Author: oduduwanews

… As Kimberly-Clark Nigeria Donates 6000 Packs of Sanitary Towels in Support of Project

The Lagos State Government has launched the Girl/Boy Child Engagement Initiative conceptualised by the Office of Civic Engagement towards ensuring that children are protected and free from all forms of abuse, which stand at variance with the rights of the child to good quality of life and mental well-being.

In her opening remarks at the launch, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs. Folashade Jaji, commended the initiative, adding that as responsible adults, it is important to ensure that children are well taken care of and protected against abuse that could destabilise them psychologically and emotionally.

Mrs. Jaji advised all children in the State, especially school children, to see themselves as the future of the nation, urging them to face their studies and avoid distractions that could jeopardise their academic progress.

Admonishing them not to go anywhere they feel unsafe in order to avoid exposure to abuse, the SSG encouraged all school children, particularly girls, to take care of their personal hygiene and make it a habit to maintain cleanliness at all times.

“Inculcating the habit of cleanliness is the only way you can show appreciation to Kimberly-Clark, Nigeria, the company that has donated 6000 packs of sanitary towels to support the girl/boy Child Engagement project”, Jaji said.

She expressed gratitude to Kimberly-Clark Nigeria for the donation of the sanitary towels in support of the Girl/Boy Child initiative, promising that the items would be put to judicious use by the State government.

Speaking in the same vein, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, stated that the project with the theme “My Voice, Our Equal Future”, focuses on the right of the girl/boy child to equal opportunities for self-actualisation.

The Commissioner also thanked the donors for the kind gesture, stating that the singular act was a demonstration of their support for the initiative, noting that the donation of sanitary towels, particularly to the girl-child, would make them understand the importance of maintaining good personal hygiene and cleanliness at all times.

Earlier, in her welcome address, the Special Adviser Office of Civic Engagement Princess Aderemi Adebowale, stressed that the Child Rights Act, which has been domesticated in Lagos, is designed to guarantee that children are protected and free from all forms of abuse at all cost.

She expressed gratitude to the SSG and the Commissioner for Education, respectively, for supporting and collaborating with the Office of Civic Engagement on the project to ensure its success.

Princess Adebowale also appreciated Kimberly-Clark Nigeria for donating 6000 packs of sanitary towels to support the Girl/Boy Child Engagement Initiative, while calling on well-meaning individuals and corporate organisations to support the project.

In her remarks, the Government Relations Manager, Kimberly-Clark Nigeria, Miss. Zainab Obagun, said her company deals in care products and would always support any programme that cares about the people, particularly in the area of hygiene.

Obagun disclosed that the company donated 6000 packs of sanitary towels to Lagos State Government in support of the Girl/Boy Engagement programme to encourage good hygiene and wellness, advising school children to work hard and remain focussed so that they would achieve their aims in life.

Meanwhile, the sanitary towels, as well as soaps and hand sanitisers, have been distributed to male and female children in several secondary schools which include, Agege Junior/Senior Secondary School, Iloro Junior Academy, Abibatu Mogaji Senior Secondary School, Ikeja Military Cantonment Secondary School, Community Junior School Alapere, Aje Comprehensive School and Herbert Macaulay Girls Schools, among others.

The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan the State apital has nullified the park management in the state. It will be recalled that the Park Management System was constituted by Gov. Makinde.

Details later.

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), on Tuesday, pledged to help rebuild the Sasa Market, Ibadan, which was burnt down in the wake of the crisis that engulfed the market last week.

A delegation of the NGF led by the governor of Kebbi State, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, which visited Ibadan, delivered the promise after a tour of the trouble spot.

Bagudu, who was joined by his colleagues from Zamfara, Kano, and Niger States, said that the city of Ibadan was calm, contrary to the pictures being circulated on social media.

He commended the Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde for what he has done so far in restoring peace and normalcy to the community, adding that the streets of Ibadan are calm and peaceful.

Bagudu said: “We, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, are going to support. As a matter of fact, we have given a token to those who are already displaced, and we will meet at a wider table tomorrow and can assure that more support will be mobilised.”

Governor Makinde, who led Governors Atiku Bagudu, Kebbi; Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Kano; Bello Muhammad Matawalle, Zamfara; and Abubakar Sanni Bello, Niger, to Sasa community, said that his government would continue to look for avenues to restore peaceful co-existence.

He declared that the unity of Nigeria and the need to restore peace were weightier than political divides, adding that his administration was ready to ensure peaceful co-existence among the residents of Sasa community in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.

While speaking at the palaces of Seriki Sasa and Baale Sasa, the governor called for calm and unity among the Hausas and Yorubas living in the community, urging everyone to join hands with the administration.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that he appreciated the governors for coming together in one accord to find a way to restore peace to Oyo State and to the country.

He said: “As a government, we will continue to look for an avenue to restore a peaceful co-existence for all of us. Please, I want you to join hands with us and we also acknowledge that sometimes, we process information and we may not get to the roots of the issue. If you see something, say something to us and we will address the challenges frontally.”

The governor explained that his relationship with the Arewa community through the Seriki dated back years before he became governor of the state, adding that his message to all sides is to give peace a chance.
The governor said: “Even before I became the governor, I have always had solid interaction with the Arewa community through Baba. I still remember that in 2013, I came here, and Baba was trying to make me feel comfortable.

“So, we have been together for long. I feel the pain of everybody involved here because properties were lost, and we can replace properties. It may be painful, but when the fire started, and I was contacted. I said they should send a fire truck here and the fire truck was vandalised, damaged.

,,, suggests security summit in each Constituency.

Following the clash between Yoruba and Hausa traders at the popular Shasha Market in Ibadan last week Friday, the Oyo State House of Assembly has urged the State Government to consider the possibility of relocating the market to a new and bigger site.

The House made the suggestion on Tuesday while deliberating on the urgent need for the State Government to intervene in the recurring clashes between Yoruba and Hausa traders at Shasha Market, Ibadan .

Hon Olatunde Kehinde (Akinyele 2) who brought the matter before the House recalled with bitterness how lives were lost and properties destroyed during the clash , and said it was disappointing that the security operatives were slow in responding to the crisis

The Lawmakers in their resolutions noted that the present place where the Market is located can no longer accommodate the number of traders and the volume of goods in the market hence Government can move the Market to a new area.

They also urged the State Government to set up panel of enquiry to ascertain the cause(s) of the clash with a view to prosecuting those responsible for the mayhem.

The House further called for security Summit in all Constituencies across the State to enable stakeholders to appraise and address the present situation and suggest ways of averting future security crises .

The Nigerian Police and other Security Agencies were equally asked to be more proactive in responding to conflict situations to prevent such from degenerating into full blow crises.

The Speaker Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin said it was unfortunate that the crisis was not well managed by the Hausa and Yoruba indigenes at the market.

Hon Ogundoyin said the rising spate of insecurity across the State demands that the various security agencies rise up to the challenge.

” They need to put their professional training to bear in the discharge of their duties. We need our security agents to react on time to emergency situations whenever they are called upon. The clash between traders of Yoruba and Hausa extractions should not have been allowed to snowball into a situation where lives and properties would be lost . Our Police should collaborate more with various security agencies to enable them arrest criminals who are bent on tormenting trouble amongst us ” Hon Ogundoyin said.

The Deputy Speaker, Hon Muhammad Fadeyi, Hon Adebayo Babajide (Ibadan North 2), Hon Dele Adeola (Iseyin, Itesiwaju) and the Majority Leader Hon Sanjo Adedoyin commended the Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde for his commitment to the protection of lives and properties of the citizenry, while also appealing to Security Agencies especially the Nigerian Police to go back to their duty posts.

According to the lawmakers including Hon Ayo Fatokun (Akinyele 1), Hon Francis Adetunji (Oluyole) ,Hon Isiaka Tunde (Oyo East West) and Hon Owolabi Olusola (Ibadan North East 2), there is the need for security agencies to strategize so that crises will be nibbed in the bud before they occur.

Others like the Minority Leader, Hon Asimiyu Alarape, Hon Seyi Adisa (Afijio), Hon Simeon Oyeleke (Ogo Oluwa,Surulere) called for caution in handling the present insecurity situation across the State.

…President Buhari, WTO’s Okonjo-Iweala Support Lagos’ Growth Plan

Lagos State has set off an ambitious plan for its development over the next decade. By 2030, the State, which has the 5th largest economy in Africa, will have a running city-wide network of colour-coded Metro Lines that will move over 34.5 million people monthly and cut travel time in the metropolis drastically.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, outlined key infrastructural deliverables being undertaken by the State at the 8th Lagos Economic Summit, otherwise known as Ehingbeti. The three-day event with the theme: “Greater Lagos: Setting the Tone for the Next Decade”, is facilitated by the organised private sector in support by the State Government.

The summit is largely virtual, but some sessions are to be held physically at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island.

Ehingbeti Summit, co-chaired by chairman of Citi Bank, Mr. Yemi Cardoso, is an initiative introduced in 2000 as a biennial event aimed at creating a credible forum to discuss and formulate policies for accelerating infrastructural development and stimulating economic growth for Lagos.

The event was virtually attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, newly appointed Director General of World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and President of Africa Development Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, and founder of Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, among others.

Sanwo-Olu, in his address, disclosed that the race to digitise every community in Lagos had begun with the ongoing laying of 6,000-kilometre fibre optic infrastructure across the city, stressing that the Smart City agenda of the Government would fully materialise by 2030 when the entire landscape of Lagos would have been covered by a network of several thousands of kilometres of fibre optic carrying broadband internet into all homes, offices and schools.

The move, the Governor said, is to leverage technology to revolutionise business culture in Lagos by energising Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that form the backbone of the State economy.

He said: “I invite every well-meaning Nigerian to join me to look ahead at the next decade, and the possibilities that lie ahead for Lagos. What will Lagos State look like by 2030? There will be a city-wide network of colour-coded Metro Lines, the first two of which – Red and Blue lines – will move over 34.5 million people monthly, cutting travel time by over 250 per cent. In 2030, Lagos will proudly stand beside every other megacity in the world, in terms of its capacity to transport its people efficiently and responsively.

“Water transportation infrastructure being put in place will make waterway transport systems a central element of life in the metropolis. The Fourth Mainland Bridge will come to define the cityscape of the 2020s in the same way the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge defined it a decade earlier. By 2030, Lagos will be a Smart City, fully covered by a network of several thousands of kilometers of fibre optic infrastructure that will carry broadband internet into homes, offices and schools

“The Smart City that is unfolding will also be home to a network of intelligent cameras that will support not only security and policing across the State, but also traffic management and data collection for urban planning. By 2030, Lagos will be home to one of the largest Rice Mills in the world, after we deliver our 32 metric tons per hour rice factory in Imota, which will produce 2.8 million bags of 50kg bags of rice per annum.”

The Governor said the implementation of the plan would not only create millions of direct jobs for skilled youths, it would also empower women, who own substantial MSMEs in Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu said plans were underway in Lagos to reverse the tide of billions lost nationally to medical tourism. He disclosed that Lagos was pushing ahead with a move to develop a Medical Park in Ikoyi in partnership with the private sector, which is expected to offer world-class medical and diagnostic services.

He said his administration’s development blueprint, known as Project THEMES, was designed to build on the achievements of previous administrations and lay foundations for future growth.

Sanwo-Olu, having reviewed the progress recorded within the past decade, said there was so much to be celebrated in the State, but added that so much was needed to be done in expanding the frontiers of growth in Lagos.

President Muhammadu Buhari pledged the Federal Government would continue to bring massive investments into Lagos in order to boost the State’s economic potential as one of the world’s fastest growing megacities.

The President said Lagos had demonstrated how understanding between national and subnational governments could be leveraged for accelerated growth, alluding to concession granted the State Government to rebuild the federal highway leading to Murtala International Airport in Ikeja.

Buhari said: “The Federal Government is today completing the Standard Gauge Railway Line that links Lagos to Ibadan in the first instance, and from there connects to Abuja and Kano, and brings ease and efficiency to what is Nigeria’s busiest transportation corridor.

“Just last month, this new Rail Line achieved a milestone extension into the Port Complex in Apapa, setting the stage for a long overdue decongestion in that area.”

The WTO Director General made a case for the creation of massive industrial hubs to harness the potential of the youth and women in artificial intelligence and digital economy.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala commended the Lagos Government’s action to build digital infrastructure around the city, noting that the fibre optic programme makes the State a new manufacturing hub of digital products that will shape the global economy in the next decade.

On his part, Dr. Adesina believed the increasing youth population in Lagos must not be seen as a problem, but rather as an asset that should be harnessed for growth.

The Africa apex bank chief said it was time for the State Government to create a youth based economy that specifically targets skilled young population. He applauded Lagos’ Digital Skill Empowerment for the youth, and the rollout of broadband Internet infrastructure across the State.

“The future of Lagos must be knowledge based and the State Government must sustain its investment in education to produce knowledgeable, skilled young people for the jobs of the future,” the AFDB President said.

The event also featured discussion panel sessions that focused on how Lagos could harness its human capital to accelerate its development and bring the State closer to developed mega cities.

Ehingbeti Summit has led Lagos, in the last two decades, to achieve the delivery of five Independent Power Projects (IPPs) on the Mainland and Island. Other notable infrastructure conceived from the summit include Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, Pen Cinema Bridge, Agric Isawo Road, International Airport Road, opening of Regional Road and rehabilitation of Ibeju Lekki-Epe road network, among others.

The Baby Blue Angels Foundation has donated some items to Lagelu Special Home School, Rehabilitation Centre for The Disabled, Moniya, Ibadan and Special School for the Handicapped, Iyana Church in commemoration of recently held 2021 Valentine Day.

Madam Omolara Ajadi, the Team leader of BBA while handing over the items to the beneficiaries said, it behooves on them as non-governmental organization to contribute their own quotas towards the development of Nigeria.

Lara said the Valentine symbolizes love, oneness and peace and that they deemed it imperative to utilize the ocassion to show love to the less privileged particularly the disabled.

“We don’t have to be waiting for government at all times before we could be stretching helpful hands to one another. NIgeria can only attain its desired level of growth and development if only we can be helping ourselves”, said Lara.

The Headmaster of Special School for Handicapped, Iyana Church while speaking said he appreciated the benevolent act shown to them by the Baby Blue Angels Foundation as their joy knew no bound for the love shown to them by the NGO.

He however prayed for the Founder of the NGO, Ramata Agberemi and the entire team members and charged them not to relent in their effort at bringing succour to the less privileged.

The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has again reiterated the State Government’s commitment to zero-tolerance for unapproved and haphazard building construction in the State.

Speaking during the demolition of a building at Olutunda Street, off Ade Akinsanya Street Ilupeju, Lagos on Monday, the General Manager of the Agency, Arc. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, said the building in question was identified by a team of LASBCA monitoring officers in August 2020 and all efforts by the Agency to prevail on the recalcitrant owner to follow due process and best practices, in consonance with the directive of the Agency, proved abortive.

“The illegal structure which has no building approval was built on a drainage channel, wall fenced with no airspace. The building had previously been served all statutory enforcement notices in line with the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning Development Law of 2010 with no response from the owner/developer, hence the Agency had to remove the building”, Oki said.

The General Manager emphasised that the decision was taken after a thorough engineering appraisal and monitoring of the building by the Agency to ensure a better physical planning environment for sustainable development and averting needless loss of lives and property.

He added that the demolition is a signal to any would be recalcitrant developer who circumvents Government rules and regulations of the law, stressing that the structures shall be removed by the Agency and the cost of removal shall be borne by the owner.

While noting that people have shown disregard for State laws on building construction in the past with worrisome resultant effects, Oki appealed to building owners and developers to desist from starting building projects without obtaining necessary building approvals.

He insisted that building owners/developers should seek authorisation from LASBCA, hire the services of relevant building Professionals, speak to safety and test their building materials before commencement of building construction, subject to the type of structures they are putting in place, to make the buildings safe, secure and fit for habitation.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Honourable Seun Fakorede visited the Ibadan office of the Titans Farm, the fast rising Afro-investment company in the state.

Fakorede during his visit commended the company for its effort to reach out to people in the nooks and crannies of the state via an impressive advert that is difficult to overlook.

The Ife-graduate in his remark professed his love for consistency, added that there is dire need to redefine the system. He identified the challenge faced by intending business owners to be the fear of starting from the scratch, saying that a lot of them want to take it from up.

He, however enjoined the company to continue with the pace it started with, saying that sustainability is the key to continuous relevance.

The Chief Executive Officer of Titan Farms, Mr Gbenga Olatunbosun speaking about the commissioner’s visit described him a brand to reckon with and someone whom they share many things in common.

He further informed the commissioner that the company has 75 direct employment, added that the minimum wage in Titan Farms is 45,000 naira.

Titan Farms, a seven month old company produces Rice, Yam Flour and Vegetable Oil and sell across the south western states of Nigeria.

Former deputy governor of the State of Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has formalised his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as he registered with the party on Monday.

Omisore who defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2018 having contested the governorship elections twice—first in 2014 and 2018, performed his membership registration at St. Gabriel Polling Unit 003, in Ife-East Local Government area of the State.

Recall that the former Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, had in 2002 defected from Alliance for Democracy, the political platform on which he was elected Deputy Governor to former Governor Adebisi Akande.

With his membership registration today, Senator Iyiola Omisore is now officially back into the Progressives fold.

Details later

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has said Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State deserved a maximum respect from him as a sitting Governor and only one in southwest for PDP but doesn’t warrant Makinde to be saying he is now a political leader for him

Fayose made the assertion during his appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics monitored by westerdailynews. He said by tradition of the party, they believed a governor will have the financial weight to take care of the party to qualified him as leader, which he ( Fayose ) once enjoyed, so if Makinde’s wish for him is to be call a leader then so be it but, he Makinde can’t bold enough to call himself his own ( Fayose ) leader.

“ Let me educate you, the party naturally, it is our way to say who ever is in government as the governor will have means to take care of the our members and the party and automatically by playing that role you are the leader. Am not into a leadership struggle with Governor Makinde but it is a fact that Governor Makinde can’t come out and say he is my leader. I was elected as governor in 2003 when Makinde was 32 years old.

He explained further that, Makinde cannot claim to be his leader just like Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu cannot claim to be the leader of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in Lagos or Governor Nyesom Wike claiming to be the leader of former Rivers state governor, Peter Odili.

“I am not into any leadership struggle with Governor Makinde but the fact is, Governor Makinde cannot come out and say he is my leader. He is not. The fact is that if my son is coming and he is a governor, I have to get up because it is the norm”.

“The gentleman is a governor and I must respect his office. Governor Makinde by all standards is the only PDP governor in the West . But all South-South PDP governor, who is their leader? Because he is the only one we have I used to be like that but I never said to anyone, I am the leader of the west. But if he wants to be addressed like that, it is okay”.

“Is Governor Sanwo-Olu the leader of Asiwaju in Lagos? Is Ambode the leader of Tinubu in Lagos? Or Governor Wike is the leader of Odili? That language we have to choose it. Governor Makinde will probably be 32 years when I was governor in 2003”.

“He is the leader in the South-West by reasons of his office. When we go out, we will say Your Excellency but when we are at home, we are his father”.