Fayemi pledges support for command schools in Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi  has pledged his administration’s for the take-off  of  three proposed Command Secondary Schools in the state.

Speaking while receiving a delegation of the Army Education Corps from the Army Headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, Fayemi, represented by his deputy, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, described the establishment of the schools in Ekiti as a landmark achievement.

The delegation led by Director of Personnel Headquarters, Army Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Julius Oni, visited Isan, Ijero and Ikere,the three towns where the schools would be located -to assess their suitability or otherwise for the projects.

Fayemi said: “As you are aware, education is the main industry of Ekiti State. Therefore, spirited efforts are on to ensure that Ekiti continues to be a leader and pivot in the education industry.

“The schools will be sited at Isan- Ekiti, Ijero-Ekiti and Ikere-Ekiti for geographical spread representing the three senatorial districts in the state.

“I am sure you have visited the entire temporary as well as the permanent sites. It is my hope that you found the sites suitable and acceptable for use.

“Ekiti people are accommodating and hospitable and you will be welcome everywhere you go. Let me quickly assure you of the support of the government and good people of Ekiti State.”

On his part, Oni disclosed that Fayemi had written a letter to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, requesting the establishment of the three command schools across the senatorial districts.

Oni added that having visited the three locations and assessed the sites and available facilities, the panel would write a report to be submitted to Buratai for further action.

He said: “We express our gratitude to Governor Fayemi for the warm reception accorded the team since Sunday.

“A few weeks ago, there was a letter written to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, personally signed by the governor for establishment of three command schools in the three senatorial districts of the state.

“The Chief of Army Staff places a high premium on the development of education. In fact, one of his vision is to enhance the development of education in areas where Army units and formations are established.

“He quickly constituted a team to pay a visit to all the sites and equipment available for the take-off of the schools.

“In the Army, we strive to attain a high education standard in our command secondary schools. We ensure that facilities, equipment and staff conform to a very high standard to ensure that a conducive atmosphere is created for teaching.

“We will put up our report and submit to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, who will, in return, forward same to the state government.”

The three schools are expected to commence academic activities in September when a new academic year takes off.

Oyetola vs Adeleke: How Davido reacted to Appeal Court judgement on Osun guber

Popular Nigerian singer, David Adeleke, better known as Davido, has reacted to the Appeal Court judgement that did not go the way of his uncle and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in the last Osun State governorship election, Ademola Adeleke.

The Appeal Court on Thursday declared the state governor, Gbeyega Oyetola, as the winner of the last Osun State governorship election.

However, Davido hinted that the judgement would be contested at the Supreme Court.

In a series of tweets, the popular musician urged his followers to remain calm, expressing optimism that Adeleke would be declared winner at the apex court.

According to Davido: “We won the first leg. We have lost the second leg but I am certain the Highest Court in the land will rectify and restore all that has been stolen from us with this judgment! Everybody stay calm and stay safe! See you on the other side.

“As you all know there is one last and most important lap. It is time for that last lap and the God I know and serve is in control.

“My people. We can’t hide our disappointment this judgment of the Court of Appeal. It hurts, it’s extremely painful but guess what? It is not the end. Far from it. Everyone remain calm. I want to urge all our supporters to remain calm in this time.”

Fayemi describes deputy,75, as a dependable ally

Ado Ekiti – Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti on Wednesday described his deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi as a dependably and reliably ally.

Fayemi said this in his congratulatory message to Egbeyemi who clocked 75 years on Wednesday.

The governor said this in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Yinka Oyebode and made available to news men.

The governor also described  Egbeyemi as a reputable leader, seasoned administrator and an astute manager of men and materials.

Fayemi said, “My deputy is an experienced lawyer, grassroots mobiliser and seasoned administrator as well as someone with a his high level of integrity.lenges

“All these pedigrees have made Egbeyemi an asset to the present administration in the state.

“ On behalf of the Government and the good people of Ekiti State, I congratulate Chief Bisi  Egbeyemi and wish him a happy birthday today and pray that God continues to bless him with good health and wisdom.

“ It is also my hope that he will continue to make remarkable contributions to the restoration of our dear state,’’ the governor said.

Zedvance Restates Commitment To Quality Education With Back-To-School Campaign

Leading consumer finance company, Zedvance, has restated its commitment to provide support for quality education in Nigeria; urging parents, guardians, teachers and proprietors to take advantage of its Back-to-School offerings.

According to the Chief Operating Officer of Zedvance, Jerry Osagie, the company is providing parents, guardians and teachers easy access to loans ranging between N50,000 and N5million with a flexible repayment regime of up to 18months at very competitive rates.

“We are committed to promoting of[JO1]  quality education and financial inclusion in Nigeria. As a customer-centric brand, we pay attention to the yearnings and aspirations of our customers. Based on the realities of the market, we have decided to partner with parents, guardians, teachers as well as school proprietors to provide easy access to much needed loans. This is to ensure that school pupils receive quality education”, explained Osagie.

He equally pointed out that the company recently relaunched its Back-to-School campaign themed, Zedvance Back-to-School Unburden campaign to ease the burden of school fees and other sundry bills that comes with the resumption of a new academic term on parents’ and guardians’.

Zedvance loans are available to salary-earners in Nigeria with qualifying customers receiving loans in less than three hours (for already existing customers) and less than five hours (for new customers). Customers[JO2]  can access Zedvance loans through self-service digital channels including WhatsApp, by chatting with Zee on 09060003933; online, at www.zedvance.com and phone call to the Customer Service Centre on 07001001000.

Lagos Chief Judge commissions training Institute for judiciary staff

A training arm of the Lagos State Judiciary that will be responsible for the promotion of innovation and effectiveness in services rendered to Lagosians has been commissioned by the Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Institute in Ikeja, the Chief Judge said that the Institute, among other functions, is expected to provide continuing education for all categories of judicial officers through workshops, seminars and other programmes related to judicial education.

She said “the mission of this Institute is to promote excellence through training, competency, and professionalism in the Lagos State Judiciary. It is expected that the Institute will have a far-reaching impact on the quality of our human capital and productivity quotient”.

Justice Oke maintained that the Lagos State Judicial Establishment Institute will, in addition to the above functions, serve as a platform for updating judiciary staff on recent developments in the law, contemporary issues around legal procedure and practice, administration and judicial ethics. 

While noting that since the beginning of her tenure as the State’s Chief Judge, staff of the Judiciary had benefited from both local and international training, Justice Oke explained that the rationale behind the various training programmes were borne out of the conviction that training was the only way that judicial competency, standards, and professionalism could be achieved, maintained and sustained.

“Training is the only way that we can maintain and sustain our position as the foremost Judiciary in Africa.  It is one of the foremost ways to build public trust and confidence in the Lagos State Judiciary. We are the first Judiciary in the nation to formalise and set up its training arm”, the Chief Judge reiterated. 

Justice Oke expressed the hope that with the establishment of the Institute, judicial officers are now expected to sharpen their skills, increase efficiency, innovation, and effectiveness for the benefit and service to the good people of Lagos State

She expressed optimism that the Board of Governors of the Institute would design programmes and training for various categories of staff to address and improve the capacity and overall effectiveness of the Lagos State Judiciary.

The Institute was established, pursuant to the Lagos State Judicial Institute Law 2007, to serve as the principal focal point of judicial activities relating to the promotion of efficiency, uniformity, and improvement in the quality of judicial services in the superior and inferior courts in Lagos State.

Fuji Lord, K1 Blazes Another Trail in Business … Births Anjola Bread, Coffee Shop in Lagos!

In a renewed bid and vigour to further expand his business horizon and interests outside his original thriving music career, acclaimed and undisputed King of Fuji music, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal ,popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, has just introduced his highly-successful bakery business to the Lagos market.

This is sequel to the one he earlier opened in his country home Ijebu Ode, not too long ago. The new massively hi-tech confectionary outfit, aptly called Anjola Bakery,named after one of his beloved daughters, Anjolaoluwa, has since commenced baking for the Lagos market, and promises to be a Mecca of sorts for lovers of pastries and related baked items.

The elitist bakery is audaciously located on the popular Adeniran Ogunsanya Street in Surulere, Lagos Mainland,where numerous people have been thronging since it opened shop for business days back.

Still in the attitude of broadening his business frontiers, a unique and bourgeois Coffee Shop, which K1 plans to open at almost every corner of the City of Aquatic Splendor, has also opened for business.

The coffee shop, which also has its office in the same Adeniran Ogunsanya building that houses the bakery will be dispensing Nespresso to compulsive coffee lovers in a very comfortable and conducive atmosphere. Just as the bakery and the coffee shop are opening for business, another branch in the heart of Ikorodu is on the verge of opening too.

K1, who spoke about the new business outfit, says, he has a dream of being the best in coffee shop ownership in the country, and will do everything humanly possible to attain this height, all things being equal and Allah helping him.

Senate summons minister over state of facilities in Nigerian teaching hospitals

The Senate has summoned the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, for briefing on the current state of healthcare facilities and services in Nigerian teaching hospitals.

The minister’s summon was one of the resolutions made after a deliberation on a motion titled ‘Alarming report on poor quality of services in Nigerian Teaching Hospitals.’ The motion was sponsored by David Umaru (Niger East).

Leading the motion, Mr Umaru lamented the widespread cases of poor electricity supply, obsolete medical equipment, decayed infrastructure and other factors which, he said, have made it extremely difficult for Nigerian teaching hospitals to provide tertiary healthcare to patients with complex ailments such as cancer, kidney failure etc.

He made reference to a report by Daily Trust Newspaper depicting poor healthcare facilities in the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), University of Maidugun’ Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano (AKTH) and University of Uyo Teaching Hospital.

The lawmaker explained that most teaching hospitals in Nigeria have been overstretched, “forcing patients to sleep on bare floors, plastic mats and other unhygienic conditions that put them at the risk of contracting other ailments.”

Gbenga Ashafa, in his contribution, blamed the poor healthcare facilities on lack of funding.

He said most of the hospitals are only entitled to budgets provided for them and thus they lack funds to meet up with maintenance requirements.

The lawmaker expressed worry that patients with terminal illness like cancer and kidney failure are now compelled to travel long distances to access chemotherapy and dialysis “at very high cosy due to absence of the requisite medical equipment for such services within their vicinity.”

Ajayi Borrofice (APC, Ondo), called for the establishment of a Teaching Hospital Commission which he said will help coordinate the services of teaching hospitals across the country.

Magnus Abe urged the federal government to look at the structures of the hospitals. He said chief medical directors “are not given opportunities to do the jobs they were appointed to do you because their activities are being dictated by people in higher authorities.”

For this reason, he called for the autonomy of the institutions. “We need to recognise the ones that can work well and the ones that cannot work should be removed. We need to stop this unnecessary bureaucracy and corruption in the system,” he said.

Resolution

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said the minister needs to appear before the Senate as quickly as possible.

“We need to address this issue where you have patients lying on the floor and waiting for hours to be attended to.

“And it all come down, as we rightly said, to corruption. It means the funds are not being used for what they are allocated for, the funds will be used for something else.

“We also need to strengthen the Auditor-General’s office. Until we begin to oversee monies being sent to MDAs, we’ll continue to have these issues.

“How inadequate can funding be that there is no light, patients are lying on the floor and meanwhile, they are getting funding and allocation every year. And they are also getting revenue,” he said.

Previous calls

This is not the first time health workers have raised alarm on the declining quality of services in Nigerian Teaching Hospitals amidst cases of overcrowding and lack of adequate funding and personnel necessary for optimal performance.

JOHESU, a body of all health workers, except doctors, has been asking the government to increase their pay and improve their members’ working conditions, among other demands since 2014.

This has led to pockets of strikes, over the period.

Last year, Nigeria’s health sector suffered one of its biggest blow when JOHESU members downed tools over similar demands, specifically in April 17.

The strike, which lasted six weeks, caused many deaths and left millions without care. Patients passed through untold pain and their relatives grumbled as both federal, state and local government health institutions were brought to their knees.
The strike was, however, suspended on May 31.

The union said it took the decision to halt the strike because of the sympathy it had for the suffering Nigerian masses and also to pave way for further negotiations.

In January, the health workers again, threatened to resume their suspended strike if the issues in dispute were not resolved.