News, Events and People.

  The Rot Begins at the Top: A King's Dillema By Sunday Ajibola Oba Atunluse woke just after midnight. The last two hours of sleep had been more of a nightmare than rest. These were troubled times—both for his community and for him personally. He replayed in his mind the ugly events of the last few days; no, the past months. The issues had been simmering for a while. Since last week, the people had begun running out of patience with him. The abnormal situation was becoming unbearable. His people could no longer keep their feelings to themselves. For the first time since he ascended the throne many years ago, they told him to his face, "Kabiyesi, you are our king, our ruler. You must find a solution to this menace. These times are not normal for us. We cannot tolerate these strange happenings anymore." King Atunluse knew trouble was looming. His village, Abule Iwa, had become a haven for criminals—thieves and robbers. They had started by stealing chickens and goats, but no

 We Are Fixing Failed Portions With Appropriate Materials, Not Concrete In Ondo -Works Ministry Ministry of Works and Infrastructure in Ondo State has assured the people  of the state that it would continue to fix all the failed portions on the roads across the state with appropriate materials. The Director, Civil Engineering Department, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Funmilayo Oluwatayo gave the assurance on Tuesday while reacting to an allegation by a local blog that the Ministry was patching potholes on the road with concrete materials. Explaining what the reporter misconstrued as concrete materials, Eng. Oluwatayo said the Ministry is filling the potholes with stone-base materials mixed with other materials which are tested in the laboratory before use. He disclosed that the ministry is, on the zero tolerance for potholes order of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, fixing all potholes on the roads. The Director, Civil Engineering Department, Ministry of Works and Infrastructur

 The Special Adviser on Infrastructure, Lands, and Housing, Pastor Ayo Babalola, has provided an update on the ongoing road projects in the state. Babalola specifically assured that the ShopRite/Oda Road in Akure South Local Government Area would soon be completed and inaugurated by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. He disclosed this while assessing the progress of the road project. According to him, the rise in the cost of construction materials has affected the pace of the work because the cost differences must be accommodated. He explained that the governor is working hard to reduce the infrastructure deficit in the state. Babalola stated that the governor approved road projects for the three senatorial districts in the state so that all communities would benefit from the state government's efforts. He said, "If you look at the infrastructure deficit, it's substantial, but Mr. Governor is making efforts to ensure that every part of the state is addressed in terms of road infra

  IFAD/LIFE-ND Ondo Project Office Enhances Farmers' Knowledge with Study Tour of Integrated Farms IFAD/LIFE-ND has intensified its efforts to transform farmers into agribusiness entrepreneurs through the acquisition of knowledge from experts.   To achieve this goal, the project organized study tours for its farmers, introducing them to two successful farmers who have established thriving business entities through agriculture. In the latest tour, selected IFAD/LIFE-ND farmers from eight Local Government Areas, who have already started their own farms, visited integrated farms in Bolorunduro, Akure North, and Igba Community in Ondo East.  At Miracle Integrated Farms in Bolorunduro, the CEO, Mr. Babatunde Akande emphasized the timeless significance of farming, stating, "Farming is the only human activity that has been with man since the beginning and will continue to be essential. Anyone can choose to avoid other professions or businesses, but farming is indispensable. It ensu

 Ondo State: Oba Iralepo's Court where matters are settled Free of Charge Over a hundred years ago, before the integration of south and northern Nigeria protectorates, the Igbejo or Ugbejo Oralopo at Ita-Owa in Isinkan in present day Akure West LCDA hosted the Supreme Court of the ancient kingdom.  The court settled issues, especially those escalated by any member of the Uharefa, the then six highest-ranked High Chiefs of Isinkan.  The Court decided whether or not there was to be the death penalty and placed the condemned at a place called Imogun near the present site of the St. Thomas Anglican Church in Isinkan. Except in very rare cases, it was also at Imogun that the death sentence was executed. One of the most prominent criminal cases tried in the Court of the Iralepo was the trial of Okpele Erebor, the Ezomo who raided Akure and nearby peripheral towns in 1818 on behalf of the Oba of Edo and murdered women and children at Ulafon where a relation of the Oba of Isinkan was the B

    Government Stresses Importance of Breast milk for Children as  Ondo State Celebrates Commencement of World Breastfeeding  Week   . ....525 nursing mothers breastfeed children. Ondo State on Friday joined the rest of Nigeria and the International Community in the celebration of 2024 World Breastfeeding Week. In a message to the event, held at the International Event Centre,  The Dome, in Akure, the First Lady, Mrs. Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa emphasized the critical importance of initiating breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and maintaining exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. The wife of the Governor, who was represented by Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Lola Fagbemi, reiterated that workplaces in the state are being adapted to support nursing mothers, highlighting the state's commitment to providing conducive environments for breastfeeding. She noted that Ondo State places significant priority on maternity leave for nursing mothers and also allows m

 EU Tax Club Dinner: Aiyedatiwa Charges Stakeholders On New Innovations in Tax Collection Stakeholders have been called upon to brainstorm on new innovations and approaches towards the collection of taxes. Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, made the call at the Elizade University (EU) Tax Club Dinner tagged 'Evening Deduction 2024' held at the State Internal Revenue Learning Center, Akure, the state capital. Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Chief of Staff, Prince Olusegun Omojuwa, commended the organizers of the Elizade University Tax Club Dinner, saying the event will educate Nigerians on the importance of paying taxes to the government. Aiyedatiwa said despite the current economic situation in the country, the government should still find ways to generate tax revenue for the development of the state and the country. While reiterating the need to find new approaches and innovations on how to collect taxes, he said it must be done according to the features of taxation, w

 By SUNDAY AJIBOLA  HAPPY DEMOCRACY DAY: LETS REMEMBER A POLITICIAN, WHO TOUCHED LIVES. Today, the 12th day of June is unique in the annals of the political history of Nigeria. It was on this day in 1993, that is, 32 years, ago that all Nigerians jettisoned our self-inflicted, divisive differences and voted as one.  We all chose Chief M.K.O Abiola to be our President. The election was annulled by enemies of the people. The annulment led to widespread protests and resulted in ousting of the military from office in 1999. 25 years have gone that civilians have been running the affairs of the country. We are celebrating the return of democracy, a system of government popularly known as, government of the people, by the people and for the people. We ought to be in high spirits, roll out the drums and give thanks to God over our turn around for good.    However, it is gloom, regret and indifference everywhere. Nobody should blame the people for being unenthusiastic about today's Democra

 ONDO TO COMMENCE ENTERPRENEURAL TRAINING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS.    The Ondo State government has announced its intention to inculcate enterpreneural skills in Secondary school students.       Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Laolu Akindolire stated this on Monday at Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School, Akure.  He had led the Ministry management to assess Schools resumption for the third term of the 2023/24 Academic Session in the state.    Akundolire explained that the program will be used to impart skills the students could use to earn money, become self-employed and employers of labour in future. "We want our young ones to become entrepreneurs and employers of labour as against while collar job seekers. We will collaborate with the Ondo State Enterpreneural Agency to carry out the skill impartation. The students will come for the skill acquisition over the weekends. With the skills, they will have something to fall back on later in the future."    The Commi

 

  TEMPLATE ON HOW TO POSITION ONESELF FOR MORE RELEVANCE AFTER YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE:    THE DR BARRISTER ROTIMI ADEYEMI    There is time for everything under the Sun: time to be born, time to die, time of joy and of sadness, time to take and to give, time to start and time to end etc. Everything under the has its allotted time.   The above passage taken from the Holy Writ best summarises the life of every mortal. This has nothing to do with education, wealthy, position, religion etc. It is the lot of all of us.    Every peregrination of man commences sometime and somewhere. When the then young, bubbling and energetic Rotimi Adeyemi joined the public service in those days and came round, people used to call him wolewole. It was a derogatory word used to describe sanitary inspectors. They were popular on account of their notoriety for making life difficult for landlords and occupants of unhygienic  surroundings. People saw them as burdensome, pokenosing people. Aside that, they were n

  GOVERNOR AYEDATIWA IS COMMITTED TO COMPLETION OF ALL ONGOING ROAD PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE.     The Ondo State government has assured people of the state  of government commitment to the completion of all road projects under construction across the state.    Special Adviser on Infrastrcture, Lands and Housing, Pastor Ayodele Babalola gave this assurance when he paid an on the spot assessment of some road projects being executed in Akure, the State capital. Pastor Babalola based his optimism on the rate at which the projects which include the flyover linking Onyearegbulem market to Irese, Shoprite to Oda and Ijoka roads are going. "We are here to see things for ourselves. We are happy with what the contractors are doing. They keep to their track record of consistency. By what we have seen today, they are doing well. The work ìs commendable. Their responses to our questions and inquiries are to our satisfaction. We are encouraged that they will give us the best that we expect

 ONDO IFAD/ĹIFE-ND ESTABLISHES WOMEN IN AGRIC NETWORK (WIAN-ND) TO FORM A FORMIDABLE UNITED FRONT TO CHAMPION WOMEN RURAL ECONOMIC GROWTH.   Ondo State IFAD/Life-nd Office has established the Women in Agriculture Network (WIAN-ND) in the State with the aim of giving women a united umbrella on Agriculture challenges and opportunities.     The program which held in Akure the State capital was attended by women drawn from various sectors of the economy with emphasis on Agriculture  business.    In his message to the event, the State IFAD/Life‐nd Project Coordinator, (SPC), Prince Olawale Ademola said creating of the network was necessitated by the need to make the women have a united voice.     Prince Ademola, whose message was delivered by Mr. Akin Oluwalade, Environment and Climate Change specialist, IFAD/LIFE-ND, explained that WIAN-ND would be an advocacy body that would facilitate enlightenment of women on how to access agricultural inputs and funds with a view to enhancing their out

   BARRISTER KEHINDE ADELEYE: SUCCESS STORY BUTTRESSES JOURNEY OF LIFE IS A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT. "Out of a dozen men with bright ideas, at most only one gets them executed."   Whatever the situation is, man has opportunities. In time of plenty there are, in time of scarcity, there are, in time oppression there are. Mention the situation, opportunity always avail us of itself. These opportunities are two fold: one is for growth and the other for stagnation. Growth or progress, whichever you choose to call it, does not come easy or cheap; it exerts and drains energy, money and time. I must not forget that in order to accomplish anything worthwhile, you have to be ambitious and determined also. On the other hand, an individual, who opts for stagnation need not worry. All he needs is to wake up, live his life without having a goal, vision or ambition. Just like animals. Thereby, he will end up becoming nothing. Why? He has not paid any price for anything to improve his life o

Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa has approved the establishment of schools that will combine acquisition of skills with theoretical knowledge. Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan stated this while playing to the executive members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) Irele Local Government Area in his office. Igbasan said the schools would train students on various modern skills such as building technology, mechanical, electrical and structural engineering, entertainment, fashion designing, welding and others.    "The new education curriculum tagged Technical/Grammar Schools model is designed in such a way that it will revolutionise our education system. By the time a student finishes eleven years of education, he would have been equipped with a skill that he can fall back on and make a living, even without advancing to the university. Such students can apply for loans to set up a factory and government will help out"     According to him, Niger

      The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan has charged newly appointed Accounting Officers in the State Civil Service to justify government confidence in them by being innovative and productive.    Pastor Igbasan, who  made the call at a meeting with management of the Ministry, added that government choose them based on their character, performance and displayed in the past as well as level of education attained.    "Divine favour has played a role in your appointment out of many who are competent and qualified.  However, I must add that favour only promotes but you maintain your position by deliberate actions of hardwork, commitment and innovation and threby move on further. You must think deeply and bring innovations that will improve the system".    He also implored them to rebrand their departments to further make them functional and contribute to the development of the Ministry in particular and the state as a whole. "The first