WHY WE HONORED S.L. AKINTOLA – STUDENTS

                The federation of Oyo State Students Union (FOSSU) National Council and the local chapter of the union at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso have explained why they held a posthumous honorary award and distinguished personality lecture in honor of the former premier of the defunct western region late Samuel Ladoke Akintola.

Ambassador YOMI AKINTOLA receiving the award from the duo of Adeyemi and Oladele

         FOSSU national vice president Abdullahi Adeyemi and FOSSU LAUTECH chapter president Ibrahim Oladele in chart with our correspondent said the program tagged "conferment of posthumous award and distinguished personality lecture in honor of Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola" was to recognize the great work and the good deeds of Akintola and to celebrate the late legacies of the premier as a youth and a role model to the youths in defending the unity of the nation.

The students also proposed the commencement of S.L. Akintola distingused and personality lecture / award where martyrs and distinguished personalities who have excelled in their various fields would be honored. They said they will ensure the execution of the project as from next year to awake youths to their duties in ensuring full participation in anticipating for better Nigeria.

            Abdullahi said it is very disheartening that since the establishment of LAUTECH there have never organized events to celebrate the great work of the martyr in the history of Nigeria politics. He said the need to celebrate him prompted the national body of the union and the institution’s chapter to organize the event that took place at M.K.O. Abiola lecture theatre on the Thursday 27^th September this year. 

        The event which had the attendance of one of the sons of the late premier Ambassador Yomi Akintola who received the posthumous award on behalf of the other members of the family also had the attendance of acting vice chancellor of the university Prof. Sulaimon Gbadegesin, Senator Ayo Adeseun representing Oyo central in the senate, chairmen of Ogbomoso South and Surulere local government areas Hon. Olanrewaju Oladeji and Hon. Ibrahim Gbadeniyi and Prof. O.B.C. Nwolise.

Nwolise who is the head of department of political science university of Ibadan delivered a lecture on “POLITICS AND GOOD GOVERNANCE IN TEMPORARY NIGERIA: THE ROLE OF THE YOUTHS IN ENSURING GOOD GOVERNANCE. The guest speaker listed among others the roles of the Nigerian youths to include ; public education, enlightenment and mobilization , campaigns , constructive criticisms , excursion and visits campaigns and vote for good people in government , refuse and expose blood money and tacking positions on  various issues as they affect them and the society.

    Responding on behalf of the family while receiving the award ambassador Yomi Akintola a former mister said he is proud of the students to deem it feet  to honored his late father. He equally promised to support them to actualize the yearly S.L. Akintola posthumous awards of excellence by the students which will commences next year as proposed by the students.

S.L. Akintola , an astute  politician a lawyer , teacher and an orator was born on July 6^th 1910 in Ogbomoso and died on January 15^th 1966 during the first military coup. He was the 13^th Aare Onankakanfo of Yorubaland. It was during his tenure as premier of the defunct western region that the university of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) was opened in 1962. The defunct sketch press and western Nigeria marketing board (WEMABOD) were also established during his tenure in 1963.

OYO TO LAUCH ABIYAMO PROJECT- HEALTH COMMISSIONER.

    

From left: permanent secretary in the ministry Dr. O.O. Akanmu, Dr. Gbadegesin and representativeS of UNICEF and WHO.

Oyo state government has concluded plans to launch the Abiyamo project, a comprehensive health program that will cater for the health needs of maternal, newborn, and children in the state.

The state commissioner for health Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin disclosed this to journalists on Friday at a news conference in preparation for the launch  of November 2012 maternal, newborn and child  health week that took place at the conference hall of the ministry in Ibadan, the state capital.

The Abiyamo project which will be tool free will seek to cater for the basic health needs of women, aged, newborn and children according to him is inline with the electoral promises of the state Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi in improving the quality of life of the citizens by providing effective and efficient health care services.

The one- week long November 2012 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) week to him which commences on Monday 26^th and end on Friday 3oth will run from 8am to 6pm in  all the 33 local government areas of the state will be implemented at the level of primary health care centers by using  702 fixed and temporary health posts.

Gbadegesin who disclosed that 2,808 health and ad hoc staff have been trained for the implementation of the program said the program is in partnership with local government areas, UNICEF and WHO. He disclosed that the program will cost the state government 4 million Naira, the local government areas will provide 8 million Naira while UNICEF will provide additional fund and materials , WHO he said will provide technical  assistance.

To him “the concern is aptly captured in the health related Millennium Development Goals 4,5 and 6 that deal with reduction of child mortality , improving maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS , malaria and tuberculosis and other endemic disease”.

While urging the traditional rulers, parents and guardians to come out and  participate in the program , the commissioner said the one week program will cater for immunization for children under one year and pregnant women, nutritional interventions activities for malnutrition, exclusive breastfeeding , vitamin A supplement for children between 6- 59 months and deworming of children from 12- 59 months, iron folate supplementations to pregnant women, , interment preventive treatment of malaria for pregnant women, reproductive health services on family planning and focus antenatal care , health education on key household practices focusing and hand washing techniques and hygiene practices in all, the local government areas.

The commissioner disclosed that the program is free and absolutely save for children and pregnant women. The program was attended by representatives of UNICEF, WHO members of the ministry and media practitioners.

THE SECURITY WE NEED

There is doubt that there have been several measures and attempts by governments at all levels at different times in the history of Nigeria including other stakeholders and in recent times to strengthen the security situation across the most populous African state called Nigeria.

Attempts by the state and its agencies include international organizations; Economic Community of West African States, African Union and other countries who claimed to be interested in the country’s development USA, Britain, just to mention few as well as concern Nigerians to ensure that Nigerians is secure and its citizens can sleep with their two eyes closed have so far became exercise in futility.

The chief reason these efforts will continue to be in vain is the misplacement of priorities. Our youths are hungry and the government wants to pump more money for security, two contradictory elements that can never rime.

Security according to oxford advanced learners dictionary is “the activities involved in protecting a country, building or person against attack, danger etc. the dictionary went further to define security as “protection against something bad that might happen in the future”. From the later, we can deduct that Nigerian leaders are not interested to turn the country’s fortune around.

Security is not about when Ajimobi launched of security fund, it is beyond donation of armor personnel carriers by Ogun state government or donation of bullet proof vests to the police by Lagos or Niger state governments, security is all about our people and the social lives. Security is when people can eat what they want at the appropriate time, when graduates can have options when it come to job opportunities, when pensioners will no more regret that they have served the country meritoriously and when artisans and other professionals can practice their profession without power interruption.

Just like I wrote on my facebook wall the other time that Nigerian leaders are suffering from political alcoholism. They are being intoxicated by the power we all gave them. They kept sitting on fire that will soon consume them if they continue to deceive us. They kept on fumbling and wobbling everyday claiming to be taking their time  to find  lasting solution to the security challenges of the country  without knowing that job opportunities for the teeming youths who are productive enough to do the country  great is the number one  security measure.

Our woes have continue to increase from acute poverty to corruption , decaying in education sector , erratic power supply, floods, hooliganism terrorism, kidnapping , prostitution , electoral malpractices , unemployment, HIV/AIDS, drugs abuse , rape, to mention few and no one seems to be concerned.

Our young men have turned to yahoo-yahoo boys drugs pushers, 419 experts, thugs, area boys, gamblers, kidnappers, while ladies use what they have to bet what they want, they are now commercial sex workers of different grades because they must also survive. I can’t blame them for this because “man must eat and drink before he can pursue arts, religion and philosophy” Karl Marx (1818-1883).

Graduates who are at the mercy of original and fake recruiters are roaming about our streets from Ibadan to Maiduguri, from Sokoto to Calabar and from Otueke or Enugu to Jos or Gusau without any hope that they will soon be call by any of their previous interviewers. The trend of Boko Haram in the north, kidnapping hooliganism and vandalisation of pipelines in either southeast or southsouth will continue if youths are uncertain about their future.

MAP OF NIGERIA.

Our leaders should remember the Yoruba adage that says “work is the antidote to poverty” and also bear it in mind that an idle hand is no more the devil’s workshop but devil itself. Boko Haram members and our brothers in the southeast and southsouth are human beings who can reason if they are fully engaged and well cater for socially, educationally and otherwise. 

Many workers who have spent more than enough years in service are still culpable of age reduction because there is no proper provision for retirees. The unfriendly political, socio-economic situations of the country that have polluted minds of many Nigerians including the social critics and arm chair human rights activists have made Marx word “it is not the consciousness of man that determines his being, it is his social environment that determines his being” relevant in our lives.

They (leaders) should also be preparing for more groups springing up.  The trend has become a split over effect; killings by the Boko Haram group, vandalisation in the southeast and southsouth and the recent kidnapping of the wife of Osun state house of assembly’s speaker and mother of a house of representatives in Ogun state in the southwest will soon envelope the country if the leadership fail to provide us the security we need. Jobs for the teeming youths and no argument. We must redefine our social lives to be more meaningful than before that it is not all about money and buildings but our people who are suffering from acute poverty, diseases, simply because they are Nigerians.

Adequate care and social security packages must be provided for the unemployed youths because it is not their fault but the system, the aged, children and women must be cater for and at the same time government and other stakeholders must ensure provision of jobs for the teeming youths.

These measures will help to strengthen the security situation of the country instead of wasting tax payers’ money in embarking on exercise that will not take us anywhere. Our leaders should think deeply and stop deceiving us and bear in minds that “we will revolt when we reach the wall of the fence”.

THE SECURITY WE NEED

There is doubt that there have been several measures and attempts by governments at all levels at different times in the history of Nigeria including other stakeholders and in recent times to strengthen the security situation across the most populous African state called Nigeria.

Attempts by the state and its agencies include international organizations; Economic Community of West African States, African Union and other countries who claimed to be interested in the country’s development USA, Britain, just to mention few as well as concern Nigerians to ensure that Nigerians is secure and its citizens can sleep with their two eyes closed have so far became exercise in futility.

The chief reason these efforts will continue to be in vain is the misplacement of priorities. Our youths are hungry and the government wants to pump more money for security, two contradictory elements that can never rime.

Security according to oxford advanced learners dictionary is “the activities involved in protecting a country, building or person against attack, danger etc. the dictionary went further to define security as “protection against something bad that might happen in the future”. From the later, we can deduct that Nigerian leaders are not interested to turn the country’s fortune around.

Security is not about when Ajimobi launched of security fund, it is beyond donation of armor personnel carriers by Ogun state government or donation of bullet proof vests to the police by Lagos or Niger state governments, security is all about our people and the social lives. Security is when people can eat what they want at the appropriate time, when graduates can have options when it come to job opportunities, when pensioners will no more regret that they have served the country meritoriously and when artisans and other professionals can practice their profession without power interruption.

Just like I wrote on my facebook wall the other time that Nigerian leaders are suffering from political alcoholism. They are being intoxicated by the power we all gave them. They kept sitting on fire that will soon consume them if they continue to deceive us. They kept on fumbling and wobbling everyday claiming to be taking their time  to find  lasting solution to the security challenges of the country  without knowing that job opportunities for the teeming youths who are productive enough to do the country  great is the number one  security measure.

Our woes have continue to increase from acute poverty to corruption , decaying in education sector , erratic power supply, floods, hooliganism terrorism, kidnapping , prostitution , electoral malpractices , unemployment, HIV/AIDS, drugs abuse , rape, to mention few and no one seems to be concerned.

Our young men have turned to yahoo-yahoo boys drugs pushers, 419 experts, thugs, area boys, gamblers, kidnappers, while ladies use what they have to bet what they want, they are now commercial sex workers of different grades because they must also survive. I can’t blame them for this because “man must eat and drink before he can pursue arts, religion and philosophy” Karl Marx (1818-1883).

Graduates who are at the mercy of original and fake recruiters are roaming about our streets from Ibadan to Maiduguri, from Sokoto to Calabar and from Otueke or Enugu to Jos or Gusau without any hope that they will soon be call by any of their previous interviewers. The trend of Boko Haram in the north, kidnapping hooliganism and vandalisation of pipelines in either southeast or southsouth will continue if youths are uncertain about their future.

MAP OF NIGERIA.

Our leaders should remember the Yoruba adage that says “work is the antidote to poverty” and also bear it in mind that an idle hand is no more the devil’s workshop but devil itself. Boko Haram members and our brothers in the southeast and southsouth are human beings who can reason if they are fully engaged and well cater for socially, educationally and otherwise. 

Many workers who have spent more than enough years in service are still culpable of age reduction because there is no proper provision for retirees. The unfriendly political, socio-economic situations of the country that have polluted minds of many Nigerians including the social critics and arm chair human rights activists have made Marx word “it is not the consciousness of man that determines his being, it is his social environment that determines his being” relevant in our lives.

They (leaders) should also be preparing for more groups springing up.  The trend has become a split over effect; killings by the Boko Haram group, vandalisation in the southeast and southsouth and the recent kidnapping of the wife of Osun state house of assembly’s speaker and mother of a house of representatives in Ogun state in the southwest will soon envelope the country if the leadership fail to provide us the security we need. Jobs for the teeming youths and no argument. We must redefine our social lives to be more meaningful than before that it is not all about money and buildings but our people who are suffering from acute poverty, diseases, simply because they are Nigerians.

Adequate care and social security packages must be provided for the unemployed youths because it is not their fault but the system, the aged, children and women must be cater for and at the same time government and other stakeholders must ensure provision of jobs for the teeming youths.

These measures will help to strengthen the security situation of the country instead of wasting tax payers’ money in embarking on exercise that will not take us anywhere. Our leaders should think deeply and stop deceiving us and bear in minds that “we will revolt when we reach the wall of the fence”.

THE SECURITY WE NEED

There is doubt that there have been several measures and attempts by governments at all levels at different times in the history of Nigeria including other stakeholders and in recent times to strengthen the security situation across the most populous African state called Nigeria.

Attempts by the state and its agencies include international organizations; Economic Community of West African States, African Union and other countries who claimed to be interested in the country’s development USA, Britain, just to mention few as well as concern Nigerians to ensure that Nigerians is secure and its citizens can sleep with their two eyes closed have so far became exercise in futility.

The chief reason these efforts will continue to be in vain is the misplacement of priorities. Our youths are hungry and the government wants to pump more money for security, two contradictory elements that can never rime.

Security according to oxford advanced learners dictionary is “the activities involved in protecting a country, building or person against attack, danger etc. the dictionary went further to define security as “protection against something bad that might happen in the future”. From the later, we can deduct that Nigerian leaders are not interested to turn the country’s fortune around.

Security is not about when Ajimobi launched of security fund, it is beyond donation of armor personnel carriers by Ogun state government or donation of bullet proof vests to the police by Lagos or Niger state governments, security is all about our people and the social lives. Security is when people can eat what they want at the appropriate time, when graduates can have options when it come to job opportunities, when pensioners will no more regret that they have served the country meritoriously and when artisans and other professionals can practice their profession without power interruption.

Just like I wrote on my facebook wall the other time that Nigerian leaders are suffering from political alcoholism. They are being intoxicated by the power we all gave them. They kept sitting on fire that will soon consume them if they continue to deceive us. They kept on fumbling and wobbling everyday claiming to be taking their time  to find  lasting solution to the security challenges of the country  without knowing that job opportunities for the teeming youths who are productive enough to do the country  great is the number one  security measure.

Our woes have continue to increase from acute poverty to corruption , decaying in education sector , erratic power supply, floods, hooliganism terrorism, kidnapping , prostitution , electoral malpractices , unemployment, HIV/AIDS, drugs abuse , rape, to mention few and no one seems to be concerned.

Our young men have turned to yahoo-yahoo boys drugs pushers, 419 experts, thugs, area boys, gamblers, kidnappers, while ladies use what they have to bet what they want, they are now commercial sex workers of different grades because they must also survive. I can’t blame them for this because “man must eat and drink before he can pursue arts, religion and philosophy” Karl Marx (1818-1883).

Graduates who are at the mercy of original and fake recruiters are roaming about our streets from Ibadan to Maiduguri, from Sokoto to Calabar and from Otueke or Enugu to Jos or Gusau without any hope that they will soon be call by any of their previous interviewers. The trend of Boko Haram in the north, kidnapping hooliganism and vandalisation of pipelines in either southeast or southsouth will continue if youths are uncertain about their future.

MAP OF NIGERIA.

Our leaders should remember the Yoruba adage that says “work is the antidote to poverty” and also bear it in mind that an idle hand is no more the devil’s workshop but devil itself. Boko Haram members and our brothers in the southeast and southsouth are human beings who can reason if they are fully engaged and well cater for socially, educationally and otherwise. 

Many workers who have spent more than enough years in service are still culpable of age reduction because there is no proper provision for retirees. The unfriendly political, socio-economic situations of the country that have polluted minds of many Nigerians including the social critics and arm chair human rights activists have made Marx word “it is not the consciousness of man that determines his being, it is his social environment that determines his being” relevant in our lives.

They (leaders) should also be preparing for more groups springing up.  The trend has become a split over effect; killings by the Boko Haram group, vandalisation in the southeast and southsouth and the recent kidnapping of the wife of Osun state house of assembly’s speaker and mother of a house of representatives in Ogun state in the southwest will soon envelope the country if the leadership fail to provide us the security we need. Jobs for the teeming youths and no argument. We must redefine our social lives to be more meaningful than before that it is not all about money and buildings but our people who are suffering from acute poverty, diseases, simply because they are Nigerians.

Adequate care and social security packages must be provided for the unemployed youths because it is not their fault but the system, the aged, children and women must be cater for and at the same time government and other stakeholders must ensure provision of jobs for the teeming youths.

These measures will help to strengthen the security situation of the country instead of wasting tax payers’ money in embarking on exercise that will not take us anywhere. Our leaders should think deeply and stop deceiving us and bear in minds that “we will revolt when we reach the wall of the fence”.

Ibadan North Federal Constituency Demands for Creation of Ibadan State.

HON. AWOLEYE ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM NEWSMEN.

The people of people of Ibadan North Federal Constituency have demanded for the creation of Ibadan State of the present Oyo state. They made the demand at the one day people’s public session facilitated by the member representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency Hon. Abiodun Awoleye for the people of the constituency on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that took place at the Cultural Centre, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Saturday, November 10, 2012.

They said the creation of Ibadan State is long overdue. They said the composition of the 11 local government areas in Ibadan with population of over 2.3 millions according to the 2006 census is more that the population of Balyesa , Nassarawa, Ekiti  states. They urged the national assembly to expedite work in the amendment processes to ensure the successful creation of Ibadan state in thye ongoing constitution amendment.

  Awoleye while assuring the people  of a new people oriented constitution that will take cognizance of views, opinions, demands, submission and aspirations of the people of Ibadan North Federal Constituency and Nigeria as a whole regardless of their sex, age or political affiliations said the constitution will truly reflect the wishes of the people.

         

          While briefing newsmen on the purpose of the event that took place simultaneously in all the 360 federal constituencies across the federation expressed optimism that the purpose to which is to give all sundry sense of belonging to participate in the amendment of the constitution will not be jeopardize. The event according to Hon. Awoleye is to correct abnormalities: to add, subtract and make proper adjustment to the 1999 constitution forcefully betrothed to us by the Military. 

He said the house had received over 200 memoranda/ submissions from groups and individuals on their views about the constitution which made the house to take the amendment processes to the various constituencies to ensure grassroot participation which he described as a welcome idea, a great achievement of the house and first of its kind in the history of Nigeria.

          The amendment according to Hon. Awoleye will not be business as usual where submissions will not be implemented.  He said “It is not going to be business as usual, that is the reason we have a steering a committee with a secretary that will write the report and forward to the National Assembly within one week”.  “We want to ensure that at the end of the day, we will have what we can call people’s constitution, that is why we decided to make it all inclusive so that everybody can say his or her mind on what to amend, either to remove or add”. He said.

          The event that has Prof. Bayo Okunade, Director Centre Distance Learning and lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan as the moderator had the attendance of Hon. Babatunde Olaniyan, member, representing Ibadan North Constituency I and Deputy Speaker Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Babatunde Lapade chairman Ibadan North Local Government  and various groups such as NBA, FOMWAN, NUJ, NANS, TUC, NULGE, CCI, CAN, Youth and Civil Society organizations.

Other issues discussed  in the guideline list discussed includes issues on local government autonomy, NYSC, land use act, indigeneship, and citizenship, rotational presidency, tenures of public office holders and other areas were thoroughly discussed at the event. They resolved that the NYSC scheme should be repelled, that there should be no any percentage reserve for female seeking elective posts among others.

A participant, Pa Anthony Adewuyi praised the lawmaker disclosed that Hon. Awoleye is truly a representative of the people because he had organized a similar public session during the subsidy uproar in January this year.  He said the programe had showed that the house believed that the sovereignty lies on the people.

                                                                            

OAU to admit 10,000 for ODL Programs

Prof. Asubiojo.

          The Obafemi Awolowo University centre for Open Distance Learning (ODL) will soon admit about 10,000 pioneer students of its open distance learning (ODL) programs next year.

This was the submission of the director of the centre for distance learning OAU Prof. Bode Asubiojo on Tuesday at the closing ceremony of a two-day workshop organized by OAU in collaboration with the Venture Garden Group (VGG) and the Green Education Group at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The program according to him is to sensitize the public include admission seekers, parents, publishers, teachers and other stakeholders in the education sector on the importance of online programs such as e learning, open distance learning, distance learning among others said the program which will be online by March next year would admit about 10, 000 students for the start of the program.

The professor of Physics said the program which is different from part time programs will among others open more admission spaces for thousands of undergraduate admission seekers, reduce costs of students and also give those in the workforce opportunities to get certificates without leaving their places of residence.

Asubiojo who disclosed that lecturers of the institution have been undergoing trainings for the commencement of the program for the various courses in Education, Accounting, Nursing and Economics that are  on the pipeline for the commencement of the program said the institution will need about 500 million Naira for the take off of the program next year.

The CEO/ president of VGG Mr. Bunmi Akinyemiju told reporters that the aim of the program is to leverage technology, save time energy and reduce cost of education and to open more opportunities to admission seekers. He said about 45,000 students on yearly basis struggle for about 5,000 admission spaces at OAU. He said the program will provide opportunities for the remaining 40,000 students who could not get the normal admission.

Akinyemiju who stated that “the program is an OAU program in collaboration with the two organizations” said “it is an online program that incorporates mobile learning, tablet devices and e-learning across the world will help to reduce stress being undergo by admission seekers on yearly basis” also stated that it is NUC approved which is a public private partnership (PPA) initiative with the same content, value with other programs run by the institution.

The two-day program was attended by seasoned educators, tutors, consultants, students and media practitioners.