Category: Featured

The first edition of Ibarapa Sports Festival was organised by Dominic Akinjide Fagbemi Foundation (DAFF), The Sports Festival is in honour of Dominic Akinjide’s father, Chief Noah Fagbemi who died 2 years ago.

The much talked about sports festival had started in Igboora on February 26, 2022 with football matches and athletics, followed by Ayo Olopon and Draft.

No fewer than 16 football teams from Oyo State, Ogun, Lagos and Edo participated in the popular sports competitions.

Dominic Akinjide Fagbemi Foundation (DAFF) is a non-governmental and non-political organization aimed at projecting Ibarapa region to the world by identifying talents and making people of the region achieve their full potential through series of initiatives ranging from sports, education, scholarships, seminars etc.

However, a large crowd of spectators besieged Igboora High School playground on Sunday, alongside dignitaries, to watch the last day of the epoch-making event.

Under football category, the third place match for females took place early hours of Sunday where Pheonix Queens from Lagos State, beat their counterparts, Fortress Ladies from Edo 2 goals to nil.

The final of the football match took place at the noon hours of Sunday, March 6, 2022 where Young Talent 99 FA thrashed SGH Amazon 4 goals to nil to lift the trophy.

Excited by the initiative and the performance of the players, the Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Seun Fakorede said “in a bid to constitute Oyo State female football team, 5 best performing players will be part of the state team.”

Fakorede said the present administration in Oyo State led by Engr. Seyi Makinde was committed to identifying talents among the youth and that Ibarapa sports festival could serve as a terrace to achieve that.

However, community developers, opinion leaders and social media commentators in the region have continued to extend their appreciation to the founder of Dominic Akinjide Fagbemi Foundation, Dominic Akinjide for the initiative they described first of its kind in Ibarapa land.

According to Mr. Akinyemi Akintayo who is a lecturer and advocate of good governance, “Ibarapa Sports Festival is an enviable innovation and blessing to us in Ibarapa. I have to suspend my engagements for the day to witness the unique sports festival.”

“Jide Dominic Fagbemi has been able to convincingly challenged our political office holders and bigwigs in Ibarapa that charity begins at home and no amount invested in humanitarian services is a waste.”

“Congratulations to us in Ibarapa for giving us Jide, God will continue to guide his missions and bless him. Personally, I am so proud of him,” he said.

Akintayo also suggested that subsequent outings should be among indegenous female football teams in Ibarapa. This, according to him, will further explore many talents in Ibarapa land.

He, however, called on all well-to-do individuals, including political office holders in the region to emulate Dominic’s selfless way of life.

Lead consultant, Folawale Services Consult and 2023 Ibarapa Central/North House of Assembly Hopeful, Hon. Tokunbo Adewale Toriola, has also lauded Dominic Akinjide Fagbemi on the first Ibarapa Sports Festival he tagged unprecedented and novel.

Answering questions from the news men on Monday, Tokunbo said “the festival has really established the fact that we are family and we need each other and it shows that we have responsibility to one another for peace and happiness of others.”

“Kudos to Akinjide and DAFF team for a well coordinated programme. We definitely need more of this to keep our bond of togetherness,” he said.

Mr. Owolabi Samod Kehinde who is the Coordinator of the all-important sports festival, on Monday, expressed gratitude to those who made it to Igboora High School venue of the sports competition.

According to him, “our aim is to promote and educate our girls in Ibarapa land and Oyo State at large through sports.

“We really appreciate our local government Chairman, Hon. Adedoyin Adeoye, Hon. Tokunbo Adewale Toriola (Toks), for his unflinching support all the time and many other individuals from near and far.

Kehinde, however, reiterated that his principal, Dominic Akinjide Fagbemi “is committed to creating a platform where Ibarapa Indigenes, in respective of their gender, can mingle with sports professionals from other states of the federation thereby putting Ibarapa region on the map.”

However, under football category, Young Talent 99 FA won the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand naira (N250,000), SGH Amazon being the first runner-up, received the cash prize of two hundred thousand naira (200,000), Pheonix Queens (second runner-up) was given the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand naira (N150,000), while Fortress Ladies (third runner-up) went home with the sum of sixty thousand naira (N60,000).

For athletics (100- meter girls).

First position: Habeeb Bidemi from emerged first
Cash Prize: N35,000

Second position: Kanyinsola O.
Cash Prize: (N25,000)

Third position: Shogunle Taiwo
Cash prize: (N15,000)

Fourth position: Ayokunmi from Ayete
Cash prize: (N10,000)

For 200-meter girls:

First position: Habeeb Bidemi from Eruwa, Ibarapa East Local Government. (She emerged first twice in this competition).
Cash prize: (N35,000)

Second position: Ola Olaronke from Lagos State
Cash prize: (N25,000)

Third position: Shogunle Taiwo from Igboora, Ibarapa Central Local Government Area.
Cash prize: (N15,000)

Fourth position: Folashade A. From Igboora.
Cash prize: (N10,000)

100-meter for boys:

First position: Akala Khameel from Igboora
Cash prize: (N35,000)

Second position: Adesola Yusuf from Ogun State
Cash prize: (N25,000)

Third position: Afolabi Ayomide from Igboora
Cash price: (N15,000)

Fourth position: Ayokunmi from Ayete
Cash prize: (N10,000)

For 200-meter boys:

First position: Afolabi Ayomide from Igboora.
Cash prize: (N35,000)

Second position: Adesola Yusuf from Ogun State.
Cash prize: (N25,000)

Third position: Akala Khameel from Igboora
Cash price: (N15,000)

Fourth position: Makanjuola Lateef from Ayete
Cash price: (N10,000)

For Draught:

Adesina Samod from Ayete, Sodiq A. From Ayete and Ousu Koku from Tapa emerged first, second, third and were given the sum of N35,000, N25,000 and N15,000 respectively.

For Ayo Olopon

Adebayo Afeez from Ayete, Seyi Adewuyi Toriola from Igboora, Sodiq A. From Tapa and Muda Lawal from Igboora came first, second, third and fourth. They received the sum of N35,000, N25,000, N15,000 and N10,000 respectively.

The most promising talent award of the competition went to both Shogunle Taiwo and Shogunle Kehinde from Igboora High School, Igboora.

Most upcoming team of the competition was also won by Igboora High School Ladies football club.

At the end of the match, the 5 female players were selected as promised by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Seun Fakorede.

They were: Orji Beatrice (Igboora), Afolashade Adebayo (Igboora), Ola olaronke (Sango Ota), Jumai A (Igando). Franca Azonto (Lagos). They are expected to join the about to be constituted Oyo State football team.

The event had in attendance, the representatives of the state government, Special Adviser on Sports, Hon. Kazeem Bolarinwa, Hon. Seun Fakorede, Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, traditional rulers, Hon. Adedoyin Adeoye, Ibarapa Central Local Government Chairman, Hon. Tokunbo Adewale Toriola, Lead consultant, Folawale Services Consult and 2023 Ibarapa Central/North House of Assembly Hopeful, Mr. Akinyemi Akintayo, Councillors from different wards in the region and a host of others.

Remembering the death of his father 2 years after, the founder of the foundation and his team also visited Olugbon Medical Center in Igboora, where cash donations were made to patients in their respective wards.

Nice Andrew Omininikoron, the 47-year-old BRT driver, that was suspected to have murdered the 22 year old lady, Bamise, said he was a victim of kidnappers that hijacked his bus and subsequently murdered the lady.

He revealed this, while he was been paraded by the police commissioner in Lagos today after he was arrested by the DSS in Ogun state and handed over to the police command in Lagos.

BRT DRIVER: “My Bus was hijacked by the kidnappers that kidnapped Bamise. They held me and the deceased hostage after they flashed me their weapons.”

The questions that were, however, still begging for an answer were, why did he have to run away without telling the police if indeed he was a victim of kidnapper as he claims? Why he didn’t deem it fits to report the incident to his company as to what happened before DSS fished him out.

There has been an uproar over the lady who was declared missing after boarding the BRT bus from Chevron Bus Stop on her way to Oshodi last Saturday.

Her killers had allegedly dumped her body on Carter Bridge apparently after she made a video and a voice note to her friend to alert her of the danger she was into.

Oluwabamise had told her friend that she was the only one in the bus apart from some men and a woman whom she suspected had some other intentions.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has vowed to ensure justice on the death of kidnapped Lagos girl, Oluwabamise Ayanwole whose body was found after boarding a BRT.

In a statement released today by the Governor via his official Facebook account as read in part:

“Dear Lagosians, the life of every citizen of the state matters to us, and we do not take the security of our people for granted.

*We will therefore leave no stones unturned in the investigations and arrest of everyone found culpable in the kidnap and death of Miss Oluwabamise Ayanwole.

“The driver of the BRT bus involved in this unfortunate incident has been arrested, and the management of Lagos Bus Service Ltd have been directed to cooperate fully with security agencies in their investigations, so that the full weight of the law is brought down on everyone involved in this ugly incident.

“To Bamise’s family and loved ones, my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time, may the Almighty God console you. I hereby give you my word that JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED”.

The Yoruba Nation Activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, fondly called Sunday Ighoho, has been released by the Government of Republic of Benin.

The Activist was released on Monday to a Yoruba Leader and Leader of the Umbrella body of Yoruba Self-determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Professor Banji Akintoye and a French Language Expert/ Deputy Alana of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Professor Wale Adeniran.

In a statement by the Communications Secretary to Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, Akintoye described the release of Ighoho as a Triumph of Truth over Darkness in Yoruba Land.

Details later

Oyo State Governor Engineer Seyi Makinde, has reassured residents that is government will continue to promote religious tolerance and harmony without bias and sentiment.

Governor Makinde made the pledge while hosting a delegation of Saudi Arabia Government led by one of the Chief Imams of Makkah, Sheikh Hassan bin Abdul Hameed Bukhari at the courtesy room of Governor’s office Agodi Ibadan.

He also reiterated his commitment to continue his support to all the religious bodies in the state.

Governor Makinde also thanked the Saudi Arabia government for bringing a workshop that promotes peaceful co-existence among religious bodies to the University of Ibadan.

Earlier, The Head of Arabic Language Department, Umm Al-Qurra University, Makkah, Sheikh Hassan Hameed Bukhari who spoke through an Interpreter, lauded Oyo state government for peaceful atmosphere reigning in the state, and its support in the propagation of Islam.

The Arabian pledged the readiness of Saudi authority to assist Oyo state government where necessary to develop the state.

Oyo State Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) has commenced the implementation of its oriented programs to tackle the menace of erosion and other environmental disaster under the World Bank Assisted project in the state.
While holding meetings with Community Leaders and other Stakeholders in various benefiting communities in the state, the Project Coordinator of OYO NEWMAP, Engr. Omowunmi Yakub said Oyo State Government has graciously approved the commencement of desilting and clearing of waterways in all the mapped sites of seven Local Government Areas in the state.

Engr. Yakub explained that work would commence immediately on the already mapped erosion sites to reduce resident’s vulnerability to flooding, which underscores the essence of the meeting.
“We need to engage the communities and stakeholders where the projects will be carried out as well seek for their cooperation for effective implementation, maintenance and sustainability”, he said.
The Project Coordinator therefore implored residents of various benefiting communities to cooperate with contractors handling the project in their areas to ensure that the work is carried out within the stipulated time frame without any interference from any quarter.
Engr. Yakub explained further that the seven erosion sites to work on include Olusoji/ Alaro stream, Oluyole in Ibadan, South West LGA, Ahoyaya stream, Olodo in Egbeda LGA, Ologogoro/Oremoje in Iseyin LGA, Orogun steam in Saki west LGA, Isunwin stream, Isale Alaafin High School Oyo in Atiba LGA, Iwagba/Agbonyin stream in Ogbomoso North LGA and Aborerin stream, Eruwa in Ibarapa East LGA.
He emphasised that Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration in Oyo State is committed to tackling the issue of flooding in the state to alleviate the suffering of the people. Added that his vision is to put in place measures that would mitigate the manace of erosion and other natural disasters.
“He is a man of his words and that is why you see him fulfilling all his election campaign promises to the people of Oyo State. His administration will not relent in its efforts to improve the livelihood of the citizenry in the State”, he said.
He therefore urged the benefiting communities to desist from construction of structures and dumping of refuse into waterways to prevent flooding.
In their different responses during the Stakeholders’ meeting, all the Chairmen of benefiting Local Government Areas commended Engr. Seyi Makinde for his determination to tackle erosion problems in the State, pledged their support for effective implementation of the erosion control project in their Local Government Areas.
The community leaders and residents of the erosion prone areas appreciated the present administration under the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde for the gesture while they also prayed for the success of his administration.

The Lagos State police command has recovered the body of Ayanwole Oluwabamise, a 22-year-old fashion designer who went missing after boarding a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) at Chevron, Lekki area of Lagos State.

The police command recovered the body after it was alerted by residents in Lagos-Island axis that a corpse was abandoned in the area.

The body was said to have been recovered by the policemen attached to Ebute Ero Police Station and has been deposited at the mortuary within the axis.

There had been effort to trace the whereabouts of Oluwabamise after she mentioned missing upon boarding the BRT on February 26.

On Sunday, Lagos State said it has arrested two suspects in connection with the incident.

Oluwabamise was said to have boarded the bus from Chevron Bus Stop around 7pm and later sent distress message to her friend when she felt uncomfortable in the vehicle.

She was said to have asked her friend to pray for her and sent the vehicle details to the friend as she complained about the behaviour of the driver.

Oluwabamise also gave her friends other details, including the number of persons in the said bus and she was advised by the friend to alight at Oworonsoki instead of continuing to Oshodi in that circumstance.

But that was the last her family and friends heard from her as she never got to her destination and the driver had also disappeared since then.

Giving update on the case on Sunday, Lagos police spokesman, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, said the suspects in custody were assisting investigation.

“As soon as the report got to the police, investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the lady was immediately initiated,” he said.

“To ensure a speedy and diligent investigation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alabi, immediately directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti to take over the case.

“In the course of ongoing investigation, two suspects have been arrested and are currently helping in our investigation.

“While assuring that police detectives will continue to work assiduously to find the missing lady and bring her abductors to justice, the command wishes to appeal to anyone with useful information that could help in our investigation to promptly give it to us for further necessary actions.

“Suspect who hails from Moba L.G.A. in Ekiti State, is about 5 feet plus tall, dark in complexion and speaks Yoruba and English languages well.

“This isolated incident notwithstanding, the Police Command is committed to protecting lives and properties of all residents of the state at all times.”