Oduduwa News

Governor Ademola Adelele has described as a sad loss the untimely exit of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoheed Lagbaja, calling his transition “a huge misfortune”

“A huge misfortune has befallen the people of Osun State, the Nigerian army and the great Lagbaja family of Ilobu. We lost a rare breed, a gentleman and a true patriot to the cold hand of death.

“Our late brother has a big vision of operational reforms for the Nigerian Army. He launched out and commenced the implementation of root and branch reform of the Nigerian Army. Within his short stint in office, he enforced professionalism and battled terrorists and bandits with terrifying fierceness.

“Our late brother was a very hardworking officer, a true workaholic, a fierce soldier, a replica of the traditional army officer with an ambitious plan for modernization and integration of the Nigerian Army.

“In my last encounter with him, he exuded hope and aspirations of a better Nigeria with the military as a stabilizer and unifier of the federation. In late General Lagbaja, we had a great military leader with the poise, the confidence and the firmness to realize the vision of a new Nigerian Army.

“Unfortunately, the end came suddenly. We surrendered to the will of the Almighty creator. I commiserate with the Commander – in- Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces, my people of Ilobu and the great Lagbaja family.

“We mourn together on this sad occasion. On behalf of the people and Government of Osun state, we extend commiseration to Mrs Mariya Lagbaja and the two children .”, Governor Adeleke noted in a statement he personally signed.

There was a tense situation along the expressway near Ilasa, heading towards Mile 2 in Lagos, as as a yet-to-be identified driver set himself and other LASTMA officer ablaze.

The LASTMA officers said to have stopped the driver for violating traffic rule, the tension became high when the LASTMA officers wanted to impound the vehicle which later resulted to the driver setting self, one LASTMA officer ablaze.

According to a statement by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the incident occurred on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

The statement read: “On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at approximately 9:55 a.m., a Volkswagen T4 commercial driver, known for frequently violating traffic rules, was stopped by a LASTMA Patrol Team. The driver was observed picking up and dropping off passengers at an unauthorized location along the expressway near Ilasa, heading towards Mile 2.

During the incident, the driver and conductor, with assistance from nearby individuals, reportedly became aggressive, pouring petrol on a LASTMA Officer and set him ablaze. The injured officer was promptly rushed to the hospital for urgent medical care.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, regrets to announce the passing of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Chief of the Army Staff, at age 56.

He passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness.

Born on February 28, 1968, Lt. General Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by President Tinubu.

His distinguished military career began when he enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987. On September 19, 1992, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps as a member of the 39th Regular Course.

Throughout his service, Lt. General Lagbaja demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment, serving as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.

He played pivotal roles in numerous internal security operations, including Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in Southeast Nigeria, and Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States.

An alumnus of the prestigious U.S. Army War College, he earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, demonstrating his dedication to professional growth and excellence in military leadership.

Lt. General Lagbaja is survived by his beloved wife, Mariya, and their two children.

President Tinubu expresses his heartfelt condolences to the family and the Nigerian Armed Forces during this difficult time. He wishes Lt. General Lagbaja eternal peace and honours his significant contributions to the nation.

In a sweeping announcement, Nigeria’s new Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has lowered the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions from 18 years to 16 years. Speaking at his inaugural press briefing in Abuja, Dr. Alausa explained that this decision revises the previous policy and allows flexibility for exceptionally gifted students who may qualify even earlier.

Dr. Alausa also emphasized a focus on practical learning, with plans to make 80% of Nigeria’s educational curriculum practical-based and 20% theoretical, beginning from basic to tertiary education levels. “This approach will better prepare students for real-world skills,” he stated, marking a shift towards hands-on education in Nigeria’s academic institutions.

Additionally, the minister confirmed the ban on certificates from certain foreign tertiary institutions in Benin Republic and Togo, asserting the measure is aimed at curbing the issue of fake certifications within Nigeria. “This policy is set in stone to protect the integrity of genuine certificates,” he said.

Further reforms include nutritional programs to enhance student health, and collaborations with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to offer conditional cash transfers as incentives for basic education enrollment, aiming to reduce the country’s out-of-school population.

In a bid to promote food security, Alausa announced that universities of agriculture will be encouraged to own and operate large farms, which he sees as a step toward practical agricultural education and sustainable food production in the country.

These measures, alongside a strengthened admissions system with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and other educational stakeholders, signal a new direction under Dr. Alausa’s leadership.

The Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife has honored the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin with the prestigious Education Philanthropy Award.

The Speaker was honored at the 7th Annual International Conference of the Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.

The Conference, which brought together experts and stakeholders in the education sector was themed “Artificial Intelligence and Education in the Global Context.”

Presenting the Award to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, the Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire said the recognition was a testament to the Speaker’s commitment to education and his efforts to promote quality learning in Nigeria.

Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Development, Prof. Akanni Akinyemi, the Vice Chancellor said as a young and dynamic leader, Ogundoyin has distinguished himself as a parliamentarian of note in Nigeria.

” Congratulations to the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin on this well deserved award. Your choice was based on your services to humanity. You have made significant contributions to the education sector. Your dedication to the development of future generations has earned you this distinguished award. You are a man of proven integrity. I will only charge you to continue to support and promote education and education related activities.”

He added that Ogundoyin’s commitment to philanthropy and community development was inspired by his late father, Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin, a renowned philanthropist and industrialist.

In his response shortly after receiving the Award, the Speaker said the award would undoubtedly motivate him to continue his good work in education.

“I am honored to be receiving an Award of Educational Philanthropy from this esteemed Faculty. This recognition is a proof of our shared commitment to shaping the future of education in Nigeria. As Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, I’m committed to supporting initiatives that promote quality education and empower future generations. This award serves as a catalyst to further strengthen our partnership and drive meaningful change in Nigeria’s education landscape. Thank you, Obafemi Awolowo University and the Faculty of Education, for this honor and recognition. I wish you all a productive and enlightening conference.”

Earlier in her welcome address, the Dean Faculty of Education, OAU, Prof. Theodore Bello said the 7th Conference of the Faculty was aimed at drawing attention to the urgent need to adapt our education system to the current era of Artificial Intelligence, AI

Justice Oyewole Adeyeye, the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, has sadly passed away. His death was confirmed by a reliable source who wished to remain anonymous, and it’s reported that he died in the early hours of today.

Justice Adeyeye had been in poor health since July 12, 2023, after a section of the state high court complex wall collapsed on him in his office in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

The incident left him with serious injuries, and it’s tragic to think that his health struggles ultimately led to his demise.

Details later.

President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive for the immediate release of all minors detained following their involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protests in August.

The protests, which erupted nationwide, led to the arrest and arraignment of numerous young participants, sparking public outrage.