Category: Featured

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has instituted a N500m soft loan scheme for artisans and traders across the state.

The governor, who announced this at the 2023 International Community Day and World Trade Day celebration held at the M.K.O. Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, said the soft loan, which would be tagged “Oko’wo Irinse Dapo,” would be given to traders and artisans within 30 days after modalities had been worked out.

Abiodun acknowledged the contributions of traders and artisans to the economic development of the state, adding that his administration would not neglect them, as they had been worthy partners in realizing the ‘Building Our Future Together’ agenda

He said: “In fulfilment of the promise I made in the year 2022, which was to provide N500 million in soft loans for the artisans that we call Okowo Irinse Dapo, I have instructed the Commissioners for Finance, Trade and Investment, as well as Community Development and Cooperative, to work out the modalities for disbursement of this loan.

“The N500 million is available for disbursement. However, we need to work out the details of how this disbursement will be made, and I have given them one month to ensure that our artisans and trade unions begin to benefit from this disbursement.”

The governor also announced the disbursement of grants and subventions to community development associations and area, zonal, and senatorial development committees across the state.

“Today, over 200 Community Development Associations will receive grants ranging from N200,000 to N5 million.

“Additionally, subventions and administrative grants will be allocated to 437 Area Development Committees, as well as 20 Zonal Development Committees and three Senatorial Community Development Committees, namely the Ogun State Community Development Council and the Ogun State Trade Council,” the governor added.

He disclosed that the revolving loan is part of his administration’s initiative that will soon be unveiled to have an Ogun Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneur Scheme tagged OG-YES, adding that it would enable the government to provide loans and grants to various individuals in the State.

The initiative, the governor noted, is part of his government’s contribution to support the efforts of the Community Development Associations and to acknowledge their selfless services in ensuring that communities across the State receive the desired infrastructure for development.

Governor Abiodun maintained that the occasion provided the government with the opportunity not only to recognize the invaluable contributions of communities and other valuable stakeholders but to appreciate them for their communal efforts, which have led to increased economic and social activities in their areas.

“Your support for government programs and activities reflects a strong sense of belonging and a strong sense of partnership in our shared relations to advance the development of the State in line with the ‘Building Our Future Together’ agenda.

“Today’s occasion is not just to celebrate your efforts and dedication to serving your various communities but to acknowledge your commitment to bridging the gap between the government and the people,” he said.

While assuring that the government would continue to strengthen the community development associations, trades, and artisans for improved service delivery, the state helmsman also assured that his administration’s policies and programs would continue to be people-oriented and community-driven in terms of project selection, implementation, and maintenance.

Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperative, Alhaji Balogun Ademola, in his welcome address, lauded the state government for its supportive role in the development of the communities, imploring the community development associations to continue partnering with the government to make life better for all.

The Chairman, Community Development Council, Chief Taiwo Lucien, noted that communities are built on mutual respect between the government and the people, appreciating the governor for granting the CDAs a marching grant, as well as providing palliatives to the people to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy withdrawal.

He applauded members of various communities for making this year’s celebration the best, assuring that the CDAs will continue to work with the government for the development of the state.

The highlight of the celebration was the conferment of Grand Patron and Patron on the governor and the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo.

A 58-year-old man who embarked on 19 days of spiritual fasting has died.

The death of the yet-to-be-named man was confirmed by the Police Command in Lagos State.

Superintendent of Police Benjamin Hundeyin who serves as the spokesperson of the command on Tuesday, August 20, said the incident happened in Alagbado axis of Lagos State.

According to Hundeyin, the religious man died at about 6:00 am on Monday, August 19.

The Police spokesperson also stated that the younger brother of the deceased reported the incident at the Alagbado Police Division at about 7:00 pm on the same Monday.

From an account of the younger brother, the deceased died while allegedly undergoing 19 days of dry fasting.

“No foul play suspected, family demands to convey the corpse for burial,” the Lagos Command spokesperson said.

The Oyo Hospitals Management Board has announced that it has concluded its first stage of recruitment process by announcing the shortlist of a total of 1,250 candidates from the 5,000 applications received for an forthcoming Computer Based Test.

According to the Board, the decision to announce the shortlist follows a comprehensive review process involving representatives from the Head of Service, Civil Service Commission, Ministry of Establishment and Training, and the Oyo Hospitals Management Board.

The shortlisted candidates are set to sit for the MCQ on Thursday, where their professional competence and knowledge of current affairs will be assessed. From the initial pool of applicants, 1,000 were deemed professionally qualified for the examination.

Dr. Akin Fagbemi, in his chat with Correspondent of Oduduwa News had affirmed that the delay in conducting the exam was for administrative convenience and to ensure that the most qualified are recruited.

“We are ensuring that not only qualified applicants are selected, but that the entire process adheres to the necessary protocols, especially considering the critical nature of healthcare,” he stated.

Dr. Fagbemi also expressed gratitude to Governor Seyi Makinde for his continuous support throughout the recruitment process. 

He urged all applicants to check their email addresses and mobile phones for important updates regarding the examination details.

ODUDUWA NEWS has just gathered that the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Oyo State, Barrister Isaac Ajiboye Omodewu is dead.

Omodewu died in the early hours of today in the United States.

Details later.

SAN Afe Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), has hit Tinubu’s government hard with the recent happenings in the country.

The respected elder stated what the problem is and why he has an issue with the approach adopted by president Tinubu.

In a recent visit, he said, “Those who are complaining about hunger are doing so sincerely. They are hungry. A hungry man can go to any length to show his anger,” he said.

“We do not need anybody to tell us that there is hunger in the country. The protest was genuine and the government should listen to them.

“The duty of the government is the welfare of the people. The problem we have now is that people cannot move freely.

They have abandoned the farms. People are being killed in their farms and everybody wants to stay where they are safe. It is because the government has failed in this regard that we have hunger.

“It is wrong for the government to be sharing garri, beans and rice as palliatives. They are turning the people into beggars. The government that is giving the people rice and beans is leading us to poverty.

“The government is discouraging people from working, whereas, the government must provide an enabling environment for people to work and feed themselves.”

The respected academia said, this approach adopted by Tinubu is not sustainable. Sharing palliative is not what the nation needs and it won’t reduce food scarcity.

The government should rather protect farmers so they can go back to farm, plant and harvest food for the citizens.

A man said to be a member of a cult group has been arrested by men of the Ogun State Police Command six days after a cult clash led to the death of another cultist in the Ijebu Ode area of the state, it was gathered on Saturday, August 17, 2024.

The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Omolola Odutola, announced the development on her X handle on Saturday, saying the suspected cultist, Adekunle Adebajo, aged 32 years, was arrested by men of the Igbeba Division of the command, led by the Divisional Police Officer.

The arrested cultist, as posted by the Police PRO on Saturday.

It was gathered that there was a cult clash in the Ijagun area of Ijebu Ode six days ago where a member of one of the groups, known simply as Mosquito, was killed. After the killing, the police launched a manhunt for the cult members involved in the clash.

The paid off when the Adebajo was arrested at his hideout in the Isiwo area, close to Ijebu Ode.

Oduduwa News can reliably confirm that three people were reportedly shot in a cultist attack carried out around 8pm yesterday by some armed gangs at Ariyibi, Apete, Ibadan.

Oduduwa News correspondent who visited the scene after the incident gathered that sporadic gunshot suddenly rented the air and this became intense which made shop owners to abandon their businesses and scampered for safety.

It was gathered that one of the dreaded members of Aiye Confraternity was trailed to the area by another rival cultist gangs and suddenly there was exchange of gun fire which made the scene to be scary for passers-by and in few moment it was learnt that three people were shot.

As at the time of filing this report it could not be ascertained whether those shot were able to make it alive.

Efforts to reach the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer has been proven abortive as he is yet to respond to his calls.

The Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA), on Thursday, announced the conviction of a local government worker in the State over illegal sale of land belonging to the State Housing Corporation.

In a Press Release made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Thursday which was signed by the Executive Secretary of the Agency, Barrister I.O Tijani, on behalf of the Chairman of OYACA, Honorable Justice Eni Esan (rtd.), OYACA called on civil servants to desist from all acts of corruption.

The convict, Adesina Olanrewaju Oyegoke, an Assistant Chief Executive Officer who worked with the Estate Department of Lagelu Local Government, Ibadan, was sentenced to three months imprisonment for a three count of official corruption under the OYACA Law 2019.

In the judgement delivered on Wednesday 14th August 2024 by Magistrate O.A Akande (SMI), presiding over Special Court 8, Iyaganku, the court found Oyegoke guilty on all counts and sentenced him to three months in jail.

“OYACA uses this medium to warn Civil servants to desist from all acts of corruption, as it only plunges the State into underdevelopment and disparage the good image and enviable status of the Oyo State government,” Eni Esan stated.