ReadySetWork 2019 Kicks Off With Sensitization Programs At LASU, LASPOTECH

It was a trail-blazing event, lit with pomp and pageantry as the Lagos State University Ojo received the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr Tokunbo Wahab on a sensitization programme aimed at flagging off this year’s edition of the ReadySetWork program, an employability and entrepreneurship skills training program of The Office of the Special Adviser on Education targeted at final year students of Lagos State-owned tertiary institutions set up with the goal of equipping the students with market -facing knowledge and attitudinal skills.

The event kicked off with a courtesy call to the Office of the Vice Chancellor of LASU, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun where the Special Adviser reiterated the government’s commitment to the continuation of the ReadySetWork program as the template for providing a rounded learning experience for final year students as they make their way into the career world or choose the path of enterprise by running their own start -up businesses.

LASU, LASPOTECH, College of Nursing, Igando and Caleb University are the four tertiary institutions that have been selected for this year’s edition of ReadySetWork and 5000 students will participate in the program for a period of twelve weeks.

The program kicks off on Saturday the 23rd of November 2019.

OGUN STATE INFRASTRUCTURES: "WE NEED HELP". As Governor Dapo Abiodun Pleads African Finance Corporation For Supports

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has welcomed the plan by the African Finance Corporation (AFC) to partner with the State Government to reconstruct the all-important Atan-Lusada-Agbara Road in the country's biggest industrial hub located in Ado-Odo/Otta Local Government Area and Agbara-Igesa Local Council Development Area of the State.

Governor Abiodun also declared a state of emergency on flood-ravaged Isheri North on its border with Lagos State by the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and other affected areas in the State.

According to the Governor, the Isheri flood problem was beyond the State and the deplorable state of the Atan-Lusada-Agbara Road, which plays host to over 70 industries manufacturing various consumer goods being distributed across the country, “is worse than a nightmare whenever it rains.”

Notable industries in the axis include GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Unilever, Nestle Plc, Beloxxi Group, Procter & Gamble, Sunsteel Industries Ltd, Cometstar Manufacturing Company Ltd, GZ Industries, Drury Industries Limited among others.

"I stopped by at Isheri where we have lots of Estates and the state of road infrastructure is deplorable. Currently, the place is totally flooded, and the entire estates have been submerged. I told the flood victims that this place requires us to declare a state of emergency, and we are actually going to do that because the problem is beyond the State," the Governor said, when he received a four-man team from the AFC, led by the Senior Director, Mr. Taiwo Adeniji, in Abeokuta.

Prince Abiodun said that his government had since realised that the biggest issues for the people of the state was the state of infrastructures, especially the state ecology and bad road network.

"The area is mixed with industrial and residential estates. There is a lot of development going on there and people have abandoned their houses - beautiful houses. This is because the roads are non-existent, there are no drainages, houses are built on flood plains, so we need help," he pleaded on the flooded Isheri Estate.

He said the State had a lot of infrastructural challenges, being the as it was the closest to the biggest economy in the country, adding that the task now was how to provide water, electricity, good roads and other amenities to those who choose to live and invest in the State.

He commended the financial institution for showing interest in partnering with the State to address the deficiency in infrastructure, saying that he was happy with the choices of roads which the Corporation indicated interest in.

Residents, commuters and motorists plying the Atan-Lusada-Agbara route have for over six years been lamenting the hardship they are facing as a result of the poor state of the roads that spread across the areas.

Also, the industries in the Atan-Agbara axis noted that the deplorable state of the roads has become a major hindrance to productivity, which had not only become a nightmare but a threat to their existence as goods worth hundreds of millions of naira are lost to frequent accidents on the roads.

Efforts to get the Ogun State Government to do palliative works on the road had so far yielded no result. Transporters on the route also groan in pains, as the lifespan of the vehicles plying the route have been drastically reduced while human lives are put at risk as they travel through.

The Governor added that his administration was poised to make roads in the state motorable for ease of doing business and for the people and goods to move with relative ease.

"I am happy you have mentioned in particular, Agbara. It is the biggest industrial hub in the country, but the state of roads in the area is totally and unbelievably terrible. It is bad and I am glad the road is of interest to you. We have received a number of proposals on that road, but this is a credible offer coming from the African Finance Corporation (AFC)," Governor Abiodun stated.

By the new arrangement based on the State Government's Private-Public Sector Partnership, also to be fixed by AFC is the Ijebu Ode-Epe road.

The Governor noted that he was pleased that, “the Ijebu Ode-Epe Road is a road that is an alternative road to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. These two roads are of concern to us too. Once these roads are reconstructed, it will free up the volume of traffic on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, especially with the population explosion in that corridor," he said.

In his remarks, the Senior Director, African Business Corporation, Mr. Taiwo Adeniji, said the Corporation in partnership with the private sector, focuses more on roads, power, telecommunications and heavy industry projects and was currently developing infrastructures in 28 African countries. He noted that his visit was to see how the Corporation could help in developing infrastructure that could assist in driving more development in Ogun State.

Throwing more light into AFC programmes, Adeniji in an interview said, "we focus on roads that have commercial viability, the roads that can pay for themselves. Atan-Agbara and Epe-Ijebu-Ode Roads are some of the roads that can be done on Public-Private Partnership basis.

"Africa Financial Corporation brings in its technical capacity and the finance to fix the roads and the users pay a token amount. We intend to engage with the industries within the industrial areas and discuss these roads with them. We will be transparent, we will let them know how much the roads will cost and how it is going to be paid for.

“We think that would be a better arrangement than the current situation where the roads are impassable. We have done similar projects in other African countries and the people there are better for it," he concluded.

E-signed 

Kunle Somorin

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dapo Abiodun

BUKOLA OLOPADE AND THE JAC MOTORS MARATHON: REPOSITIONING OGUN ON THE WORLD MAP THROUGH SPORTS.

Until this year after eight years, Ogun State has lost track on the progress made in Sports and Youth  Development. 

Here is a state that hosted the Youth World Cup, All African Games among many other world class events.
No doubt, not only that the state was able to develop it's sporting facilities, several talents were discovered both locally and internationally.
There is a man that has his name directly attached to the success recorded while registering the state on the Sport's  World Map Bukola Olopade

Bukola Olopade was able to administer the state ministry of Youth and Sports for good eight years (you can imagine what level of experience and exposure he would have gathered). It is safe to say, he has become the best Youth and Sport administrator Ogun State has ever produced using sport and other developmental activities to engage the youths.
As stated earlier, the gains recorded over these period went down the drain, the government refused to fund the ministries as expected, the facilities were abandoned to rot away, while the state owned contingents, including the Gateway Football Club (the state owned football club) were at their lowest performance.

Owning to the hostile sociopolitical environment that trailed the immediate past administration, Ogun State lost the best opportunities to have consolidated on previous administration's investment on sports as a catalyst to economic growth.
Thankfully, OZO (as Bukola Olopade in fondly called) didn't stay too far from home, he stayed just at the backyard (Lagos) helping the state to develop it's sporting activities.

As a seasoned sport administrator that he is, he rejected several offers to work on full time appointment from many states stating that he cannot "stay too far away from home".
One thing you cannot take away from him is his capacity and passion for Youth development through sports.
The organizer of Access Marathon in Lagos that is now worth several millions of dollars in investment has chosen Ogun state to organize yet another MARATHON RACE.

Come 2nd November 2019, THE JAC MOTORS ABEOKUTA MARATHON RACE 2019 will berth in Ogun state, kick starting another round of prosperity for the state and the people. Not less than 1,000 has registered to be part of this race. Doing the economic calculations of this singular events, apart from engaging people actively, the small and medium businesses in and around Abeokuta will definitely count their blessings. The hospitality industry and the tourism will be the major beneficiaries.
Undoubtedly, the wait is over as Ogun State is going back to its rightful position as Sports Tourism Destination in Nigeria and Africa at large.

God Bless JAC Motors
God Bless Nilayo
God Bless Abeokuta
God Bless Ogun State.

AN OPEN LETTER TO MY FRIENDS: NIGERIA TRULY DESERVES SPIRITUAL CLEANSING - By Adedamola Adetayo

A social media analyst Mr. Adedamola Adetayo has joined the fold of people calling for spiritual cleansing of Nigeria's many woes.

Adetayo in an "Open Letter" shared on his facebook page wondered how successive government has failed to position the country into glorious path.

The writer lamented  that the people should "be realistic enough to know all these problems didn't just pour down on us and they won't go away, not even if we gathered all our clergies to take over all the leadership positions in the country"


Read Full Text:


Dear Friends

Please allow me write just one of the things harassing my mind so I can go back to my hibernation in peace!

Those who know me personally know that I contend with a multitude of mind-bending pressures that task my supreme effort of Willpower. It has been very tough. But you see, even in my own personal struggles, excruciating as they are, they pale into insignificance when placed side-by-side the misery i see all around the society and the country as a whole!

I have always convinced myself that very surely, we have offended some people because what we are going through as a people can't be "ordinary eyes" as our people will say!

Dr. Reuben Abati, inspite of himself and his recently crooked history, once told us that there were demons in Aso Rock that kind of manipulate the occupants there and by extension our leaders at the various levels and tiers of Government!

I think that man can't be too far from the truth!

Yes, we have CORRUPTION!
Yes, we are grossly unruly and Indisciplined!
Yes, we have leaders who are blinded by greed and followers who are stupidly docile!
Yes, we even know very well that our country runs on poor political and fiscal structures!
Yes, these problems didn't start today!!!

But in all of these, have we ever attempted to be realistic enough to know all these problems didn't just pour down on us and they won't go away, not even if we gathered all our clergies to take over all the leadership positions in the country?

I think we need to ASK HARD QUESTIONS. We need to STOP and review. We are not heading anywhere!

Imagine!

In 1998, Obasanjo was just within inches of his life. He came out,  got installed as President and right under our noses he did exactly what Abacha did, may be even worse! He became an emperor and was going to do 3rd term. A man that was just lucky to be alive!!!

Jonathan came under uncommon Grace. It was Providence but he became the almighty and all powerful President and C-IN-C of this same Nigeria. An Ijaw man from the same long-suffering Niger Delta. What did he do. He was dancing in Kano and Ibadan hours after Nyanyan bomb blast in Abuja and about the same time news of Chinook came! What changed in Niger Delta or about the multitude of injustices in Nigeria?

The other day we saw the Bauchi state Governor importing a wife from God-knows-where and able-bodied family men, Exco of a State lined up at the airport to receive them!

One Governor was said to have appointed three separate SAs to his three wives.

Rochas Okoroacha opened a brand new Ministry of Happiness for his sister!

The one in Kogi is a complete story entirely

In Ogun and Lagos states, the Governors are practically missing!

Look at the effrontery of Bola Tinubu and Ibikunle Amosun. How can men be so blinded by material things???? These weren't even yours, you practically tool them off the common wealth of the same suffering people!!!!

The last time President Buhari visited that NASS, jokingly and playfully, he started the 4+4 sign and the thing went viral!

Yesterday, at the same NASS, the man has told you jokingly and playfully that he had caught COLD!

Right on cue, we have started to hear of one Madam Minister that will soon move into za oza room as it  has become cold room!

It's a rumour now of course but you can be sure it will soon be a reality right under our noses!

In all of the troubles of this country, does it even make sense at this troubled state of our National life?

If Buhari eventually does that at 75year of age shouldn't we then be convinced that truly snakes have hands as our Elders will say?

No, these things are so rampant, so regular, so consistent, so audacious and get so mind shattering, they can't be Naturally!!!!

Surely, no man or group of men can be so callously insensitive to millions of people!

There is something controlling these people and ultimately controlling our lives!

I tell you, OUR PROBLEM IS SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL!

We are a people that sold millions of slaves!
We are a people that broke faith with our ancestors!
We are a people disconnecting with our spirituality, culture, language and values!
We are a people with a confused identity, a people who have abandoned their familiar paths and taken to strange paths!

We are a people who have completely missed our way!!!

We are a people being expertly railroaded and manipulated into destruction!

We must realise this and we must STOP AND REVERSE!

DAPO ABIODUN: RESTORING THE DIGNITY OF GOVERNOR'S SEAT

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR. 

His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR is gradually restoring the dignity attachable to the seat of power in Ogun State.

Gone are the days when the citizens wake up to just hear a certain government policy and programs has either been newly enacted, reviewed or abolished.

His slogan #AjoseGbogboWaaNii could not have been better expressed than the practical steps DA is taking in carrying out the business of government.

Setting up of different ad-hoc committees in other to ascertain the true position of things in some of government Parastatals and Establishments is a pointer to the fact that everyone in the state will have opportunity of inputs in policy formulations of government.

The Transport Committee, The Project Review Committee, The MAPOLY, MAUSTECH and Ogun Poly Committee among others have not only restored normalcy in those key areas of governance, it has afforded individuals with ideas, suggestions and opinions on how things can better be done to make their inputs.

 Doing the right thing the right way is surely restoring confidence of both the residents as well as those who have their business interests within and around the state.

"Slow And Steady Wins The Race"

RESEARCHER ADVOCATES FOR BREADFRUIT AS SUBSTITUTE TO WHEAT FLOUR

Breadfruit Fruits and Bread made with various percentage of High Quality Breadfruit Flour Inclusion  

A food scientist, Mr. Tijani Akeem Olumide has urged the government and stakeholders in the country to take advantage of the potential in breadfruit crop as the needed alternative to cassava for domestic consumption and industrial use.

Tijani, a Doctoral student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), stated that the usage of cassava as wheat flour is getting to the tipping point, adding that adoption of breadfruit to serve that purpose and more is the way to go.

According to him, successive administration in the country have been worried about the high cost of wheat flour which is the major component of confectioneries such as bread, pastries, biscuits, spaghetti among others, he added that there is need for enhanced public education on the benefits of the crop.

The food scientist who is a Research Officer with National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), lamented that despite Nigeria being the largest cassava producing nation in the world, "About 90 per cent  of the cassava produced in Nigeria is used for the production of traditionally fermented food especially garri and fufu with less than 10 per cent of industrial application for the production of starch, chips, animal feeds, glucose, fructose syrup and high quality cassava flour, with all these multiple uses of cassava it is doubtful if the quality of flour required by the millers could be met."

Picture of Outcome for recent researched inclusion of High Quality Breadfruit Flour (HQBF) 

Making his report known on his social media page, the food scientists averred further that," It is a known fact that the high cost of wheat flour which is the major component of confectioneries such as bread, pastries, biscuits, spaghetti etc has become a great source of concerns for successive governments.

Despite various efforts by past administrations of President Olusegun Obasanjo nand President Goodluck Jonathan to get the inclusion of cassava flour to 40% in 2015, report shows that the nation has yet significantly reduced the importation of wheat flour to the desired level.

Olumide noted that "the high cost of wheat flour led to the need for partial substitution of wheat flour with high quality cassava flour and other gluten free flour."

Noting that the fears of major stakeholders, farmers, processors, millers and master bakers regarding the acceptance of cassava-bread by the consumers especially those with contempt for cassava as a poor man’s food has not been adequately addressed thus, he said this is still leaving a very wide gap for finding a better substitution of wheat flour.

The doctoral student who possesses a  BSc in Food Science and Technology and MSc in Food Processing And Storage Technology stressed that several studies have reported the potentials of composite flour technology as a means of reducing the dependency of wheat for the production of bakery products and encourage the use of locally grown crops as flour for the production of baking products, adding that this leads to saving foreign exchange and diversification of Agricultural produce in food processing.

He noted that breadfruit current total yield production in Nigeria is about 10million metric tones with potential to exceed 100million metric tones with improved agricultural practices and this is capable of meeting the desired needs in contents and volume.

In his recent research work, Olumide with 16 international publications and several local presentations to his credit shows that high quality breadfruit flour that is unfermented, white, smooth and odourless can be included up to 20% and the sensory evaluation was as good compared to even 5% cassava flour inclusion.

ANJORIN DYNASTY OF OTA RAISES ALARM OVER IMPOSTOR USING FAMILY NAME TO GAIN PUBLICITY

HRM Oba (Prof.) Adeyemi Obalanlege, The Olota of Ota 

The Anjorin Family of ISOLOSHI COMPOUND of Ota in Ado-Odo Ota local government of Ogun State have raised alarm over alleged "name dropping" of yet to be identified individual(s).

In a statement made available to the public by the spokesman of the family, Prince Wale Anjorin expressed concern how the name of their patriach Alhaji H T Anjorin (now late) find its way into the congratulatory message published in the brochure to celebrate the 1st Coronation of Oba Professor Adeyemi Obalanlege as Olota of Ota.


In the statement, the family wondered how the imposter came up with nonexistent Isoloshi Ruling House used in congratulating the monarch.

The family therefore dissociate itself from any attempt to drag the peaceful and respected name of The Anjorin into any coalition with anybody.

Late Alhaji H T Anjorin 

READ FULL STATEMENT

DISCLAIMER!!! 

The attention of the family of Late Alhaji Hassan Taiwo Anjorin has been drawn to a congratulatory message published on page 83 of the Brochure to celebrate the 1st Coronation Anniversary of Olota of Ota purportedly from our late sage, Alhaji H. T Anjorin for Isoloshi Ruling House.

We'd like to state here categorically that;

1. The ruling house name "Isoloshi Ruling House" for which the old man was said to have felicitated on behalf is NON EXISTING.

2, The message in the said publication is the making of mischief makers whose motive is not clear to us.

3. We'd like to emphasis that the said publication DOES NOT come from the old man, as he was on sick bed since April which eventually led to his death on the 3rd of July, 2019.

4. All efforts made to reach the Publicity Committee on the just concluded event to find out how they came about the publication was not successful as no one was able to ascertain who inserted it.

5. We therefore find it our own prerogative to put things in the right perspective to not mislead the general public, hence, this rejoinder.

Thank you.

Mr. 'Wale Anjorin,
08023489458
Ishokorun Court,
Isoloshi Compound,
Osi, Ota, Ogun State
For Alh H. T Anjorin Family.

IN PLACE OF RUGA: DAPO ABIODUN PROFFERS WIN-WIN SOLUTION By: Divine Oyindamola Osas

A Modern Cattle Ranch

The ideology behind the initiative of Governor Dapo Abiodun's Ranching in Ogun state ought to be met with resounding applause through out the country. This should be implemented in place of the national peace threatening rural grazing area (RUGA) proposed by the Federal government. The attendant condemnation, outcry and rejection of the policy especially four of the six geopolitical zones of the country are enough testimony its in-  acceptability in the country. What is not hidden is the challenge the incessant clash between  the nomadic herdsmen and rural farmers in the country with respect to security of investment in both divides.

The Federal Government , the farmers, the herdsmen and by extension, the whole country would not only find succour in the idea put forward by Ogun State government but would ensure sustainable peace.

The modern ranching as proposed in  Ogun,  if successfully executed would address the deficit of ideas and imbalance noticeable in RUGA. It would completely eradicate the mutual suspicion of an ethnic domination and annihilation from the ownership of historical lands.

Governor Dapo Abiodun (middle) flanked by Irish Dairy Milk Executives

Many commentators, policy formulators, nationalists, consider  RUGA  dangerous for not limited to three reasons.

 First, it is condemned as act of nepotism as its established stylishly confer special status on  category of Nigerians, Fulani herdsmen, outside their native land.

Second, it would accord to those “special” citizens privileges and advantages not accorded to other Nigerians, contrary to section 42 of the Constitution.

  Thirdly, the critics consider it  offensive to  the sensibilities of other  nationalities who are naturally disadvantage in one form or the other economical but not fend for through government intervention.  For example, ideology opines that the seasonal movement of the herdsmen from northern part of the country is caused principally by the factors. The availability of greener pastures in the southern part of the nation as well as the prevalent of tsetse flies in the north at drought which usually lead to high infestation of "typanosomiasis " , a disease termed sleeping disease in cattle husbandry that affect the humped herds.

It is argued that if crude oil pipe could be laid from the southern part to a refinery in the northern part of the country to serve Kaduna refinery, given the avalanche of landed property in the northern part, well funded irrigation initiative should suffice at providing enough irrigation for the cultivation of pastures for the consumption of the cattle.

Let's not forget STILL that pastoral agro-ecosystem is a private entity and appropriating grazing areas for this course hold no
economic advantage to the state, it only vies to enrich and strengthen a particular sect of Nigerians

Whatever other truly improved system of exploiting the pastoral agro-ecosystem as practiced by the Fulani herdsmen up  north, it seems it seldom can indict sedentarized tendencies and rarely can it be less intensive than ranching. All hands should  be on deck as we urge all well meaning sons of the state to embrace this scheme as it promises to enrich the vaults of the state. The advantages are numerous;

1. *BEEF PRODUCTION*:

 This would improve the quality of the beef in the market but  reduce cost of  beef. Good for the citizens and enriches the pockets of the states.

2. *DIARY/MILK PRODUCTION:* The availability of quality milk, as it  encourages the production of diary products like *_condensed milk, yogurts, cheese and ice cream_*. All of which when sold produces returns to the state Government and makes things easier for the citizens.

*3. EMPLOYMENT:* The absence of a reliable data bank, and  renewed census by  the Federal Government, rendered her prostrate on actual status of the  unemployed hands to match it with  capable labour, hence its efforts has always been like throwing stone into a well and then listening to hear the sound and how long it took it to resonates before determining the depth of the well.

 But,  with this modern ranching initiative the state Government would be seen as taking care of her own as the workforce needed in running it is widely vast.
_These and many  more, like the production of cow hides, buttons, calcium, and even manure for farmers from the cow's dung would readily available as raw material.

Besides this would  go a long way to show  a thinking and proactive head in the seat of leadership for the Ogun state people, a man who is interested in making the state better than what he met, a progressive thinker and trouble shooter.

 Ranching has always been an alien word from the developed western world. We hear of cowboys not Fulani herdsmen, and no better time to act than now, now when we are about to be ordered to give up our lands, now when unemployment in the country is at its peak.

JAGUNMOLU APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVISER ON HOUSING

Jagunmolu Akande Omoniyi

Former House of Representatives aspirant under African Democratic Party, Hon. Jamiu Akande Omoniyi, FCA has been appointed as the Special Adviser on Housing to Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

In a statement signed by the Chief Secretary, Mr. Kunle Somorin and made available to the press, the popular Joga Orile born politician was the Ogun West Senatorial District Campaign Director for Dapo Abiodun Campaign Organisation (DACO) during the last general election.

The 50 year old Joga chief, Jagunmou is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) who started his working career with Berger Paints Nigeria PLC in 1994 where he rose to become Credit Controller. He was Regional Director (North) Abbey Mortgage PLC. In April 2009, he resigned to float his business conglomerate C2Q Holding. The Estate development arm of his company has delivered homes to 5,000 Nigerian families in Abuja and Lagos.

While reacting to the appointment, Chief Jamiu Akande Omoniyi noted that it is a call for him to serve the good people of Ogun State.

MEET NEWLY APPOINTED KEY OFFICIALS FOR GOVERNOR DAPO ABIODUN

Dapo Okubadejo

The Chief Economic Adviser, Dapo Okubadejo is a Partner & Africa Head of Deal Advisory & Private Equity at KPMG. He is an expert on Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Project Finance, Investments, Private Equity and business transformation. With about 28 years of professional experience, he has acted as Corporate Financial Adviser to many foreign and local investors in Nigeria and across Africa.

Dapo started his professional career in Arthur Andersen in 1992 and spent over a decade where he rose to the position of Senior Manager and consulted for more than 40 companies in oil & gas, consumer goods and financial services on many projects in Assurance, Business Strategy & Planning, Financial Restructuring and Business Transformation.

In 2006, Dapo was promoted to the KPMG partnership as an Equity Partner and rose to become the Head of Deal Advisory & Private Equity for West Africa and Africa in 2009 and 2012 respectively. He was elected to the KPMG Nigeria Policy Board in 2017.

Dapo is a recognized expert on Africa business and investments landscape and has been invited as a resource person, faculty, panelist and moderator at many international conferences, seminars and fora such as the World Economic Forum, Harvard Business School Africa forum, London Business School Africa, among others. He has written many articles on investment opportunities in Nigeria and Africa, Doing business in Africa and Private Equity in Nigeria and has delivered many lectures on corporate finance, business valuations, IPO and private equity.

Dapo and his team have won many international awards and recognition, the latest of which is the 2018 Global Financial Advisor award by the Private Equity Africa organization for the second consecutive year.

Dapo Okubadejo holds a 2nd Class Upper Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria in 1990 & as a UK FCO Chevening Scholar, holds a Master of Finance degree in International Finance with Distinction from the University of Glasgow, UK in 2003. He is a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) from the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts, USA. He qualified as an Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria in 1996 and became a Fellow (FCA) in 2006. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. He is an alumnus of the Global Executive Leadership program of INSEAD, France as well as the Lagos Business School, Gordon Institute of Business Studies (GIBS) South Africa, London Business School UK and Harvard Business School USA, where he attended several leadership and management development courses.

Rt. Hon. Tunji Egbetokun 

The Senior Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Hon. Tunji Egbetokun was Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly between 2008 and 2011. He had also served in the capacity of Senior Special Adviser, Political and Intergovernmental Affairs between 2011 and 2014. Before then, he was Secretary to the Obafemi Owode Local Government.

Mrs. Modele Sarafa

The new Special Adviser on Information, Modele Sarafa-Yusuf, is an award-winning media practitioner with a cumulative 32 years of experience in journalism and Marketing Communications. She has varied experience contributing to, and leading, corporate marketing and internal communications. Sarafa-Yusuf is a respected leader of sponsorships and public relations departments and a Concept developer and coordinator of marketing campaigns which effectively reinforce and build brand image.

The first woman sportscaster in Africa, and a 1996 Nigerian Media Merit Award winner, she has been described as one of the best sportscasters that Nigeria ever produced.
In 16 years of journalism with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Modele was not only a sports broadcaster, she was also a columnist for magazines, a guest writer for newspapers, a script writer for television shows and a producer of documentaries and programmes for radio and television: in fields as diverse as business, culinary, current affairs, crime, and education.

Between 2007 and 2011, she was Globacom’s Head of Sponsorships (West Africa), at which time she led a team of very talented people on projects such as the Glo CAF Awards, The Lagos International Half Marathon, The Glo Premier League in Nigeria and Ghana, and the first-in-Africa relationship with Manchester United FC among others.

Before then, she was Marketing Communications /Sponsorship Manager with Globacom at the inception of the company in 2003.

Between 2012 and 2013, Modele was Director of Marketing at the prestigious American University of Nigeria, and upon retirement, she returned to her first love: the world of journalism. She currently produces and anchors arguably Nigeria’s highest rated TV personality interview program: "View From the Top". She also works as an Independent Communications Consultant for several organizations.

Modele has a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Ife and a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Lagos.

OLALEKAN Olude 

Award winning entrepreneur and technocrat with expertise in building and backing enduring companies across African, Olalekan Adeniyi Olude, the new Special Adviser on Job Creation and Youth Empowerment started his career as a Technology Analyst with Goldman Sachs, arguably the largest investment bank in the world. He holds an OND in Electrical Engineering at the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, a BSc in Computer Science and Engineering. Olude is an alumnus of Lagos Business School and the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. His forte is building pan-African businesses and his strength lies in maximizing outcomes for people. Until his appointment, Olude was co-founder and Executive Director at Rovedana Limited, a business process outsourcing company that provides employment to more than 2000 Nigerians across different industries and specializations by upscaling them and placing them into employment with over 100 companies. He was also a co-founder of Jobberman Limited, the leading job site in sub-Saharan Africa and was a founding partner of the African Talents Company in South Africa – a pan African Executive Recruitment Company with offices in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania.

The new Special Adviser on Housing is 50-year-old Jamiu Akande Omoniyi. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA). He started his working career with Berger Paints Nigeria PLC in 1994 where he rose to become Credit Controller. He was Regional Director (North) Abbey Mortgage PLC. In April 2009, he resigned to float his business conglomerate C2Q Holding. The Estate development arm of his company has delivered homes to 5,000 Nigerian families in Abuja and Lagos.   

Babatunde Olaotan

Hon (Otunba) Babatunde Olaotan, the Special Adviser (Government House) was born September 13, 1972, in Ilaro Ogun State.  He obtained a 1997 Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Accounting at Federal Polytechnic Ilaro and Higher National Diploma (HND) from the same institution in 1999. After a brief stint at First Bank of Nigeria, he was appointed by the Yewa South Local Government as Supervisor for Agriculture. In 2004, Babatunde Olaotan was in Manchester College of Professional studies, where he studied computer and information technology. He started his working career with NWSG Company in the United Kingdom (UK) before relocating to the United States of America in 2007, where he studied Nursing at Camtech International College Newark Delaware USA. He also worked at Cadia Rehabilitation Wilinton and Regal Height Nursing Home.
He became the Personal Assistant on Political matters to the Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola (Yayi) in August 2015.

HBO is also the Personal Assistant to the new Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dr Dapo Abiodun. He was the Deputy Director, Contacts and Mobilization for Dapo Abiodun Campaign Organization. He served as the Chairman Transport committee for Prince Dapo Abiodun Pre- Inauguration activities.

Ojo Emmanuel 

Emmanuel Adediran Ojo is a New Media expert with specialties in New Media Analytics and Digital Marketing. His extensive experience spans over nine (9) years. He hails from Imeko, in Imeko Afon Local Government area of Ogun state. A seasoned professional in the development and deployment of strategic media engagement, Emmanuel Ojo has extensive knowledge of new media trends, tools and analytics platforms and he often deploy same in strategic communication, monitoring, reporting and digital analysis. igital and social media landscape. This unique skill facilitates his significant ability in tracking, monitoring, and analyzing public and personal reputation in a unique form. In his career so far, he has worked with different online groups. He is a resourceful and savvy online specialist who is not only able to oversee various social media channels, but is also able to contribute to its daily content offering and audience conversion.

Ojo was the Head of New Media department at Infostrategy Limited He was also part of the media intervention team for National Identity Management Commission's, (NIMC) public sensitization on National Identity Number (NIN) project in 2013/2014.

He is a thoroughbred perception manager with proven skills in Public and Political Communication especially in the Ogun state political terrain. He once served as a member of PDP Presidential Online Media team in 2015.

Ojo holds a Higher National Diploma in Business Administration and Management Studies from the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta. He also bagged a Second Class Upper division Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Business Management from Crescent University, Abeokuta. He has attended various Business development and New Media Marketing Trainings and Work Shops across the country and beyond.

Emmanuel Ojo is a recipient of 17 Awards of recognition from various social and professional bodies. In 2013, he was invited into the Junior Chamber International, Nigeria Noble House as a JCIN Ambassador.

Until his appointment, he was the Assistant Media Director for Dapo Abiodun Campaign Organization - DACO and also served as the Secretary, Media and Publicity Sub Committee for the governorship inauguration ceremony.

E-Signed
Kunle Somorin
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

MACABRE DANCE OF DESPERATE APM MARAUDERS. By Prince Ibraheem Adegbokiki

Prince Ibraheem Adegbokiki 

Since the emergence of Prince Dapo Abiodun  as the Governor of Ogun State, the desperados and marauders had not woken  from their political slumber.  Ogun APC's victory seems  a mirage to them still. Their political inferiority  Imbues  with excessive mouth diarrhoea  simply because of APC membership civility which granted them the audacity to move  freely in town contrary to what it could have been if their party had won. The leadership style of a despot showcases, fear, intimidation, suppression and brute as witnessed in the eight years administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun FCA, the runs contrary to what true leaders reflect while in power; respect, empathy and loyalty  but not surrogacy with indoctrination.

They refused to realize that All Progressives Congress in Ogun State had been under the peaceful auspices of  experienced, throughly-bred and seasoned politicians. Ogun State citizens now enjoy relatively peace in all the nooks and crannies of the 20 Local government areas.

Despite their unlimited violence, unprovoked attacks, unnecessary bigotry and egoism against their perceived political opponents during the last electioneering campaign, the supporters of Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of Ogun State had never launched any attack against them but rather allow many of them who are doing businesses with government to continue. Many APC members are even astonished.  Why should Governor Dapo Abiodun allow Akeem Adeosun, Jango, Ẹsẹ Murphy, Wale MTN and others APM biased, transport Union leaders, who mostly supervised the attacks and  unleashed violence against Ogun APC members,  continue their usual economic activities in transport Unions without impediment?

Many of the APM members and their apologists are unnecessarily embittered about their colossal loss in the last election. They didn't expect the catastrophic failure.  They put all hopes on the anticipated victory at the poll  as last hope, what a state of oblivion, to have forgotten that,  no single  man rules forever!

 Unfortunately, God Almighty is greater than all  Emperors put together with their antics. Only God enthrones and dethrones. This calls for deep retrospect for all who find themselves on the corridor of power because power is very transient. The same electorates who elected you can also reject in response to  your style of leadership.

Ipso facto, it is never unlucky for APM members to stop their macabre dance and face the reality. They can do better in the next election, if they start their preparation now. Politics is not a do or die game.

PIA writes from Oke Ogun, Abeokuta North

"AMOSUN'S ABANDONED PROJECTS: REALITY TO CONTEND WITH BY DAPO ABIODUN GOVERNMENT" BY-NAME Prince Ibraheem Adegbokiki (PIA)

The beauty of democracy is to bequeath on the  people, a well prioritised  dividends in tandem with  people's needs .



The rate of abandoned projects in Ogun State raised serious concerns for good citizens who want  developments for the state. From 110 Kilometers Ilara Ijohun Ọja Ọdan - Ilasẹ - Eggua road which cuts across all Local government areas in Yewa (Excluding Awori),
7.5 kilometer Magboro - Ilu Oba road in Obafemi Owode Local government, 34 kilometer Lafenwa -Rounda-Ayetooro road. Other abandoned projects include; 8.7 kilometer OGTV-Brewery Road,       
9 kilometer Ojere Adatan Road, 26 Kilometer Ilisan Ago-Iwoye Road,     45 kilometers Ikangba-Ilese-Imusin-Ife-Itele-Ogbere road, 29 Kilometer Ofada-Mowe-Ibafo Road, 22.7 Kilometer Papalanto-Ilaro Fed Poly Road, 37.7 kilometer Atan-Agbara-Lusada-Igbesa-Alapoti Road, 43 Kilometer Sango-Ijoko-Ojodu-Abiodun road, 7 Kilometer Lafenwa Enugada-Adatan Road, 12 Kilometer Magboro Underway, Imeko Afon bridges among others.

There exist on the education sector a litany of abandoned projects. From the  construction of state initiated  model schools projects to intervention projects of the donors supervise by the state, all are today in a state of comatose. The initiator of the model schools, former Governor Amosun, jettisoned the idea and abandoned the multi billion naira projects across the 20 Local government areas of Ogun State, consequently used the funds allocated for the projects for another fresh ones.  The abandoned model schools,  virtually, without using third eye, became magnificent houses for repitiles and dangerous animals while only two in Abeokuta North and Ewekoro are in existence. Coupled with several dilapidated public school buildings across the state, Dapo Abiodun's administration would face would face enormous task in correcting the wrongs. He needs to promptly reconsider the policy and revamp the education sector, more so that his administration has declared state of emergency owing to the found decay.

The lists of  abandoned projects also includes the on- going  multi million naira hospital project which the last administration claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari only inspected, but not commissioned during the last days of the administration. Governor Dapo Abiodun himself has  visited Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu.  He lamented on the general neglect and poor management of the  teaching hospital and wondered if the facilities thereof  could  produce qualified Medical  Doctors of value.

According to Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, " OOU teaching hospital was at a time ranked the first and best teaching hospital in this country " Unfortunately, today, the institution has  lost all accreditations,  I mean all. At the  mortuary, the morgues now roast than freeze,  the theaters are in shambles, the wards, the state of the hospital is better imagined than seen yet,  an administration commenced and embarked on the building of various  white elephant projects including the tagged  250 bed space hospital, while a teaching hospital of that nature had sung to that level. The questions begging for answer are ; How did we get here?" Dapo Abiodun asked.

 To save our people from these ugly situations we found ourselves, the governor  promised to upgrade, equip and staff 236 Primary health centers across the state  where people can visit to get health care services.

 Ogun State citizens deserve the best infrastructures, enhanced  standard of living, with enabling environment to transact good  businesses. The rural dwellers also need good roads for ease of conveyance of  Agricultural produce, the manufacturers as well deserve to be treated well. They are the  tax payers and producers of valuable goods and services. The best incentives any reliable government  can provide for them are good roads, portable water and electricity. The governor needs huge funds to complete all these abandoned and gigantic projects across the state. The current administration would need to go extra miles to review all these projects which had long been been awarded at the prevailed economic indices  many years ago to contractors by the last administration.

 Perhaps, the contractors might had gotten 100% payment for the projects or the funds might have been diverted.
The good citizens of Ogun State now sufer for these uncompleted projects, as they are the targeted end users across the state.

ACCESS BANK SET TO PARTNER OGUN STATE ON CREATIVE ARTS, ICT VILLAGE. PROPOSED 15 STOREY BUILDING IN ABEOKUTA

PRESS STATEMENT

ACCESS BANK TO SET UP 15 STOREY BUILDING, CREATIVE ARTS, ICT VILLAGE IN ABEOKUTA

The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank PLC, Herbert Wigwe Wednesday disclosed plans by the financial institution to erect a 15 storey building and a creative arts and entertainment village in Abeokuta.

The bank also plans a hub for information and communications technology (ICT) software and content development in the state.

Herbert Wigwe who made this known in Oke- Mosan, while on a courtesy visit to the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun said that Access bank was looking at a sector that would sit on 4 major hubs, adding that entertainment,Information Technology and Skills, Nollywood and Music would be looked into.

" I am talking of a sector that will sits on four major hubs - first is entertainment, the second is IT and vocational skills, which will basically ensure that several people from these great state and neighboring states will be trained and given high quality power as far as intellectual content is concerned; the third has to do with Nollywood and the fourth has to do with music," he said.

He noted that Access Bank was looking at establishing a support system in Abeokuta, while also aiming to start the construction of a 15 story building that would help to support their contingency plan for Information Technology, affirming that work would start later in the year

The second is a project that is dear to me and which is to ensure that we start looking at establishing what we refer to as a support system for Access Bank out here in Abeokuta, we are determined to put up a 15 story building out here in Abeokuta which will basically help support contingency plan for IT, help support us as far as our contact center is concerned, ensure that we give Ogun a befitting center if you like, compared to other world class institutions that intend to come out here.

" We will start construction of that site later this year, we will ensure we put our map fully out here in this beautiful city," he said.

The Bank head who also added that the creative sector which has being taken for granted for a long time could employ between two and three million people if looked into.

"The creative sector is a very important sector that people take for granted and if you look at the context of Nigeria, if we get it right, perhaps, coming out of Ogun State, you will find out that we will provide employment over the next five years to perhaps two or three million people coming out of that sector," he said.

In his remarks, the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun  applauded the decision of  Access Bank PLC to partner with the Ogun State government in its quest to build the state through its investment in the Creative Arts and Entertainment Village and its decision to erect a fifteen storey building in the state.

Prince Abiodun said that his government would provide an enabling environment for a Public Private Sector Partnership which would be fundamental to the economic growth of the state,noting that the visit was a clear testimony to the commitment of his administration's desire to provide good governance.

E-signed

Kunle Somorin
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

Minimum Wage: Labour may go on nationwide strike

By Tosin Kolade

The organised labour have alerted Nigerians that plans were underway to embark on industrial action if the current state of affairs as regards the issue of consequential adjustment arising from the new national Minimum wage of N30,000 per month remains the same.

It is operating under the aegis of the Trade Union Side (TUS) of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC); the eight Unions in the Public Services of the Federal and 36 State Governments.

In a press statement in Abuja on Monday, the TUS Acting Chairman, Mr Anchaver Simon, and the Secretary, Mr Alade Lawal, expressed disappointment by government’s effort to derail the implementation of a new National Minimum Wage.

“As things are right now, the government side is only prepared to pay peanuts to workers as adjustment under the pretext that it will soon be undertaking general salary review in the Public Service.”

The committee on Consequential Adjustment of Salary agreed to set up a technical body to work out different scenarios in respect of salaries that would be paid to workers who are in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that draw their emoluments from the government treasury.

The technical committee met severally and series of computations that were to be presented for the plenary for consideration were developed.

The labour leaders stated that the TUS had initially proposed that since the minimum wage was increased by 66.66 per cent; from N18,000.000 to N30,000.00, salaries for officers on Grade Levels 01-17 should be adjusted accordingly to maintain the relativity that exists in the salary structure in the Public Service.

“But when the Government side argued that such increase across board would raise the total wage bill too high, the TUS side reviewed its demand downward and eventually settled for 30 per cent for officers on Grade Levels 07-14 and 25 per cent for those on Grade Levels 15-17.

“The Government side on its part was insisting on 9.5 per cent salary raise for employees on Grade Levels 07-14 and 5 per cent for those on Grade Levels 15-17.

“The two sides then agreed to capture the two positions in the technical committee’s report which will now be presented for discussion at the plenary.”

According to the TUS, it received a rude shock at the last meeting of the Technical Committee when the government side began to hold on to a non-existent position that the Technical Committee’s term of reference was to base its assignment in respect of salary adjustment on what was provided for it in the 2019 budget.

It regretted that the implication of Government’s position was that the Technical Committee cannot go beyond what the Government was pushing for which is 9.5 per cent salary increase for officers on GL 07-14 and 5 per cent for those on GL 15-17.

“With this turn of event, it is quite clear now that some fifth columnists in this Administration are hell bent on pushing President Muhammadu Buhari to enter into a collision course with millions of Nigerian workers in the Public Service. This is very sad,” the Union stated.

The TUS recalled that after the Ama Pepple committee recommended N30,000 monthly new National Minimum Wage, the Government Side went to the press to announce that the negotiation was inconclusive.

It thereafter sent N27,000 and N30,000 monthly National Minimum Wage proposal to the National Council of State and the National Assembly.

“The latter approved N30,000 as the new monthly National Minimum Wage before President Buhari signed it into law on April 18.

“It is indeed perplexing that political office holders whose monthly take home pay runs into millions of Naira are the ones working behind the scene to ensure that Public Service employees especially core Civil Servants continue to receive starvation wages.

“This is why the eight Trade Unions in the Public Service have resolved that enough is enough and that if the Federal Government fails to call its officials to order and direct them to negotiate openly the issue of Consequential Adjustment arising from the new National Minimum Wage, millions of workers at the Federal and 36 States Public Services will have no other alternative than to take some necessary Trade Union actions to seek redress.

“The time for President Buhari to act is now,” the Union emphasised.

Meanwhile, a meeting of officials of the TUS of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council across the Federation is being arranged with the sole aim of setting the records straight.

At the same time TUS is preparing for appropriate Trade Union measures to be deployed to get justice for public service employees.

Credits: Uhuru Times 

NAOSS ELECTION 2019: "I WILL PROTECT AND PROJECT EVERY OGUN STUDENT'S IMAGE". ADE BASH BOAST AS HE DECLARED FOR OMO-OGUN P R O

National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS)
National Body

Official Declaration of Interest to serve

Omo Ogun!

The Central Executive Council,
Distinguished Senators, Stakeholders, Members of this great association.

 My Name is *Abdulazeez Bashir Adegboyega,* I am a native of Igbore, Abeokuta South LGA, Ogun State. I had my primary and secondary education at JOA Nursery and primary school, Abeokuta, and Quine Unic College Owode Yewa respectively.

 I then proceeded to the great citadel of learning; Moshood Abiola polytechnic where I bagged my National Diploma (ND) in Mass Communication. With my zeal and quest for more knowledge, I proceeded to the prestigious University of Lagos (UNILAG) where I am currently studying Political Science.

 Apart from the aforementioned, I have undergone series of digital marketing trainings, public relations seminars which I was certified for participations.

I briefly worked as a digital marketer at OKB and associates, I have worked as a new media experts on different occasions and with different political personalities. I worked in the media team of the Lagos west senator, Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi). At present, I work in the media team of Prince Dapo Abiodun, the governor of Ogun state where I have been able to garner experiences and understanding of the PR works.

My Agenda

The Public Relations Officer is responsible for handling all aspects of planned publicity campaigns and Public Relations Activities of an association  organization or body. It's on this note I present to you my agenda tagged an AGENDA TO REDEFINE NAOSS.

I have done a lot of research to identify what the Public Relations unit of this great association is challenged with, and after so many consultations, research and consideration I have concluded that this Great Association needs a REDEFINED IMAGE.
It is then my desire to project and protect the image of every students of Ogun State home and abroad while publicising every policies and programs beneficial to our members shall remain our cardinal and primary responsibilities.

Without mincing words, I humbly seek your Support for the Office of the NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATION OFFICER PRO 1 as I intend to bridge the all information gap.

Endorse Ade Bash  as I intend to effectively manage the internal and external public of this great association.

Vote ADE BASH as I have been engaging with all necessary quarters to bring to notice all challenges encountered by NAOSSITES.

 I am Ade Bash, and I  need your support to Redefine NAOSS.

E_Signed ✒
Abdulazeez Bashir Adegboyega (Ade Bash)