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Gov Abdulrazaq mourns ex-NAN MD, Chief Jide Adebayo

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Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has commiserated with the Omu Aran community and the media fraternity on the death of former Acting Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Chief Jide Adebayo, calling the development a huge loss.
 
The former NAN chief, who was also the Eesa of Omu Aran (Prime Minister) and former Commissioner for Information in Kwara State, died on Thursday at the age of 66.
 
In a statement issued on Friday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the Governor said the death of the veteran journalist is a great loss to the media industry and the people of Omu Aran whom he served diligently as a consummate community leader.
 
“I join the media community, the Omu Aran Development Association (ODA), His Royal Highness Olomu of Omu Aran Oba Abdulraheem Oladele Adeoti, and the immediate family to mourn this great human being. He will be sorely missed. Chief Jide Adebayo, who was until his death the Prime Minister of Omu Aran,  lived for his people and he represented a great example of hard work, excellence, consistency, and community service,” the Governor said.
 
“I pray Almighty God to repose the soul of the late Eesa and comfort all those that mourn him.”

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News

Kwara NUJ mourns ex-NAN acting MD

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The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Council, has commiserated with the family of a former acting Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Chief Jide Adebayo, who died on Thursday at the age of 66.

In a statement signed by the AChairman and Secretary of the Union, Abdullateef ‘Lanre Ahmed and Omotayo Ayanda respectively, “the Executive and Journalists in the State received the death of Chief Adebayo, a one-time state Secretary of the Union with rude shock and sadness”.

The NUJ described the late veteran journalist as a foremost scribe that nurtured the Union to an enviable height and contributed immensely to the development of media industry in Kwara State and the Nation at large.

“The demise of Chief Adebayo was utterly shocking but we cannot query the work of Almighty God.

“We, however, take solace in the fact that the deceased lived a fruitful life and bequeathed a worthy legacy to the younger generation.

“Kwara NUJ also notes that the departed labour leader was a goal getter, cerebral and vibrant journalist, who displayed high level of discipline and professionalism during his sojourn in the pen fraternity.

“We will not forget in a hurry the deceased’s vibrancy and commitment. Even in retirement, he contributed immensely to his profession and NUJ growth in the state till his demise”, the statement said.

The veteran journalist, consummate administrator and community leader served as Commissioner for Information, Youth and Sports in Kwara State and Executive Director in charge of Marketing, one time Head of Lagos Operations and former Acting Managing Director of NAN.

He was also a renowned unionist having served as the state NUJ Secretary between 1981 and 1983 and Chairman NUJ, Niger (1985 -1987). He was a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (FNGE).

Until his death, Chief Adebayo was the Eesa of Omu-Aran, second-in-command to the traditional ruler of the community, which is equivalent to the position of Prime Minister.

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News

Owner of collapsed 21-storey building in Lagos found inside rubbles

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The Chief Executive Officer of the collapsed 21-storey building in Ikoyi area of Lagos state, Fourscore Homes Limited, Femi Osibona has been found dead inside the rubbles on Thursday.

As at the time of filling this report, nine people have been rescued, while at least 38 have been confirmed dead.

According to Rescue workers who spoke with Journalists on Thursday evening, Osibona corpse was recovered from the rubbles some minutes ago after painstaking efforts from the emergency responders.

There have been concerns over the whereabouts of Osibona, Wale Bob-Oseni, his friend, and others trapped in the building.

Bob-Oseni, who was to catch a flight to the US, briefly made a detour to see the project on the invitation of the developer but did not walk out alive.

It will be recalled that the 21- storey building that was under construction collapsed in Ikoyi, Lagos on Monday.

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NewsPolitics

Anambra govt alleges plot to arrest officials

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The Anambra State Government has raised the alarm over alleged plot to arrest its officials on trumped-up charges, as a plot to weaken the chances of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Saturday’s election.

In a press release signed by the commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C. Don Adinuba said the plot was being hatched by an unnamed political party.

He said some actors in the unnamed political party planned to use instrument of state to carry out their plot, even without the knowledge of the security chiefs in the State.

“The Anambra State Government has received credible intelligence reports about moves by members of a certain political party to use the instrumentality of the state to arrest key officials of the State Government anytime on trumped-up charges, so as to hijack the gubernatorial election holding on Saturday, November 6, 2021.

“One of the meetings was on how to use the coercive apparatus of the state to carry out this plot has just been held in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

“None of the heads of national security agencies is aware of this plot. The desperate politicians want to use certain compromised operatives working without the knowledge, let alone the support, of the national heads of the security agencies to perpetrate this act.

“This announcement is to bring the evil plans to the knowledge of all Anambra people but also to the attention of all relevant authorities for prompt action.

“All our people are enjoined to go about their normal business while the State Government takes every necessary action to ensure a free, fair and transparent election on Saturday.

“The elections in the State in the last few years have been very free and fair. We will continue to do everything possible to maintain the new tradition of free and fair polls,” it stated.

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EducationNews

UNIOSUN appoints 45-yr old Engineer Acting VC

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The authorities of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo, have announced the appointment of a 45 year old professor of geo-technical engineering, Afeez Bello, as an acting vice-chancellor.

Mr Bello, who until his latest appointment, was the deputy vice-chancellor in charge of administration and development, is expected to resume office on Friday, November 5 after the expiration of the incumbent’s term of office on Thursday 4th of November, 2021.

The outgoing vice-chancellor, Labo Popoola, a professor of forest economics, is expected to end his tenure on Thursday and return to the University of Ibadan where he is a serving lecturer.

The announcement was made on Wednesday morning by the university’s Pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council, Yusuf Alli, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

Alli said the appointment became imperative following a subsisting ligation over the selection process

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EducationNewsPolitics

AbdulRazaq introduces KwaraLEARN to revolutionise basic education

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Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Wednesday signed an MOU introducing KwaraLEARN, the administration’s flagship public education transformation programme designed to improve learning outcomes for primary school pupils across the state. 
 
The governor called the initiative a lifetime investments to empower teachers and give public school pupils the best shot at 21st century education with reverberating effects on the future of the state.
 
“The KwaraLEARN programme will empower our teachers with the right digital tools to be at their best while providing an electronic platform to make classrooms and schools transparent. The technology will monitor attendance and performance of pupils and teachers in all classrooms, offering continual support and feedback,” AbdulRazaq said at the signing of the MOU with the government’s technical partners, New Globe, in Ilorin.
 
“This is our flagship education programme. It will transform all government primary schools using innovative technology, data-driven platforms, high-quality learning materials, effective training and ongoing coaching and support for teachers and school leaders.
 
“Our technical partners — NewGlobe — are trusted to drive this programme to success. They have done it in Edo and Lagos, and we trust them to do a lot more to partner with other stakeholders towards returning basic education to the dream of our founding fathers. 
 
“KwaraLEARN represents our vision for a stronger Kwara. It is set to deliver dramatic improvements in learning outcomes for public school children across the state. It will accelerate the numeracy and literacy skills of our pupils, enabling them to compete with their peers anywhere in the world. 
 
“This is because we believe that the path to prosperity is through the education of the Kwara child. Education underpins economic growth, stability, and sustainable development. Kwara Learn will deploy 21st century technology to support teachers and schools. It will enable our children to fulfil their potentials and offer them and the state a brighter future. KwaraLEARN will empower our teachers to become highly skilled through training and motivation to succeed at their job. 
 
“Technology is the future. I urge the people of our state, especially our education stakeholders, to support this great initiative. It is the best investment we can make in the future of the Kwara child.”
 
The MOU signing was attended by Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi; House of Assembly Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu; House members; cabinet members; PTA Chairman in Kwara State Makama of Ilorin Alhaji Ibrahim Oniye; NUT Chairman Abdullahi Umar; ANCOPSS President Toyin Abdullahi; Chairman of SUBEB Prof Shehu Raheem Adaramaja; TESCOM Chairman Bello Abubakar; top bureaucrats; among others.

Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu said: “This is a thoughtful and innovative idea of the present administration to change the teaching method to a modern 21st century digital learning in Kwara. The introduction of the new technology to the schools will definitely complement the earlier investments in infrastructural development in our schools, the transparent and competitive recruitment of exceptional teachers to our classrooms and training and retraining of teachers. 

“The service provider will carry out intensive training of the teachers who are the end users of the devices and would support continuous monitoring of the exercise for a period of four years. Meanwhile, the whole exercise will not attract any cost to the teachers and will also provide employment opportunity for Kwarans.”
 
Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KWSUBEB) Professor Shehu Raheem Adaramaja said the vision of the Government is to improve primary school outcomes through KwaraLEARN by transforming learning in all classrooms and ensuring every child has access to high-quality and well-supported teachers. 
 
“The vision of the Governor is for a strong and prosperous Kwara. Investing in the education of our children is our most important priority. It is our belief that KwaraLEARN will empower and strengthen our teachers and prepare our children with the necessary skills to excel in future workplaces that require intuition, creativity and critical thinking,” Adaramaja said. 

Director of Policy and Partnership New Globe Dr Wuraola Kumbi  commended the vision of Governor AbdulRazaq for the education sector.

“I sincerely like to commend and celebrate His Excellency for his vision in the education sector. We have followed closely all the laudable projects in accessing UBEC funds for infrastructural development and teachers training, the passage and signing into law of Education Trust Bill, the education summit and so many things to put Kwara education on the map of not only in Nigeria but across the world,” she said.

Group Managing Director Nigeria of the New Globe Mrs Omowale David-Ashiru added: “I will like to commend and congratulate the Kwara State under the leadership of His Excellency for transformational programme because of the number of things that we will be doing.

“This programme is about empowerment of teachers. It is about pupils but the conduit in learning outcome are the teachers. When the teacher is not present a child cannot learn. So, this programme really focuses on empowering our teachers about the contents, the tools and confidence they need to do what they love to do and have been trained to do.”

State Chairman of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and Makama of Ilorin Alh. Ibrahim Oniye appreciated the governor for the innovative idea and assured him that the association is 100% in support of the initiative for the progress and development of the state’s education sector.

The ANCOPPS President attributed the successes in the education sector so far to the appointment of competent officials to drive the state education sector.

Umar, NUT Chairman, said the state government is taking the right steps in reviving the education sector by accessing UBEC funds and empowerment of teachers to give their best to the students, describing AbdulRazaq as a visionary governor.

The programme will begin across Kwara’s primary schools in the first quarter of 2022.

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Osun 2022: No amount of endorsement can save you from losing governorship election, PDP tells Oyetola

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The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has said that no amount of endorsement can save the State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, from losing the governorship election slated for July 16, 2022.

The party made the comment in a statement by the Directorate of Media of Osun State Chapter of the PDP, Oladele Bamiji, on Tuesday night.

The Osun PDP stated that the governor should rather “face governance crookedly entrusted in his hands instead of window shopping for induced endorsements for his precarious second term ambition from unwilling members of the public, especially artisans, trade unions and other organizations.”

The party further wondered why “Governor Oyetola would think harassing different unions and organizations would save him from the looming electoral disgrace out of office come next year”.

The statement read, “The latest on the radar of Mr Oyetola’s shopped endorsements is the directive handed the State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for another make-believe endorsement jamboree slated for Wednesday.

“Our concern on this waste of time calisthenics by Mr Oyetola and his confused endorsement shoopers is the unnecessary waste of state funds as report reaching us confirmed the governor as usual, has earmarked several millions of naira from Osun State scarce resources for the new past time of optical illusion by the governor and his gang of political nomads.

“While we sympathize with Mr Oyetola over his inability to showcase any reasonable stride in office since the last 3years, which could have patched up deficits in his ‘remote controlled’ image in office, we however warn that Mr Oyetola tread with caution in his desperation to make up for his lost hope, Osun PDP noted.

“Osun PDP is also not unmindful of unwillingness of most of the induced associations and their love for a better Osun State over momentary pleasure offered them by the lustful aliens and hardened treasury looters. Our great party will continue to appreciate the constant feedbacks and collaborative resolve to rescue Osun State for the good of all and in the interest of the good people of the State.

“The PDP understands the immeasurable importance of NURTW members in a troubled economy like ours, but such value would be better appreciated when it is not traded for a one day, flash in the pan peanuts against the general good of our people. This is why we will continue to hold our brothers in high esteem, whose means of livelihood is domiciled in that sector.

“The Governor can continue to shop around for endorsements in his inordinate desperation which to us underscores his increasing realization of his dead end ambition, but we urge our people to remain steadfastly courageous in their resolve to enthrone a government of their own through the people oriented platform of the PDP.

“Our NURTW members in the state can come and dance to the cosmetic melody in Osogbo on Wednesday, but they must not forget their source. Trading welfare of Pensioners, market men and women, teachers and all other bewildered components of the state is akin to straying away from the objectives and good tidings of the State’s founding fathers.

“Again, we want to warn passionately, that Mr Oyetola tread with caution. Any reckless fleecing of the State under whatever guise will bear consequences this time and the governor can take that for a joke at his own peril.

“As a sitting governor of 4years span, it is expected that his performance should be enough of endorsement as against scampering for non-existent acceptability. Mr Oyetola has been warned!”

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My administration has done far better than what I inherited – Gov Abdulrazaq… Says governance is about people’s welfare

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The Executive Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has said that his administration has done far better than what he inherited, as the Governor of Kwara State.

Abdulrazaq emphasized that good governance is about catering to the need of the masses by putting dilapidated public infrastructures in good shape while working on new ones.

The Governor said his idea of good governance is to ensure that the state ticks the right boxes in human capital and infrastructural development such as access to quality and affordable basic education, healthcare facilities, equal opportunities through gender inclusion and youths empowerment, strengthening microeconomic base, and equitable wealth distribution.

“The opposition keeps shouting they have not seen our legacies projects. It is not about legacy projects. We will not abandon dilapidated schools and hospitals and start building new ones. We will fix those schools and hospitals. That is the (decent) way to move forward. People really understand that we met a collapsed State, exactly the way their leaders collapsed a bank and moved to the state and collapsed it. That is exactly what has happened,” Abdulrazaq said when he received top APC chieftain Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim in Government House on Monday.

“You just need to go to our schools and see. At the level of funding we have, it will take us fifteen to twenty years to get back to restore the lost glory of twenty years ago. When we came in, colleges of education that train the teachers were on strike for one year. They were being owed N750million we cleared everything and ensured their courses were accredited all over again, and things have been moving forward.

“They had not accessed UBEC Fund since 2013. We keep emphasizing this because they seem to have forgotten. We are not forgetting. UBEC gives an average of N1billion to every dtate and expects you to put N1billion in. So that guaranteed N2billion into education sector. In 2013, they asked us for our own N1billion and the past government went to borrow it. UBEC (in turn) gave them N1billion and so they (government) returned N1billion to the bank and stole the UBEC fund. They shared it among themselves. What they don’t understand is that we are not pursuing them (yet) because we want to quickly fix things for the people. We can (still) jail them for that. It is diversion of public funds.”

The Governor said his administration has done far better than what he inherited, adding that opposition’s propaganda and other distractions are dead on arrival. He said it was laughable to hear certain senior figures of the past administration talking about good governance when they left collapsed basic education and health sectors.

“I wished we took over from a responsible government that put (basic) things in place. Alas, we are putting the foundation and starting all over; every sphere of governance – in basic education, healthcare and other sectors of governance. For example, issues like child healthcare kwara was leading in stunted growth / malnutrition. Why should that be? We can also trace that to the fact that Kwara did not subscribe to basic things including the school feeding programme that could have mitigated the effect of malnutrition. It is a callous thing to do,” he added, saying the administration had since done its part in attracting the programme to the state.

In company of Hon. Olawepo-Hashim on the courtesy visit were Chief Sunday Olosunde; Pastor Michael Oyeniyi Jolayemi; Engr. Femi Aiyegboke; Segun Abifarin; and Bello AyunNiyi.

Olawepo-Hashim, for his part, commended the Governor for sticking to the reasons for his coming into politics since 1998.

He lauded the efforts of the governor in gender inclusion and youths empowerment, saying the Kwara administration is setting the pace nationwide. Olawepo-Hashim said Kwara will not go back to the dark era it exited in 2019.

“There is no governor in Nigeria that has done what you have done for the youths and women, especially in terms of giving them the space for leadership in your administration, as we have seen in your cabinet and other key appointments. Young people are inspired by this. I have worked before as a youths activist and therefore I know the value of what you have done. Because essentially this is the core of the challenge for democracy in our Country. That democracy must reflect the composition of the society, and you have set this standard. I just want to say congratulations on this,” he said.

He applauded the present government for being committed to repositioning education sector, saying such step aligns with what they both thought of while clamouring for a new Kwara more than two decades back.

“Secondly, I am impressed by what you have also done for young people by getting good teachers for them, who were recruited on the basis of competence. One of the young women who participated as a civil society activist in the recruitment exercise briefed me. I didn’t just read on the pages of newspapers. I have been speaking to people. And I am convinced that this is essentially what we put ourselves together twenty something years ago to change the face of Kwara. I am happy at what I am seeing, so I just come to say God bless you. May God continue to protect and inspire you on a direction to deepen this programme that Kwara has desperately needed.”

Olawepo-Hashim, a former presidential candidate, said Kwara will never go back to an era of dictatorship, hoping whatever rancours that are currently within the ruling APC will soon be resolved amicably.

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CrimeEducationNews

Osun Poly student dies after visiting boyfriend

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A National Diploma 1 student of the Department of Mass Communication, Osun State Polytechnic Iree died on Saturday after she took ill in her boyfriend’s house in the Igaa area of Iree town.

The lady simply identified as Wunmi was said to have visited his boyfriend where she suddenly developed complications and was rushed to a private hospital in Iree, but was rejected.

She reportedly gave up the ghost before she could be moved to another health facility.

A female student in her department, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the boyfriend had been arrested in connection with the incident.

She said, “Wumi went to her boyfriend’s house in the Igaa area, Iree. She suddenly started foaming in the mouth. She was rushed to a hospital here in Iree, but she was rejected and while being taken to another hospital, she died.

“Her friends reported the matter to the police and some operatives were deployed. They took her body to a morgue in Ikirun. The boyfriend is a student too. He was arrested and taken away by the police.”

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the polytechnic, Tope Abiola, said the arrested suspect was not a student of the polytechnic.

He said: “It is true that an ND 1 student in the Department of Mass Communication died.

“We don’t know the cause of the death. We have not been briefed about the cause of the death. The police are still investigating. The school sympathises with the parents of the lady. It is pathetic that such a young girl would die like that.”

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CrimeEducationNews

Undergraduate arrested for stabbing her boyfriend after going through his phone

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A young Nigerian woman is in the grip of the police for stabbing her boyfriend with a knife moments after she saw his ‘compromising’ messages with another lady on WhatsApp.

Chidinma, a mass communication student of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, stabbed her man whose name is given as Daniel Johnson in the right hand on Wednesday, October 27.

Narrating his ordeal to the police, Daniel said “I was sleeping when she went through my phone. She opened my WhatsApp and read my chat with another girl. Then she proceeded to use a knife to stab in my right hand.

“I woke up with a start and called for help before it could get worse. My neighbours came and rescued me. The police were invited and was whisked away to the B division in Asaba. I’m lucky to be alive,” he said.

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