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Beyond Tinubu’s Visit to Abeokuta

Published

2 years ago

August 19, 2022

The last time I saw a mammoth crowd as I did when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressive Congress (APC) standard bearer, visited Abeokuta last Wednesday was when President Muhammadu Buhari was in Ogun State to inaugurate the multiple projects that were done by Prince Dapo Abiodun earlier this year. However on Wednesday, August 16, 2022, Abeokuta turned into a Mecca of people on the strength of Asiwaju’s visitation to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and as Special Guest of Honour at the Artisans’ Day celebration.

Tinubu, who arrived at the Penthouse of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in his chopper at about 1 pm, was welcomed amidst fanfare by his supporters and members of the party. Visibly, it was a hectic moment for security personnel who were instructed by the management to keep the crowd under check but the caliber and crowd overwhelmed them. The helipad was besieged as the chopper hovered around OOPL to touchdown.

As if that was not enough, while a meeting between Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former President Olusegun Obasanjo was held at the penthouse even some workers abandoned their duty posts to catch a glimpse of “EMILOKAN”. Those who were kept out of the meeting had an opportunity to join the revelry at the expansive Moshood Abiola Stadium, Kuto, where Asiwaju was Special Guest of Honour at the Artisans’ Day celebration.

Well, a popular saying goes that wherever there is a cube of sugar, ants will visit the place. Asiwaju is like the metaphorical sugar whose sweetness drew the attention and affection of the crowd of people that was at the place. For me, the positive attitude of the people that were present through the display of loyalty and happiness speaks volume about the personality of Asiwaju and the acceptance and popularity that Prince Dapo Abiodun enjoys among the party members and residents of Ogun State.

It was a Turkish playwright and novelist, Mehmet Murat ildan, who aptly said, “When you visit a country, visit the forgotten artisans of the narrow streets because they are the ones who made that country! Do this, not to honour them but to honour yourself!,” but it was Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who gave life to those meaningful words as he attended the occasion of the 2022 Artisans’ Day in Abeokuta. The symbolism of his solidarity with artisans underscores the respect he has for the downtrodden and the engine room of the society— the artisans.

Across the globe, Artisans’ Day is a special day that is dedicated to the celebration of Artisans. It is also a veritable platform to identify and appreciate the immense values that they have continued to contribute to the development of the economy. To know the importance of artisans is to think about Governments building roads without artisans—the motor mechanics, panel beaters, rewires painters, etc— who would ensure we have road-worthy vehicles that convey humans, goods, and services from one place to another. It would be disastrous. Similarly, we cannot underestimate the contributions of the masons, plumbers, electricians, tillers, and P.O.P. makers to the aesthetics of our houses and estates; the same could be said of the furniture makers who make the piece of beautiful furniture for our homes and offices. There is the African woman who continues to be the most beautiful due to the artistry of our dressmakers and designers and hair stylists.

Incontrovertibly, artisans have continued to preserve our cherished cultural traditions of handmade works. The “tie and dye” (adire/Kampala) makers; cloth weavers; the clay pot makers; the wood carvers; the brass makers, and a host of others needs to be appreciated and celebrated for their contribution to the growth of the economy and the sustenance of our existence. And it is the collective quality of their handiworks that marks one of the reasons that Ogun State takes prominence on the global map of innovation. The world knows Ogun for Adire!

Commendably, these peoples’ craft— artisanship— is a major contributor to a larger percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of our Nation. They are a major contributor to the economic agenda of employment generation, poverty alleviation, and food security— a massive employer of labour. Significantly, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has chosen Ogun state as the place to identify and celebrate with this important composition of our nation.

As I have observed, it is worthy to mention that since the inception of Prince Dapo Abiodun’s Administration in May 2019, Ogun State has continued to witness a significant increase in the number of registered Trade Associations and Artisan groups. Presently, the number of Artisan groups and associations has increased to Three Hundred and Fifty-Two (352). And, the symbiotic relationship between the Artisan groups and the Government of Ogun State definitely has direct and indirect impacts on the state’s internal and external economy of scale.

The All Progressive Congress Standard Bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu could not contain his wonderment when he expressed, “We are glad with what the governor is doing and we are glad with all the support he is giving,”. He noted that he is proud of the various infrastructural drives of the governor.

Well, to some of us who are dispassionate observers, since his assumption of office as the Governor of Ogun State in May, 2019, Prince Dapo Abiodun has left no one in doubt, including the doubting Thomases, about his prodigious administrative acumen, robust intellect, keen vision, transparent honesty, and the sheer capacity to organise men and materials for outstanding results. In the Nigerian space where public service is largely synonymous with self-service, Prince Dapo Abiodun— who might have his foible as a human— has remained constant as one of the exceptional few who are passionate about their jobs, patriotic to the Nigerian nation, and conscious of the fact that leadership is not a destination but a process that must be meritoriously, duly and conscientiously followed.

Where there is an honour, there is commendation and that is why Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and citizens and residents of Ogun State who were present at the Artisans’ Day 2022 in Abeokuta have commended Prince Dapo Abiodun. It is an acknowledgment of his rare display of leadership and delivery of the dividend of democracy to the masses through good governance that is built on human-capital and infrastructural development.

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Lagos has not increased minimum wage to N70,000 — Commissioner clarifies

Published

15 mins ago

April 26, 2024

NewsDirect

The Lagos state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso has clarified that the state has not increased its minimum wage for workers to N70,000.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Omotoso noted that the Governor was erroneously quoted as saying that a new minimum wage of N70,000 had been announced.

Providing clarity, Omotoso said, “The Lagos State Government has not increased the minimum wage, contrary to the impression in some media reports, which emanated from the unveiling of Eko Cares – the umbrella for the various interventions to protect the poor against the effects of the prevailing economic hardship. The event was held at the Governor’s Office in Ikeja on Wednesday.”

“Mr. Governor never said so. He said since January, civil servants had been earning the N35,000 wage award directed by the Federal Government. In other words, those earning N35,000 now earn N70,000. He did not announce a new minimum wage of N70,000.”

He quoted the Governor as saying, “I know that by the grace of God very very soon we’ll see a new minimum wage that will be approved for the Federal Government and for the state government. The civil servants and all public officers know that since January we have continued to pay the minimum wage allowance of N35,000 over and above what they were earning before.

“People that were earning a minimum of N35,000 to N40,000 before, they are now earning over N70,000. So, it’s important for people to know and for us to lay this thing very clearly. This government has doubled up and has not left its citizens on their own…”

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Abiodun appoints Tunde Onakoya Sports Ambassador

Published

17 mins ago

April 26, 2024

NewsDirect

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has appointed Mr. Tunde Onakoya, the National Master of Chess and the current Guinness World Record Holder for the longest Chess Marathon in history, the Sports Ambassador of the State.

Governor Abiodun, who made this known on Thursday when he received Mr. Onakoya in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, also announced the commencement of the State Chess Competition to be held in all parts of the state in honour of Mr. Onakoya.

Abiodun, who was impressed with the achievement of the National Chess Master at the global stage, said this could not have been possible without determination and resilience and hard work.

“I can see why you continue to be an inspiration to many young people across the length and breadth of this country. You have gone further by establishing a foundation called the ‘Chess in Slums Africa’ because you are determined to tell your story and encourage other children and get them out of the slums and give them hope and a future.

“Today, we will be officially appointing you as our State Sports Ambassador. Coincidentally, Ogun State will be hosting the National Sports Festival in the next nine months or thereabouts and we are boasting that we are set to host the best National Sports Festival that has never been held in the history of this country and coincidentally, chess is one of the games that will feature in that event.

“I have decided that because of you and in your honour, we will begin an Ogun State Chess Competition across the length and breadth of the state. Since you are now officially our Sports Ambassador and our Chess Ambassador, we will leave it to you to design that competition from the local government all the way to the state level.

“But we as your state, we will have a sponsor in the Tunde Onakoya Prize, for the winner of that competition,” the governor explained.

The Governor likened the travails of the Chess Master to that of millions of youths in Nigeria who are struggling to make something out of their lives, stating that his achievements in the face of difficulties is a testimony that life does not recognize where one comes from, place of birth or parent’s status in the society.

He commended the longest Chess Marathon holder in the world, for his resolve to succeed without engaging in dubious activities, noting that with the feat, he has joined the league of illustrious sons and daughters who have done Ogun State proud in their chosen endeavours.

Mr. Onakoya had earlier told the Governor of his immense gratitude for the support he received from Nigerians in his march to stardom, adding that he felt proud to be a Nigerian.

He also recalled his challenges while growing up, noting that he saw chess as a way out of poverty and ability to think critically beyond the surface.

“I am proud to be a Nigerian and from Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, I felt highly honoured and happy in the way Nigerians all over the world supported me immensely to achieve this feats and the honour accorded me by our royal fathers and His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, my state Governor,” Onakoya said.

News

LASG spent over N4.2bn on WAEC fees in four years

Published

17 mins ago

April 26, 2024

NewsDirect

…Approves N1.57bn for 2024 WAEC fees for 58,188 students

…Re-absorbs 13,000 out-of-school children into basic, secondary education

The administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has consistently fulfilled its promise to pay the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) fees for all public school SS3 students in Lagos State.

This was announced by Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Ali-Balogun on Thursday at a ministerial press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja.

According to him, the Lagos State Government has consistently paid the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) fees for all public school SS3 students over the past four years, 2020-2023, totaling over N4.2 billion.

Building on this commitment, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved N1,571,076,000 to cover registration fees and other costs for 58,188 SS3 students taking the WASSCE in the 2024 school year.

He highlighted the achievements of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration in the first year of his second term, showcasing the government’s continued investment in education and its commitment to the well-being of Lagos State’s youth.

According to him, “The Administration of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has never defaulted in the payment of WAEC fees of all public school SS3 Students in the 4 years of his first term in office. The State Government paid over N4.2b between 2020 and 2023 to keep our promise of full payment of West African Senior School Certificate Examination fees.

“In the current school year, (2024) The Governor has approved the sum of N1,571,076,000 as registration fees and other cost for 58, 188 SS3 students writing the West Africa School Certificate Examination. “

In the same vein, the commissioner announced that the Lagos State Government has successfully reabsorbed 13,000 out-of-school children into basic and secondary education over the past four years.

According to him, over 2,600 of these children were rescued and reabsorbed into the education system in just the last one year alone.

In addition to this achievement, the Commissioner highlighted the state’s efforts to motivate teachers in public primary and secondary schools through prompt salary payments, wage awards, training, and improved teaching environments.

This has helped to boost teacher morale and improve the overall quality of education in the state.

The Commissioner also addressed recent issues in education, including the denial of admission to Nigerian children at a school in Ilupeju.

He assured that the ministry has taken swift action, visiting the school and promising appropriate sanctions for any wrongdoing.