ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has granted approval seeking to upgrade Emmanuel Alayande College of Education to university of education.
This was made known today by the state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday.
Olaleye, who spoke with journalists at the Governor’s Office in company of Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bashir Bello; his Information ,Culture and Tourism counterpart, Wasiu Olatunbosun, said the school has all needed facilities to take off as a degree-awarding higher institution.
He added that all necessary procedures and protocols would be duly followed and relevant agencies and stakeholders would also be consulted throughout the upgrading processes.
Olaleye said:“The Council approved the upgrading the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education to a University of Education. The whole essence of this is for us to deal with the training of teachers as the problem of education from the baseline by producing competent educators and teachers with requisite pedagogical skills.
“The school, in recent years, has been running an affiliated degree programmes with another university and we realized that the students in the programmes actually outnumber the National Certificate Education (NCE) students that are the core mandate of the school. So, the school as it is today, with the infrastructure, materials and skill of the educators there, can actually take off as a university.
“We also realise the students, nowadays, prefer to have a degree than just NCE. So, with the location of the school, the presence of Federal College of Education (Special) in Oyo Town and College of Education at Lanlate, we believe the school has sources for students that can take the degree programmes. It can stand and based on that, the Cabinet approved the upgrading of the school.
“Now, we will take steps to apply to the relevant authorities for the upgrading any moment from now.”
Some Yoruba youths on Monday removed Nigerian flags and replaced them with Oduduwa Republic flags around Teslim Balogun Stadium, in Surulere, Lagos State.
This was seen in a video that went viral.
Nigeria is facing many challenges, some bordering on insecurity in the South which have recently contributed to agitations for self-determination.
The unabated killing and kidnapping of people in the South-West by suspected Fulani herdsmen and the Nigerian government’s failure to solve the problem have also caused tensions between the region and North.
The murderous herders have killed thousands of people, burnt houses, destroyed farms and people’s means of livelihood, displaced villagers, raped women, among other atrocities yet the government and security agencies have appeared helpless in tackling the problems.
The hoisting of Oduduwa flags by these youths might also be connected with what a Yoruba elder statesman, Prof. Banji Akintoye, recently said in an interview that “the remedy to the bondage we are in, the remedy to the enslavement we are suffering on our ancestral space is called self-determination.”
LAGOSIANS NOW APPRECIATE THE EFFICACY OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE – LSTMB BOSS
… Says 80% of Nigerians Use Indigenous Medicines
The Chairman of Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, Prof. Adebukola Adefule-Ositelu, has said that the recognition accorded indigenous methods of healing by the present administration has further aided the use of traditional medicine among residents of the State.
Speaking on Monday during an interview session in her office in Onikan, the Chairman stated that the Agency has also been making frantic efforts to sanitise the practice and regularise the operations of the practitioners.
She noted that the intervention of the agency in the areas of training and certification had assisted in making the use of indigenous medicine safe, while also eradicating quackery.
Adefule-Ositelu commended the State Government for the upward review of annual budgetary allocation to the Board in the Year 2021 budget, saying that the gesture attests to the positive disposition of the present administration and the belief of Governor Sanwo-Olu in promoting indigenous medicine.
The Chairman also harped on synergy and collaboration between the orthodox medicine practitioners and their indigenous counterpart for a holistic healing process, stressing that the health seekers should enjoy the freedom of choosing their preferred method of healthcare delivery between orthodox and indigenous healing methods.
Underscoring the potency of traditional medicine in healing mild, moderate and severe health issues, including life-threatening diseases, Adefule-Ositelu declared that the indigenous method of treatment is not inferior to the modern-day method of healthcare delivery.
The Professor of Ophthalmology maintained that indigenous medicine practitioners need their orthodox counterparts in the area of investigation of medical condition in order to ascertain the nature of ailments and to administer the right treatment.
“There is no competition here, the aim of both methods of treatment is to treat patients and get them better by running a parallel system where result is the ultimate”, the LSTMB Chairman reassured.
Professor Adefule-Ositelu declared that 80% of medications used in the orthodox field are derived from natural products, used for syrups and tablets, disclosing that plans are underway to replicate modern traditional clinics, laboratories and standard offices across the five divisions of the State for monitoring the activities of traditional practitioners, including those operating in the hinterlands.
The replication of the traditional clinics and laboratories across the State, she said, will help to empower indigenous healers for clinical trials on variant medicinal solutions, document results and also record the efficacy and side effects of plants and herbs.
Following the fire incident that razed Sabo market in Oyo town on Tuesday 2nd March, 2021, the Oyo State House of Assembly has appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to put measures in place towards reconstructing the affected shops in the market.
The House also urged the State Government through the State Emergency Management Agency , SEMA to provide relief materials for traders whose shops and properties were destroyed in the inferno.
The appeal was part recommendations of the Minority Leader of the Assembly, Hon Asimiyu Alarape on Tuesday while presenting a Matter of Urgent Public Importance on the need to reconstruct shops gutted by fire and provide relief to victims of fire incident at Sabo market, Oyo town.
The matter co-sponsored by the Minority Leader and Hon Kazeem Isiaka Tunde Oyo East/West further appealed to the State Governor to upgrade the market by providing modern lock-up shops, administrative blocks, Warehouses, cold room storage facilities, clinic, police post, toilets and potable water among other facilities.
They commended the State Governor for the reconstruction of Akesan market razed by fire on January 5,2020, provision of new fire trucks for the market, and the compensation granted to traders affected by the fire incident, and urged the Governor to extend the same gesture to Sabo market.
According to the Lawmakers, nthe Sabo market is among the major food markets in the town hence compensating the affected traders and reconstructing the market on time will help in assuaging the monumental loss experienced by the traders and putting the market back in full operation.
It was also resolved that necessary stakeholders should embark on more sensitization campaign on radio, television and other social media on ways of preventing fire outbreaks
The Deputy Speaker, Hon Fadeyi Muhammad called on members of the public to always take necessary precautions towards preventing fire outbreaks.
Hon Babajide Adebayo , Ibadan North 2 who acknowledged the various interventions of Governor Seyi Makinde on such incidents called the attention of the Governor to another fire incident at Oke Itunu market, Ibadan and urged the State Government to also come to the aid of the traders affected at the market.
In his submission, the Speaker,Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin harped on the need for residents to support the efforts of the State Government towards preventing fire outbreaks.
” Recall that four Operational vehicles were presented to the Oyo State Fire Service to aid the fight against fire outbreak. This is a further demonstration of the importance the Oyo State Government accord to matters and issues of safety of lives and properties of the citizenry. The State Fire Service now have trucks to work with courtesy of the present administration. The Governor just few days ago donated fire truck to Ibadan Airport. The issue of Sabo market is equally pathetic and I am sure our Government will do something about it” The Speaker said.
ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that Pastor Akinade Alamu, The Board Chairman, Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) is leading a delegation of TESCOM official on a monitoring team to secondary schools in oyo state, with a view to provide drive for the advancement of educational system in the state.
The Chairman affirmed this while addressing the press men in Oyo township, during the monitoring exercise to Durbar Grammar school, Oyo, Olivet Baptist High School Oyo, Ladigbolu Grammar school I & II, Army Children Secondary School and Ilora Baptist Grammar school 1, Oyo and others.
He added that the essence of the exercise is to monitor the schools, teachers, administration, behavior of students as well as to ensure effective and productive teaching-learning process.
While speaking on the report of the exercise, Pastor Alamu said the performance of the school principals were very encouraging, as well as the performance of the newly recruited teachers by the commission adding that they should continue to discharge the best input to the students.
He gave kudos to State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde for facelift idea to change the state educational sector.
“The state government has done the needful towards reducing the number of out-of-school children in the state cum reposition the state WAEC from 26th to 11th position. The quality of education they received really shows, today, the mindset of the students are positive, motivated, reinforced and encouraged.
He now advised the teachers to reciprocate more, the good intentions of the state government in transforming educational sector.
In his own speech, the board member and commissioner representing Oyo Zone of the commission, Hon. Jimoh Akeem Olalekan affirmed that the monitoring exercise comes up at the right time. Proper and effective monitoring process enhance the effectiveness of school administration.
He commended His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde (FNSE), as Oyo township greatly achieved from the road map accelerated development agenda, such as rehabilitation of Gedu-Oroki-Saabo-Ashipa road, face lift of Ultramodern Akesan Market, Renovation of Durbar stadium complex, Silo Project Awe-Oyo, Upgrading of Aafin Primary Health Care, the recent light up Oyo and various other Projects embarked upon in Oyo Federal Constituency.
Equally, the head of zone, Oyo zonal chapter of TESCOM, Mr. O. L Suulola, appreciated the Tescom board led by the commission chairman. He further admonished the teachers to continue discharge the best in them to promote the pace setter State educational sector.
Among the monitoring team were; Pastor Akinade Alamu, the Commission Chairman, Hon. Jimoh Akeem Olalekan, the Commission board member, Mr. Okanlawon (Director Planning and Research), Mr. Babalola (SAO Admin)-DDAGS
…says item should be delisted from Exclusive legislative list
…’ Oyo Govt ready to unlock potentials in Mineral resources,’ he says
Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday, called for a review of the exclusive legislative list of the Federal Government in the 1999 Constitution so as to delist the control of mineral resources from the list. The governor, who spoke during a courtesy visit on him by the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr, Uchechukwu Ogah as well as while attending the opening ceremony of the 56th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) in Ibadan, said that Oyo State was ready to partner with the Federal Government to develop the solid minerals sector in a bid to boost revenue generation.
While addressing participants of the annual conference, Makinde said that it was important that the control of mineral resources be delisted from the exclusive legislative list so as to help unlock the potentials of the sector for economic growth.
He said that the state would readily support the national aspiration on the mining sector‘s commitment to the development of the sector and informed the provision of two hectres of land for the international gemstone market in the Akinyele area of the state.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, explained the readiness of Makinde’s administration to join hands with the Federal Government to develop the international gemstone market located in Ibadan, the state capital.
He added that if mineral resources are well-harnessed, the country can potentially improve its revenue generation.
Makinde said: “Mineral development and exploration are currently placed on the exclusive list of the Nigerian Constitution.
This has retarded the development of the sector and eliminated direct state and local people’s participation.
“We know what this means in real terms: the state and the people have to wait to get a share of their natural resources instead of being the ones to share them.
“Well, the good news is that recently, Zamfara State was allowed to mine and own its gold deposits. It signals that it is time to again push for resource control for all states. As a matter of fact and urgency, here in Oyo State, we call for the delisting of the mineral resource ownership and development from the exclusive list.”
At the 56th annual conference of the society, held at the University of Ibadan International Conference Centre, Ibadan, where the governor was conferred with a Fellowship of the Society, Makinde said that the decision to host the conference falls within his government’s agenda to diversify the economy.
He said: “We are here to support the national aspirations and that is why when the Executive Chairman of the Oyo State Solid Mineral Development Agency, Biodun Oni, and the Honourable Minister came and said we should give land for the gemstone market, we urgently moved ahead to do that.
“So, we will work together to ensure that it is developed rapidly. “I must also mention that Ojoo (Ibadan) is probably where prices of most minerals are determined for Nigeria. It is an underground market but we want them to come into the open, trade freely and pay necessary taxes to the government.
“So, I will ask that the ministry should work with us to develop the market and we are ready to do everything possible to ensure it takes off as quickly as possible.” He added: “This administration is standing on four major pillars; education, security, health and expansion of our economy.
Hosting of the International Conference actually falls within the expansion and diversification of our economy, which also ties into the national aspiration of diversification of the economy.
“Oyo State is blessed. The diversification of our economy is also broken into three broad areas based on the comparative advantage that we have in Oyo State. We are looking at agriculture and agro-processing simply because Oyo State has a landmass of about 29,000square kilometres.
“The same thing with infrastructure. We are located 110km outside of Lagos. If you are going anywhere in the Northern part of the country and you have to go by road, you must pass through Oyo State. So, we are out there, and if our infrastructure targets our economy, we believe a lot of people will come, and we can utilize that to expand our economy.
“Also, we believe that if we have to move away from oil, solid mineral development is an area that should assist us to wean us from just waiting for oil money to come from Abuja.”
The governor maintained that the present administration in the state has provided a conducive environment for all the investors to thrive, saying the state has a framework that is designed to make our state a mining destination that is attractive to local and foreign investors.
“For the mining sector, we have a framework for the systematic development of our mineral potentials. It is designed to make our state a mining destination, attractive to local and foreign investors.
“Our people from the Pacesetter Mineral Development Company (PMDC) and the Oyo State Mineral Development Agency (OYSMIDA) are present here today. They are ready to talk to you about this framework but let me lead by saying we have three entry levels for investors.”
Governor Makinde explained that if the natural resources that are available in the state can be tapped, it will enhance the economy of the state.
Earlier, the Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Ogah, said he was in the state on a working visit to attend the 56th Annual International Conference of the Nigerian Society of Geoscientists and Exhibitions, held in Ibadan.
He said the courtesy visit was to greet the governor and share with him some worthwhile thoughts that impact positively on mutual interests of his (Makinde) government and the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.
Ogah tasked the Oyo State Government on the need for both governments to cherish and sustain mutually beneficial partnership on mining development.
He noted that Oyo State is richly endowed with different types of mineral resources in commercial quantity and grade in several locations across the state.
The minister, who appreciated the state government for the donation of two hectares of land for the gemstone market, pointed out that the development showed commitment to enhancing the development of the solid minerals sector and increase the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR of the state.
According to him, these minerals are being explored and exploited by different mining companies including precious stones such as tourmaline, aquamarine, Amethyst, agate, garnet, crystal quartz etc. He said: “Our primary goal is to use the industry as a springboard for the generation of well-paying jobs for our teeming unemployed youth population; creation of wealth and empowerment of our rural communities; enhancing government revenue-generating capacity; supply of mineral raw materials for industrial and economic development; and increasing foreign exchange earnings for the country,” he explained.
Similarly, while declaring the opening ceremony of the conference open, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the minister of state said his administration is committed to diversifying the nation’s economy away from dependence on oil and gas, using mining and agriculture sectors as viable options.
He added that his administration will continue to engage professional bodies in the development of Nigeria, adding that the centrality of the development of the mineral and energy sectors in the rejigging of the nation’s economy had necessitated the roll-out of a series of policy initiatives aimed at ensuring the economic growth of the country.
ODUDUWA NEWS has just gathered that some gunmen on Monday kidnapped two people at a quarry site in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
This report was confirmed to newsmen today by State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Gbenga Fadeyi.
According to the report, the gunmen stormed the quarry site located along Ijebu-Ode / Ibadan Road and kidnapped one Mr. Popoola Isaac, a staff of RCC and Mr. Ismail Adeoye, a staff of Polaris Bank. The incident was said to have occurred at Dalli Village (Binu Quarry), along Ibadan – Ijebu-Ode Road.
The PPRO while speaking to newsmen said his men had swung into action to ensure that the abductees regain their freedom as soon as possible.
In view of the importance of parking spaces in the cities, the Oyo State House of Assembly has urged the State Government to explore the possibility of using Public Private Partnership, PPP arrangement for the construction of parking lots in public places across the State.
The appeal was contained in a report presented by the House Committee on Investment Monitoring and State Economic Planning after interfacing with officials of Oyo State Investment and Public Private Partnership Agency on the provision of parking lots in public places on PPP initiative.
The report read by the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Hon Ademola Popoola Ibadan South East 2, appealed to the Oyo State Government to come up with an arrangement that will enable individuals and corporate bodies to invest in the construction of parking lots in public places in the State.
According to the report, lack of parking lots in most public places is responsible for the heavy traffic usually experienced in those areas.
It also recommended that the State House of Assembly should constitute a Joint Committee which will work with the Oyo State Investment and Public Private Partnership Agency and other relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies with a view to designing a plan of action on the provision of public parking lots through PPP.
The House after accepting the report, assured that further deliberations would be done on the recommendations.
Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Monday, donated an operational fire-truck to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), for the use of Ibadan Airport. The governor, who was represented at the brief handover event at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, by the Commissioner for Public Works, Infrastructure and Transport, Prof Daud Kehinde Sangodoyin, said the government decided to make the donation to enhance efficient service delivery and maximum security at the Ibadan Airport. While presenting the truck to the management of FAAN, the governor stated that the present administration in Oyo State is insistent on expanding the state’s economy through transport, adding that air transportation is an integral part of the transport system. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, further quoted the governor as saying that the vehicle presentation was a gesture by his administration to support the management of the FAAN in its bid to make the airport conducive for the passengers. He said: “We are happy to donate this fire-truck simply because we want to drive our economy through transport, and one of the modes of transportation is the air transport; and our wish is to make Ibadan Airport an international airport. “So, to do that, all the equipment that is necessary for the operations must be in place. We are happy to be partners in progress with the FAAN.” He admonished the airport authority to maintain the equipment because, according to him, there would be checks on its facilities almost every quarter. He said: “We also want to admonish the management to have a culture of maintaining all the equipment because almost every quarter, there will be a check within the airport for the airlines to be able to cope with the services. “I also want to state that they should not shy away from where they expect the government to assist them.” In her response, Airport Manager, Ibadan Airport, Mrs. Ayenuro Tega, on behalf of the management of the airport, appreciated the state government for the donation, which she said will enhance operations in the airport and its environs. “I am short of words; elated and grateful to the governor for this donation because it is a boost to FAAN and the country. Having this fire-truck will enhance operations in the airport. So, we are very grateful.” The presentation was witnessed by Oyo State government functionaries and management of FAAN.
Following the controversies and unsubstantiated information about the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from some quarters, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday reassured Lagosians that the vaccine is safe.
The Governor stated that he did not feel any side effects as claimed by some persons.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who received the AstraZeneca vaccine alongside his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, health practitioners, frontline workers and journalists, among others last Friday at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) Yaba, said he felt no symptom after taking the vaccine.
He said: “I didn’t feel any side effects after taking the shot”.
Speaking to journalists at the Lagos House, Ikeja on Monday, Governor Sanwo-Olu said there is nothing to worry about the vaccine. He therefore encouraged Lagosians, especially those on the frontlines to come forward and get vaccinated.
He said: “It has been three days since I was vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine and the deputy governor too has had his own shot. I can confirm to you that I felt no after effect at all. I didn’t have any headache, malaria or any symptom whatsoever. It was well received.
“Like I mentioned on Friday, I think all of the speculation that is going round is really unfounded. I have taken the vaccine and we have seen that Lagos has continued to vaccinate the frontline health workers. And so, let us use this medium again to inform our citizens well that the vaccines; the one we have, AstraZeneca, is safe and is of no negative consequence. And I for one do not have any. I have also asked around.
“So, there is nothing for us to get worried about. It is just to take it easy and let us encourage others that are on the frontlines to come forward and get vaccinated.”
Also speaking to journalists to corroborate Governor Sanwo-Olu’s position on the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine, Dr. Hamzat said he felt no symptom after he received the shot last Friday. “No symptom at all. Nothing,” he said.
It would be recalled that the first jab of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was administered in Lagos State last week. Prof. Abayomi kicked off the vaccine rollout programme after he got the first jab of the serum supplied by the Federal Government.
