Oduduwa News

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday inaugurated a Special Visitation Panel to look into issues relating to the appointment and other issues in Lagos State University (LASU).

The Visitation Panel was raised following the controversy trailing the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor for the State owned University.

The panel comprising former vice chancellors, seasoned administrator, technocrats and top public servant is headed by the Pro-Chancellor of the Ekiti State University and former Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Bamitale Omole.

Other members of the Special Visitation Panel are; former Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Joseph Ajienka; a renowned University don, Prof. Ayo Olukotun; former Registrar of University of Ibadan, Mr. Olujimi Olukoya, former Lagos State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN) and a Level-17 Officer in the Office of the Special Adviser, Education, Mrs. Funmilola Olajide, who will serve as the Secretary of the Visitation Panel.

Governor Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday also inaugurated 11 members of the Board of Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), chaired by a Human Rights activist and lawyer, Mrs. Funmilola Falana and 21 members Lagos State Market Advisory Council chaired by the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Chief (Mrs.) Folasade Tinubu-Ojo.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Special Visitation Panel to LASU, Governor Sanwo-Olu urged members of the panel to discharge their responsibilities with fairness, firmness and forthrightness to continue to ensure that the State University takes its rightful place in the comity of universities.

He said: “I want to thank you because we know that you are donating your time and intellect for the State Government to be able to put a lasting solution to the current situation that we found ourselves in the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor for Lagos State University (LASU).

“As enshrined in the laws setting up LASU, the procedures for the appointment of a Vice Chancellor are clearly stated there and as the Visitor, my responsibility is to ensure that fairness, firmness and forthrightness are emboldened in that process and become a process that is flawless.

“We have been hit by barrage of complaints and unimaginable issues coming out from it. And by the power that has being reposed in me as the Visitor, I need to step in to ensure that we put LASU on the proper footing again and ensure that it takes its rightful place in the comity of universities.

“This assignment will be time driven. There is an advert that has gone out and which the general public are meant to respond to.

Timeline has been stipulated and for the panel to thereafter review whatever has been brought forward to them and be able to make decision and recommendation to me so that we can resolve the current impasse and we can appoint a substantive Vice Chancellor into our university.”

Speaking during the inauguration of the Board of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) and Lagos State Market Advisory Council, Governor Sanwo-Olu noted that with Lagos State fast becoming the business hub of Africa, the inauguration of the two boards comes at an auspicious time when all hands must be on deck to maximize the gains of a rapidly growing economy in the State.

He tasked members of the Board of LASCOPA to urgently educate Lagosians on their rights as consumers, what constitutes a violation of those rights and the steps they need for the Board to seek redress on their behalf.

“As I inaugurate the Lagos State Market Advisory Council, I urge you to do all that is required within the ambit of the law to effectively manage and control our markets in line with international best practices. In carrying out your duties, you must consult widely in order to harmonise the interests of all stakeholders.

“In accordance with making Lagos a 21st century economy, which is one of the pillars of our administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda, I implore you to use your new office to seamlessly engage traders, our market men and women and all relevant stakeholders in order to acquaint them with the policies of this administration.

“To the members of the newly constituted Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency Board, it is your duty to protect the rights of citizens against unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent business practices, which may result in exploitation, injury, and even loss of lives.

“You must, therefore, perform your duties with a great sense of responsibility. To whom much is given, much is expected. Our consumers are counting on you to protect their rights and interests,” he said.

In his Vote of Assurance, the Chairman of the Special Visitation Panel to LASU, Prof. Bamitale Omole thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for finding members of the Panel worthy of the assignment, promising to ensure that it is done properly, promptly and efficiently.

“I want to assure you (Governor Sanwo-Olu) on behalf of the distinguished members of this panel that we are going to give the assignment our best, not only in examining the issues but also in charting a way forward so that LASU will continue to own its own in the comity of respected and respectable universities in Nigeria.

“In carrying out this assignment, I want to assure you that we shall be fearless, forthright and indeed very objective,” he assured Governor Sanwo-Olu.

In their Vote of Assurance, Falana and Tinubu-Ojo thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for the confidence reposed in them and promised to deliver on their mandates without fear or favour.

Tinubu-Ojo said: “I want to assure Mr. Governor on behalf of Lagos State Market Advisory Council that the council will do the needful and we will not mess up the trust and the confidence you imbibed in us.”

Falana who was reappointed as chairman of the Board of LASCOPA, promised Governor Sanwo-Olu and the entire people of Lagos and by extension Nigerians that they will do more than what is expected of them as custodian of the rights of consumers in Lagos State.

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, today presented cars, among other gifts, to outstanding teachers and school administrators in the State in fulfilment of his promise to reward excellence and hard work in the teaching profession.

Speaking at the grand finale of the Y2020 Teachers Merit Awards held at the Sports Pavilion, Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasised that the initiative is in line with the State Government’s commitment to using education as a weapon to change the world, adding that through education, which represents the third pillar of the present administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda, a template was developed towards rewarding selflessness, dedication and diligence amongst teachers in the State.

While appreciating the feats achieved by teachers in the State, especially in national competitions, he declared that “Our teachers keep placing Lagos on national pedestal”.

Sanwo-Olu opined that if teachers have such exceptional qualities, pupils will not only excel in academics but will also exhibit innate sterling abilities in cognitive, psychomotor, affective and co-curricular areas of learning.

His words: “Our teachers must continue to uphold the ethics of the teaching profession and display an uncommon sense of responsibility and greater commitment to duty”.

The Governor affirmed that the group of awardees will serve as Lagos State Ambassadors of Excellence in Education for the next year, while advising the teachers not to see the initiative as a contest but a way to motivate them to continue to put in their best, believing that such commitment will one day be rewarded.

“We will continue the massive investment in the education sector by improving the capacity and welfare of our school personnel, making the sector more ICT-compliant, exposing our teachers to international best practices as well as ensuring that our schools become a destination for work and learning”, he asserted.

Earlier in her welcome address, the State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, stressed that the event is indeed a testament to a promise made and fulfilled. She highlighted that the committee received over 3200 applications and through stringent evaluation criteria, they were able to select the finalists.

Mrs. Adefisayo lauded the Governor for his passion towards rewarding excellence, most especially enhancing the welfare of teachers, which adds value to the growth of the education sector.

The Commissioner informed that the finalists will be showcased and exposed to multiple opportunities which will enhance the vision of the State in restoring the prestige of the teaching profession and encourage the return of teaching as a career of choice for the youths.

Each of the winners of the Y2020 Award, which include Adesola Akindele, Temitope Gbadamosi, Temitope Ibiwunmi, Rasheed Odenike, Rebecca Oyinloye, Oluwaseun Balogun, Joshua Olasehinde, Abosede Padonu-Daniel, Ekundayo Ajiborisade, Tolulope Odusanya, Tawakalitu Akinleye and Ovinuyon Buhari, was presented with a car, tablets and plaques among other gifts by the State Government.

Responding on behalf of the awardees, an elated Mrs. Ovinuyon Buhari expressed appreciation for the gesture by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, describing it as a dream come true.

Mrs. Buhari applauded the State Government for its commitment towards supporting teachers and ensuring their welfare is given utmost priority, noting that the screening process was indeed intense but fulfilling as they were able to learn better ways of delivering service to their respective schools.

She, therefore, promised the Governor that all the awardees will not relent in ensuring qualitative teaching is enshrined in all Lagos Schools.

The Ondo State Police Command says it is investigating the cause of the recent death of some cows in Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government Area of the state.

ODUDUWA NEWS had reported how about 50 cows died in mysterious circumstances in the community on Monday.

The cows belonging to one Ibrahim Saliu were rumoured to have been poisoned.

The spokesperson for the state police command, DSP Tee-Leo Ikoro confirmed the incident.

Ikoro noted that the cows were given poisoned water, adding that further investigations into the matter had commenced.

In 2019, about 36 cows were reportedly killed by a thunderstorm at Ijare, in the Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo state.

Again, 50 Cows Die Mysteriously In Ondo Community
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Community leaders suggested that the disaster was due to the desecration of a sacred shrine by Fulani herders who had intruded into the shrine of the ancient deity.

Despite the supernatural interpretation by the traditionalists, police said the thunderstorm that killed the cows was natural.

It was gathered that the cows were struck dead at the rocky elevation said to be sacred to the community.

The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has charged beneficiaries the conditional cash transfer to ensure that the funds collected are judiciously utilised to sustain the laudable Social Investment Programme of the Lagos State Government in collaboration with the Federal Government and World Bank.

Mrs. Sanwo-Olu gave the advice when she flagged-off the fourth bi-monthly payment cycle for the conditional cash transfer in Lagos Island East LCDA, adding that the initiative anchored by the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment is part of the national objectives of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.

She said the initiative was designed to provide a one-off grant to some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the rural communities, stressing that the successful implementation of the programme will help to move many out of the poverty index and drastically reduce the figures of impoverished people in society.

Earlier, the Honourable Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, revealed that the State had disbursed N202,430,000 in cash till date.

She said that asides from identifying vulnerable households, through the combination of geographic and community-based targeting mechanism in disbursing the funds, the Ministry had trained 195 Independent Monitors for the integrated National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) to ensure that it is effectively and efficiently monitored and more equitably distributed to the vulnerable in the State.

Arobieke was full of gratitude to the Governor of the State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, for making it possible for the State to benefit from the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) and National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), under the Office of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD) saddled with the mandate to develop the humanitarian policies.

The Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Kafayat Ajenifuja, revealed that the Cash Transfer Team and NCTO enrolment team left no stone unturned in ensuring that the fourth Conditional Cash payment was made possible.

She also assured that the initiative would be sustained among various other programmes of the State government and urged beneficiaries to deploy the funds to good use.

Oyo state Housing Corporation has disclosed that the Omituntun Estate located at Ajoda, Ibadan will be ready for Allocation to interested members of the public in the next few weeks.

The Chairman, Oyo State Housing Corporation, Barr. Bayo Lawal stated this while leading the board and management of the corporation on a visit to appraise the level of work done on the 360 housing units project at Ajoda being handled by Remax Realtors, the 45 housing units at Bodija on which the corporation and Project scope are collaborating as well as Agbowo Shopping Complex.

Barr. Lawal stated that he is impressed by the progress of work on Omituntun Estate, Ajoda, Ibadan stated that with the pace of work done, estate will be available for allocation to interested members of the public within the next few weeks.

He also enjoined organizations in partnership with the corporation on the development of its various estates to keep to the terms of the agreement in order to maximize the benefits of such partnership.
Barr. Lawal urged the development partners to redouble their efforts in order to deliver on schedule.

The Chairman used the opportunity to warn land grabbers encroaching on the Corporation’s land especially at Ajoda to desist from such act as the corporation would not tolerate any infringement on its rights.

Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, has declared that God will redeem Nigeria from its current challenges of insecurity, ethnic and religious tension starting from Oyo State.
The governor, who dwelt on the uniqueness of figure seven, said that God will use the seventh election in the Fourth Republic coming up in 2023 to get Nigeria to perfection.

According to him, the fact that Oyo State currently produced the Seventh President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), as well as the Worldwide President of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) is a sign that God loves Oyo State and would redeem the country starting from Oyo.

The governor also challenged Nigerians to consistently pray for the country and its leaders.
He said that there was the need to be clear-headed about the country’s challenges and how to solve the challenges.

The governor stated this on Sunday, during the thanksgiving service in commemoration of Bishop Francis ‘Wale Oke’s election as the 7th President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, held at the Sword of the Spirit International Ministries headquarters in Ibadan.

Makinde added that the emergence of Bishop Oke as the seventh PFN President at the same period that the 7th Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President, His Eminence, Rev. Dr. Supo Ayokunle, is also from Oyo State, showed that the redemption of Nigeria will begin from Oyo State.

The governor, who prayed for the success of the new PFN President as well as the CAN President, and committed them into God’s hands.

While also speaking, the President of CAN, Dr. Supo Ayokunle, said that leaders must ensure justice and fairplay to reduce ethnic and religious tension as well as general insecurity.

He also called on the new PFN President not to shy away from telling truth to power, adding that his friends would hate him for saying the truth.

The new PFN President, Bishop ‘Wale Oke said that governments must use the power of the law to bring sanity to the country, adding that no good government negotiates with bandits, rapists, terrorists and murderers.

The governor, also on Monday reiterated the commitment of his administration to take the space in terms of Agricultural outputs, so as to take many unemployed youths off the street.

The governor stated this while receiving the delegates of African Development Bank (AFDB) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ) Project, who came on courtesy visit to his Office at Secretariat, Ibadan, said his administration is standing upon four pillars, which are education, health, expansion of our economy and security.

He commended the Rural Agricultural access Marketing (RAAMP), for fixing over 200 kilometres of rural roads, adding that special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ) Project will have the topmost level of the government of Oyo State.

Earlier, the team leader African Development Bank, Dr. Chuck Ezedinma said the Bank is currently in the country to undertake what we call Special Agro- Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs).
He said the programme is designed for six states, in which Oyo State happens to be one of them.

ODUDUWA NEWS has just gathered that Oyo State Police Command, has on Monday vowed to deploy fewer than five thousand, two hundred and ninety-six (5,296) police officers to beef up security in both exit and entry points as well as places of worship, recreation facilities and financial institutions in Oyo State.

The command noted that this action became necessary in view of the forthcoming Easter celebrations.

In a statement issued by Olugbenga Fadeyi, Pubic Relations Officer of the command, the command enjoined residents to comply with COVID-19 protocols.

Fadeyi in the statement issued on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko, added that effective plans have also been put in place to police all entry and exit points and other parts of the State through aggressive stop and search.

He assured residents that places of worship, recreation centres, financial institutions and other public facilities would be adequately protected.

“The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Ngozi Onadeko psc, mnim, fdc, wishes the Christian community a very blessed Holy week and Happy Easter in commemoration of death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“The CP enjoins all Christian faithfuls to ensure that COVID-19 protocols are adhered to in various places of worship.

“In view of the celebrations, the Command has deployed a total number of Five Thousand Two hundred and Ninety-six (5,296) Police personnel to ensure a hitch free celebration.

“Equally, effective plans have also been emplaced to police all entry and exit points and other parts of the State through aggressive stop and search, effective visibility patrol, and intelligence-led raid of black spots.

“Places of worship, recreation centres, financial institutions and other public facilities will be adequately protected.

“Members of the public are enjoined to cooperate with the Police by giving out credible information, while the Police personnel have been charged to be courteous and civil to members of the public while discharging their duties. In case of any distress, citizens are advised to call the Police Control Room Numbers: 08081768614, 07055495413 and 615 (Toll Free) of the Oyo State Security Trust Fund,” the police said.