The Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, received a 3-man team of student debaters in his office.

 The students, who were members of the AAUA Literary and Debating Society, participated in a national debate competition held at Abuja recently where they emerged First runners-up.

Congratulating the debaters for doing the University proud, Prof. Ige asserted that AAUA has become a referential Institution to be reckoned with among the comity of varsities across the world.

The VC, who affirmed that graduates of AAUA have consistently and successfully been rubbing shoulders with their peers in all disciplines across the world, noted that the University would not become less severe on its path to global prominence.

Prof. Ige said the Management would do its best to encourage and assist the students whenever the occasion demands.

The Adekunle Ajasin University Debating team led by Abdul-Haq Mutairu with the duo of Diwura Williams and Blessing Ahmadu, had earlier defeated four institutions at the South-West zonal elimination stage to represent the zone at the national edition that had over 20 universities competing.

Tagged, “National Debate 2022”, it has as its theme: The Way Forward: Nigeria @ 62, Dissecting the Leadership Performance of Nigerias Democratic Dispensations. 

The national debate competition was sponsored by Monday Diamond Foundation in collaboration with Eureka Gie (an international educational consortium), Muslim and Christian Youths Initiative, Youth Alliance for Good Governance, and the Youth Advocacy for Development and Empowerment.

Briefing the University Management earlier, the Dean of Students, Prof. Olusegun Akanbi, had saluted the debaters for shining brilliantly at both the zonal elimination and the national editions and for being good ambassadors of the Institution.

Present at the event were Principal Officers of the University and the leadership of the Student Union.

…Alumnus Wins Us-fulbright Scholarship 

In another development, an alumnus of the University, Busola Mercy Adebayo, was among the latest winners of the Fulbright Scholarship offered by the United States of America.

Adebayo, a-2018 graduate of Yoruba Language, who got the scholarship for Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA), is presently teaching Yoruba language and culture at Feyetteville State University, United States of America.

In a chat with the Information Unit of the University, the Fulbright scholar thanked the University Management for providing conducive environment to learning and appreciated her lecturers for their immense contributions to her progress. She particularly praised Prof. Temitope Olumuyiwa for motivating her and opening her eyes to various prospects in studying Yoruba Language.

The Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, received a 3-man team of student debaters in his office.

 The students, who were members of the AAUA Literary and Debating Society, participated in a national debate competition held at Abuja recently where they emerged First runners-up.

Congratulating the debaters for doing the University proud, Prof. Ige asserted that AAUA has become a referential Institution to be reckoned with among the comity of varsities across the world.

The VC, who affirmed that graduates of AAUA have consistently and successfully been rubbing shoulders with their peers in all disciplines across the world, noted that the University would not become less severe on its path to global prominence.

Prof. Ige said the Management would do its best to encourage and assist the students whenever the occasion demands.

The Adekunle Ajasin University Debating team led by Abdul-Haq Mutairu with the duo of Diwura Williams and Blessing Ahmadu, had earlier defeated four institutions at the South-West zonal elimination stage to represent the zone at the national edition that had over 20 universities competing.

Tagged, “National Debate 2022”, it has as its theme: The Way Forward: Nigeria @ 62, Dissecting the Leadership Performance of Nigerias Democratic Dispensations. 

The national debate competition was sponsored by Monday Diamond Foundation in collaboration with Eureka Gie (an international educational consortium), Muslim and Christian Youths Initiative, Youth Alliance for Good Governance, and the Youth Advocacy for Development and Empowerment.

Briefing the University Management earlier, the Dean of Students, Prof. Olusegun Akanbi, had saluted the debaters for shining brilliantly at both the zonal elimination and the national editions and for being good ambassadors of the Institution.

Present at the event were Principal Officers of the University and the leadership of the Student Union.

…Alumnus Wins Us-fulbright Scholarship 

In another development, an alumnus of the University, Busola Mercy Adebayo, was among the latest winners of the Fulbright Scholarship offered by the United States of America.

Adebayo, a-2018 graduate of Yoruba Language, who got the scholarship for Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA), is presently teaching Yoruba language and culture at Feyetteville State University, United States of America.

In a chat with the Information Unit of the University, the Fulbright scholar thanked the University Management for providing conducive environment to learning and appreciated her lecturers for their immense contributions to her progress. She particularly praised Prof. Temitope Olumuyiwa for motivating her and opening her eyes to various prospects in studying Yoruba Language.

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The Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, has stressed the need for review of some existing policies to engender better living conditions for Nigerians.

Prof. Ige made the call on Sunday, September 18, 2022, at this year’s edition of Investiture of Ondo State Outstanding Personalities of the year 2022 and Presentation of Book (Diary of Icons), organized by the Hero Magazine International held at the Dome International Event Centre, Akure.

The VC who was also the guest speaker at the event, spoke on “Better Policies, Better Living Conditions”, adding that public policies exist in form of law, regulation, procedure, administrative action, incentive, or voluntary practice of governments and their institutions or agencies. 

He said, “Since public policies (by their nature) are subject to change, there is the need to look into the possibilities of reviewing some of our existing policies or regulations towards securing better living for the people. A review of some of Nigerias national development policies is proposed as a body of philosophy to be targeted at providing better living conditions for its citizens such as in the critical sectors of education, health, transportation system, agriculture, labour and productivity, wages, youth engagement, national security, sustainable energy, foreign exchange, trade, taxation, environment, and cost of governance.”

He added that the responsibility of public policy formulation rests on public authorities at all levels of governance, including traditional rulers, Councillors, Local Government Chairmen, Members of House of Assembly, the Governor, the National Assembly, and the Presidency or agencies of government.

He submitted that public policies were to be legally-formulated framework for government actions towards providing the enabling environment for citizens to have conducive living conditions.

Prof. Ige expressed concerns that despite numerous brilliant policies that were initiated by successive governments in the country, Nigerians have not benefitted from significant developmental policies that adequately addressed the challenges in the nation’s education, economic, health and political sectors even after over two decades into uninterrupted democratic rule.

Interrogating policy failure in Nigeria, the Guest Speaker linked such failure to lack of a clearly defined policy framework, political instability, political interference, policy and macro-economic dislocations; lack of continuity by different regimes, both military and civilian; poor governance leading to abandonment of projects; lack of involvement of beneficiaries/relevant stakeholders in project design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation; and ineffective targeting of real beneficiaries. 

Prof. Ige, however, acknowledged the robust policies being initiated by the Ondo Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, especially on security of lives and property of the people.

The VC said, “In the face of the current security challenges rocking Nigeria, another giant stride has been taken by the amiable Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, to ensure the safety and security of lives in the State through the government policy that brought about the Ondo State Security Network Agency, the Amotekun Corps.

“Going by the successes recorded by this Corps among a host of other important interventions within the last two years, you will agree with me that the initiative has formidably strengthened the states security architecture and translated into better sleep for the people of the State.”

He charged all public leaders to pursue better policies that would make people happy and fulfilled. 

He said, I am challenging all of us as public leaders in our various capacities to pursue better policies that will make our people happy and fulfilled. To achieve this, we must ensure continuity in better policies and programmes initiated by successive governments; put adequate and proper structures and machineries in place to ensure proper implementation of policies; constitute and adequately fund appropriate institutions and agencies to implement policies; and prioritize the peoples interests and welfare when setting policy goals.

The Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, has assured Nigerians that when elected President, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will use his vast experience to bring more prosperity and development to the country.

The Minister gave this assurance while addressing a stakeholders meeting of the Akure South local government chapter of the APC at his residence in Akure, the Ondo State capital, at the weekend.

The Akure South Stakeholders General meeting comprised of all Elders, Leaders, Local government executives, Ward EXCO members and 20 additional leaders from each of the 11 Wards in the local government.

Adegoroye, who said the meeting was borne out of the need to unite party members in the local government ahead of electioneering campaigns, expressed optimism on the victory of the party in the 2023 general elections.

A release signed by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, quoted Adegoroye as saying Tinubu as a former Senator, former Governor and progressive party leader has all it takes to engineer the growth of the country and build on the foundations already laid by President Muhammadu Buhari. 

“Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is a thoroughbred politician who understands what the people need. He knows the grassroots and identifies with the masses. Asiwaju  understands what the people wants and I can assure you that it won’t take him long to settle down to work. 

“This meeting is very important for us to rub minds and iron out whatever differences exist among party leaders and members so that our victory in 2023 can be total. All our candidates have to win convincingly and the only way we can do that is to unite as one big family”, Adegoroye said.

The Minister, who said the APC Akure South stakeholders meeting will henceforth be held quarterly, also promised to support the weekly ward and unit meetings of the party in the local government.

Speaking at the meeting, the State chairman of the APC, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, said he was overwhelmed with the turn out of party leaders and members to the meeting, saying this was the first time such a party stakeholders meeting would be holding in Akure South.

Adetimehin, who was accompanied to the meeting by State Commissioner for 

Budget and Economic Planning, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan and House of Representatives candidate of the APC in Akoko South West/Akoko South East federal constituency, Otunba Adegboyega Adefarati, commended Adegoroye for facilitating and hosting the meeting and birthing a new dawn in Akure South APC.

The party chairman, who appealed to angry party members to embrace reconciliation, added that such regular interactions will help foster unity in the party and enhance the chances of the candidates of the party in the coming general elections.

Leaders of the party at the meeting included Prof. Olu Aderohunmu, Mr. Idowu Otetubi, Dr. S.B Akerele, Mr. Femi Fadairo, as well as ward and local government officers of the party.

Others present included elected council officials led by the Chairman of Akure South local government, Mr. Gbenga Olaniyi and the candidates of the party for 2023, led by Senate Candidate in Ondo Central, Mr. Niyi Adegbonmire, SAN.

The General Manager, Ondo State Waste Management Authority (ODSWMA), Reverend (Mrs) Ayo Adeyemo, has applauded the residents for their full compliance with today’s environmental sanitation excise.

Adeyemo who led other top officials of the Authority to monitor the August edition of the monthly environmental sanitation excise within Akure metropolis, commended the poeple for keying into the exercise.

She, however, disclosed that 38 poeple were arrested during the exercise for various sanitation offences, saying those arrested were charged to court for appropriate punishment.

The GM equally encouraged the residents to sustain habits of cleanliness and make it a daily affair to ward off any form of diseases. She also appealed to the people not to dump their waste in drainage system and canal to avoid flooding.

Adeyemo who advised all residents to keep to sanitation rules and regulations, further charged them to always keep their waste in bins for easy evacuation.

In all the areas visited, residents defiled early morning light showers, and were seeing cleaning and clearing their environment. 

“Today’s exercise is a good one, the city is relatively clean. People kept their environment clean and we are very happy. Even the evacuators were all evacuating.

“So, everything went well. I will only encourage the good poeple of Ondo State to sustain the habit of cleanliness to ward off any form of diseases which dirty environment can cause.

“It is how we treat our environment that the environment with treat us. So we must treat our environment well to ensure healthy living.

“Our ‘Talk and Do’ Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, is doing his best to improve the heath status of the poeple of Ondo State, so we citizens must continue to support him in every area by contributing our own quotas for the betterment of our environment.

“It is when we are in good health we can go to work, it is when we are in sound health we can say we want to do this or  achieve that. So, let us be hygienic by regularly cleaning our homes and our surroundings. Health is wealth.

“And like I always say, keep your waste in a prescribed bin and wait for the evacuator to evacuate. And I always encourage our evacuators to do the evacuation promptly and effectively so that waste kept in bins will not spill over.

“Also, this is rainy season, it even rained during the exercise and that is why I wore my shower cap. I want to advise the good people of our State not to dump their waste in drainage system and canal because they will be blocked, and this will lead to flooding.

“So, to avert flooding let all of us keep to sanitation rules and regulations”, she stressed

The Special Adviser to Ondo State Governor on Strategy, Political and Legislative Matters, Dr. Jibayo Adeyeye, has donated a high tech surveillance drone and five  brand new operational motorcycles to Amotekun Corps in the state.

Adeyeye explained that the gesture is in commemoration of his birthday and support Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s relentless efforts at strengthening security architecture to further reduce crimes and criminalities in the state.

At the event held at the Amotekun Corps Head Office, Alagbaka Akure, Governor Akeredolu who specially commended the donor for supporting what is crucial to the state government, also stressed that security of lives and properties of the citizens is paramount to his administration.

Wife of the donor, Prof. Olufunke Adeyeye also graced the occasion. Other dignitaries at the ceremony were Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa; Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Adewale Akinlosotu; Chairman, Ondo East Local Government, Akinkuotu Olawale and his Ondo West counterpart, Akinsulire Ebenezer among other dignitaries.

Adeyeye, while  throwing his weight behind the state police for effective security system in the country, also noted that the donation was in fulfilment of his earlier promise to the Commander of Amotekun Corps to provide support in that regard.

“I want to salute the courage of our ever performing Governor for standing tall for the establishment of Amotekun Corps in the South West. Mr Governor has demonstrated capacity, will and leadership. Mr Governor has been equipping Amotekun Corps in Ondo state and make it effective in tackling insecurity across the state.

“However, like every other thing in Nigeria, government alone cannot do it. Every citizen must be ready to support what government is doing, and that is why I have come to give my own widow’s mite to support Mr Governor in equipping Amotekun Corps in the state.  

This Surveillance Drone is capable of at least surveying about 7kilometres radius from here. This drone can fly not less than 500metres into the air, you are not going to see it when it is moving around. It can be in the air for not less than 45 minutes”, Adeyeye added.

He equally urged the federal government to put more efforts to stem the tide of insecurity in the country.

Speaking at the event, Governor Akeredolu who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Olugbenga Ale, encouraged other well-meaning individuals and corporate organizations to emulate the donor and contribute their quotas to further boost the security architecture in the state.

The Governor, while emphasising his belief in state police as a recipe to guarantee security in the country, also called on the National Assembly to make necessary amendments to the Constitution to allow for the creation of state police in the interest of the country and the citizenry.

The Governor explained that the donation would go a long way in assisting Amotekun Corps to combat crimes and criminalities in the state, adding that security has gone beyond mere firing of guns, hence the need for  modern technology, gadgets and equipments to effectively fight insecurity.

“We believe that the state must be safe, our poeple must be safe. It is when we are in a safe environment that we can talk of the economy. It is when we are safe we can talk of education, it is when the state is safe we can talk of social life. So, we will continue to protect our poeple”, Akeredolu said.

He also lauded the Amotekun Corps for living up to expectations, saying his administration would continue to protect the lives and properties of the citizens across the state.

Also, the Commander of Amotekun Corps and Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, who expressed the Corps’ gratitude to the donor, equally explained that the drone and motorcycles donated would further enhance the operational capabilities of the Corps.

He also presented a birthday present to the donor and celebrant on behalf of the Corps. 

In separate remarks, the Chairman, Ondo East Local Government, Akinkuotu Olawale and his Ondo West counterpart, Akinsulire Ebenezer, commended Governor Akeredolu for his unwavering commitment to the security of the poeple through the establishment of Amotekun in the South West region, just as they thanked Dr Adeyeye for supporting government to improve security architecture in the state.

The leaders of Ebira Community in Ondo state have vowed to expose and deal decisively with any of their kinsmen who indulges in any form of criminal activities in any part of the state.

This is coming as the leaders also announced that they have placed a ban on all Ebira traditional festivals from being held in any part of the state to further prevent any form of criminal activities. 

The leaders of Ebiras from Kogi State living in Ondo State who made this known on Saturday in Akure while briefing journalists, also appealed to political leaders and the security agents in the country not to politicize the issue of insecurity so that the war against insecurity can be won.

The representatives of Ebira people who came from each of the 18 local government areas of the state  said that the conference was imperative following an earlier meeting called at the instance of the state government in which they were accused of not putting their houses in order in the area of security in the state.

In a communique read by Barrister Abiodun Umoru during the briefing, the leaders noted that Nigeria’s security challenges could not have gotten to its present alarming level if stakeholders have not been politicizing it and called for collaborative efforts to win the war. 

They particularly pointed out the listing of one Idris Ojo who was an Escapee from Kuje prison that was attacked on July 5, 2022 in the list of those arrested for carrying out the massacre in Owo on June 5, 2022 a month after, and lauded Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for making the clarification shortly after 

 the list was released by the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen. Lucky Irabor.

They commended the state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, for his tireless efforts at reducing crimes and criminalities across the state with a promise to continue to contribute their quotas to socio-economic and political development of the Sunshine State.

While disclosing that they are not ready in any way to support or defend any of their kinsmen arrested for crimes but report such persons to appropriate authorities,  the people called on security agencies to always carry out thorough and verifiable investigations before going to the press as their intelligence gathering, investigations and conclusions are always open for public evaluation and analysis.

” We advise security agencies in the country to always extend their intelligence and investigative tentacles for thorough investigation of crimes so as to come up with clearcut conclusions which will command public interest and trust”, they said. 

The leaders who also pleaded with the state government to establish Amotekun Posts in some communities which are predominantly inhabited by their people and enlist their interested youths in the security agency, equally warned politicians who have cultivated the habit of importing Ebira youths from their state to Ondo State as political thugs saying that they are ready to deal decisively with such youths.  

While using the forum to announce the banning of all Ebira traditional festivals from being held in any part of Ondo State, they posited that henceforth, they will be collecting the data of all arrested suspected criminals of Ebira origin in the state for periodic presentation to their paramount ruler, The Ohinoyi of Ebira Land, Alhaji (Dr) Ado Ibrahim (CON) for further tracing, invitation and interrogation of their parents at the palace of their monarch in Okene, Kogi State.

“We have warned and educated our women who sell food items at strategic locations on the major roads on the dangers of hobnobbing with suspected criminals by volunteering information to them. They have been admonished to report any suspicious movement of unknown persons where they live, work, and play to their village heads and the security agents nearer to them”, the leaders added.

A renowned Professor of Yoruba Literature of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Oluyemisi Adebowale, has been admitted to the College of Fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL).

The Fellowship was conferred on her and five others on Thursday, August 11, 2022 at the 24th Convocation and Investiture of NAL held in the University of Lagos.

The Fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Letters are a group of distinguished scholars of the humanities, nominated and elected in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the humanistic scholarship.

The Secretary of NAL, Prof. Ayobami Kehinde, in an early statement, had noted that the new Fellows were highly accomplished researchers in their respective fields, adding that they were elected following a robust review process which found their research outputs excellent.

Speaking with the Information Unit of Adekunle Ajasin University, Prof. Adebowale, the first female Professor and former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of AAUA, expressed joy over her admission to NAL’s prestigious College of Fellows.

She thanked the Executive Committee of NAL for recognising her modest contributions in her field.

Other Fellows are Prof. Roseline Oro Aziza, Prof. Godini Gabriel Darah, Prof. Alex Chinwuba Asigbo, Prof. Yakubu Aboki Ochefu, and Prof. Olumuyiwa Adebanjo Falaiye while the Overseas Fellow is Prof. Emeritus John I. Bewaji. The Honorary Fellows at the event were Odia Ofeimun and Chief Olusola Akintola Osuntokun.

34 Professors were also inducted as new members of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) at the event.

The Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, has urged the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, to expedite action on the commencement of the reconstruction of the Akure – Ado Ekiti road.

Adegoroye, on a visit to Fashola in his office in Abuja, said the people of Ondo and Ekiti States have continued to experience too much pain on the bad road and therefore need a respite.

The project for the dualisation of the road was awarded by the federal government to Dantata and Sawoe in 2020 for N22 billion but the contractor has not commenced the project due to lack of mobilisation from the government.

Fashola had disclosed in a recent interview that lack of funds had delayed the mobilisation of the contractor to the site of the project.

However, Adegoroye, who was making his second visit to the Works Minister in one month, said the poor state of the road has necessitated an urgent action from the federal government.

He told Fashola that his people would not let him rest at home until work begins on the road, promising to keep visiting the Works Minister once every week until the project takes off.

The Transportation Minister said the Akure – Ado road project would be the major benefit of both Ondo and Ekiti States from the unprecedented 77 road projects embarked upon by the Muhammadu Buhari Administration and currently ongoing across the country.

According to a release by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, Adegoroye also saluted the Works Minister for his hard work, forthrightness and determination in ensuring the growth of road infrastructure in the country.

Responding, Fashola reaffirmed his earlier comment that lack of funds had made it difficult for the government to begin the project, saying the road has not been abandoned.

Thanking Adegoroye for showing genuine concerns over the project, the Works Minister promised his colleague that he will do everything within his power to ensure that the project takes off in no distant time.

In a related development, Adegoroye also paid a visit to Mrs Folasade Yemi-Esan, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, to seek her assistance for young school leavers of Ondo State origin who are desirous of getting employed in the Federal Civil and Public Service.

Responding, the Head of Service, who said he was impressed with the Minister’s show of interest in his people’s welfare, stated that there is an embargo on employment but added that there could be a waiver in critical sectors of public service, promising to give special consideration to Ondo State when such opportunities come up.