₦airaland Forum

It is with a deep sense of responsibility that the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin OLUWAROTIMI O. AKEREDOLU, SAN joins numerous other Nigerians to congratulate our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and indeed, our dear President Muhammedu Buhari over this historic judicial victory. It is undoubtedly, a national victory for all Nigerians.

According to Governor Akeredolu, the verdict exuded a combination of very enthralling components which have contributed in no small measure, to the Nation's jurisprudence. The analytical precisions as well as the near-faultless conclusions have deepened judiciality. The enviable industry collectively deployed by the reverred Lordships also depicts great hope for Nigeria's electoral process.

Mr Governor believes that, notwithstanding the right of the main opposition and its Presidential Candidate to test the verdict at the Apex Court, the right time for less distractions in our polity is now. This is more so that, the current security challenges require a mere passing attention but a dexterous unanimity of purpose and national amity devoid of political colourations.

Signed:

Donald Ojogo,
Commissioner for Information & Orientation

http://ondostate.gov.ng/Home/NewsItem/Akeredolu-Congratulates-APC--Buhari-Over-Presidential-Election-Tribunal-Verdict

Following the expiration of the two-year single tenure of the Ondo State Council of Obas and its subsequent dissolution, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has approved the constitution of a new Council and the appointment of Kabiyesi Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba (Dr.) Fredrick Eniolorunda Obateru Akinruntan, Okoro Ajija I, CON, as Chairman, Ondo State Council of Obas for a period of two years.

The tenure of the new Chairman will start from the 13th day of September, 2019.

The inauguration of the new Council will hold at a later date.

Segun Ajiboye

Chief Press secretary to the Governor

Ondostate.gov.ng/Home/NewsItem/Governor-Akeredolu-Appoints-Olugbo-of-Ugbo-as-Chaiman-Ondo-State-Council-of-Obas

Good job Sir

...Targets 500 Bed Medical Facility

The determination of the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu administration to provide first-class health facilities for the people of Ondo State has taken another giant leap with the commencement of the construction of a modern world-class teaching hospital at the former State hospital in Akure, the state capital.

Already, the Critical Care Unit complex has been constructed and will be used as the temporary Accident and Emergency ward to allow for the demolition and construction of a two-storey complex at the current A & E building.

Similarly, a new building has been constructed for the Children Emergency ward, which was never in existence since the establishment of the hospital.
The Akeredolu administration has also began the reconstruction of a 16-year old abandoned structure at the hospital, which is projected to be used for surgical outpatience and stroke ward.

Addressing Journalists after inspecting the ongoing construction at the facility, Governor Akeredolu said his administration is upgrading the health facility from a 150-bed to a 300-bed hospital.

Arakunrin Akeredolu also hinted that he has given a directive that houses very close to the hospital should be valued, as his administration is ready to acquire the buildings and compensate the owners.

He said apart from the fact that it is very dangerous living very close to a hospital, the acquisition will enable government to expand the facility and build a modern world-class Teaching hospital.

Akeredolu said:”All of us have toured this facility and I’m sure you remember what we met on ground here . Since we came on board ,things have changed here including the road network and a number of buildings here have been renovated, but we have just started

“The important thing is that we are building a new medical ward, a two-storey building and it will be so big. Very soon, by next month the frontage will go down and it will allow for a modern medical world-class facility here.
“It is taking us a lot to arrive at making this place a world-class teaching hospital . We know that the University of Medical Sciences needed to have a befitting hospital . Instead of building new ones or concentrating in one area, we decided to have a multi-sector hospital.

“This place used to be a 150-bed hospital and it will be 300-bed when we complete it.
"I have looked at the buildings that are too close to the hospital and I have asked that they should be valued so that we can acquire them and compensate the owners .

”Our target is to have a 500-bed teaching hospital . A number of buildings around will have to go and we will pay compensation and expand the hospital to make it big.”

Olabode R Olatunde
Special Assistant to the Governor (New Media)
10th September , 2019

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has called on the Nigeria Immigration Service to make the Nigeria Passport compulsory for all Nigerians, so as to effectively monitor the flow of migrants into the country.

Governor Akeredolu said those migrating into the country, especially through the land borders must be ascertained with the proper use of the national passport.

The Governor Spoke on Tuesday while playing host to the leadership of the state command of the Nigeria Immigration Service in his office.

The NIS team was led by its state comptroller, Mrs Eunice Ladi Aboyade - Yebovi.



Arakunrin Akeredolu said that the planned migrants registration exercise by the NIS will be a major task, due to the peculiar nature of the County’s environment and the people.

He said: ”This migrant registration will be a big task because of the peculiar nature of our environment and our people.

"People who live in the afforested areas are part of the migrants. I don’t know how you will get to them.

“You have a big task in your hands and I think you know that. A greater part of the work can be done along our borders. I think it’s time that every Nigerian coming in must have a passport or a means of identity.
“ I believe that the time has come that we put our feet down and asked everyone to come with their passports. It means that everyone should have a passport.

"When we have that, it makes the issue of registration of migrants easier. We must make our passport compulsory. Most of these migrants are those who migrate by road. Those who migrate by air have records."

The Governor assures the Immigration service of his readiness to give all the support needed for the immigrant registration to be successful in the state.

He said the state-owned media houses will be ready to help the NIS with the sensitization of the people.

Arakunrin Akeredolu also commended the Immigration Service for its efforts on the anti - human trafficking, adding that creating an anti - human trafficking unit shows the commitment of the NIS.

The Governor also granted the request of the NIS for a land to build its station and its flag house in the state.

Governor Akeredolu asked the state comptroller to prepare all the necessary letters to the effect.

Earlier, the state comptroller, Mrs Aboyade - Yebovi intimated the governor of the planned migrant registration exercise, saying that the NIS will commence the exercise very soon.

She sought the support of the state government in making the exercise successful in the state, adding that it will help the NIS to ascertain the number of migrants in the states.
The NIS boss also appealed to the governor to make land available for the construction of the station and flag house of the Immigration service in the state.

She said: “Our anti - trafficking unit is going round for sensitization . We are also sensitizing the people to be very vigilant on the activities of migrants and we are educating them on the need to come and register with us, especially with the beginning of the new e -registration.

Olabode R Olatunde
Special Assistant to the Governor (New Media)
10th September, 2019

http://ondostate.gov.ng/Home/NewsItem/Make-Nigeria-Passport-Compulsory-For-All-Nigerians--Akeredolu-tells-NIS

The Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Monday declared that the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his wife Senator Oluremi Tinubu have shown best example on why Nigerians should not allow religious matters to divide them.

The governor urged Nigerians to look beyond their religious differences and give importance to the unity of this country.

Akeredolu stated this while receiving the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, and his entourage at the Governor’s office in Alagbaka, Akure, the State Capital.

The governor emphasised that religion should be seen as a unifying factor rather than a doctrine that is meant to divide us.

Abubakar was invited to the State by the Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, to deliver this year Ulefunta Festival Public Lecture held at the Auditorium of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, (FUTA).

He was accompanied to the Govenor’s office by the Oluwo of Iwo land, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo, Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, Waziri of Sokoto, Prof. Aishatu Madawaki among others.

Akeredolu said he was glad that immediately the Sultan arrived the State Capital on Sunday, he held a meeting with the state religious leaders under the auspices of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council on the need to shun religious crisis.

According to the governor, “I must appreciate the fact that you had the opportunity, sir, to attend a meeting with our state religious leaders on how to form amity among religions because here, particularly in Ondo State, and most parts of the southern Nigeria, a number of families, if not most families, have Christians and Muslims co-existing as family members.

Akeredolu said, “also, we have husbands and wives belonging to different religions. And usually, it is easier for us to point to our leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is an Alhaji and his wife, a Pastor in RCCG.

“When we were growing up here as children, we celebrate Muslim festivals with our friends. We would go to their houses and eat in the same bowl. During our own festivals as Christians, they would come to us and they would even sow dresses and we wouldn’t even know the difference.

“This has changed. But I am sure that we will get back sooner to embrace ourselves because we are one and religion should not divide us

“Hausa and our people have lived together for very long time. When we have one or two security problems, I am of the opinion that they are not with those who have been living with us.

“They are with those who are just strangers. Even those living with us don’t know them. Those living with us are peaceful and they have become part of us. Unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable.”

The governor, however, described the visit of the Sultan as a golden handshake across the Niger that will be cherished for a long time in the state.

Earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto said he accepted to be in Akure to deliver the lecture because of the security challenges ravaging the nation.

He noted that it is the responsibility of all Nigerians to come together to fight the demons, extremists and criminals among the people of the country, flush them out of the system and make the good ones continue to live their lives the way they want.

Abubakar praised Akeredolu for transforming the state within a short time and urged the Governor to continue to do more in the interest of the people.

Ondo State Governor , Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has described the visit of the Sultan of Sokoto, Sultan Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar, as a golden handshake across the niger.

The Governor said Ondo State will cherish the gesture for a long time.

Governor Akeredolu spoke while receiving in audience, the Sultan of Sokoto and other traditional rulers at the Exco Chamber of the Governor’s office , Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital on Monday.

The Sultan is in the state capital to deliver a lecture on diversity.

The lecture is in commemoration of the Ulefunta Festival of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi Ogunlade .

The Sultan was accompanied to the Governor’s office by the Deji of Akure, Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, Olubaka of Oka, Oba Adebori Adeleye, Orangun of Oke-Ila and the Attah of Ayede Ekiti , Oba Adebayo Orisagbemi.

The Governor said the state sees the visit of the Sultan as a blessing, noting that the state was not just receiving the sultan of Sokoto, but also an acceptable eminent leader of the Islamic religion.

Arakunrin Akeredolu, who stressed that the issue of the Unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable , warned that politics should be played without tampering with the unifying factor that binds the country together.

The Governor described both the Muslims and Christians as one, while urging the people not to allow religion to divide the country.

He said: “I’m happy you attended the NIREC meeting where you spoke with our religious leaders. Here, we don’t see the difference between the Muslims and Christians.

"Our leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is an Alhaji, his wife, is a senior Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) . That’s how we co-exist here.

“While we were growing up, we celebrated Muslim festivals with our Muslim friends . During the Christmas, they would also come to our house and we didn't notice any difference. We are one and religion should not divide us. ”

Akeredolu also thanked the Sultan for accepting to be in the state on the invitation of the Deji of Akure. The Governor said the Sultan’s message of peace is clear to everyone.

Earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto, who said he was sleeping in the state for the first time, commended Akeredolu for all he has done in the state within a short time. He urged the Governor to continue to do more in the interest of the people.

The Sultan said he accepted the invitation to come to Akure and deliver the lecture because it bothers on the diversity of the country, adding that everyone must come together to fight the extremists and criminals among the people.

Olabode R Olatunde
Special Assistant to the Governor ( New Media)
9th September, 2019

SOURCE - TRIBUNE NEWSPAPER

The Ondo State government on Sunday explained that the N50b loan bond approved by the State House of Assembly last week is to be used for developmental projects initiated by the administration of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Donald Ojogo, who disclosed this while speaking with newsmen dismissed the claim that the loan was secured to fund the re-election bid of Akeredolu.

Ojogo, who emphasised the need to develop infrastructural facilities in the state said the bond loan became necessary in order to pay contractors handling various capital projects in the state, especially contractors handling road projects.

He assured that the money from the capital market would not come to the purse of the state government but it would be spent directly on government’s projects.

Ojogo, explained that Akeredolu would rather spend such huge bond on legacy projects that would impact positively on the lives of the citizenry instead of using same for any re-election bid.

He said, “The bond as we all know is a N50 billion bond that was approved by the House of Assembly on Thursday. That bond is meant to enhance not just to sustain the development that has been achieved but to further engender and sustain development in the state.

“From that bond N50 billion, 50 kobo or 50 cents of that money is not coming into government purse. It is between the capital market and the banks where the fund will be domicile.

“The governor didn’t take loan or bond to win his election in 2016, the people freely gave him their mandate, so he can’t take loan to do any re-election.

“Disregard opposition, opposition will always talk, it is part of their job to talk. We all know that the money would not be paid into government’s purse but it will be used to fund all these ongoing and new capital projects directly.”

Ojogo assured the people of the state that contractors would soon return to sites of road projects that are currently experiencing a delay, adding that with the approval of the bond, ongoing projects would be completed in record time.

He said the current administration in the state had been able to pay backlog of salary when it came on board and said, “I don’t need to go back to memory lane. One of the revered policies of the governor has been and it remains the fact that he will not dwell on the past. And that is the policy we have promised to uphold.

The Ondo state contingent to the 2019 pilgrimage in Makkah and Saudi Arabia has arrived back home safely.

According to the Chairman, Ondo State Muslim Welfare Board, Alhaji Khaleel Fawehinmi , all the pilgrims and accompanying officials were hale and hearty.

Fawehinmi who is also the Seriki Musulumi of Ondo State said the pilgrims offered prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah for the government of the state and its people.

He said the state contingent will depart the Ilorin Airport for Akure as soon as all immigration formalities and clearance of pilgrim’s luggage are completed.

He hailed the positive conduct of the Ondo contingents while in the holy land.

Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Donald Ojogo has reiterated his commitment to work with all media organisations based in Ondo State, for adequate media coverage of government activities.

Mr. Ojogo stated this while playing host to members of the Federated Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, in his office in Akure, today.

He said he will not look down on any indigenous media houses in the state, adding that he would institutionalise information management by carrying everyone in the media world along.

The Information Commissioner stated further that media is an important aspect of government, stressing that it would be needed to propagate achievements of government to the people.

He, therefore, assured the Federated Chapel of his cooperation and giving them the necessary recognition they deserved in the scheme of government activities.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Chapel, Mr. Bayo Adediran said the Federated Chapel consist of community newspapers and magazines in the state. He congratulated the Commissioner on his redeployment to the Ministry of Information and Orientation, stressing that his redeployment to the Ministry has brought symbiotic Information processing, management and dissemination since the Commissioner came on board.

He added that the Commissioner has written his name in gold due to his philanthropic nature, especially when he paid the hospital bill of a mother who delivered triplets, but was detained at Federal Medical Centre in Owo due to the inability of her family to pay the medical bill.

He added that the state based newspapers and magazines practitioners are well informed and responsible people in the pen profession.

Mr. Adediran solicited support and patronage from the government in the area of advertisement placement and promised that the Chapel would cooperate with the Commissioner to make his work easier.

Also speaking, the Publisher of TRACE MAGAZINE, Mr. Ebenezer Adeniyan appreciated the Commissioner for hosting them despite the short notice.

Mr. Adeniyan urged the Commissioner to use his office to ensure that the State based newspaper publishers are carried along in government activities, in areas of patronage and recognition .

He further stated that whatever patronage they get from the government would go a long at boosting the economy of the State, because their production processes take place within the state.

ALOZIE GENEVIEVE
TCC NEWS
Roads are vital to any development agenda as it brings about economic and social benefits to the society. Roads are the channels through which the economy flows. By linking farmers to the market, workers to the office, students to school, and the sick to the hospitals in any given society.


Taking cognizance of the importance of good road networks, Ondo State governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, among other campaign promises, embarked on road construction and rehabilitation to ensure that the state becomes a fertile ground for socio-economic growth and suitable for Ondo state dwellers.


According to a report from the office of Ondo State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, in June, 2018, Ondo State government approved N11.2 Billion for the commencement of the construction of approved road projects in the state. However numerous of road projects in the state has witnessed the effect of this development. The indigenes of Owo and Motorist has not stopped eulogizing the governor over the dualisation of Owo road from Emure junction to A-U-D and Ministry of Works to Iyere junction totaling a number of 7.135 kilometers Dual Carriageway which gulped N7.1 billion.


Meanwhile N695.2 million was spent on the rehabilitation of some selected township roads in Isarun, Ifedore Local Government Area totaling 3.1 kilometers. Also some selected township roads in Ile-Oluji in total 5.25 kilometers gulped N882.4million.


This administration, which is determined to carry every community along on its developmental agenda, has also spent N1.4 billion on the construction of Alagbaka-High Court and Appeal Court road in total 6.2 kilometers in Akure the Ondo State capital. The constructions of road networks have reduced road congestion in the state capital.



governor Akeredolu has also approved the construction of 7.35 Kilometers road in Akure South which are Orita Obele -Ire Akari - Oke Odu – Ipinsa, the rehabilitation of Maronu, Ondo Road and Atibiti roads, In a bid to offer a comprehensive impact of road network, the well-known horrible Gaga road in Akure South Local government which has claimed many lives through road accident over the years, has received the attention of this administration through road construction projects going on in the state.



According to the Chairman, Landlord association of the Area, Mr. Alaba Oloyede, who spoke to journalists during an interview, said the Gaga community will forever be grateful to the Akeredolu led administration. Others also testify that since the completion of the road project, business activities has been favorable, while road accident has reduced drastically. Oda community, has joined other communities in the state to shower encomium on the governor over the recent ongoing road construction and Dualization of the community major road which has put many businesses on hold as a result of the bad state of the road.



In the main time, the people of Akoko North East local government area, will not forget the administration of Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in a jiffy. As the dreaded Oke Alabojuto hill that is associated with myth and therefore left unattended to claim lives and destroy properties over the years, was brought down for 0.5Km road. As well as various inter-communities’ roads such as construction of Lennon Jubilee-Solaco-Ugbe road, the dualization of Ikare Township road, construction of 3 Box Culverts and rehabilitation of failed portion of Owo- Ikare road has also received due attention by this administration.


Ore dwellers has joined other Ondo state citizens to testify about the growth in their economic activities in the region, as Governor Akeredolu has started the construction of The overhead bridge in Ore, the first of its kind in Ondo.

A call has gone to the Ondo State Government to establish an agency that will be solely responsible for the maintenance of rural roads in the state.

A cross section of the people of Ondo North Senatorial District made this call while speaking with The Hope.

The people declared that the call became imperative in view of the fact that rural roads constituted the larger percentage of the road network in the state.

Chief Boboye Ojomo, the Asiwaju of Ifira in Akoko Southeast Local Government posited that the poor state of rural roads has grossly affected the economy of the areas since it depends mainly on Agriculture.

Chief Boboye said the deplorable condition of roads, especially rural feeder roads have grossly affected agricultural production.

According to him, lack of access roads to the farm settlements has continued to prevent farmers from conveying their outputs to the urban areas and this in turn leads to the farmers losing interest in large production because most of the times they ended up in producing at a loss.

Mr Bayo Boluwade from Irun Akoko Northwest Local Government Area of Ondo state described agriculture as the surest way to revamp the nation’s ailing economy and provide ready made job for teeming unemployed youths.

Mr Boluwade posited that the lack of access roads in the rural areas has negatively affected as youths are now leaving rural areas for cities to look for white collar jobs that are very rare to get while most in crimes.

Alhaji Adams Abdullahi, a community leader in Ajowa Akoko disclosed that he and many others like him were forced to go into subsistence farming because their efforts at producing in large quantity was defeated by non existent of access areas to the farm settlement where he farms.

Alhaji Adams said on many occasions his farm products got rotten when he could not get vehicles to transport them to the point of sale in the market in the urban areas.

According to him, often times the bad nature of the rural roads prevented vehicles from coming to convey his products to town.

They therefore appealed to the Ondo State Government to make the rehabilitation of rural roads a top priority to consolidate its achievements in the area of road construction in the state.

Similarly they reminded local governments in the state on the need to employ people or establish a Public Works Department, PWD, to be saddled with the task of maintaining rural roads in their areas like it obtained in the Western State era.

The Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Femi Agagu, has stressed the need for government institutions to maintain a good relationship with their host communities.

Agagu stated this on Friday while on a visit to Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure, following a report that the school’s activities were posing health hazards to residents of the area.

He said that he was in the school to see the extent of encroachment to its land by the neighbouring communities and to determine if there was any health hazard to the people in the neighbourhood.

The commissioner commended the principal of the school, Chief Stephen Ojo, for not allowing the issue to snowball into a crisis between the school and its neighbours.

Speaking on the school’s piggery project, the commissioner commended those who initiated it and directed the principal to come up with a proposal on how to create a profitable venture out of it.

Earlier, the principal said that the idea of piggery was muted by the school authorities over 40 years ago, saying that the project did not pose any health hazard to the school’s neighbours.

“Many of those complaining that our piggery project is posing a health hazard to them have encroached on the school’s land but we have allowed peace to reign, all in the spirit of good neighbourliness,” he said.

GENEVIEVE ALOZIE
TCC NEWS
The essence of proper waste management is to ensure proper disposal of waste, protect the Environmental health and safety of the populace.


Waste management is the proper handling of waste materials. This involves more efficient handling and disposal of materials without causing hazard to human health. It also entails proper recycling of reusable waste materials to useful product.


Due to inadequate orientation on waste management and improper waste disposal practices most people go about pilling garbage in unauthorized places without having any knowledge on how hazardous this waste could be on their health and the environments.


Negligence from the government through the non introduction of the right laws and its enforcement has also contributed immensely to the improper disposal and management practices in the past.


The Oluwarotimi Akeredolu led administration is poised to create a cleaner and healthier Ondo state.


The Ondo state government is determined to distinguish itself in the area of environmental health for the state with this initiative tagged “Clean and Green Ondo State”.


ZL Global Alliance, a private waste management agency which is known for its quality waste management operations, has been called upon, to carter for the waste containment, general sanitation, hygiene and cleanliness within the state.


Since the inception of the initiative "CLEAN AND GREEN ONDO STATE" by the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu led administration and its operational take off through ZL Global Alliance, this has contributed largely in ensuring a cleaner Ondo state through their numerous services, such as, appropriate handling, evacuation, collection, transportation, recovery, disposal, monitoring and reporting of waste management in the State.


The Ondo state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Folorunsho Esan, during a courtesy visit to the Deji of Akure, appealed to traditional rulers, community and religious leaders to support the drive by Governor Akeredolu in making Ondo State the cleanest state in Nigeria. The commissioner said that the government is working tirelessly to ensure a cleaner Ondo state.


The gaint strides being taken by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to ensure that Ondo state remains the beautiful bride and the best destination for business, growth and development can not be over emphasized.


This visionary leader who is determined to solve the problems of his people most especially the power (electricity) problem and break the barriers of poverty and unemployment in the state , has showed interest to build three waste to energy power plant that will generate 7.8 megawatts of power each per day.


The Executive chairman of Typha Cenia Nigeria Limited, Dr. Solomon Edebiri who disclosed this said that the waste to power technology which is being practiced all over Europe, is designed to convert municipal waste to energy. This project in no distant time would commence in Ondo State.


Harnessing waste in ondo State for productive use is a driving goal and agenda of Governor Akeredolu’s led administration on industrialization and in doing so will not fail in its responsibilities to provide a safe environment and safeguarding the lives of its citizenry through proper waste management and disposal.

Pensioners in Ondo State under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) have commended the state governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, for prioritizing the welfare of Pensioners by paying over N4 billion arrears of gratuity owed Pensioners by past administrations in the state.

The NUP led by its Chairman, Chief Raphael Adetuwo, gave the commendation during a courtesy visit to the office of the state Head of Service, Mr Dare Aragbaiye in Akure, the state capital, on Thursday.

They also affirmed that the state government has not defaulted in the monthly payment of pension to its members since the inauguration of the Akeredolu led administration in 2017.

Speaking on behalf of the Union, its Secretary, Comrade Akin Sunday appealed to the state government to commence the implementation of the approved 33% pension increase for Pensioners which their counterparts at the federal level have been enjoying since 2014.

In his response, the state Head of Service, Mr Dare Aragbaiye charged Pensioners to join hands with the state government to block all leakages of pension fund so as to alleviate the plight of their members in the state by exposing all their members that are still collecting the pension of the dead ones among them.

Mr Aragbaiye said members of the Union should desist from colluding with serving Officers of the government who are extorting money from other Pensioners for the purpose of facilitating payment of their gratuity, saying that the state government would no longer tolerate such corruption in the system.

He said “l know that when people are retiring they contribute money to give Officers to process their gratuity and pension, this is ungodly”

He charged the Union to lead the fight against the syndicate that collect 10% from their members to process their retirement papers and fast track payment of their gratuity, adding that the body should openly condemn and expose those behind the pains being experienced by Pensioners in the state.

The HOS assured them that the state government would open a channel through which members of the Union and other concerned members of the public could expose the corruption in the state pension administration.

By Mary Agidi

Having taken cognisance of the commitment of the wife of Ondo State governor, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, to champion the cause of women and to raise the next generation of selfless female leaders, the Institute for National Transformation, INT, has bestowed on her an award of Excellence.

The award was given to her at the INT office Lekki Lagos during her thank-you visit to the management of the institute for their support for BEMORE Empowered initiative.

In his address, the Chairman of the Board of the institute, Mr. Mike Adebiyi noted that Mrs. Akeredolu’s philanthropic initiatives are in tandem with the vision of INT which is the transformation of families, organisations, communities, and nations to their highest levels of performance and achievement.


He expressed the readiness of the institute to partner her programmes in raising valued-based and no excuse leaders of responsibility.

Responding, Arabinrin Akeredolu appreciated the support given to the BEMORE Empowered initiative and affirmed that her initiatives like BEMORE , SOLAYO, and FOWOSO are on the same page with the missions of INT.

She emphasised the need for a paradigm shift in the way individual utilises his/her skill and knowledge for self-development and the society at large.

Mrs. Akeredolu noted that her passion to bring positive change to the society birthed BEMORE initiative to train young ones who are still malleable with unpolluted ideas.


She explained to the management of the institute that the BEMORE initiative was designed to make the girls realise that they possess the capabilities of contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.

According to her, the issue of female subjugation, including low-female inclusion in politics and governance cannot be overcome by mere talks, noting that the BEMORE girls have started dreaming big on how to change the situation.

Some board members of the institute who witnessed the performance of the girls during the just concluded Summer Bootcamp for Girls naija, commended the skills and knowledge instilled in the girls, especially Solar Energy generation.

The immediate past Board Chairman of the INT, Prince Tunde Akindele, who represented INT Director, Prof. Vincent Anigbogu at the closing ceremony of the 2019 edition of BEMORE programme, attested to the transformation of the girls through the display of acquired akills.

He noted that Nigeria is faced with the problem of leadership characters, adding that in order to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, there must be a paradigm shift in the attitude of Nigerians.

Prince Akindele also affirmed that Mrs. Akeredolu’s vision is in line with INT’s to develop disciplined people with disciplined thought, who will execute disciplined actions for national development.

Photos: Day 2 (Wednesday 28th August 2019)

TODAY'S DRILL:
FOREHAND DRIVE

The Coaches Obe Rotimi and Sunday Mayowa under the supervision of Chairman Technical Committee Prince Wale Olateru-Olagbegi to the trainees on the technique to play tennis as a beginner.

(FOREHAND DRIVE)

"If you are using your right hand to hit the ball put your left leg in front while keeping your eyes on the ball.

If you are using your left hand to hit the ball put your Right Leg in front while keeping your eyes on the ball.

[s][/s]
Technological utilisation has been described as a veritable development that is reshaping the lives of the modern man for entrepreneurship and creative innovations.

Speaking at the FUTUREHACK Southwest programme at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN said effective solutions, ideas and innovations are inherent in technology, for the purpose of addressing challenges of poverty, job creation and sustainable development.

The programme organized by the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA and facilitated by the Office of ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship, OIIE, centered on education challenges; e-education innovations, was the fourth edition of FUTUREHACK.

The governor represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Olugbenga Ale, said in view of the fact his administration has since inception placed high premium on values of technology, the state owned schools at all levels from primary, secondary to tertiary institutions have integrated technology education into their curricula.

While commending the choice of FUTA for the event in Southwest Nigeria, Governor Akeredolu believed the platform would help energise the creativity of students at developing unique solutions for education sector reforms.

Arakunrin Akeredolu implored student designers, developers and young innovators to leverage on the knowledge acquired through FUTUREHACK to move to greater heights.

In her welcome address, the National Coordinator, Office for ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship, OIIE, Dr Amina Sambo-Magaji said through technology innovations students in universities across the country are becoming ICT entrepreneurs and innovators.

She commended the tripartite arrangement between the Ondo State Government, Federal University of Technology, Akure and the Private Sector on the development of Akure TECH HUB which she said was worthy of emulation by states of the federation.

Also the Director General National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Mr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi said students and the unemployed young people should leverage on technological utilisations mainstreamed into FUTUREHACK .

The DG who was represented by a Director in NITDA, Mr Olayinka Adejube lauded the Ondo State Government for its commitments to technological education and more importantly for the initiative of the state on Akure TECH-HUB which according to him was facilitating human capital development.

Earlier, in his Goodwill Message the Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Innovation and Partnership, Mr Joel Ogunsola appreciated the choice of Ondo State for the Fourth edition of FUTUREHACK.

He used the occasion to showcase the credible outcomes from the State Government's investment on Akure TECH HUB which according him has made its Startups worthy entrepreneurs.

The Ondo State government has promised to prioritise the training and re-training of its health workers to ensure effective healthcare delivery.

Commissioner for Health Dr. Wahab Adegbenro spoke when he opened three-day training on Essential Drug Management for Pharmacists in the Ministry of Health, Hospitals Management Board and the State Primary Health Care Development Agency.



Dr. Adegbenro, who explained that effective drug management system is key to achieving qualitative healthcare, hoped that the training would help to ensure uniformity of procedure in drug management in health facilities.

The commissioner promised that the government would not relent in fighting fake and counterfeit drugs, saying measures have been put in place to ensure that lives are protected at all times.

He urged participants to take advantage of the training, saying it would help them to perform better in their places at work.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Dr. Jibayo Adeyeye said the state would continue to do the needful in ensuring that quality drugs are available in all the health facilities across the state.

Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr. Francis Akanbiemu described the training as training the trainers, saying participants would in turn cascade the knowledge gained to over 600 public, private and secondary healthcare facilities in the state.

The chief trainer, Folukemi Aladenola, explained that the training is to ensure that drugs are safe, available and affordable at all times. She praised the government for procuring a Tru-Scan machine which she said has helped to detect fake and counterfeit drugs.

From next academic session, the University of Medical Science, (UNIMED) Ondo will commence the study of herbal medicine.

The university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Friday Okonofua dropped the hint in Ondo during an exclusive interview.

Okonofua said the curriculum for the programme had been developed by the institution and submitted to the National University Commission (NUC) for approval.

If approved, he said it would afford the university to research into herbs and as well run undergraduate study in herbal medicine.

Okonofua said the NUC has indicated interest but would develop the guidelines for running the programmes which he said would be ready before the end of the this year.

He noted that 11 of the institution’s programmes have met the conditions of the NUC which he said had visited the university about three times before they were given accreditation.

The accredited courses are: Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Physiotherapy, Nursing, Mathematics, Physics, Biological Sciences and Chemistry.

His words: “Two more programmes; Nursing and Physiotherapy are due for visitation in November.

“Currently, we are preparing to receive the NUC visitation. The Medical Lab. Science is also due next year. The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has visited our Medical and Dental programme. Every time they visited, they always give us accreditation,” he added.

The Vice Chancellor said that before any university could graduate doctors, the MDC has to visit such institution four times. He said that it was a major achievement and a milestone for the university to get Medical and Dental Programmes accredited within three years.

According to him, some universities established after eleven years still found it difficult to get accreditation for such programmes and that for UNIMED to get it in three years was a major achievement.

He added that the university’s Teaching Hospital has also applied for Post Graduate accreditation in Medicine, Surgery, Pediatric among other courses and expressed the optimism that they would get it.

Okonofua said the institution is set to break record on research on Lassa Fever and Public Health. ‘Research is advancing on high rate of trimming among the Yoruba,” he added.

The first set of the university students, he said would graduate in December this years.

The Vice Chancellor said UNIMED has gone in collaboration with New York State University and various others in the area of research.

He warned Nigerians eating fruits and vegetables grown with fertilizer, saying that is the reason for the high rate of cancer in the country today.

The Majority Leader, Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Jamiu Sulaiman Maito, has promised the support of the lawmakers to a move by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to set up a Security Trust Fund.

This is just as Hon Maito rolled out the drums to appreciate the special grace and favour of the Almighty Allah, especially over his re-election in the last March 11, 2019 State House of Assembly election.

The Majority Leader, Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Jamiu Sulaiman Maito, on Friday rolled out drums amidst pump and pageantry to give thanks to God.

The special Thanksgiving Service held at the Agbaluku Central Mosque, Arigidi Akoko, had in attendance, other lawmakers of the Assembly including the wife of the Speaker of the House, Prophetess Olufunke Oleyelogun, APC leaders and members as well as friends and well-wishers.

Maito, a lawmaker representing Akoko North-West Constituency 1 in the Assembly explained that the thanksgiving was to appreciate God for how far he has taken him, especially for giving him another victory in the last House of Assembly election in the state, and as well made him Majority Leader of the hallowed chamber.

He equally appreciated all APC leaders in his local government and the state as well as other members of the party for their continued support with a promise to continue to do his best to improve the lives of his constituents.

“We must learn to appreciate God in everything because He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. For how far he has taken us we must thank Him. If we can look back and see what God has done in our lives we will realise that it is important to give thanks to Him for His grace.

“So, when I look at the beginning and the end of the election which gave me victory, I have nothing to say other than to give thanks to the Almighty Allah who made me to participate in the election process, stand the election and win the election. Also, on getting to the Assembly I was made the Majority Leader, that is why I have to come back home and give special thanks to God,” he added.

He also used the occasion to assure the people of his constituency of adequate and proper representation, saying his new position would spur him to improve on the gains of the past and do more to improve on the lives of the people of his constituency.

Maito added that the Assembly would continue to work harmoniously with the executive arm to ensure the people of the state enjoy real dividends of good governance.

The Majority Leader particularly said the Assembly would give the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, necessary support to establish Security Trust Fund to provide adequate security for lives and property of the citizenry, amidst banditry and kidnapping in and around the state.

Governors in the six Southwest states are putting finishing touches to the inauguration of a joint regional security outfit codenamed Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN).

This followed the Approval in Principle given by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for the zone to establish a Joint Task Force (JTF) to tackle killings, banditry and kidnapping in the Southwest.
The governors rose from a security summit in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital in July, where they decided to defend their domain.

A source close to the project confided in The Nation on Sunday that the six governors had procured the patrol vans to be used by the outfit in readiness for the launch by October.

The source added that the vehicles would be used in each state as branches of the regional outfit with a regional management team to coordinate its activities across the region.

The regional management team would ensure exchange of intelligence and sharing of experiences for maximum performance.

According to the source, the WNSN will be made up of unconventional security personnel, including local hunters and members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) as well as other related personnel.



They will work with traditional rulers and relate with the police on specific engagements, including prosecution of arrested suspects. Their relationship with the police is also to ensure that they operate within the ambits of the law.

The WNSN members are to comb forests and monitor activities in urban neighbourhoods to support the conventional security operatives.

Insecurity heightened in the region in June and July with the incidents reaching an alarming rate on the Ibadan-Ikire-Ife Road, Ilesa-Akure Road and roads in Akoko area of Oyo, Osun and Ondo states respectively.

The fear generated by the incidents prompted the governors of Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Lagos, Ogun and Ekiti states to come together to seek a regional approach to tackling the menace.

They directed the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission to organise a security summit to generate ideas on how to develop a regional blueprint to tackle the growing concern.

The Olowo-elect, Prince Gbadegesin Ogunoye, on Thursday bowed out of the state Public Service as Permanent Secretary, Government House and Protocol.

The Pen down ceremony signaled the commencement of his traditional rites, which begin tomorrow.

Prince Ogunoye became the Olowo - Elect after a successful selection process by the senior Omolowos and the final ratification by the kingmakers.

It was a moment of unparalleled glory for the retiring Olowo - Elect, as the people took turn to eulogize his virtues during his service to the state as a Public Servant.

The Head of Service, Mr. Dare Aragbaiye, described Prince Ogunoye as a dutiful officer who has transversed the length and breath of the civil service in the state.

He said those who have interacted with Prince Ogunoye in the course of his service would attest to the fact that he has contributed immensely to the building of the public service in the state.

He said: "History is being made today. For our elders who have been in the civil service for decades, this is the first of its kind. We have never had it this way in the history that a serving Permanent Secretary will be selected as a first-class monarch

"You will recall that Prince Ogunoye was selected by the senior omolowos and ratified by the king makers. We know him as a dutiful officer. He joined the Ondo State Civil service as far back as November 2001. He has traversed the length and breath of the civil service in the state

"He was appointed Permanent Secretary, and posted as PS, Government House and Protocol. Before then, he was DFA Government House and Protocol. Those who have interacted with him in the course of duty will attest to it that he has contributed immensely to the job.

"His traditional rites begin tomorrow and he has to leave the service today. We have brought him here today to say bye bye. "

The Permanent Secretary, Service Matters, Mr. Bayo Philips, described the Olowo-elect as a man with a clean bill from the service matters.

Mr. Philips said:"He joined the service in 2001. From service matters, I can say authoritatively that he is a man with a clean bill. He's cultured and humane. Wherever you deploy him, he will go. Looking at him, you see a contended man. On behalf of the service, we want to appreciate you. You are ending today gloriously and you have brought honour to the service. "

The Presiding Bishop of Reconciliation House, Pastor Joshua Oriyomi said the Olowo-elect left a testimony of integrity when he served with him in the Christmas Carol commitee in 2017 as secretary.

He said the retiring PS is a fine gentleman who is loyal and devoted, stressing that Owo is privileged to have him as a first class traditional ruler. He urged the Olowo-elect to uphold the tradition of his people.

Responding, Prince Ogunoye said he has garnered enough experience in the civil service over the past nineteen years which will surely help him in his new assignment.

He thanked the Governor for honouring him in the civil service, while stressing that his new job is to be a good representative of his people.

"It gladdens my heart to be here this afternoon. I'm happy that this is a special day created by God. As the head of service said, history is been made today. My journey in the Service spanned almost 19 years. I joined as an Administrative Officer in 2001. Prior to that time I taught briefly in a school in this state

"My journey has traversed Twelve MDAs. That has given me wide experience. I have been so trained and schooled in the public service. I have met alot of people in the public service. And it has always been positive in my life. I must thank the public service because I have benefitted alot from it

"I have been cultured in the act of human relations. The civil service is a unique organisation and whoever is contented would see that the life of the public service is about service to the people. I thank God for allowing me to attain the highest position in the civil service. I must thank the governor who deemed it fit that I should be so honoured

"As an Olowo elect, coming to that level is never a tea party. People see behaviour and they may not comment instantly, but a day of reckoning is coming either positively or nagatively."

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, represented by the Chief of Staff, Chief Olugbenga Ale, said the selection process of the Olowo-elect gave the comfort.

He said it is the most peaceful process in the history of the state, adding that its an achievement the government would love to claim.

The Governor said: "The process of your selection gives us comfort. It has never been like that in the history of the state. It's the most peaceful process. It's an achievement on our part as a government and we want to claim it

"We want to thank the senior Omolowos for the peaceful process and the kingmakers. We also want to thank the people of Owo, especially the youths who championed the course that this is what they want and they got it. By your training and exposure, we know we have a good leader in you."

The journey of a thousand miles they say begins with a step. It is the desire of every civil servant to serve and ends his service alive.


The glorious retirement from civil service of the olowo- elect, is a thing of joy as he is not retiring like everyother civil servant.


The great man known as Ajibade Gbadegesin will henceforth assume a prominent position as the new Olowo of Owo to extend his service to his people as a traditional ruler of Owo Kingdom.


The Ondo State civil service commission, performed a mandatory retirement ceremony for the new Olowo of Owo elect on the 22nd of August 2019 at Akure the ondo state capital.


The Head of service in Ondo State, Mr Dare Aragbaiye who was present to perform the ceremony, said it is the first of its kind for a serving permanent secretary to emerge as the Olowo of Owo in Ondo state.


Mr Aragbaiye, recounted that the Olowo elect who joined civil service in 2001, has served in different parastals and gave his quota to the growth and development of ondo state.


Prior to his retirement, he was a director of finance government House and Protocol before assuming the position as a permernent secretary where he has fully rendered his invaluable services.


Dignitries present at the event recognized the Olowo-elect as a man with a clean pin, who is well cultured and dedicated to service. They also expressed that the commission would miss him in a positive grief.


Olowo -Elect, Ajibade Gbadegesin admitted that the civil serivce has trained and schooled him in service to humanity. He said the civil service is a unique organization for anyone who want to serve the people.


He expressed gratitude to the Ondo state Governor who deemed it right for him to reach the level of permernent secretary. He advices that everyone should be contended with what they have as he promises to be a good representative of Ondo State and would use his position to effect positive changes in Ondo State.


The Chief of staff who spoke during the ceremony, said the people of Owo has made the right choice by choosing someone as Gbadegesin who has the capacity to lead his people. He appreciated the Omolowo for the peaceful selection.
Alozie Genevieve
TCC News

Ondo state commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, honourable Lola fagbemi has described the ongoing verification exercise in the local government council as a normal routine with no interior motive

The commissioner while addressing the council workers in akure south,idanre and ondo west local government while monitoring the exercise said the entire workforce will be better for it afterward

Saying that planning is essential for any administration to succeed.

Some of the workers who spoke on the issue commended the akeredolu led administration for it’s laudable project especially on regular payment of salaries and allowances.

The commissioner was accompanied by the permanent secretary in the local government and chieftaincy affairs, Chief Segun odusanya, his counterpart in the local government pension board, comrade Bunni Eniayewu as well as the Nulge state chairman, Comrade Taiwo

It was gathered that Exercise of this nature was last carried out in 2013 by the state government.

THE Federal Government has approved N600billion to be injected into the nation’s electricity market, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), said on Wednesday.

Speaking with reporters at the Market Operator’s (MO) Participants/Key Stakeholders 2019 Third Quarter Interactive Forum in Abuja, its MO, Edmund Eje, said the fund would be disbursed soon.


According to him, the intervention is for the payment of the shortfall in electricity invoices for the entire market.

He said the intervention is not restricted to a single chain in the market, but a holistic one.

He said: “The intervention is at a very advanced level. It has been signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Eje recalled that since 2015, the outstanding bill that the distribtution companies (DisCos) have recorded is about N250billion.

Meanwhile, the decision was that government should not reverse the privatisation of the distribution firms, it would rather invoke its regulation force to whip the debtors into line.


He added that from May this year, the MO resolved that every market participant must ensure that his books are up to date or they would be informed to pay up or face a fine of N5.6million after five days.

Eje noted that should the company fail to pay up in another five days, it would result in its suspension from the market.

He said: “The outstanding bill on the DisCos is approximately N250billion. Until May when we said okay, instead of allowing the government to say we are going to fold the privatisation completely, let us use regulation out of the way. If you fail out of the way, you will not blame the government to say the government has seized your license.

“From May we said every participant in the market has to pay 100 per cent. For paying 100 per cent, you will also mention that your bank guarantee is updated. Now, those of them that were not updated require a fine. We will inform them that it invoked a fine of N5.6million.

“And you are given five days to fix whatever the default and within that five days you are expected to update your bank guarantee if it is not, you also make it good. If you fail to do it within these five days, we suspend you from the market.

“Now market will empower the market operator to disconnect you from the grid. Now you know it is difficult to disconnect a distribution company from the grid you have obedient companies who have been paying.”

Day 10

Leaders of Today

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” ~ John C. Maxwell

Irrespective of how you define it, a leader is someone who sets direction, builds an inspiring vision, and creates something new.

A good, effective leader is a person of integrity, confidence and motivation, who is passionate, creative and knowledgeable about doing the right things in the right ways.

It is a well known fact that leaders are made, not born. As such, capacity building is key to the making of leaders.

This is the drive behind the series of lectures on
critical thinking, positive value system, positive mindset, and patriotism, organised by the BEMORE Summer Bootcamp for Girls, delivered by Mrs Peggy Anigbogu and Mrs Bukky Femi-Ajala, leadership experts from the Institute for National Transformation.

Nigeria is in dire need of effective leaders who can change the narrative. With this bootcamp, through STEM education, skill acquisition, mentoring, balanced diet, and physical/mental exercises, the BEMORE girls are being groomed to become effective leaders, not just of tomorrow, but of today.

It is the University of Life, a leadership breeding ground where our nation is being transformed, one girl at a time.

The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, is astonished that an opposing political party in the State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, could churn out porous and imaginary allegations to distract the APC-led government.

In a statement signed by the state publicity Secretary Mr Alex Kalejaye said the PDP, in a desperate attempt to smear the soaring image of the ruling party recently accused the APC-led government of defrauding the state, impoverished traditional institutions, destroying the health sector, among others.

It further stated that APC is deeply astounded that a party that carried out a crude castration and strangulation of the State finances could issue such a statement in less than 30 months of its exit.

The APC wishes to declare with all sense of modesty that the current administration has proved that it has come to serve the people; develop the land, and not to plunder the treasury.

The above assertion explains why the government never struggled to pay salaries as at when due. Pensions, that the previous administration considered an aberration, are also being paid.

It is incongruous to listen to a government that couldn’t pay salaries for several months, and left behind hundreds of billions of debts, accuse the APC government of defrauding the state, with all the celebrated infrastructures that are visible, to even the blind.

In the health sector, the APC government has so far employed about half a million health workers to ensure a healthier state.

The dearth of medical equipment and consumables that created hedge on the path of efficiency in service delivery is now history. The APC government has expended billions of Naira on such equipment; 22 containers of 40 feet each.

Besides, the government has upgraded and expanded additional five General Hospitals to be Mother and Child friendly, and complement the two facilities inherited.

The ruling party also finds it disgusting that a well-cultured African would hide under politics to desecrate the traditional institutions by painting them in negative lights.

The revered traditional rulers do not depend on handouts from government, therefore, no party or government could confer poverty on them. They deserve respect from all of us; there must not be mudslinging to the royal institution.

As a responsible party, we are reluctant to remind the PDP of the on-going trial of some of its principal officers, including its State Chairman, in connection with financial crimes.

The financial recklessness that rocked the State Assembly under PDP, paved the way for destructive crisis, when a director was caught with huge sums of cash on the instruction of the then speaker.

The attempt by the then outgoing administration, to withdraw huge sums of money led to the flight of an honest State Accountant-General.

As a quick reminder, hundreds of millions of naira were siphoned and under the guise of “outsourcing legal matters”. One of the PDP leading governorship aspirants can testify to this.

The APC advises opposition parties to display higher level of maturity in their so call “attacks”, and come up with constructive criticisms.”

Ministers designate have arrived the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Two buses conveyed them from Transcorp hotel, Abuja to the Villa around 10.25am.



They had assembled with their spouses at the Transcorp hotel for screening.

From the bus, they filed out one after the other to the Council chamber.

Senate had screened and cleared the 43 nominees sent to it on the 30th of July, 2019.

Those cleared and for inauguration today and their states are 1. Abia – Uchechukwu Samson Ogah
2. Adamawa – Mohammed musa Bello, 3. Akwa Ibom – God’swill Akpabio 4. Anambra – Dr Chris Ngige, 5. Anambra – sharon Ikeazu, 6. Bauchi – Adamu Adamu
7. Bauchi – Ambassador Mariam Kategu, 8. Bayelsa – Timipre Sylvia
9. Benue – George Akume, 10. Borno – Mustapha Baba Shehuri
11. Cross River – Goddi Jeddi Agba.

Others are 12. Delta – Festus Keyamo,13. Enugu – Ogbonnaya Onu 14. Edo – Osagie Ehanire
15. Edo – Clement Agba 16. Ekiti – Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo 17. Enugu – Geoffrey Onyema, 18. Gombe – Isa Ibrahim Patami, 19. Imo – Emeka Nwajiuba, 20. Jigawa – Sulieman Adamu, 21. Kaduna – Zainab Ahmed, 22. Kaduna – Mohammed Mahmud.



Also cleared for inauguration are 23. Kano – Sabo Nanono, 24. Kano – Major Bashir Sani, 25. Katsina – Hadi Serika, 26. Kebbi – Abubakar Malami, 27. Kogi – Ramatu Tijani
28. Kwara – Lai Mohammed
29. Kwara – Gbemisola Saraki
30. Lagos – Babatunde Raji Fashola, 31. Lagos – Adeleke Mamora, 32. Nasarawa – Mohammed Abdullahi, 33. Niger – Zubairu Dada.

Others are 34. Ogun – Olamilekun Adegbite, 35. Ondo – Tayo Alaosuadura, 36. Osun – Rauf Aregbesola, 37. Oyo – Sunday Dare
38. Plateau – Pauline Talin, 39. Rivers – Rotimi Amaechi, 40. Sokoto – Mohammed Dangidi, 41. Taraba – Sale Mamman, 42. Yobe – Abubakar Aliyu, and 43. Zamfara – Sadiya Umar Farouk.

The wife of Ondo State Governor, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu today tasked women journalists to make use of the good side of social media to lend their voices to the cause of womanhood.

Mrs. Akeredolu gave the charge when the executive of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Ondo State chapter paid her a courtesy visit at the BEMORE Summer Boot Camp at the Public Service Training Institute, Ilara Mokin.

According to her, the way the world is structured is not fair to women, hence the need for women to rise up as they are in a better position to feel the pain of others and lend their voices to women related causes.

“It is somebody that feels the pain of a woman that can easily take it up. We have to be the champions for women causes. As women journalists, become an advocate by being bloggers. The good side of the social media outweighs the bad side and as such, you can make it possible for your voice and my voice to be heard”, she stressed.

While affirming that most of her initiatives were borne out of her life experiences and the need to improve on what is on ground by showing that women can really play their own roles in building a better society, Mrs. Akeredolu said the BEMORE initiative is a drive towards creating opportunities for girls to discover their potentials and contribute to the soci-economic development of their communities.

“Here the girls are exposed to a lot of things. Its amazing what creating an opportunity can do in the life of someone who appears to be a nobody. So, we must work tirelessly to ensure that more women are at the decision table”, she added just as she charged women to go back to the drawing board by reconfigure how they raise their sons to become responsible and compassionate husbands to their wives.

Mrs. Akeredolu while commending NAWOJ for the good work it has been doing as a body in calling attention to cases of violence against women and children, she further urged them to be at the forefront of promoting girl child education given that the way a society turns out is closely tied to level of its women's education.

Earlier in her address, the state chairperson of NAWOJ, Mrs. Doris Olumoko applauded Mrs. Akeredolu for embarking on various initiatives like BRECAN, BEMORE and FOWOSO as a way of reaching out to women and the girl-child saying her giant strides are greatly commendable.

While assuring her that NAWOJ as a body is solidly behind her, Mrs. Olumoko also called for supports towards actualization of the goals of the association.

The State Information Technology Agency (SITA) has assured the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission (OCHC) of adequate data needed for the smooth take-off of the contributory health insurance scheme in the state.

Senior Special Assistant to the governor on ICT, Mr. Olumbe Akinkugbe while receiving the management team of the commission in his office said, SITA has the required digital capacity and adequate manpower needed for the commission to deliver quality healthcare to the door steps of the residents of the state regardless of where they live, work or play.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Agency Mrs. Bunmi Omotola, the SSA, who doubles as Chairman of the Agency, explained that the present administration under the able leadership of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has done a lot to scale up the operations of SITA to an enviable heights so as to serve as infrastructural and digital backbone for all MDAs.

According to Akinkugbe, lack of internet facilities in the Agency will soon be a thing of the past, as government has graciously approved broadband internet services for the use of MDAs to enhance productivity.

Earlier, the General Manager of the Commission, Dr. Abiodun Oyeneyin, had solicited the cooperation of SITA in the area of accurate data and software development that will enable the Commission meet the health needs of the greater number of Ondo State residents, especially the rural dwellers

Dr. Oyeneyin, who emphasized that it is the right of Nigerians to have unhindered access to quality and affordable healthcare added that the target of the Commission is to work with adequate and verifiable data of the vulnerable, public/civil servants, the organized and informal sectors at the unit and ward levels of the state which could only be provided by SITA.

The two bodies later agreed to set up a technical team to smooth all the rough edges for the quick and effective take-off of the scheme.