Balogun Gaphar Ojetola appreciates Olubadan, Makinde, First Lady, Deputy Governor, Ibadanland in general

It all ended in praise…..Praise the Lord

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” —Marcel Proust

Yes, you made us happy and you made our souls blossom.

That this year 2024 Ibadan Cultural Festival has come and ended in glory is enough reason to show gratitude to God almighty and everyone who has participated and, or contributed to the success story. You are all the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.

To His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde FNSE, DSC, GSSRS and the First Lady, Engineer Olufunke Tamunominini Makinde who was conferred with the Most Outstanding Wife of Ibadanland, MOWI and His Excellency , the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Barrister AbdRaheem Adebayo Lawal, who was also conferred with the Most Outstanding Friend of Ibadanland, MOFI during the Grand Finale at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium has become a landmark history making in any Ibadan Cultural Festival anniversary ever experienced. To God be the glory.

To our Kabiyesi, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr. Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin, Ige Olakulehin 1 , and the Olubadan -in – Council, the Iyalode in Council, the Mogajis, Baales and all the Senior Chiefs, we thank you all.


Particular mention must be made of His Excellency, the Former Governor of Oyo State and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja whose sponsorship of some of our programs as well as his physical attendance and participation at this year’s festival was highly remarkable. K’eepe O Baba
To Her Excellency, wife of the former Governor, Chief Mrs Olayinka Mutiat Ladoja, Grand Ambassador of Ibadan Culture and Special Guest of Honour of the events whose singular efforts contributed immensely to the success story of this year’s celebration, I will forever remain grateful and on behalf of us all, I say Thank you Ma. A yoo maa ri yin ba O. Ase
To His Eminence, Alhaji Chief Dawood Makanjuola Akinola De-Damak, Aare of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, Aare of Ibadanland and Grand Commander of Ibadan Culture GCIC whose generous donation of an 18 Seater Bus and huge cash donation towards the success of this year’s Ibadan Cultural Festival is commendable and much appreciated.
The Jagun Olubadan, Apesin Ola, Sir Chief ‘Dotun Sanusi , Chairman and CEO Ilaji Hotels and Resorts supported us with the use of the entire Ilaji Facilities for this year’s Sports Finals and the Business Luncheon programs. We can not quantify these wholesome package in monetary value. Thank you Sir and God will continue to elevate you.
I must not forget to mention the uncommon support received from the Chairman, Solution FM and the Aare Onibon Balogun of Ibadanland, Oloye Taofeek Adegboyega Adegoke FCA whose physical appearances as well as huge monetary supports has helped tremendously in setting the bar higher for this year’s Cultural Festival. Oloye Taofeek Adegboyega Adegoke, E se pupo, A dupe O.
The President, Ibadan Descendants Union USA, who is also the Ajia Olubadan of Ibadanland did not only led a powerful tream from the USA, he also attracted big support as well as his physical presence in virtually all our programs, Oloye Abiola Iyiola, K’ara O le O.
To all our worthy and deserving Awardees from Grand Ambassadors of Ibadan Culture to the Fellowship awardees, through Business Luncheon to the Merit awards at the Grand Finale, we congratulate you for being considered to be so celebrated and honored by Ibadanland. Congratulations to you all.
To the Baba-lojas, Mama Lojas, the Warlord Families, all affiliate clubs and associations home and abroad, we congratulate you all for taking ownership of the whole event as the hosting authority. Congratulations and thank you all.

The degree of media coverage we enjoyed at this year’s events is massive and phenomenon. We thank all the media houses in Ibadanland and beyond. God bless you all.

To our individual sponsors as well as corporate partners, we remain indebted to you and pray that our relationship will blossom into permanent investment that will be beneficial to both sides.
I must not fail to honour our religious leaders and particularly His Eminence, Prelate Sunday Ola Makinde whose fatherly support can not be over emphasised. E se pupo Baba. E.ma pe fun wa O.
To all the Past President Generals and members of the BoT CCII , thank you for being there always for us.

To all the members of this year Planning Committee whose labour, dedication, commitment and financial support can only be imagined, I owe you a lot and pray that God almighty will compensate you beyond any human expectations.

To the Chief Barrister Sulaiman Ajeniyi Ajewole CCII EXCO led administration for believing in our capacity and strength, we appreciate and congratulate you on this achievement.
Permit me however to register my profound gratitude to this man I call ‘President General Oloriire’ for supporting me throughout on the assignment which he gave me for without such immense support we couldn’t have recorded this massive success story. My PG Sir, E se pupo. A dupe O. Olorun yoo maa ran Eyin naa l’owo. Aamin

For all that you have committed to the success of this year Ibadan Cultural Festival celebration, please accept our gratitude and we pray for God abundance mercy on us and on Ibadanland.

Lastly, had my wife and children refused to release me for the service of my fatherland, how would I have the opportunity to play this little role. Kikelomo Ajike , Asaaju Iyalode of Ojeniranland and my beautiful children, Ibadanland appreciate you all. Thank you

To God almighty once again. E se O Baba.

E se pupo, A dupe O.

Balogun Gaphar Ojetola
Chairman, 2024 Ibadan Cultural Festival

Breaking: Oyo SUBEB Releases CBT Results, Fixes Cut-off Mark For Intending Teachers

The Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, OYOSUBEB, has officially released results, of its just concluded computer-based tests.

This was disclosed by the Executive Chairman of the Board, Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, which was made available to the journalists on Wednesday in Ibadan.

In the statement Dr. Adeniran said the Board has set minimum cut-off marks for qualification to the next stage in the recruitment exercise.

Dr. Adeniran said the cut-off mark in the exercise, is 50%.

The cut off mark, according to him will set the tone for the recruitment process.

He further advised all candidates to log into their portal, as their results have been posted there already.

Dr. Adeniran reiterated the Board’s commitment to enhancing educational infrastructure and services in the State.

Woman arrested for attempting to sell off three-year-old daughter

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old woman, identified as Yetunde Gbadebo, for attempting to sell her three-year-old daughter on Aladiye Street in Sagamu. Our correspondent gathered on Sunday that the incident occurred at about 10:00 on July 25, 2024.

Our correspondent learnt from a police source at the command that the suspect was caught while negotiating a N700,000 price for the toddler with a 38-year-old man identified as Sunday None. A team of police detectives from the Sagamu Division stormed the area after a resident reported witnessing the duo during the negotiation.

During interrogation, the spokesperson for the command, Omolola Odutola, stated that Gbadebo denied the allegation, while None had confessed to the crime. She said, “The woman was about to sell her three-year-old daughter to another suspect. A resident who saw the two suspects negotiating the price approached our station in Sagamu to report what she saw. “The Sagamu Police Division detached a team of detectives who stormed the scene and arrested the two suspects. The man has confessed to the crime.

“The case will be transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department as soon preliminary findings are concluded.” In January 2024, Our correspondent reported a similar incident in which a 38-year-old woman, identified as Chinyere Chukwu, was arrested in Anambra State for attempting to sell her two sons, aged nine and seven. The suspect allegedly conspired with her eldest daughter, Joy Chukwu, 17, to sell the minors to Mrs. Ify Obinabo, the Anambra State Women and Social Welfare Commissioner, who posed as a buyer after receiving a tip-off.

Self-Acclaimed Yoruba Nation Agitator, Sunday Igboho Dissociates Self From Planned Nationwide Protest

Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho.has kicked against the nationwide protests planned for August over the hardship in the country.

Igboho in a statement issued late last night, said: “I, Chief Sunday Igboho, am issuing this press release in response to the planned protests by some unknown & faceless individuals, who are working to disintegrate the country.

’Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assumed office on May 29, 2023, he has implemented revolutionary policies, which his predecessors lacked the political will to pursue. These bold steps have, unsurprisingly, unsettled those who believe it is their birth right to rule Nigeria.

The Yoruba Nation Movement and I firmly declare that we will not participate in any protest aimed at using the Southwest as a battleground for political upheaval. We stand resolute in our belief that the Yoruba nation will not be a launchpad for disintegrating Nigeria. We recognize that economic hardship is a global phenomenon, not unique to Nigeria.

Tinubu Throws Lifeline to Dangote Refinery: NNPC to Sell Crude in Naira, Stabilizing Fuel Prices and Exchange Rate

In a move aimed at stabilizing fuel prices and the exchange rate, President Tinubu has proposed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) sell crude oil to the Dangote Refinery in Naira. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has accepted the proposal, which will provide a valuable lifeline to the refinery.

The deal involves selling 450,000 barrels of crude oil to Nigerian refineries, including the Dangote Refinery, in Naira, with Afreximbank and other settlement banks facilitating the trade. This move is expected to reduce the country’s reliance on imported refined fuel, saving billions of dollars in the process.

The Dangote Refinery, which requires 15 shipments of crude oil annually, will benefit from NNPC’s commitment to provide four of these cargoes. The constant exchange rate throughout the transaction will also help maintain stability in fuel prices and the exchange rate between the dollar and the Naira.

Blocked SIMs: Protest Rocks Osogbo As Angry Mob Destroys MTN Office In Lagos

An angry mob vandalized the MTN office in Festac Town, Lagos State, in response to the network blocking its subscribers due to a mismatch in their National Identification Number (NIN) and SIM registration.

Recall, many telecom subscribers have been stopped from using their various lines having been deactivated as a result of failure to link NINs.

The sudden deactivation of people’s lines have been meted with harsh criticisms from various quarters as many were seen stranded in MTN offices across the county.

In Osogbo hundreds of customers of MTN residents in Osun State also embarked on protest around Dada estate, housing the service provider’s head office in the state.

Many of the protesters claimed to have arrived the office since 6am with a view to unblock their sim cards which the network providers have blocked to due to NIN inconsistency.

The protesters also blocked the Osogbo-Iwo road leading to Oke-Fia area of the state capital, thereby disrupting traffic and creating gridlock in the area.

Reactivate all blocked lines, NCC directs telcos ahead of looming protest

The Nigerian Communications Commission has ordered telecommunications operators, telcos to immediately restore all phone lines blocked due to non-linkage of National Identification Numbers to SIM cards.

Reuben Muoka, the Director of Media and Public Affairs disclosed this on Monday.

Recall that many Nigerians were agog over what they perceived as restrictions by the NCC, which they felt were attempts to frustrate the August planned protest.

In a statement released by the NCC and sighted by Vanguard, Muoka stated that many telecom subscribers/consumers were unable to access their phone lines because of the inability of many telecom consumers to verify their NINs with their SIMs.

The statement read, “Over the weekend, many telecom subscribers/consumers were unable to access their phone lines due to their inability to verify their NINs with their SIMs. This resulted in their numbers being blocked by their telecom service providers in compliance with the laws and policies of the NIN-SIM linkage.

“Telecoms consumers and the public will recall the compulsory linkage of NIN with SIM, which began in December 2020, when the government directed telecommunication companies to bar unregistered SIM cards and SIMs that were not linked to NIN.

“Since December 2023, the Commission has reviewed the deadline a few times; April 15, 2024, was set as the deadline for the full network barring of subscribers with four or fewer SIMs that had unverified NIN details. This deadline was then reviewed to July 31, 2024, to give consumers more time to ensure their submitted NIN details are properly verified. Despite these extensions, many phone lines have yet to be linked with verified NINs.

“The objectives of this exercise by the Federal Government of Nigeria include enhancing national security and ensuring the national SIM ownership database is accurate. The NIN-SIM linkage policy aids in verifying and protecting users’ identities while also providing critical infrastructure that assures access to the benefits of a robust digital economy for the citizenry.

“The consumer is our priority. Therefore, considering the challenges the blockages have caused, the Commission has directed all operators to reactivate all lines that were disconnected over the weekend, given the short time available for consumers to undertake the verification of their NINs with their SIMs. Reactivated consumers are to note that this is for a limited period to allow them to properly link their NIN to their SIM.

“Members of the public who have yet to verify their SIMs are encouraged to do so as soon as possible to maintain access to their lines.”

JUST IN: President Tinubu signs N70,000 minimum wage bill into law

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu today signed the new National Minimum Wage Amendment bill 2024 into law. It is reviewable every three years.

President Tinubu signed the bill midway into the Federal Executive Council meeting. Head of Service said the new law will undoubtedly reassure the workers that the President cares about their welfare.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio led National Assembly leaders to the signing ceremony.
President Tinubu thanked the National Assembly for accelerating the passage of the law.

Hardship: Lagos Police Warns Lagosians Against Violent Protest, Sues For Peace

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, has urged residents to refrain from engaging in violence towards protesters ahead of a planned nationwide demonstration scheduled for August 1-10. Fayoade made this plea during a town hall meeting with traditional rulers and community leaders in Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki, Epe, and Lagos Island.

The commissioner emphasized that while the police and other security forces are opposed to any form of protest, residents should avoid confrontations with protesters and instead report any planned violent protests to the authorities. He stressed that peaceful protests are a legitimate right, but violence will not be tolerated.

Traditional rulers and community leaders, including Oba Abdulfatai Aromire of Ijora/Apapa, have also spoken out against the planned protest and commended the police for their efforts in addressing crime in the area. They have called for action against land grabbers and praised the commissioner for his success in dealing with kidnappers in Mushin.

Recruitment: Traffic Shocking, Unprecedented As NNPC Receives 20m Applications In 24 Hours

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has received over 20 million job applications within one hour of announcing new job openings on Friday.

A source at the NNPCL confirmed the development to ODUDUWA NEWS on Friday.

“Within the first hour of opening applications, our servers registered over 20 million attempts to submit job applications. It’s an unprecedented situation,” the source stated.

The influx of applications had caused technical glitches on the NNPCL’s website, resulting in slow load times and difficulties for applicants attempting to submit their information.

Addressing the situation, NNPCL had said in post on X (formerly Twitter): “Due to unprecedented traffic to the NNPC Ltd. career page from applicants applying for vacancies, the site is currently experiencing slow load times

“Our technicians are working diligently to rectify the problem as quickly as possible.”

The company reassured potential applicants that the application deadline remains August 20, 202.

In a follow-up statement, NNPCL noted its commitment to fairness in the hiring process: “Our team is working assiduously to accommodate the surge of applications.

“While we acknowledge the keen interest of Nigerians in having an exciting career experience with us, we reassure all Nigerians of a transparent and merit-based recruitment process.

“We therefore encourage capable Nigerians to take maximum advantage of this unique opportunity.”

The positions announced include graduate trainees and those on supervisory cadre.

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