Prof. Tokunbo Alex Adaja, a renowned Mass Communication scholar and proud indigene of Uso in Owo Local Government area of Ondo State, has been honoured with a prestigious award in recognition of his passion for education and his remarkable contributions to the development of Uso land.

The honour was bestowed on him during the 2025 edition of Uso Day, a cultural and community celebration held recently in the ancient town, which attracted dignitaries and residents from far and near.

Prof. Adaja was among the eminent personalities recognised at this year’s event, which the organisers described as a platform to celebrate individuals who have distinguished themselves through service, dedication and commitment to the progress of the community.

The award was presented to the don by the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Olayide Adelami, who was represented at the event by a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr. Adekola Olawoye, SAN.

In presenting the award, the deputy governor’s representative commended Prof. Adaja for his outstanding contributions to educational development, noting that his efforts have continued to inspire young people within and outside the community.

Prof. Adaja, who currently serves as the Dean, College of Postgraduate Studies, Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State, is widely celebrated for his scholarship, leadership and commitment to the training of future communication professionals.

His decades of service in academia, both within Nigeria and beyond, have shaped generations of students and strengthened teaching and research in communication studies, particularly at the postgraduate level.

Beyond academia, Prof. Adaja has also been actively involved in community development initiatives, especially those focused on youth empowerment and educational support for indigenes of Uso.

This year’s colourful Uso Day celebration drew traditional rulers, including the Oloba of Uso Kingdom, Oba (Dr.) Ademola Adebiyi Olanipekun, as well as community leaders, political figures, captains of industry and academics from various institutions.

Attendees described Prof. Adaja’s award as well deserved, emphasising that his accomplishments continue to reflect the value of education and the power of service in transforming communities.

The Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Professor Olugbenga E. Ige, has enjoined all fresh and returning students to be good ambassadors of the University.

Prof. Ige made this known on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, during a chat with some media organisations in his office.

The Vice Chancellor, who warmly welcomed both fresh and returning students to campus for the commencement of the 2025/2026 academic session, congratulated the newly admitted students for being among the fortunate ones selected from the thousands of candidates who sought admission into the institution.

He encouraged all students to complete their online registration promptly to ensure a smooth academic process. He also emphasised the need for the timely payment of school fees to avoid unnecessary disruptions to academic activities.

Prof. Ige further urged students to familiarise themselves with, and strictly adhere to, the University’s rules and regulations in order to maintain a safe, respectful, and conducive learning environment.

He advised them to be security-conscious, uphold discipline, be law-abiding, and conduct themselves with integrity both on and off campus. The Vice Chancellor also reminded students to embrace the core values of integrity, diligence, and respect, which are deeply embedded in the University’s motto, “For Learning and Service.”

According to him, “The University remains committed to providing quality education, effective support services, and a safe environment for all students and members of its community.”

Following the official announcement of resumption, students have already begun arriving on campus to commence what promises to be a productive and engaging academic year.

The University community wishes all students a successful, fulfilling, and inspiring academic session.

* Mgt assures full security measures, campus readiness.

The Senate and Management of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), have directed all fresh and returning students of the institution to resume for the 2025/2026 Academic Session on Sunday, November 9, 2025.

According to a statement issued by the Registrar, Mr. Olugbenga Arajulu, fresh and returning students are to resume for the First Semester as follows:

• 9th–15th November 2025: Online screening and registration for fresh students / online registration for returning students.

• 16th–22nd November 2025: Physical resumption of all students / Faculty-Based Course Exposition.
• 23rd–29th November 2025: Commencement of lectures

Mr. Arajulu further explained that the First Semester would span 19 weeks, comprising two weeks for registration and resumption, twelve weeks for lectures, one week for revision, and four weeks for examinations.

He enjoined both new and returning students to strictly adhere to the approved academic calendar and ensure the prompt payment of prescribed fees to enable them to complete their registration and participate fully in academic activities.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Olugbenga E. Ige, during an inspection tour of the campus on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, to assess the level of preparedness for students’ resumption, assured that the University had taken several proactive measures, in collaboration with security operatives in the state, to guarantee the safety of lives and property within and around the campus.

According to him, “The Management has requested the immediate deployment of additional security personnel, including officers from the police and other security agencies, to strengthen patrols on the campus and in adjoining areas.”

The Vice Chancellor further stated that the University was also fostering a stronger relationship with the host community and other stakeholders to create a united front against crime and enhance overall campus safety.

Prof. Adedayo Afe has advocated the urgent need for the rehabilitation of the Nigerian judicial system through adequate funding that will guarantee both administrative and financial independence.

Afe, a Professor of Legal History in the Department of History and International Studies, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), made this call on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, while delivering the 50th Inaugural Lecture of the University, titled “The Dynamics of Jurisprudence and Judicial Reforms in Nigeria: The Verdict of History.”

The Don observed that the most significant constraint confronting the judiciary is poor funding, which has resulted in a lack of financial independence and the gradual decay of infrastructure within the judicial arm of government.

“It is unhealthy, humiliating, and unconstitutional for a Chief Judge, as the head of the Court, to have to approach the Executive begging for funds to carry out the Judiciary’s statutory functions. Good governance, anchored on the full application of the rule of law, will remain a dream if the judiciary is not financially independent,” he said.

Prof. Afe further revealed that the 1933 reform marked the beginning of the Nigerian judicial system’s decline, a situation still evident in the nation’s jurisprudential reforms today. 

According to him, “This began with the deliberate design of the British to introduce their own system of judicial administration, not necessarily to ensure the quick delivery of justice, but as a matter of administrative expediency. In other words, the colonial authorities merely put in place a mechanism for a strongly enforced and falsely stable social order that would enable them to accomplish their colonial policies.”

The Inaugural Lecturer attributed the current state of the judicial system to societal challenges such as corruption, lack of synergy between law enforcement and prosecuting agencies, overcrowded correctional centres resulting from delayed judgments, and the increasing reluctance to obey court orders.

Calling for prompt intervention to “break Nigeria free from the clutches of the endangered judiciary,” the Inaugural Lecturer recommended that judges and magistrates be adequately remunerated and equipped to enhance productivity and reduce corruption. He also emphasised the need for the administrative independence of the judiciary to decongest prisons and clear the backlog of awaiting-trial cases without requiring approval from the Executive arm.

Prof. Afe further suggested that “surcharging parents or families who produce criminals, and using such funds to maintain their wards in prison custody, could help reduce crime in society, as parents would be more committed to controlling their wards’ social behaviour. It is pertinent to mention that confinement existed in many Nigerian societies before the advent of the British. It could therefore be regarded as a monumental waste for the State to spend so much maintaining prisoners, as is presently the case.”

He added, “Lawyers should not indulge in seeking adjournments unnecessarily. The Bench should not over-pamper the Bar. Judges should be made to send their returns to the Chief Judges every quarter, as was the practice before 1976. Although each case has its peculiarities, any judge who disposes of a good number of cases within a reasonable period should be commended by the Chief Judge, while any judge who performs below expectation should be reprimanded. This should also form part of the promotion criteria.”

While suggesting additional ways of speeding up judicial delivery and decongesting prisons, Prof. Afe  called for the employment of more qualified judicial officers to enhance the efficiency of the judiciary and to ensure the speedy handling of awaiting-trial cases in the courts.

While introducing the Inaugural Lecturer earlier, the Vice Chancellor and Chairman of the Occasion, Prof. Olugbenga E. Ige, described the 50th Inaugural Lecture as a remarkable milestone of academic excellence and intellectual distinction for the University. He commended Prof. Afe for his immense service to the University and his contributions to the advancement of historical and legal scholarship in Nigeria

* Over 4,500 youths, women empowered in first phase as new training cycle begins

More than 4,563 youths and women in Ondo State have been trained and empowered in poultry, fisheries, cocoa and cassava across the value chains of production, processing and marketing, as well as in vegetable homestead gardening, during the first phase of the project which spanned five years.

The efficient implementation of the project and the achievements recorded over the five-year period paved the way for additional financing, hence the need to bring on board a new set of incubatees to sensitise them on their roles and the laws guiding the project.

 The orientation and technical sessions were held on Tuesday, October 28,  2025, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, with participants drawn from Akoko North-West, Owo and Akure North Local Government areas, including the hardworking staff of Ondo LIFE-ND.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Engr. Leye Akinola, stated this during the flag-off ceremony of the orientation training for 612 newly selected incubatees of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project.

Engr. Akinola explained that the event marked another milestone in the state’s collective efforts to transform the agricultural landscape and create viable opportunities for young people and women through agribusiness.

According to him, the phase tagged Additional Financing aims to consolidate and expand on the successes recorded under the initial IFAD/LIFE-ND implementation.

“Under this Additional Financing phase, the project will provide apprenticeships for 13,050 youths and women across the six IFAD-funded states. 

“Specifically, Ondo State will accommodate 2,175 beneficiaries who, upon graduation, will establish profitable enterprises, secure decent livelihoods, and eventually serve as incubators for others,” he said.

Earlier in her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Foluke Tunde-Daramola, urged the incubatees to utilise and maximise the opportunity provided by the IFAD/LIFE-ND Project to grow and become employers of labour. She emphasised that opportunities in the agricultural sector remain limitless.

In his welcome address, the State Project Coordinator, Dr. Olawale Ademola, explained that Additional Financing is a new phase expected to last three years.

“Thereafter, the second phase will follow, depending on the good performance recorded during the Additional Financing. The first phase ended in March. This is not the second phase,” he clarified.

Similarly, the National Coordinator for Institution, Youth and Gender Mainstreaming, Dr. Clement Uwem, who represented the National Project Coordinator, Engr. Sanni Abiodun, PhD, explained that the incubatees were being trained to understand their obligations and responsibilities.

“We have made them realise that this is a very serious agribusiness training. They are being taught how to develop business plans, work and manage groups, understand their environments, and apply the incubator model — a new innovation in agribusiness development in Nigeria,” Dr. Uwem stated.

The orientation programme culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the distribution of the young farmers to their incubation centres for training and mentoring.

Some of the newly enrolled incubatees expressed joy and commitment, thanking IFAD, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Ondo State Government for the opportunity to become entrepreneurs. They said they were confident that, in no distant time, they would be self-employed, earn income and enjoy decent livelihoods.

* MAP alleges sabotage, calls for investigation

A warehouse belonging to one of the Meter Asset Providers (MAP) accredited by the Ondo State Government to supply prepaid meters under the O’DATIWA Metering Scheme has been set ablaze by unknown arsonists.

The warehouse, owned by Active Achievers Nigeria Limited, is located on Barracks Road, Okitipupa, and was said to contain over 100 Active Energy Prepaid Meters valued at more than ₦10 million, all destroyed in the inferno.

The Managing Director of Active Achievers Nigeria Limited, Mr. H. A. T. Oyinbo, said that residents in the neighbourhood could not salvage anything from the facility due to what he described as a “coordinated blaze on the store.”

“We were informed early on the morning of Monday, 27th October 2025, that a raging inferno was consuming our warehouse. 

“Our Active Energy Prepaid Meters, though the best and most affordable in the market at the moment, are not inflammable, and as such could not have caught fire without someone deliberately setting it ablaze. This is so devastating that agents of darkness could strike in this manner.

“Most disheartening is the commendable initiative of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to end estimated billing for energy consumers in Ondo State through the O’Datiwa Metering Scheme, which some bad elements appear determined to frustrate,” he lamented.

Mr. Oyinbo called on security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to uncover the perpetrators of what he described as an “act of sabotage” aimed at crippling the state’s metering initiative.

Meanwhile, officials of the Ondo State Fire Service have confirmed that preliminary investigations are ongoing to determine the actual cause of the fire.

 According to a senior fire officer who spoke on condition of anonymity, the inferno was already at an advanced stage when firefighters arrived at the scene, making it difficult to save any property.

In a swift reaction, a senior official of the Ondo State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources condemned the attack, describing it as a setback to the government’s commitment to ensuring transparency and fairness in electricity distribution. 

The official assured residents that the metering programme would continue as planned, despite attempts by saboteurs to derail the project.

A celebrated historian and scholar from the Department of History and International Studies, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Professor Adedayo Emmanuel Afe, will on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, deliver the University’s 50th Inaugural Lecture.

Professor Afe, a distinguished Professor of Legal History, will speak on the topic, “The Dynamics of Jurisprudence and Judicial Reforms in Nigeria: The Verdict of History,” at the University Multipurpose Hall, beginning at 2:00 p.m.

According to a statement signed by the Chairman, University Ceremonies Committee, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Adebisi Daramola, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olugbenga Ige, will preside over the event as Chairman. Invited guests are expected to be seated by 1:30 p.m.

Professor Afe began his academic journey with a Bachelor of Arts in History from the then Ondo State University (now Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti) in 1997. He obtained his Master of Arts in History and International Studies from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, in 2004, and earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in History from Ekiti State University in 2012.

He joined the services of Adekunle Ajasin University in 2001 as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of History and International Studies and rose through the ranks to become a Professor in 2020.

Since joining the University, Professor Afe has held several academic and administrative positions, including Acting Head, Department of History and International Studies; Member, Senate Business Committee; President, ASUU Cooperative Multipurpose Society; Departmental Postgraduate Coordinator; Secretary, Faculty of Arts Research Committee; Member, University Car Refurbishing Loan Committee; Coordinator, IPTP Akure Centre; and Coordinator, Diploma in International and Strategic Studies Programme.

In recognition of his scholarly achievements and professional contributions, Professor Afe has received several awards, honours, and scholarships. These include the Federal Government of Nigeria Postgraduate Scholarship (2003); TETFund Conference Sponsorships to Nairobi, Kenya (2013), and Freiburg, Germany (2014); and the Academic Staff Cooperative Multipurpose Society Award for meritorious service as Welfare Secretary. He also received the Radio Nigeria Positive FM, Akure Award as a Distinguished Public Affairs Analyst.

A member of the Historical Society of Nigeria and the European Studies Association of Sub-Saharan Africa, Professor Afe is a well-known public affairs commentator and analyst on several broadcast, print, and new media platforms within and outside Ondo State.

A prolific researcher, he has authored and co-authored four books and has over 25 published research articles, book chapters, and monographs to his credit. He remains a sought-after speaker at academic, intellectual, and policy forums.

Professor Afe has attended, presented papers, and coordinated more than 26 national and international conferences, including the International Multidisciplinary Conference organised by the International Journal of Arts and Sciences in Germany; the International Conference on Race, Ethnicity and Place in the United States; the Conference on Monarchies, Development and the Future at the University of Benin; the Second Annual International Conference on the Challenges of Development in Africa held in Kenya; and the National Conference on the Chieftaincy Institution in Nigeria at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

The Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Engr Leye Akinola, has dismissed as false and malicious a report alleging that he was involved in political activities that conflict with his official duties.

In a statement issued on Friday, Akinola described the publication as “spurious and misleading,” insisting that it was a calculated attempt to tarnish his image and undermine his cordial relationship with the state governor, Hon Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.

He said, “Let it be stated unequivocally that the entire report is false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to tarnish my reputation and undermine the cordial relationship I enjoy with my principal, the Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.”

The Commissioner maintained that all his official engagements, including trips outside the state, were duly approved and strictly in line with his official responsibilities.

“Any official trip made by me outside the state is strictly in line with my official duties and fully approved by the appropriate authorities. There is no iota of truth in the claim that such trips were politically motivated,” he stated.

Akinola also refuted claims of disloyalty to Governor Aiyedatiwa, stressing that he remained a dedicated member of the administration. “I have remained focused on my roles as a key member of Governor Aiyedatiwa’s team, working daily to improve agriculture and forestry in Ondo State,” he added.

Responding to allegations of financial impropriety, the Commissioner described the claims as defamatory and baseless, insisting that the ministry’s finances were managed transparently.

According to him, “The allegation regarding the misuse of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is not only false but also highly defamatory. The Ministry’s finances are managed through a transparent system, and all expenditures are duly accounted for in accordance with due process.”

Akinola further distanced himself from the Minister of Interior, Hon Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, denying any personal or political affiliation with him. He also urged the minister to rein in individuals allegedly using his name to cause division within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

“I have never been an associate or a fan of the Minister of Interior, Hon Bunmi Tunji Ojo, neither do I have any form of contact with him,” he said. “I would use this opportunity to implore the Honourable Minister of Interior, Bunmi Tunji Ojo, to stop sponsoring the political jobbers who are attacking the Government of the day under the guise of support groups and thereby trying to create crisis within the party.”

He advised Tunji-Ojo to maintain unity within the party and, if interested in the governorship position, to wait for the appropriate time.

“If it is true that Hon Bunmi Tunji Ojo eyes the governorship seat of Ondo State, I will personally advise him that he should wait until the appropriate time and timing and the zoning arrangements,” Akinola stated.

Reaffirming his loyalty to the Aiyedatiwa-led administration, the Commissioner declared that he remained committed to advancing the agricultural and forestry sectors in Ondo State.

He urged the public to disregard what he called “cheap blackmail” intended to sow discord within the government.

“I am a loyal and committed member of the administration of Governor Aiyedatiwa, and I remain focused on delivering on the mandate of my office and contributing meaningfully to the growth of the state’s agricultural sector under the leadership of my principal,” Akinola added.

A Professor of African Traditional Religion and Cultural Studies, Adetunbi Ogunleye, has called for a revival and reawakening of African culture and traditions as a path to restoring moral values, peaceful coexistence, and a sense of self-identity among Africans.

He made the call on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, while delivering the 49th Inaugural Lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, titled “Resting in Peace? The Dilemma of the Living Dead.”

Prof. Ogunleye described culture as “the sum total of both material and intellectual equipment which people use to satisfy their biological and social needs,” lamenting that many cultural values and practices that once defined Africans-especially the Yoruba-are fast disappearing under the weight of modernity and foreign influences.

He observed that traditional customs such as naming, marriage, and burial ceremonies have been altered by Western education and foreign religions to the extent that they no longer produce the moral and social outcomes they once guaranteed.

The Don noted that many now give names to children without deep thought or connection to the circumstances of birth, adding that the adoption of meaningless foreign names has weakened the moral attachment people once had to their names and identities.

According to him, the combined effects of Western civilisation, foreign religions, and modernisation have eroded the cultural pillars that sustained moral discipline and social harmony, leading to widespread moral decay and disorder in society.

He decried the growing acceptance of practices such as cohabitation and same-sex relationships, describing them as alien to Yoruba culture and detrimental to the sanctity of marriage, which has resulted in the collapse of family values and increased cases of divorce.

“In the traditional Yoruba worldview,” he explained, “sexuality is not merely about pleasure or personal freedom. It is a sacred act tied to procreation, spirituality, and community continuity. The harmonious union between male and female is not just natural but essential for societal balance and moral order.”

Prof. Ogunleye further warned that the erosion of traditional values has triggered a moral crisis, as seen in the rise of indecent dressing, sexual promiscuity, indiscriminate killings, and general insensitivity to ethical and communal values that once held societies together. He said these negative trends are clear signs of moral confusion resulting from the neglect of indigenous culture and belief systems.

He also linked the weakening of ancestral influence to the adoption of improper burial practices, noting that such deviation from tradition has disrupted the sacred connection between the living and their ancestors, who were once seen as guardians of morality and protectors against evil.

Prof. Ogunleye explained that the increasing frequency of misfortunes and failed rituals has created doubts about ancestral powers, leading many to believe that ancestors have lost their spiritual potency. He, however, attributed this perceived silence to the modern disregard for traditional customs that once sustained ancestral authority.

He stressed that the growing neglect of indigenous traditions has created an inferiority complex among Africans, diminishing the relevance of ancestral heritage and weakening moral consciousness in contemporary society.

The scholar recommended a return to proper cultural education, in-depth research into dying traditions, and a balanced embrace of change and cultural preservation. He also urged scholars to engage in rigorous academic inquiry into traditional values and practices to document, revitalise, and sustain the essence of African identity.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, who chaired the lecture, congratulated Prof. Ogunleye on the successful presentation. He noted that an inaugural lecture offers newly appointed professors a platform to share their scholarly contributions with colleagues, students, family, and the public, while also serving as an opportunity for the university to showcase the academic excellence and intellectual achievements of its faculty.

-VC commends feats

The Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Professor Olugbenga Ige, has commended the remarkable feat of nine members of staff who have earned global recognition by being ranked among the top two per cent of academic researchers in the world.

The nine scholars were listed in the prestigious 2024 Elsevier–Stanford Global Ranking of Top Scientists, recently released. This achievement once again affirms AAUA’s distinguished place on the international academic and research map.

Professor Ige described the milestone as a resounding testament to the University’s unwavering commitment to quality research and global relevance. He stressed that the accomplishment would further inspire staff and students to pursue excellence in scholarship, while reinforcing AAUA’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s pace-setting universities where world-class research thrives.

According to him, the recognition, based on rigorous metrics including research impact, citation indices and global scholarly contributions, underscores the University’s growing influence in cutting-edge research and innovation. He added that the honourees, who span diverse fields, reflect AAUA’s strong tradition of academic excellence and interdisciplinary advancement.

Among the AAUA researchers recognised was Professor Sunday Olatunji, with 129 publications indexed in Scopus and the Web of Science. He was specially commended for his pioneering application of machine learning and artificial intelligence to solve real-life challenges in science, engineering and the humanities. Professor Olatunji, currently Dean of Computing, was earlier named by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as Nigeria’s best Artificial Intelligence researcher for 2025. His scholarly record includes over 157 publications on Google Scholar, 3,992 citations, an h-index of 34 and an i10-index of 93.

Others who made the ranking include Professor Nurudeen Oladoja with 121 publications, Professor Adeleke Ashogbon with 22 publications, Dr Taiwo Agbede with 51 publications, Dr Taoreed Owolabi with 97 publications, Dr Abayomi Oke with 31 publications, Dr Andrew Falowo with 31 publications, Dr Oluwatobi Oyeneyin with 54 publications and Dr Damilola Omoboyowa with 50 publications. Their works, indexed in Scopus, the world-renowned abstract and citation database, further highlight the calibre of scholarship emanating from AAUA.

The global ranking, produced by Stanford University in collaboration with Elsevier, identified 233 Nigerian scientists among the top two per cent worldwide. Drawing on the Scopus database, it assessed over 8.5 million active scientists across 22 major fields and 176 subfields, ultimately recognising 190,000 as leaders in their disciplines.

The evaluation process, which focuses on key academic metrics such as research impact and citation performance, provides a comprehensive overview of each scientist’s career achievements and recent contributions. The Stanford–Elsevier ranking is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious benchmarks in global academia.