Oduduwa News

48-man Proposal Writing Committee has been constituted by the University of Ibadan management team in response to the Call for Applications for Round 3 of the 100&Change MacArthur Foundation Grant Application 2024.

Recall, University of Ibadan was a beneficiary of the scheme in 2002 where the Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law CPEEL was established as a training and academic research institute.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, who is the Chairman of the Committee while inaugurating the committee constituted to map out plans and strategies on how to win the 2024 grant reaffirmed his commitment to ensure that the gains of the University from the MacArthur Foundation grants are sustained.

He said the University had re-examined its failed 2016 Proposal with a view to addressing its shortcomings.

The Vice-Chancellor said the University intends to collaborate with other MacArthur Grants beneficiary universities as well as such organisations as the Consortium for Advanced Research and Training in Africa (CARTA) and the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA).

Other Principal Officers of the University gave goodwill messages to encourage the Committee in achieving success for the University.

The MacArthur Grants Liaison Officer, Professor Rotimi A. Oderinde said University of Ibadan first benefited from the MacArthur Grants in 2002, and out of the five universities identified then, UI is the only one where the MacArthur Grant is still subsisting.

He said the University of Ibadan seeks to be the Hub for other African countries, especially in the areas of research and academic excellence.

A member of the Committee, Professor Aderemi Raji-Oyelade, commended the spirit of scholarship within the University of Ibadan, saying this enables the University to dream big, provide solutions and achieve success.

The 100&Change competition is for a single $100 million grant to help solve one of the world’s most critical social challenges. The third round of 100&Change remains open to organizations and collaborations working in any field, anywhere in the world. Proposals must identify a problem and offer a solution that promises significant and durable change.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has emerged as the Chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum.

Sanwo-Olu was elected as the Chairman of the forum during a meeting on Monday in Lagos attended by the six Governors in the region.

He succeeds the late Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu.

The meeting, held at the Government House in Lagos, was attended by Governors Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo State), Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), Ademola Adeleke (Osun State), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun State), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti State), and Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.

The wife of the Chairman of Kajola Local Government, Alhaja Bilikisu Mustapha has congratulated the First Lady of Oyo State, Mrs. Tamunomini Olufunke on the occasion of her 52nd birthday anniversary.

Alhaja in her felicitation message said, “we have another opportunity to honour a woman of grace, a brilliant example of a virtuous woman, a supportive wife and caring mother of the state, and one with a large heart.

“Mrs. Makinde is a gem far above rubies. She is well-known by her admirers as a compassionate woman, a pillar of support for the family. When she speaks, wisdom is not only heard but also clearly seen, and the law of kindness is spoken on her tongue. It is her compassionate heart that has been the driving force behind the various programmes and initiatives of the Office of the First Lady of Oyo State aimed at making a positive difference.

“I think can say equivocally without equivocation that she is a blessing to Oyo state since I am one of her admirers who closely monitored her programmes and also documented some of her accomplishments, especially the one pertaining to the development of the people at the grassroots and the general wellbeing of the less privileged through numerous initiatives”.

At the final funeral ceremony of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Senator Lekan Balogun, Allí-Okunmade II, Governor Seyi Makinde, who was the chief host, while making his speech, was quoted to have said that the Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakuleyin Akinloyè, would be coronated when he is strong enough. Governor Makinde made the statement against the now public knowledge that Oba Owolabi Olakuleyin is coping with some ailment that affects his strength. Since yesterday that Governor Makinde was said to have made the statement, mostly negative reactions have trailed the Governor’s pronouncement. Some concerned Ibadan natives have been calling on Governor Makinde to rescind his decision and allow Oba Owolabi Olakuleyin to be coronated as soon as possible. Some other people reacting saw Governor Makinde’s action in delaying the coronation of the new Olubadan as an attempt to desecrate Olúbàdàn stool. Someone even wrote to say that Governor Makinde was attempting to put Ibadan on a warpath.

However, this writer seeks to put the issue in a correct perspective. Governor Seyi Makinde did not err by his statement that Oba Owolabi Olakuleyin would only be coronated when he is strong. A section of Oyo Chiefs Law states unequivocally that the reigning Governor’s approval is needed before any Olubadan can be coronated. After having sent the name of the next person to ascend Olubadan throne to the Governor for approval, certain conditions are stipulated that the person ascending the throne must meet before the approval is given. Parts of the conditions include: that the Olubadan-designate must not have criminal records or be an ex-convict; that he must be HALE and HEARTY; must not be incapacitated, to mention a few of the conditions. Without sentiments, Governor Makinde appears to have hinged his pronouncement to delay the coronation on the conditions of Hale and Hearty and a perceived partial incapacitation of the Olubadan-designate. By this pronouncement, Governor Makinde has only acted true to what the Oyo Chiefs Law says, a law he wasn’t a party to when constitued, apart from the little amendment made to the law a few months ago by the State Assembly and assented to by Governor Makinde.

That said, this writer appeals to Governor Seyi Makinde, himself a Yoruba man, who understands the place of culture and tradition in resolving knotty issues in Yorubaland, to reconsider his stance and ensure that a befitting coronation of Oba Owolabi Olakuleyin as the new Olubadan of Ibadanland is quickly done so that Ibadan can move forward from the stalemate occasioned by the death of Oba Lekan Balogun in March this year.

There were precedents in Ibadan where the coronation of new Olubadan is concerned. From the late Oba Yesufu Oloyede Aṣanike, to late Oba Emmanuel Adegboyega Adeyemo, to late Oba Yinusa Ogundipe Arapasowu, to late Oba Odulana Odugade, to late Oba Saliu Adetunji, to the recently late Oba Lekan Balogun, there were issues of health challenges that they all had before ascending Olubadan throne. But without paying lip service to the provisions of Oyo Chiefs Law, culture and tradition were considered in each instance of the times the late Olubadans were enthroned. Almost all of the late Olubadans mentioned earlier spent an average of tens years or a little less on the throne despite the glaring health challenges they had. This writer has written in the past, in the thick of the recent Ibadan chieftancy imbroglio, how the late Olubadans battled various ailments before they were coronated.

Ibadan has been without its revered king since the last three months or thereabouts. Ibadan has missed the guidance, the wisdom and the directives of its Olubadan. With vacancy in Olubadan palace, Ibadan feels culturally and traditionally naked. These reasons and more are why Governor Makinde has to revisit the issue and approve a speedy coronation of Oba Owolabi Olakuleyin Akinloyè as the new Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Maroof Asudemade writes from Isalẹ jẹbu, Ibadan.

In a significant development, the Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri, has announced the apprehension of the individual responsible for trafficking underage girls to Ghana. Thanks to the efforts of Chief Callistus, Chairman of Nido Ghana, the trafficker has been brought to justice and will face legal proceedings in Ghana next week.

Expressing her appreciation for Chief Callistus’s dedication in ensuring the arrest of the perpetrator, Abike Dabiri tweeted about the rescue mission, stating, “These are young girls trafficked to Ghana for prostitution. Very, very heartbreaking.”

Moreover, additional sets of trafficked girls have been rescued in Ghana, with arrangements being made to bring them back to Nigeria. Abike Dabiri assured that the rescued girls will be repatriated soon, emphasizing the importance of the collaboration between the Nigerian and Ghanaian authorities in combating such crimes.

The swift action taken in this case highlights the commitment of both nations to safeguard the rights and well-being of vulnerable individuals impacted by human trafficking.