The administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is set to take another step in actualizing its vision for a Greater Lagos by replacing all streetlights in the State with smart LED lighting. The Streetlight Retrofit Project was unanimously approved by the Lagos State Executive Council in furtherance of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of the administration.
Making Lagos State a 21st Century Economy by leveraging private sector partnerships to accelerate infrastructure interventions is one of the key initiatives promoted in the agenda.
The Lagos State Government (represented by the Honorable Commissioner for Energy & Mineral Resources – Engr. Olalere Odusote) on the 31st of December 2020, executed a Streetlight Infrastructure Agreement with LEDCO Limited for the retrofit of existing conventional High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) streetlight installations across the State to Smart Light Emitting Diode (“Smart LED”) lights (the “Streetlight Retrofit Project”).
One of the features of the LED lighting system is the use of significantly lower energy to produce the same amount of luminosity. In the pilot phase of the project, it was determined that LED lighting resulted in a reduction of up to 60% of the operations and maintenance costs of streetlight infrastructure.
A smart LED streetlight system is one of the enabling technologies for a Smart City; the intelligent nature of this street lighting system enables remote management of streetlight assets ensuring enhanced performance management (fewer breakdown complaints and shorter repair times).
As Lagos State evolves to a Smart City, the utilization of smart and energy efficient streetlights is vital in ensuring improved Government service delivery in areas of security of lives and property of Lagosians and environmental sustainability (reduction in Co2 emissions from reduced energy consumption of energy efficient luminaires) whilst also improving socio-economic activities in the State by enabling a functional 24-hour economy.
This Streetlight Retrofit Project underpins the Lagos State Government’s commitment to ensure full public lighting coverage across the State. The expected cost savings from the proposed retrofit in the medium to long term will be further utilized for the expansion of streetlight network across Lagos towards achieving full lighting coverage for all Class A and B roads as well as designated public spaces.
LEDCo Limited is a Private Limited Liability Company duly incorporated under the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, formed by Low Energy Designs, UK, a leading Smart LED lights manufacturing and installation company with over 12 years of experience as a pioneer manufacturer of LED lighting in Europe and extensive LED engineering experience in the delivery of LED lighting across the world.
Full implementation of the Streetlight Retrofit Project is expected to span six (6) months with estimated project completion timeline of June 2021. The project will be implemented under the close supervision and management of the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources, through the Lagos State Electricity Board.
Present at the signing event were the Honourable Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources, Mr. Olalere Odusote; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice; General Manager, Lagos State Electricity Board; Chief Executive Officer, LEDCO Limited; Africa Business Development Manager, LEDUK as well as other representatives from the Lagos State Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources and Lagos State Electricity Board.
A group of concerned citizens within the All Progressives Congress in Oyo state, The Pacesetters Initiative (TPI), has cried out over alleged collapse of security in the State since Governor Seyi Makinde took over the baton of governance from late Senator Abiola Ajimobi in May, 2019.
Unofficial sources have it that Oyo state has, in recent times, emerged the most troubled state in the Southern part of the country in relation to the astronomical rise in the cases of armed banditry, kidnapping, hoodlum attacks, murder, extra judicial killings, gang wars among others as reported on daily basis across the zones of Ibadan, Ibarapa, Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso and Oyo.
In a statement issued at the weekend and made available to journalists in Ibadan by Hon. Afeez Bolaji Repete and Olawale Sadare, the Group’s Coordinator and acting Director of Organization respectively, TPI blamed the spate of insecurity in Oyo state on “Gov. Makinde’s alleged incompetence, inexperience and grandstanding. “We have watched with dismay how the current PDP administration has failed in the all-important task of securing the lives and property of the people. Things took a frightening dimension from the first day when Gov. Makinde did not mince words to indicate his desire to set aside all the fantastic programmes of his predecessor, as it included proper handling of security, for no just reasons other than politics. “In actual fact, insecurity did not creep into Oyo state naturally as it took its roots from Gov. Makinde’s failure to study the system he inherited with a view to improving on it. He neither deemed it necessary to mobilize support from relevant stakeholders nor read a riot act to criminal elements not to heave a sigh of relief as Sen. Ajimobi had left the saddle. The new governor did not only wait until criminal elements were able to regroup and regain confidence to continue their nefarious activities, he overtly and covertly encouraged hoodlums who he treats as friends of his administration. “As a result of this; residents of Ibadan are now under the palpable fear of hoodlum attacks, armed robbery, extra judicial killings, brigandage and other organized crimes even as people in Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa and Ogbomoso battle banditry and killings in the hands of rampaging herdsmen and insurgents. People of Oyo town can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed due to regular gang or cult clashes. As if this was not enough, disorderliness has taken over the public space such that street trading, suffocating road traffic and public indiscipline are now the order of the day particularly in Ibadan, the state capital. “However, as much as some uninformed persons might want to blame the Federal Government for the spate of insecurity in Oyo state, we would challenge them to ask Gov. Makinde whether he has ever been denied his own share of the monthly stupendous security votes being paid to each of the Governors in all the 36 states of the Federation. Another pertinent question here is whether President Muhammadu Buhari had ever stopped him from working together with the Police, Army, NSCDC and other security agencies in the state to sustain or improve upon the achievement of his predecessor especially in the area of security. “To this end, it is imperative for the Governor to mend fences with all security agencies who might have been disappointed by his actions and inactions which encouraged hoodlums to hijack the last ‘EndSARS’ protests in the State as lives of some law enforcement agents, equipment and facilities were avoidably lost. In conclusion, the state government should be advised not to see its Amotekun outfit, populated by PDP members, as an alternative to the regular law enforcement agencies otherwise, the danger ahead would be unimaginable.” TPI stated.
The Honorable who represented Ibadan North West State Constituency under the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in 2003 to 2007, who is currently the Special Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde, Hon. Olufemi Josiah gave an account of what transpired between them and their boss, whom they supported putting their lives on the run.
Hon. Olufemi in chapter 13 of his book, titled: A Walk On The Razor Edge, a yet to be published book, where he narrated the ordeal of the State Honourables who were against what many classified as an unlawful Impeachment of High Chief Adewolu Ladoja in 2006.
The Honourable accused the former Governor of been selfish, self centered, and concerned less about the growth of his followers.
It reads in part: “Ladoja was not ready to challenge the power of PDP and Baba Adedibu in the state, he was always looking for the path of least resistance. With that mindset, how can growth happen? As a result of Ladoja’s self-centeredness and fearful mindset, we lost two party tickets; PDP and AC. Honourable Deolu told us about a meeting which Obasanjo had with Ladoja and Adedibu, which confirmed my earlier assertion. It seemed that Obasanjo wanted to redeem himself and see if he could help Ladoja get the PDP governorship ticket. Although the PDP primary had been held weeks before and Akala had won, Obasanjo could have disqualified the primary. Then, leaders were more powerful and important than party decisions. However, Baba Adedibu refused and said Ladoja should be appeased in another way but he couldn’t get the governorship ticket. They decided to cut Ladoja a deal; he would nominate the deputy governor and they would also allow us to contest again for the state house of assembly on the PDP platform.
This was a fairly good arrangement, since we have suffered for him, fought for him, even had our lives threatened for his cause, we felt he could have nominated one for us for deputy and allowed the rest to contest for the state house, but Ladoja refused both offers. Because he couldn’t get his governorship ticket, he decided that we too won’t get anything. This was an ambitious leader who cared less about the political fortune of his followers”
The Honourable also explained how the re-installment of their former boss was also frustrated by the power that be.
Read full Chapter below.
A WALK ON THE RAZOR EDGE.
Chapter 13 On the path to success, support is usually minimal, because many people do no not believe in your dreams or even if they do, they are busy chasing their own goals to care much about yours. However when you attain your goal and success comes, the amount of congratulations and claps at the back is staggering and overwhelming, because now that people have seen that your plan works, they would want to associate with you. Success indeed loves company.
That was exactly our story as we came back from Cotonou after the supreme Court affirmed Ladoja’s win at the court. When we got to Imeko around Seme border, our phones started to pick back the Nigerian network signals since we were back on Nigerian soil. Immediately my phone became reachable, I started receiving congratulatory messages from people in Oyo state. Calls also started entering; I received more than thirty phone calls. People were greeting us, praying and celebrating with us, and I wasn’t the only one. My other colleagues were also experiencing an inflow of congratulatory messages. That was a gracious moment for us. It was one of the highlights of my political career. As young people, we took a risk to return the governor, ensure democracy rules the day. Few people believed in us because what we tried to achieve had no precedence in the history of Nigeria. But we finally achieved it against all odds and threats.
We had a merry making night when we arrived in Lagos that night. By the next morning, we were at Lagos toll gate, waiting for Ladoja, so that we can drive in convoy into Oyo state. The Supreme Court had given a order to Ladoja to return to Ibadan the next day and claim his rightful seat, and we needed security. Although it was a supreme court order, we heard that the forces of Adedibu and Akala were looking for alternatives to make sure they do not hand over power. After the supreme Court victory, their thugs and supporters carried out riots and protests just like they did during the court of appeal victory. Based on the account of our lawyers, who were in Ibadan for the court of appeal verdict, getting out of Ibadan was a miracle for them. Adedibu’s thugs went on rampage looking for them. In order to stall the implementation of the supreme court judgement, they summoned the services of an high court judge whose act was a slap on the Nigerian fundamental constitution and the judiciary- Judge Iyabo Yerima. Because she had the backing of the presidency and some politicians, she allowed herself to be used. She asked the lawyer to come and present an application for interlocutory injunction stopping the police from enforcing the supreme Court judgement. However, their efforts were futile, as Ladoja’s victory was like a moving train, that they could not stop.
Although majority of PDP leaders at the national level were against Ladoja like Bode George, Amodu Alli, Teslim Folarin and the President himself, there was nothing much Obasanjo could do anymore. The international community and opposition were watching him keenly to see his next move and he reluctantly permitted that Ladoja should be reinstated. The security we had on the day we were scheduled to move was provided by one AIG Alapinni coupled with the DSS operatives. He led Ladoja from Lagos in a convoy, to enforce the judgement. Although there had been several resistances in the morning, when we got to Ibadan in the evening, the DSS had already cleared the miscreants.
Ladoja had a triumphant entry into Ibadan. I can never forget that day. The only person who has had that kind of reception in the city of Ibadan was Awolowo. I was young then, in 1979, when he came to campaign. People came in their thousands and waited for him on the road side, that was the kind of welcome Ladoja received. However, it seems that day we came to the climax and peak of our positive relationship with Ladoja because immediately he took over power, he started making mistakes again. Our relationship also started taking a turn for the worse. On his return to Ibadan, Yekini Adeojo was one of the people that received Ladoja. Although he had been part of his impeachment, he switched sides when baba Adedibu betrayed him. In politics, there is no permanent friend and no permanent enemy.. isn’t that how the saying goes?
Yekini Adeojo’s ambition for governor had not died with the last election held. He had thought he would get the PDP governorship ticket to contest in 2007 but Adedibu supported Akala against him. By the time we got back to Ibadan, several important events had happened politically. It was 6 months to the end of Ladoja’s tenure- although he went to court to request for the lost year, he was told that his deputy already ruled in his stead, since the governor and deputy shares the same ticket. PDP had had their primary and also Akala had emerged as the party’s governorship candidate. When we were in Lagos, we thought Ladoja was in talks with Tinubu, and he actually did. We thought when we got back to Ibadan, we would automatically switch to the new Action Congress, transformed from AD. We also believed that Lam Adeshina AD structure will join with Ladoja structure and create a powerful AC that would win elections and debase the rule of PDP and Baba Adedibu’s grip on Oyo state politics
However, to the surprise and chagrin of I and my colleagues, Ladoja started going towards PDP and PDP’s ticket. It was that point we started having issues with him. At that time, we had a political destiny together and I felt it would be difficult to leave a leader you have braved the odds together and achieved. However, I was wrong, I should have left him when he chose that path. I consider my loyalty to him and stay in his political network after the impeachment saga a mistake.
Ladoja was not ready to challenge the power of PDP and Baba Adedibu in the state, he was always looking for the path of least resistance. With that mindset, how can growth happen? As a result of Ladoja’s self-centeredness and fearful mindset, we lost two party tickets; PDP and AC. Honourable Deolu told us about a meeting which Obasanjo had with Ladoja and Adedibu, which confirmed my earlier assertion. It seemed that Obasanjo wanted to redeem himself and see if he could help Ladoja get the PDP governorship ticket. Although the PDP primary had been held weeks before and Akala had won, Obasanjo could have disqualified the primary. Then, leaders were more powerful and important than party decisions. However, Baba Adedibu refused and said Ladoja should be appeased in another way but he couldn’t get the governorship ticket. They decided to cut Ladoja a deal; he would nominate the deputy governor and they would also allow us to contest again for the state house of assembly on the PDP platform. This was a fairly good arrangement, since we have suffered for him, fought for him, even had our lives threatened for his cause, we felt he could have nominated one for us for deputy and allowed the rest to contest for the state house, but Ladoja refused both offers. Because he couldn’t get his governorship ticket, he decided that we too won’t get anything. This was an ambitious leader who cared less about the political fortune of his followers. The AC ticket was also there on the platform of gold for him. Although the governorship ticket had been picked by Alhaji Oyedeji Alidodo, but we all knew he was a dummy candidate. Ladoja could have gotten the ticket anytime he wished and given us the opportunity to contest for the state house on the platform of the AC too but he was too afraid of Obasanjo to use the AC ticket and we lost out on that chance too. However, at that moment, we still stuck with him. Funny enough, when we got back to Ibadan, even after the supreme Court judgement, the Adedibu pro honorables still tried to impeach the governor again, even when his rule remained only six months!
They brought their thugs and supporters to the State Assembly and occupied it for days. They sang songs and even cooked food at the state assembly building. We couldn’t access the house, so we had to start using the government house for our proceedings. We also passed the 2007 budget at the Government house.
However, after some time, the pro Adedibu honorables got off Ladoja’s case. This is because they became busy. Almost all of them had gotten a rerun ticket and they were busy campaigning for the 2007 election. They and their supporters later left the house for us. To “compensate” us for being loyal to him blindly, Ladoja decided to give us each an opportunity to appoint the caretaker chairman of our respective local government for two months. Ladoja demanded register from INEC but he was not given in time. Before the time he received it, the tenure of the chairmen had expired. So we had two months to choose a caretaker chairman before the local government elections which happened to be in the same period with the general elections. However with the experiences we faced with Ladoja, some of the leaders in his camp were still against us, especially the Sarafa Alli camp. They felt Ladoja had no business giving us the chance to appoint local government chairman caretakers. “After all didn’t he take care of us in Lagos?” They said but they forgot we risked our own ambitions to bring him back. They started plotting against us and wanted to be the camp that installed the chairmen. Through their allies, they were able to get the House of Reps to give an order which stated that the Oyo state honorables must sit as one or the house of reps would take control. They knew that if that happens, we won’t able to sit over and affirm the names of chairmen the governor sent. Then the offer of installing our own candidates would be lost to the Sarafa Alli camp. We and the Sarafa Alli people were counting days to the implementation of the house of reps order. About three or four days to when the order would have effect, I and my colleagues decided to reach out to the Adedibu honorables. We needed to recoup our own efforts from the Ladoja struggle and we knew once the national assembly takes over the house, it would be very difficult for us to do so. Although we had chosen different sides and strategize against each other in the past, some of them still remained our friends and we were able to get the assurance of other honorables. It was not a fight between Ladoja and Baba Adedibu anymore. We saw our individual interests being threatened and we decided to come back together. On a day before the house of reps order will become effective, we were able to have a meeting together in the presence of newsmen; about twenty-six of us. The House of Representatives order became null and void.
That would be the last time and only sitting we would have together since August 2005, we were also able to ratify the names of the caretaker chairmen we had nominated. It was a win for us and a loss to the Sarafa Alli camp. The day after the house of reps order became invalid, I met and supported engineer Seyi Makinde as a senator on the platform of ANPP. That would not be the first time I would be meeting him. I had a first meeting with him on December 2006, based on invitation by Muyiwa Olaniyan. Then, they were next door neighbors. We met at his sitting room at Idi- ape, Oluwokekere’s axis before he moved to his present house. He told me his ambition, and said he was interested in farming too. At that time, I didn’t know I was talking to a rich man. I liked his person instantly and promised to support him. I later learnt that he was a member of the Fortune group. The group consists of members of Oyo state indigene from different parts of the state. Muyiwa Olaniyan, Late Hon Kehinde Ayoola,Femi Babalola Jogor, Muyideen Ladoja were also members of the group. Their meetings was held at Fortune Chinese restaurant from which I think the group got its name. At that time, the group was called Ladoja’s fortune group because the members supported Ladoja. We became friendly afterwards and during his campaign for the Senate post, I led him into our camp. I introduced him to Chief Odubiyi, where he also met other leaders and supporters in the company of Wasiu Adeleke, I also took Seyi Makinde to my supporters at Igbejo in Oganlas Compound. By that time, I was the most important factor and decision maker in Ibadan North West. I was the honourable representing the local government at the house and my PA cum the manager of my political group was the caretaker chairman. However, Seyi Makinde lost the election against Adedibu’s son Kamoru. Looking back, I believed he was rigged out. Although he challenged the election in court, efforts to reclaim his lost mandate was almost impossible. Only few judges have the guts to rise above the political force of Obasanjo and Adedibu then. This just goes to show that Seyi Makinde had a humble beginning politically, he has had a dogged and rugged ambition for over 16 years before he achieved what he is today. If he had given up, he probably won’t be where he is today. The National Assembly election was held on a Saturday. The day after, Chief Odubiyi called me to his house, and I went in the presence of Fatai Adetunji- My PA and the local government Chairman caretaker.
When we got to his house, chief told me he wanted to demand something from me, and I responded that I would give it to him if it’s in my power and possession to do so. Chief Odubiyi told me “Josiah, I want you to contest for the Ibadan North West Chairmanship.”
The Amotekun Corps have said they had dislodged two sets of herdsmen from the Opara Forest Reserve and the Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme Forest.
Amotekun said it carried out the operation successfully with the collaboration with hunters.
The Chairman of Amotekun Corps, Gen. Kunle Togun (retd), on Saturday, in a statement by the Information Officer of Amotekun in Oyo State, Mrs Ayolola Adedoja, said the herdsmen, who stormed the state, claimed they were invited by some traditional rulers.
Togun commended the hunter group led by one Prophet Ojuawo for the assistance of his group, while soliciting more support from the people of the state to make the corps more effective.
The Amotekun boss added that the security outfit was open to criticism, noting that such criticism should not be to discourage the corps from its duty of protecting lives and property in the state.
He said, “On December 24, some herdsmen were seen at the Opara Forest Reserve in the Oke Ogun area of Oyo State. The attention of the chairman of the Amotekun corps was called to it and the Amotekun corps swung into action.
“They were able to flush the herdsmen out of the forest reserve around 2am. The Amotekun corps, with the assistance of one Prophet Ojoawo, who is the head of the hunters in the state, with 40 hunters drove out the herdsmen out of the forest reserve and they were escorted out of Saki West to the Orelope Local Government Area of Oyo State.
“The herdsmen were handed over to the Amotekun corps members at Orelope who also led them out of their territory and handed them to their members at Olorunsogo in Igbeti area. The Amotekun corps at Igbeti made sure they were escorted out of the Oyo State boundary.”
Togun noted that the herdsmen were interrogated and said one baale from the axis invited them to the state and we said they were able to produce a letter of invitation by the village head.
He however charged all stakeholders to be security conscious and to support Amotekun Corps in the discharge of its duties and responsibilities.
Topic: Irregularities within the Nigeria Educational Sector – The Way Out
A Lecture delivered by Com. Oke Wasiu Ayinde (Pattern), Former Federation of Oyo State Student Union (FOSSU) National Senate President, at the 2020 Symposium and Award Presentation of National Association of Lanlate Students ((NALS) Held at Nitel Club House Lanlate Ibarapa East L. G Oyo State today, 1st January, 2021
All Protocols are duly Observed
INTRODUCTION
Education, according to Wikipedia, is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits. It also includes the process of developing the powers of reasoning and judgment to prepare oneself or others intellectually for mature life. In fact, the level of development of any nation is usually measured according to its level of education.
Despite the huge potentials of the sector, especially, in aspects of national development, it seems so neglected in Nigeria. Apart from COVID-19, there are other pandemics that continually plague the educational sector of Nigerian schools. These, just as the current global pandemic, are also deadly, considering the long-term effect they have on the students after graduation.
Have you ever wondered why students from Africa, especially Nigeria, migrate to other parts of the world in search of quality education? Or the reason behind the excellent performance of students when they are outside of this part of the world as against their poor performance when they are here?
What distinguishes a nation with quality education from those with disadvantageous educational system is how much the former is able to utilize its students and bring out the best in them. Talk of Nigeria educational system – from the primary level to secondary level and tertiary level – and issues like decline in standard, deterioration of facilities, poor remuneration, examination malpractices, industrial action (that is, strike), among others would be discussed alongside. In fact, the problems cannot be exhausted within a single lecture. These problems are so ingrained in the system that subsequent administrations keep on inheriting them.
This lecture does not only attempt to dissect the irregularities that have plagued the educational sector of Nigeria but also proffers workable solutions to the myriads of challenges. This is to avoid a total collapse of the sector in the coming years.
What are the irregularities?
To avoid an overly long lecture, I will try as much as possible to be brief in discussing the challenges. Besides, these problems are not newly-created ones; they have been in existence for some decades.
The national budget for education has remained abysmally poor over the years; it still struggles to find its feet on 15% as against the 26% recommended by the United Nations. This has led to the rising cost of education at all levels , with exception to a few states that still provide free education at primary and secondary levels, This lack of inadequate funding has birthed other problems, including poor remuneration of teachers, lack or inadequate facilities or infrastructure, among others. Even the little money earmarked for the sector eventually get diverted and embezzled by both public and civil servants.
In terms of infrastructure, many schools still suffer from its deficit. In some primary and secondary schools, for instance, pupils have to study under trees; in others, classrooms are often without roofs or desks to write on. Sometimes, students have to compete with nature (rain or sun) for a space in their classrooms. Some schools do not even have teachers to teach the students.
Tertiary institutions are not also left out in the challenge. Many of them lack lecture theatres or classrooms that can freely accommodate their respective students. Some lecture rooms are usually jampacked with students such that they are inconducive for its occupants. How can learning be effective in such an atmosphere? Apart from this, only a few schools have hostels. Even the available hostels are overcrowded. This is as a result of the inability of the sector to accommodate the rising population demands.
The Nigeria educational sector now extols the virtue of indiscipline as it is characterized by malpractices of various kinds and magnitude. Think of surcharges and examination malpractices. Students are being surcharged in a number of ways in tertiary institutions either in the name of dues that are not accounted for, forceful purchase of reading and other learning materials at exorbitant rate, among others. This is totally unacceptable.
In some schools, examination malpractices have been elevated to standard practice. The few ones that still uphold their moral standards are regarded as outcasts by their corrupt peers. Parents are not excluded from the equation; they are now widely encouraged to pay bribes to teachers to assist their children and wards during examinations. Even invigilators are often in direct collusion with these practices.
It has become a norm for teachers in Nigerian schools to be owed months and backlogs of salary and other arrears. This has led to a series of industrial action by teachers’ unions over the years, which in turn has crippled the educational sector over the years. It is unfortunate that some institutions are far behind schedule in academic activities.
The Nigerian educational sector has had to deal with the problem of outdated curriculum for decades now. From the primary to university levels, students are taught from curriculums that has no bearing with models in the 21st century, meaning that most Nigerian graduates are learning things that have no place in the modern world. Some countries have integrated artificial intelligence into their secondary schools’ curriculum. When will Nigeria get to this state?
The Way Out
The educational system has so much been infested with corruption scourge that it will take a concerted effort by all stakeholders in the sector to effect a meaningful change. In this case, the government, parents, teachers, and students are key players in restoring sanity and lost glory back to the educational sector.
Government
A government that is serious about producing highly-educated individuals that will become useful members of the society in the 21st century must adequately fund the sector and put safeguards in place to stem the wave of massive corruption that has obstructed the growth of the sector in recent years.
Schools should be provided with basic equipment that will facilitate effective learning. Such facilities include well-equipped laboratories for practical classes, well-equipped libraries, conducive lecture rooms, among other training facilities. It should also ensure that the welfare packages of its teachers are encouraging. This will serve as a motivation for them to discharge their duties effectively.
For the Nigerian student to function effectively in the midst of their peers from other countries, the nation’s curriculum also has to be overhauled and modernized to flow with the tide of evolving technology. In addition, curriculum should not be irrationally changed by successive administrations, especially based on certain policies. Only a relatively stable curriculum that is in tandem with the modern needs can provide teachers, students, and administrators with a measurable plan and structure for delivering quality education. Training programmes should be made available and compulsory for all teachers to keep them up to date with teaching methods and societal needs
Parents
Parents are meant to provide the basic needs needed to meet the challenges of life. They should be able to show enough care and support to their children and wards.
Teachers
Teachers should avoid being used as tools for examination malpractices. They should also employ quality teaching aids and up-to-date materials in teaching their students.
Students
As students, we also need to strive to become independent and useful members of the society. This is only possible with dedication and diligence.
Other bodies
Private and corporate organisations, non-governmental organisations, and individuals should as a matter of due responsibility encourage and finance research programmes, inventions, and mass production of invented products as a way of discouraging prospective students from indulging in any form of academic irregularities. They should also help to ensure adequate infrastructural facilities and tools are made available in schools.
Together we can take the Nigeria educational sector to a height where it develops and improve human capacity development of its citizens, thus helping them to attain sustainable livelihood as well as continue making exploits across the globe.
Tunde Thomas (alias Tunde Gentle), 45, died about two weeks ago from heartbreak. The two kids from his marriage were discovered to have been fathered by the current MD of FCMB, Adam Nuru who was his wife’s boss.
Moyo Thomas is Tunde’s wife. She was reportedly engaged in an office romance with her boss, her managing Director of the bank. Many of the members of the staff knew about the affairs.
The managing director of the Bank, Adam Nuhu is happily married. He got carried about with adultery. He was having an affair with his staff even though he was aware of her marital status.
Tunde was a gentleman. He was so caring and took care of the Kids. He spent all his resources on these kids. He took them to London and Dubai on holidays. He also spared no penny in putting the kids in the best schools.
When the older child was about eight years old, Moyo suddenly resigned from FCMB and travelled to the US with the two children as planned by her boss on holiday
It was when the school session started in Nigeria and the children were not returned that Tunde started asking questions and the lady finally summoned the shameless courage to tell him the children were not his own.
This shameful lady went to extent of filing asylum in the US on the ground of marital violence in Nigeria. Her aim was to get the Green Card and also get Tunde barred from entering the US, so she would not be able to look him in the eye and tell him the bitter truth.
After Tunde received the sad news first in 2017, He reportedly suffered stroke. He later recovered from the stroke but he was not okay again. He cried a lot.
As he got over the illness, Tunde was said to have tried to pick up the pieces of his life. He reportedly started another relationship with a lady lawyer. Soon, he invited some friends to accompany him to visit the lady’s parents on 26th December. However, the visit was not to be. Tunde was said to have got home from work in the night of 15th December 2020 and collapsed at his residence’s staircase. He died instantly.
Autopsy report puts the cause of his death as ‘heart failure’ .
Tunde Gentle, a former staff of the defunct Oceanic Bank, was buried on Wednesday, 30th of December 2020.
INTERVIEWEE: My name is Dare Iyilade and I am an entrepreneur, our clans are people who try to engineer business opportunities out of everything they see. But I concentrate more on the tech aspect. Those called the Techprenuer which is actually a subset of entrepreneurs.
Techprenuers make good use of technology and convert opportunities found in it into a successful commercial reality.
As a Techpreneur, we try to leverage the day to day technology or sometimes high-end technology to create opportunities and make profit. Its so broad and can be broken into different forms.
INTERVIEWER: What is PROJECT INSIGHT all about?
INTERVIEWEE: Well, project Insight came to existence based on a revelation conceived sometime in October.
When you look around, you will see that opportunities are not universal even though there are many creatives all across the globe and all try to demonstrate their ingenuity in ways made available to them. Which sometimes is limiting.
So, this and many other factors made it possible to come together with like minds who are members of Project Insight and contributors in all forms.
So, Project insight was birthed to create broadened scope and enhanced vision, and opportunities to passionate minds in the country who have not been able to harness these available opportunities.
Without the ability to see visions, dreams cannot exist. Also, exposure deficiency betrays purpose.
Project insight is bringing experiential knowledge to people for the birthing of interests in fields that have been made unattractive due to lack of genuine and accessible information.
Through this project, we want light to be shed to the hearts of many people, everyone, but our target are the young ones. We believe everyone should have access to things, the exposure they need so they can follow where their heart leads.
INTERVIEWER: Can you tell us the motive behind PROJECT INSIGHT?
INTERVIEWEE: Like revealed previously, we just want insight & applicable knowledge to touch all the people, especially the ones who could be genius when their interest in these things peak.
The world only shower encomium on the genius they know, but all over the world there are geniuses that are at the crude state. Infact, every person could be a genius if they get exposed early & love something enough to explore everything in such field.
We want to plant some seeds and we believe that it will land on good grounds of the heart of several individuals that yearn for exposure and practicable knowledge and insight.
INTERVIEWER: Tell us its significance
INTERVIEWEE: The significance of project insight is that there’s no better time than now that our world is in dire need of many creative minds. As we proffer solutions to long term existing problems, other problems are surging. And we can not rely on just those people who are well situated & have all they need need at their reach to solve these problems because passion doesn’t often come from there. And without passion and will to solve a problem, the problem will tarry.
People who know they are deprived of something hold it with all their lives when they get access to these things. That is why some of the best inventors and business moguls in this world are people who have a rough start and when opportunity present itself they grab it with all their might. And today, people know their names and appreciate their inventions.
INTERVIEWER: What do you think are the factors that lead to high rate of unemployment?
INTERVIEWEE: This one is very broad, but I’ll just talk based on what I’ve seen and my own personal experience.
Truth is, our system of education is outdated. Solving problem requires new discoveries, no one solves a new problem with an old technology.
The school curriculums are rarely updated and the ones that do not work again are not thrown out and replaced. This makes it difficult to come up with discoveries & solutions.
Lets take this for example, The engineering firms in Nigeria do not have the required space to accommodate every engineering graduate from every school in Nigeria, according to statistics, only One out of a thousand graduate of engineering in Nigeria, will be employed by any engineering company at all. So what are the rest doing? Barely surviving. All these are because of what our brilliant minds are filled with. Old stuffs that cannot solve problems in the community.
Not to even go into government policies and lack of creative minds at the top. Truth is, if we have critical evaluators at the top, we should already start providing structural set up to address these problems because if it gets too late, they can become irreversible.
INTERVIEWER: What do you think could be the way forward to combat increasing unemployment rate?
INTERVIEWEE: Everyone should go the way of self-taught. This is why many people are doing well today. They indulge in self discipline, threw away things that cannot benefit them, even though they had good grades in school. They do away with it and reschool themselves.
Skill attainment. Several skills are attainable in a short space of time. Thanks to the Internet and YouTube. You can learn anything and become an expert with max 10,000 hours of learning and doing simultaneously. But another issue is, the discipline aspect. Many things call for our attention, especially entertainment. Anyone who can deprive themselves of entertainment, and learn one skill per time. They will be self-dependent and job Creators in this situation where everyone is depending on government.
INTERVIEWER: Tell us something about the enterpreneurial skills?
INTERVIEWEE: Yeah, like we said with our vision for the project, to illuminate minds and impact knowledge. We also believe that there are some great minds who are already doing excellently well and have ticked a lot of boxes when it comes to diligently concentrating on something but lack support and funding. So, a conglomerate of entrepreneurs are putting a SUM of 500,000 naira on ground to find people who are worthy of this cash to support what they are already doing that has a long term vision.
INTERVIEWER: Who are those that will benefit from it?
INTERVIEWEE: Anyone who have a great, feasible and marketable idea. Because, we do not want to support something that do not have market value on the long run.
People whose ideas are certainly viable when thoroughly evaluated by the board of project insight.
INTERVIEWER: You talk about raising 500k seed capital, can you tell us more about it?
INTERVIEWEE: Team insight and a conglomerate of entrepreneurs are putting this seed together to assist and foot the best person with a viable business idea.
It might not necessarily be won by a person, for example, we already have two people with awesome business ideas, so, they’ll come down during the program to tell us more about their business ideas and to defend why they should be considered.
INTERVIEWER: Do you intend to monitor what the beneficiaries will use the grant for?
INTERVIEWEE: Yes, we have professionals on ground, a barrister with whom we’ll make available documents. So these beneficiaries can do well with this support fund. They’ll be monitored, so they don’t spend the money on self gratification.
INTERVIEWER: How sustainable PROJECT INSIGHT is?
INTERVIEWEE: Well, we believe that any project that has people vision has the potential to last long. This is not a project to glorify any individual, it’s a revelation conceived and supported by many great minds within the cabinet and even outside.
So, we believe it will unfold into several ways.
INTERVIEWER: What is your vision after the programme?
INTERVIEWEE: To see people do well, not just with what they have learnt. But to even ignite their passion to go after the things they have had in mind to learn or do.
Moreso to be courageous to attempt things, Because when they get seen, you never can tell who will give support. This is a major challenge to many initiatives out there, people are scared to start because they feel there’s no support.
Nothing must be started with support in mind, if your ideas are genuine, push it out there and be sure to have vast knowledge about it. The support will come.
So, we want to impart practicable knowledge into people and we hope they will not just run with it, but they will also be able to create new path for themselves and people around them through this knowledge and exposure.
The government of Oyo State has clarified as Fake News, a report circulated online by Mega Icon News and Sahara Reporters, which indicated that the office of the Secretary to the State Government was burgled last week.
The government equally insisted that newsmen must always seek clarifications from requisite authorities to avoid the allure of Fake News.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, stated on Saturday that there was no iota of truth to the claim in the story.
Checks with all arms of security at the secretariat confirmed that the story was fake, unfounded and indeed an outright lie, the statement said.
“Indeed, the original publisher of the story, Mega Icon, was so mischievous that he didn’t crosscheck the purported story with any government official. He only added a line debunking the story after an official of the SSG had questioned the veracity of the fake report.
“He had claimed to an official of the government that he had to publish the fake news because he was once shunned by officials of the Ministry of Agriculture.
“Surprisingly, Sahara Reporters lapped up the Fake News, an indication that the integrity of the media houses is at stake.
“The story not only failed the simplest tests that news men worth their onion subject news stories to, it raised all the red flags of Fake News, as it claimed that no arrest had been made without stating which police station the alleged burglary was reported to and by whom.
“The Fake News had also gone ahead to state that imaginary valuables were carted away without stating what and what was stolen. Sadly, the purveyors of the Fake News have also let down their readers by not being able to provide further details days after publishing the initial lie.”
The government warned media men to always ensure professionalism in the discharge of their duties, stating that responsible and ethical journalism espouses truth and the sanctity of facts above fiction.
It added that anyone who deliberately publicises fake and concocted stories would be made to face the wrath of the law, as there are constitutional stipulations that guide against publication of falsehood.
“We find it appalling that a media house worth its name would publish a story that has no basis and is not in any way close to reality.
“In fact, we can no longer doubt the fact that the purveyors of this Fake News are out to blackmail the government in an attempt to rubbish the initiatives of the administration in the security sector.
“We want to, however, state categorically that the state will ensure no offender goes unpunished, as there are constitutional provisions against the publication of falsehood by the press despite the fundamental freedom of expression, because the administration can no longer condone the excesses of the Fake News carriers.”
Mr Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of Lagos State Assembly has vowed that the All Progressives Congress APC will do its best to ensure that Lagosians enjoy dividends of democracy.
According to a statement titled ‘We’ll Sustain Growth, Unity in Lagos APC – Obasa,’ the speaker made the promise when he received the APC Women in Barracks (Lagos West branch) who paid him an end-of-year visit.
The women, led by Mrs. V. Ayadi, from Ikeja Cantonment, and Sunny Orbunde, a youth leader, had sought for more recognition beyond elections, as well as jobs for their wards.
Obasa, in his response, urged the APC women to consider whatever they do as being in the interest and for the success of the party. He also promised to inform Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu that the group existed within the APC.
He was quoted as saying, “I am sure everyone has a willingness to be good and do good, but sometimes, challenges that we do not see or envisage do not give us the opportunity to meet our overall desires. But we will continue to do the best we can, reach out to as many people as we humanly can and ensure that Lagosians enjoy democratic dividends.
“As a party, we will make sure we do everything to appease you (APC women) and work to make sure we deliver the dividends of democracy. So, you just have to bear with us and endure. You are working for the party and we know your importance.
“Since this relationship has been established, I know we may not be able to meet all the time, but once in a while, we would. You can always invite us to join your activities and if you have important information and ideas to share with us, please do not hesitate.”
On employment, the speaker noted that the government could not provide all the jobs needed by residents of the state.
He, however, noted that the government has a duty to provide the environment for jobs and urged parents to encourage their wards to equip themselves with alternatives in the form of trades and vocations.
According to him, the skills will make them hard-working, self-sufficient and less drawn to white-collar jobs, which had no guarantee.
