of Mines and Steel Development between 2015 and 2018 and was the pioneer Director of CDD, a think tank dedicated to policy-oriented scholarship on democracy, development, and human security in Africa. An advocate of regional integration, Dr Fayemi played a significant role in the formation of the DAWN Commission in 2013. He was born in Ibadan on February 9, 1965.

God is at the centre of peace and progress in Ekiti, Says Gov Oyebanji.

God is at the centre of peace and progress in Ekiti, Says Gov Oyebanji.

….Says state now a model of good governance in Nigeria.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has credited the state’s remarkable achievements and transformations to the grace of God, declaring that these developments have placed the state as a model of good governance, accountability, and integrity in the country. 

Governor Oyebanji, who disclosed this during the January edition of the monthly Evening of Praise and Worship programme held at the Lady Jibowu hall, Government House, Ado Ekiti, on Friday, acknowledged divine guidance in driving reforms and initiatives that have significantly lifted the status of the state and its people.

The Governor said the divine support his administration enjoys has been instrumental to the various milestones it has recorded in the last two years. 

He highlighted some of the significant strides in areas of infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and economic empowerment, which he said had improved the quality of life for the residents. He added that these achievements have earned the state recognition as a beacon of good governance and accountability in the country, in addition to improving the living conditions of the citizens. 

While maintaining that the state has continued to enjoy peace and progress at all levels, the Governor urged the people to continue to pray for the government, remain thankful to God and be united in supporting his administration’s vision for sustainable development.

”We started this year on a good note, a lot of good things are happening- the promotion of our SSG to the rank of Professor of Chemistry, just this week, our distinguished Senator, the Senate Leader was also appointed a Life Bencher by the Nigerian Body of Benchers and by the grace of God, our leader, Governor Kayode Fayemi will be sixty next week, so we have every cause to thank God.

“There is also a cheery news from our agriculture sector. On my way here, the Commissioner informed me that the Federal Government just appointed Ekiti as a pilot state in the Southwest for agriculture. So, God has been so good to us and we are starting this year on a positive and joyful note. And it can only get better.

“We should not relent in praying for ourselves and for the State. Ekiti State is now a poster for good governance, accountability, and integrity.”, the Governor added. 

The praise and worship programme featured music ministrations by the guest artiste, Bukunmi Ojo as well as the Agape Possibility Choir of the Agape Church, Ado Ekiti. 

Present  at the event were top government officials including the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Wife of the Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji; Secretary to the State Government, Prof Habibat Adubiaro; Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi; members of the State Executive Council, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Emmanuel Aribasoye; Christian  leaders, and top civil servants, among others.

Enhancing Learning for All: Ekiti Govt Equips Teachers with Modern Teaching Skills.

Enhancing Learning for All: Ekiti Govt Equips Teachers with Modern Teaching Skills.

A two-day inclusive education training program for educators in special and mainstream schools in Ekiti State aimed at ensuring that all children, regardless of their abilities, receive quality education has successfully concluded. 

The initiative, organized through a collaboration between the Adolescent Girls' Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) and the Office of the Special Adviser on Special Education and Social Inclusion, focused on equipping teachers and non-teaching staff with modern strategies for inclusive education.

Held at the Government Special School for the Blind in Ikere-Ekiti, the training, themed "Technology-Driven Lessons and Inclusive Teaching Strategies," introduced participants to specialized techniques designed to improve the quality of education for children with special needs.

The objective was to ensure that these children receive the support necessary to excel academically and compete favorably with their peers in conventional schools.

Addressing participants at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Princess Adetoun Agboola, emphasized the importance of teachers being able to identify and understand the specific learning challenges faced by children with disabilities. 

She highlighted that early identification of a child's cognitive strengths and weaknesses is crucial for effective intervention.

"Every child has a cognitive profile that determines their strengths in areas such as concentration, reasoning, logic, perception, and language. By recognizing these, teachers can tailor their teaching methods to bring out the best in every child," she said.

Princess Agboola also pointed out that some children, though not classified as having disabilities, may struggle academically but excel in creative fields, urging teachers to nurture such talents and ensure that all students receive an education that supports their unique abilities.

Sharing their experiences, several participants expressed gratitude for the training, describing it as an eye-opener that had enhanced their approach to teaching.

A mathematics teacher from the Special School for the Blind, Ikere-Ekiti, Mr. Taiwo Tolulope, acknowledged that the training had helped him realize the need to adopt modern teaching techniques that cater to both children with disabilities and neurotypical children. 

Also, Mrs. Efoghe Queen Blessing, from the Government Special School for the Deaf, Ikoro-Ekiti, noted that she had learned valuable methods for identifying students' areas of difficulty and advocated for a redesign of the school syllabus to better accommodate children with disabilities, particularly during examinations.

A teacher from Babatope Memorial High School, Ikoro-Ekiti, Mr. Omotayo Temitope Olaoluwa, who also teaches at the Special School for the Deaf, admitted that teaching students with hearing impairments had been challenging due to communication barriers. 

He, however, revealed that the training had introduced him to various applications and software that would enable him to simplify subject topics, making learning more accessible for students, even in the absence of an interpreter.

Similarly, Mr. Sunday Forunsho from Ekiti Parapo College, Ido-Ekiti, emphasized that identifying children’s specific strengths early would allow parents and educators to focus resources on nurturing those abilities, ultimately helping them integrate seamlessly into society alongside their peers.

Ojuawo Announces Free JAMB Registration for Ekiti South Constituency 1 Students.

Ojuawo Announces Free JAMB Registration for Ekiti South Constituency 1 Students.

Hon. Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, the lawmaker representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency 1 at the House of Representatives, has announced free registration for candidates seeking to sit for the 2024/2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The initiative, aimed at supporting students within his constituency, covers those from Ikere, Ise/Orun, and Ekiti South West local government areas. According to a statement from the Ojuawo Media Team, eligible students are advised to register with the Education Secretary of their respective local governments immediately.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is set to commence the official registration process on February 3, 2025. The lawmaker urged all interested candidates to take advantage of the opportunity and complete their registration as soon as possible to avoid any last-minute rush.

Ojuawo’s intervention is expected to ease the financial burden on parents and encourage more students to pursue higher education.

©️OJUAWO MEDIA TEAM 

Ekiti Govt Moves to End Dry-Season Tomato, Pepper Scarcity.

Ekiti Govt Moves to End Dry-Season Tomato, Pepper Scarcity.

By Olamide Akinwumi. 

In a strategic move to tackle the annual scarcity of tomatoes and peppers between April and June, the Ekiti State Government has launched the "Operation Optimization of the Drought Season for Horticultural Production" initiative.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, disclosed that the state is partnering with East-West Seeds Ltd to provide farmers with improved tomato, pepper, and cucumber seeds. The selected varieties include Platinum 701 F1 (tomato), Piquante Red F1 (pepper), and Daewy F1 (cucumber)—all known for their resilience and high yield.

According to Boluwade, the initiative will kick off with youth farmers in Erinfun, as well as farm clusters in Erio and Awo that have access to water. Farmers operating under PostAgvest and other independent farmers who express interest will also be supported.

A key highlight of the intervention is the focus on seedlings distribution rather than raw seeds. The Commissioner emphasized that distributing ready-to-plant seedlings is more impactful, as it ensures higher germination rates and better productivity. To facilitate this, East-West Seeds Ltd and PostAgvest will train farmers on how to raise healthy seedlings, which will then be distributed for planting.

Beyond seedling supply, farmers will receive on-field training and coaching to boost productivity. To ensure market access, Ilu Eye Agro Trading and Aggregation Company is set to streamline the produce distribution across the state, ensuring that the benefits of this government-driven agricultural support reach the people of Ekiti.

Boluwade commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his unwavering support for agriculture, noting that the initiative aligns with the administration’s six-pillar development agenda aimed at fostering shared prosperity in Ekiti.

“This initiative will significantly enhance food availability in the state. The support of HE Governor Oyebanji continues to empower our farmers, strengthen the agricultural value chain, and ensure food security for all,” he stated.

Ekiti State Enhances Inclusive Education with Two-Day Teacher Training Initiative.

Ekiti State Enhances Inclusive Education with Two-Day Teacher Training Initiative.

In a significant stride towards promoting inclusive education, the Ekiti State Government has launched a two-day training program for teachers from both special and mainstream schools. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Adolescent Girl's Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) and the Office of the Special Adviser on Special Education and Social Inclusion.

The training commenced on January 31 at the Government Special School for the Blind in Ikere-Ekiti and will run through February 1, 2025. This program has seen 130 educators, including participants from Ekiti Parapo College in Ido Ekiti and Babatope Memorial High School in Ikoro Ekiti, engage in specialized sessions designed to enhance their teaching capabilities.

To ensure that mainstream teachers work effectively with secondary students from special schools, 60 educators from these schools were specifically invited to participate in the training. This initiative aligns with the unique educational arrangement in which secondary students from the Government Special Schools attend regular classes while residing as boarding students in the special schools’ hostels. Specifically, secondary students at the Government Special School in Ikoro attend Ebenezer Babatope Memorial School, while the students from the Government Special School in Ido are enrolled at Ekiti Parapo College. This inclusive approach ensures that secondary students have access to quality education alongside their peers in regular classrooms while still receiving the specialized support they require.

The theme for the workshop is "Technology-Driven Lessons and Inclusive Teaching Strategies," which underscores the Ekiti State Government’s commitment to integrating students with disabilities into regular classroom environments and ensuring they receive the quality education they deserve alongside their peers.

As articulated by Princess Adetoun Agboola, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, this initiative aligns with Governor Biodun Oyebanji's vision for advancing inclusive education. "The teachers need to measure up in terms of their practice, what they offer, and the experiences they give the children. That’s why we are engaging them in this capacity-building exercise," Agboola noted, emphasizing the importance of equipping educators with the necessary skills for effective teaching in inclusive settings.

The training emphasizes two crucial areas: adapting technology for students with disabilities and developing inclusive teaching strategies. Participants are being exposed to innovative teaching tools to create a technology-driven learning atmosphere in classrooms.

A total of 40 educators from each of the three special schools in Ekiti State participated in the training, while an additional ten teachers were randomly selected from mainstream schools to ensure a wider impact. This collaborative approach aims to cultivate a more inclusive educational framework across the state.

Beyond the training sessions, Agboola highlighted ongoing public enlightenment campaigns aimed at combating the stigmatization and discrimination faced by persons with disabilities. Such advocacy efforts are crucial for fostering a more inclusive society that values diversity and promotes belonging for all students.

Mrs. Yewande Adesua, the Project Coordinator for AGILE, commended Governor Oyebanji’s dedication to improving the welfare of persons with disabilities. She noted that continuous investment in teacher training and educational infrastructure is essential for long-term progress in special education in Ekiti State.

This capacity-building training is part of a broader commitment to strengthen the inclusion policy and sustain high-quality education for secondary students with disabilities in the region. This two-day program marks a significant step forward in ensuring that all secondary students, regardless of their abilities, have access to effective and inclusive education in Ekiti State.

Airport Project, Great Testimony to Oyebanji's Thirst for Devt - Onijan.

Airport Project, Great Testimony to Oyebanji's Thirst for Devt - Onijan.

.....as Ijan community hails govt's rural devt policy.

A traditional ruler in Ekiti State and the Onijan of Ijan Ekiti, in Gbonyin Local Government Area, Oba Adebanji Aladesuyi, has described the completion of the Ekiti State International Agro-allied Cargo Airport as a loud testimony to Governor Biodun Oyebanji's desire to lift the state out of poverty and infrastructure deficit.

In the same vein, the monarch, lauded Governor Oyebanji for paying the compensations to Ijan farmers, whose lands were acquired to effect the airport project.

The traditional ruler gave the commendation in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, while leading a delegation from his community to interface with the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Mrs. Monisade Afuye on the progress of his town.

A statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Olakiitan Victor Ogunje, said the monarch showered encomiums on the governor for completing the airport project speedily, saying the facility will surely boost the local economy of his community when fully operational. 

"Our people are so happy, essentially for that Airport project that has been completed. In most cases, a gigantic project like this was often being abandoned the way some governments have done in the past, but this government defied this bad trend and completed it. 

"It is not only the airport, even the General Hospital in Ijan Ekiti is better than when it was established some years back. The renovation carried out on the facility has given it a facelift. 

"We have also got some solar streetlights to bring better illumination and nightlife. We are grateful that the dualisation of Ado- Ijan- Ikare road has begun, among other areas that we have benefited from this government . My people are grateful to you", the monarch said.

Presenting the town's requests, the monarch, appealed to the government to provide more transformers to the community for better electricity supply that will attract investments, saying only two out of the six transformers in the town are functional.  

To avert crisis and eliminate unwarranted extortion, Oba Aladesuyi, urged Governor Oyebanji to eliminate bulk and estimated electricity billings in the town, saying this was causing a lot of rancour and suspicion in the community. 

He appealed to government for the construction of Ijan-Ikere road to expose the agriculture potentials of the region known for the production of economic crops like cocoa and kolanut.

For better protection of the town's heritage, Oba Aladesuyi urged  the government to help in the perimeter fencing of the Onijan Palace to prevent unnecessary encroachment and incursion.

The monarch also called for the completion of the skills acquisition centre in the town, where youths can acquired vocations and entrepreneurial trainings that can enhance their potentials and  curtail crime.

"We also want the market stalls to be renovated and expanded, so that our women and market men can have more spaces to operate in the market".

In the area of security, the traditional ruler called for more personnel to man the police station built  in the town for improved security and reduction of social vices.

"We appeal to government to consider all these projects, so that the socio economic lives of my people can change for better. We are with this government, we will continue to support you to succeed", the monarch pledged.

For improved scholarship, the traditional ruler called for expeditious renovation of some dilapidated buildings at Saint Paul's and Saint Sila's Anglican Primary schools in the town, while new structures should be provided to accommodate more pupils. 

Lending his voice, a community leader and prominent member of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Ropo Adesanya, commended Oyebanji for championing robust rural development programme, urging the government to help in the dredging of Eri Stream in Ijan Ekiti, for improved ecological control. 

However, the Chairman of the Gbonyin Local Council Development Area, Hon. Oluwadamilare Ajayi, said governor Oyebanji has approved funds for the grading of rural and community roads in the LCDA, while efforts are on to ensure the schools and market stalls are renovated. 

In his response, Mrs Afuye commended the community for partnering government to fasttrack development across the state,  promising to convey all their demands to the governor for expeditious action.

On the apprehension raised over electricity billings, Mrs Afuye stated that the government is already working with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) on how to ensure that prepaid Meters are made available to the people to phase out the regime of estimated and bulk billings.

"We need you and the entire community to help the government. The government can't do everything. Please, help us appeal to your elite and other well meaning indigenes to also contribute in providing some of the facilities in your town.

"Governor Oyebanji sought the votes of Ekiti people with the expectation that he would make their lives better. I want to assure you that  we won't disappoint you. Even some of your requests had already been taken care of through the council going by the account rendered by your LCDA Chairman".