The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on Monday announced that the registration for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and the Direct Entry examination will commence by February 12, 2022.
The board made this known in its weekly bulletin released by its Director of Public Relations, Dr Fabian Benjamin, and made available to The Newsmen in Abuja.
In the timeline of events attached to the bulletin, the board announced that the “UTME/DE registration starts 12th February 2022 and ends 19th March 2022. Mock examination holds on 20th April 2022. UTME holds from 20th to 30th April 2022”.
The Osun Government has raised the alarm over plots by some persons to discredit its achievements in Osun by embarking on campaign of calumny against the Government and the person of the Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
In a statement released by the Special Adviser to Gov Oyetola, Ismail Omipidan as read in part:.
“We are compelled to raise this alarm as an early warning sign of the clandestine schemes being put together by some unscrupulous elements to tarnish the image and reputation of the Governor, Government of Osun and to cause distractions.
“The public is hereby advised to ignore such stories whenever they are out, as they are nothing but outright lies aimed at creating confusion and misinforming unsuspecting public.
“Government remains committed to delivering on its campaign promises and nothing will make it abandon that responsibility*.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared that there is no going back on his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and partisan politics.
Obasanjo stated this while addressing the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu and other stakeholders who visited him in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Saturday.
Ayu led four former governors and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to a meeting at the Pent House residence of the former President located within his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.
Obasanjo and the PDP leaders went into a closed door meeting which lasted for over two hours.
Addressing the larger gathering of the PDP stakeholders after the closed door meeting, Obasanjo admitted that having governed Nigeria twice on the PDP platform, the party would continue to be part of his history.
He said “I’m no longer in partisan politics and there is nothing that can bring back. Anybody who wants my advice, I will always be there in the best interest of Nigeria.
“Whatever I do in my own life…because I became president on the platform of PDP, PDP will continue to be part of my life. Since the day I tore my PDP card, that was the day I ceased to be a member of PDP. That day I vowed not to be a member of any political party.
“I will continue to be a statesman.”
Obasanjo told Ayu that he has the problems of PDP and Nigeria on his shoulders, and prayed God give him the wisdom to carry it.
Responding, Ayu told Obasanjo that “if you leave PDP, the blood of PDP will never leave you.”
He said the party would always require his fatherly advice towards governance in Nigeria.
Obasanjo, who was twice elected president on PDP platform, renounced his membership of the party, when he fell out with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in the buildup to the 2015 election.
After ordering the chairman of his ward to shred the card to pieces in public, Obasanjo announced that he had quit partisan politics.
For the umpteenth time, the leading governorship aspirant on the platform of the Official Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nigeria (PDP) in Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni, has restated his commitment to a Southern successor if given the opportunity to govern the state again.
Oni, however, pleaded for the understanding of the people that only a party in power in Ekiti could make a deliberate decision to pick a southern successor and use resources to get it done.
The PDP governorship hopeful has repeatedly said that he is committed to one remaining term arrangement and a southern successor if he is picked by his party and elected by the people.
Oni had recently said on Channels Television that “the Southern agitations are in a way, right and fair.
“If I am governor, I can muster the resources of the state; I can put it behind anybody from the South and say let us try.”
But according to Oni, the superior push for a governor from the South was an option that may be limited to the party in power, because since 1999 every zone had contested the governorship seat in Ekiti.
“If I have an opportunity to be in power, of course, we can deliberately go back to the south for a successor.
“I don’t fool around; when I say things I mean them. I will push for a southern successor,” said.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Segun Oni Campaign Team, Yemi Arokodare, has asked the public to ignore rumours that Segun Oni may consider doing a second term if elected as governor.
“Chief Segun Oni served the people of Ekiti State meritoriously between 2007 and 2010, and that is why the people are yearning for his return and praying for his emergence as the PDP candidate.
“He is committed to the one more term left if given the opportunity, and he will be very deliberate about the Southern agenda.
“Segun Oni is a team player and conscientious politician; he will work with the other aspirants to win Ekiti for the PDP,” he assured.
Arokodare said the clarification had become necessary to correct falsehoods and allay fears and concerns in some quarters.
Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, a former Minister of Works on Saturday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) needs eight years of planning including hard work of they can get close to winning Lagos State.
Ogunlewe who spoke in an interview with DAILY INDEPENDENT was reacting to the reception of the convener of the Lagos4Lagos Movement Movement and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulazeez Adediran, aka Jandor, into the PDP at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS).
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and five other governors on the platform of the PDP received Jandor and his supporters into the PDP on Friday
The governors in attendance are host governor, Makinde; Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; Akwa Ibom Governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel; his Abia State counterpart, Okezie Ikpeazu; Enugu State Governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Bayelsa State and Senator Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State.
During the event, which had in attendance members of the National Working Committee of the PDP, including the Deputy National Chairman, Taofeek Arapaja, and the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, as well as former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George; former governors Peter Obi and Olusegun Mimiko, the PDP said it is ready to take over Lagos state in 2023.
Reacting to their threat, Ogunlewe a former PDP chieftain said winning an election, especially Lagos state which is firmly under APC’s control requires a lot of hard work.
He said “Some governors came to Lagos state yesterday for ‘Lagos4Lagos’ declaration and they said they will take over Lagos state in 2023. It is a tall order and a heroic statement. Atari ajanaku ni, kiise eru omode (the dismembered head of an elephant is not what a child can carry)”.
“To win an election is not by mere talking. You must walk the talk because you don’t win by mouth. You have to work very hard. Somebody is controlling 57 local councils, all the councilors, all the Road Transport unions, market women, primary and secondary school teachers and you say that you will defeat him. Where are you going to get your votes from?”
“Those are the voters that are already part of APC and so you need to work to convince them to vote for you? How many teachers does PDP have in primary and secondary schools? How many supporters do they have in the markets? How many students in the tertiary institutions who are getting scholarships and bursaries do you have?”
“My advice to PDP is that they need a minimum of eight years planning plus hard work to get near winning Lagos. They need money, structures and the ability to convince people. I said ‘convince the voters’ because the attitude of people towards elections today is not right at all. People don’t like to vote again. Where you have less than 10 percent of registered voters”.
“They only register because they need the document for one thing or the other, not necessarily because they want to vote. On the day of the election, they will sit down at home watching television or playing football on the streets. No matter how you beg them to vote, they won’t listen”.
1. The dedicated website for Ibadan Cultural Festival was launched on Tuesday, at a well attended ceremony.
2. The launching ceremony which was conducted after the PG CCII Press release at the Asiwaju Bode Amao Hall, Ibadan House has Professor Allan Femi Lana as Chairman of the occassion, Professor Remi Raji Oyelade, Engineers Sunday Gbenjo and Kunle Akinpelu as Chief Launchers. Alhaja Simiat Adeleke Durojaye Larodo and Architect Kola Olawale were the Guests of Honour.
3. The Chairman Ibadan Cultural Festival 2022, Balogun Gaphar Ojetola donated the website to showcase Ibadan Cultural Festival 2022 to the global community and called on the international community to support and adopt the annual Ibadan Cultural Festival as an international cultural event.
4. Balogun Gaphar Ojetola praised all the members of his committee, CCII Constituent clubs and the CCII Executives for their support and enthusiasm at ensuring a successful celebration.
5. This year event is a 10 days activities packed Cultural Festival starting on 3rd March to 12 March 2022.
All other information is available on www.ibadanculturalfestival.com
Earlier yesterday, the Lagos PDP held unity rally and also officially welcomed the #Lagos4Lagos movement led by Dr Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran (Jandor) from APC to the peoples Democratic Party PDP.
Among notable people that received the leaders of the movement and his people were Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde and his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike and other chieftains of the party.
The snapshots of the event are attached for photostory.
Arguably, information is much more important than money. It could be likened to electricity blackout where movements and other human activities are impeded. Light illuminates; the way information puts one abreast of the happenings around the world. A man who is not aware of the unfolding events in his vicinity is as good as dead and a man who values information and knows how to make a judicious us of it can; within a twinkle of an eye, relieve himself from bondage.
The role of media organization is all- encompassing. In the past, it was restricted to information disemination but the modern-day role of the media has transcended mere passing of information. Aside the primitive function, media has been viewed as agent of socialization, apostle social justice, pressure group and a host of others that are crucial to daily activities of man.
The press derives its’ power from Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right as stated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Media freedom and access to information feed into the wider development objective of empowering people. Empowerment is a multi-dimensional social and political process that helps people gain control over their own lives. This can only be achieved through access to accurate, fair and unbiased information, representing a plurality of opinions, and the means to actively communicate vertically and horizontally, thereby participating in the active life of the community.
Nigerian media gained further advantage at the signing on 28th of May, 2021, of the Freedom Of Information, FOI bill. This was indeed in appreciative of the role of the press as the fourth realm of government.
Without any iota of contradiction, freedom of speech is not intended to infringe upon the rights of the citizenry. Fundamental human right has a limit. Press is under obligation to operate within the ambience and ambit of law.
To every media organization, objectivity and balance report are essential. It is expected that the press must be factual in its dealings and avoid sensational and prejudicial reportage. Suffice to say that any media organization desirous of wide acceptance and patronage need to shun jungle journalism and parochial sentiment. These are virtues that make Oduduwa News stands tall amongst her contemporaries.
Like a colossus, Oduduwa News betrode the media world with a character. Since its’ conception, it has become a reference point for other online media for his factual and unbiased report. This is coupled with prompt and timely report which has conferred the title of pathfinder on the organization.
The advent of online news in 1995 has drastically reduced the crave for print media. This may not be unconnected with the rapid flow of information in this age of technology, courtesy of internet facility. Obviously, technological advancement has brought the globe to the tips of the fingers. The unhindered access to filtering news at any time and anywhere has given everyone the opportunity of first hand information.
Hitherto, people relied and waited for the print media to make news available through dispatch and distribution. But nowadays, everyone has become a pressman and agents by sending classified and hot news to media houses. With the advent of technology, there has been an increase in the number of freelancers and bloggers. With the advent of digital journalism, Nigerians have developed more intricate ways to express themselves from the cave to painting to a written word and illuminated manuscripts to twitter, Facebook and watzap. This is a real revolutionary transformation of journalism.
Without mincing words, credits should go to Oduduwa News management. The crew has never disappointed the nation with the needed news upon which social, economic, educational and others rely on. The organization is unequivocally reliable and dependable. The adherence of the organization to the tenets, ethics, norms and ethos of journalism has always reflected in its daily operation. Oduduwa News has practically become the cynosure of all eyes and a template upon which journalism as a profession is gauged.
Oduduwa News is a stand-alone publication which is not affiliated to any newspaper online version. It is an organization that has been able to strike balance between timely and in-depth reporting. Established on the June 26th, 2020, Oduduwa News has become a household name in the entire nation and a dependable organization for people in diaspora.
It is my fervent prayer that the organization shall continue to exist and attain an enviable heights in the world of journalism across the globe.
Comrade Lekan Badmus is a columnist with Oduduwa News and a public opinion analyst who is based in both Lagos and Ibadan.
Comrade Lekan Badmus is a columnist with Oduduwa News.
One of the political weapons to woo voters in any election is promises. This is not peculiar to Nigeria. It is the common practice in the world. After all, governance has to do with impactful programmes on the lives of the electorates.
The recent promise made by one of the presidential hopefuls, Asiwaju Tinubu has become another subject of discussion amongst pundits. The APC stalwart has willingly and under no duress, promised to pay the WAEC fees of the students across the nation. As soothing as this promise seems, Nigerians are sceptical about the pledge; thus, the various reactions.
Those who have made scathing remarks on this promise may not be totally wrong. We have had failed promise in the past. We have had a government who promised to reduce oil pump price but ended up eventually by increasing it. We have had a government who claimed to have a clue to put an end to terrorism but ended up by playing upon our intelligence by swapping and branding terrorism, banditry. We have had a government who promised to being us out of economic doldrum but who ended compounding our economic woes. One who claimed to be an apostle of fundamental human rights ended up wiping a clan out of the surface of the earth at Odi village. We have not forgotten how a leader promised to promote freedom of speech but later are his words by forcing padlocks on the mouth of the press. The examples are endless. Most have become promises that could not hold water. They were promises on the tip of the tongue.
Apparently, the scepticism stemmed from the various unfulfilled promises of the past.Nigerians are not suffering from insomnia. We have been disappointed. As soon as the politicians gained power, they turned their back; forgetting the proverbial ladder which they used to climb to the top! It is at this comfort apex office that they begin to differentiate between the mathematical angles of elevation and depression.
In reality, I have never believed in bursary award. Most often than not, the bursary welfare has always fallen to wrong hands. The indigents students are on most occasions denied and deprived because local government certificate of origin is easy to procure at a cheap price by non-indigenes. And this is the criteria for disbursing the sum. Aside this, the number of beneficiaries are usually doctored by the politicians. More nauseating is the fact that the money are spent on frivolity by the beneficiaries. This is peculiar to the south west anyway.
From the immediate above, I prefer the payment of WAEC fees for students but with a caveat. Currently, the 2022 WAEC candidates have been requested to pay between #22, 000 to #25,000. This is a collosal sum. I bet you, many students might not write the examination due to financial incapability of their parents. WAEC is a terminal examination and a certificate one for that matter. Any student who unavoidably missed the examination stands to waste the six years of schooling. Thus, the logic in the payment of WAEC fees by Tinubu.
Be that as it may, what Asiwaju has failed to tell us is the way and manner with which he hopes to achieve this. In the developed nations, political office seekers would not just give an ambiguous statement. Rather, they would follow it with empirical statistics to establish the feasibility of the promise. Asiwaju needs to be explicit and vivid. In Nigeria, politicians seldom giving volatile and vague promise because they do not mean what they say. I am not waving Asiwaju’s promise with the back of the hands. He has the clout based on his success in Lagos state. But did he consider the number of potential WAEC candidates across the nation with reference to the payable fees ?! How does he plan to prevent conspiracy?
Anyway, someone like Tinubu would have sat down and thought about this promise. But at the same time, he owes us the explanation.
Let us be factual, students in the north have continually enjoyed free education, bursary and scholarship. One begins to wonder how they are achieving this! There is also a special grant for the exceptional students but such package has not been extended to the south. Could this mean the southern political leaders are scuttling the gesture ! We are all aware of the free feeding programmes that is well coordinated in the north, the covid-19 palliatives, the tradermoni and a host of other welfare programmes. Are we under spell in the south ?
On a final note, one of the banes of bursary award and “WAEC subsidy” or outright payment is the deliberate and callous inflation of the potential WAEC students across the schools because schools lack viable data and school management sometime act in connivance with the rogues within some examination bodies in Nigeria to hike the figure so as to get some returns. My submission here is subject to verification in schools across south west. It is not my habit making fallacious claim. I stand to be challenged. Move to schools and find out whether there are no special registers !
Anyway, the payment is not impossible. I only pray that it won’t be a dangling carrot and a bait from the predators to the unsuspecting preys.
