Arsonist attacks INEC office in Ede

The Office complex of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in Ede South Local Government area of Osun State has been gutted by fire.

The office complex situated at Okeresi (d d d m) area of the Ede town was partly affected by the fire which reportedly started at about 10 o'clock this morning.

One of the staff who did not want to be mentioned told Radio Nigeria that the prompt Intervention of firemen ensured that the fire was restricted to the Conference Room alone.

During a visit to the scene of the incident, some items were seen being paraded allegedly belonging to suspected arsonists who are on the run. 

Some of the items are Petrol keg, knife, Bread cut into pieces and a vez cap suspected to be that of one of the arsonists on the run.

The Osun State Public Relations Officer of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Oluwaseun Osimosu confirmed the incident,but could not ascertain the cause of the fire.

She told Radio Nigeria that the Resident Electoral Commissioner would give details of the incident after his visit to the scene.

The police PRO could not be reached as at the time of filling this report for more on the arsonists dimension to the fire incident.

Adenitan Akinola

Education – Osun State government set to distribute instructional materials to public schools

Governor of Osun, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola will tomorrow, Friday,11th November,2022 perform the flagg-off ceremony for the distribution of instructional materials to public schools across the state.

A statement by the Executive Secretary, Osun State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr Adeoye Bakare indicates that the distribution ceremony takes place at the SUBEB Warehouse behind Omoluabi Building, Abere by 1.00pm

The statement enjoins all invitees, Principals, Headteachers, Teachers, Students as well as pupils to attend punctually

University of Ilesa: NUC presents Letter of Recognition to Osun govt

The National Universities Commission (NUC) on Thursday presented Letter of Recognition for the official take off of University of Ilesa.

The delivery of the letter signals the successful conclusion of the official documentation process for the University's founding.

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola reaffirmed his administration's commitment to making sure that the establishment of the institution won't in any manner place an unnecessary financial strain on the State at the same time.

The university is now Nigeria's 220th university and 60th state university thanks to the recognition.

The Osun Governor personally accepted the letter of gratitude from Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, the NUC Executive Secretary.

Maiden JIFORM C' Summit Demands Migration Affirmative Action.

The maiden Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM) Intercontinental Migration Summit rounded off on Friday with call for affirmative actions to tackle various migration menaces.

The hybrid conference hosted by the Medgar Evers College (MEC), City University, New York City (CUNY) at Brooklyn was themed: Appraising Human Mobility: Prospects and Challenges of Labour Migration Post Pandemic Era was held between November 2-4.

Dr Ajibola Abayomi, President of the JIFORM who spoke via zoom said there was need for affirmative actions to address the mirage of challenges associated with human mobility and migration governance.

He charged nations to show more commitments towards eradicating poverty, inequality and create more jobs for the needy to hinder human trafficking, slavery and ensure improved labour migration relations with strategies to also address concerns on climatic challenges posing threats to humanity. 

"Global warming is worth giving serious attention. The anticipated climatic reactions projected by the world bank to affect over 216 million people globally by 2030 as an offshoot of emission and environmental hazards such as flooding and weather reaction should concern all of us. 

"We must not pretend, the mass movement of migrants to be affected in the North Africa, Asia, Europe, America and others would lead to unprecedented inflation and dislocation of the world economy order if steps are not taken to forestall it. The developed countries that are responsible for most of the consequences of the global warming should fulfill the accumulated annual $100 billion overdue Green Climatic Funds pledge to the global south nations to mitigate the effect before it is too late  " he warned. 

Ajibola called for support for the 280.6 million international migrants accounting for almost 4 percent of the world population of 7.8 billion with more friendly policies and deliberate evidence based journalism laced with human face given their roles as economic developers. 

Speaking, both Kimberly  Whitehead, PhD, the Senior Vice President for Strategy at MEC and Dr JoAnne Rolle, the Dean of MEC admonished nations and stakeholders to formulate strategies with clear road map to counter human trafficking luring women and children into slavery across the world. 

 

Professor Byron Price from the MEC raised concerns on millions of migrants in detentions camps in America and other countries. 

"An estimated 660,000 children – 150,000 last year alone – have been separated from one parent or both by our nation’s heartless detain-and-deport immigration laws. 

According to a report by the National Council of La Raza and the Urban Institute, the majority of these children are under age 10—many are infants, toddlers and preschoolers. These chil- dren not only experience trauma now, but will likely suffer from this event for the rest of their lives. 

"When children experience strong or prolonged adversity without adequate adult support, they are flooded with stress hormones which can disrupt the development of the brain and other systems, resulting in what researchers at Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child call toxic stress response" he lamented.

Also at the summit, Gerry Weiner, the former secretary of Government and Minister of Immigration and Citizenship in Canada pushed for reappraisal of migration policies with friendly inputs as being done in his country. 

He argued that provisions must be made for the less privilege to lessen agitation for revolution and migration unrest globally.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Apha Timbo, suggested that the West African nations must evolve capacity building for migrant workers training and preparation of migrants with soft and hard skills and a digitalized migration for tracking, monitoring and social protection.

In her submission, Dr Princess Ocansey, a member of the African Union Labour Migration Advisory Committee bemoaned the unemployment ratio in Africa but averred that: “Well managed Migration can provide several solutions! From temporary circular migration opportunities, to strategically positioned remittances to fix emerging forex issues and more.

Solomon A Folorunsho and his counterparts from Home for the Needy, Germany sought supports for the over 5000 victims of forced migration at the center in Benin City, Nigeria 

They stressed the need to embrace peaceful resolution of conflicts to reduce the numbers of internally displaced persons across the continents especially in the north east Nigeria. 

Contributors at the summit included Ms Philomena Gnanapragsam, the Director of Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD); Professor Fadhel Kaboub, a Tunisian-American associate professor of economics at Denison University, Ohio, USA;  and  Ms Vergil Ratliff, Texas Comptroller of Public Funds Accounts-Criminal Investigation.

Others were Thuleleni Mbhansa, female advocate of High Court of South Africa; Ms Phelisa Nkonmo from South Africa; Vera Bumpers, the Metro Chief of Policy, Houston, Ms Velaze Vinolia Mabele, the CEO, Lebema Media House Limited, USA; the Head of Media Unit of the Nigerians in Disapora Commission, Abdur- Rahman Balogun; Dr Wale Idris Ajibade, Director of  African Views, USA, Ms Evelyn Cel Manavalla from Spain, Teresa Jabob from Home for the Needy Germany. 

JIFORM is a migration journalists body founded in 2019 with over 300 journalists focusing on migration matters across the continents.

FG pays compensation for cash crops on the the proposed site for National Institute of Domestic Security, Irogbo Ijesa.

Construction work commences at the proposed site of the National Institute of Domestic Security as Federal government begins to compensate owners and tenants of the acquired 46.8 hectares of land at Irogbo Ijesa,Osun State.

Addressing the 60 recipients of the 26 million naira compensation, the Minister of Interior , Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, stated that the institute will be used as a training facility for members of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Nigerian Correctional Service.

The institute, according to Mr. Aregbesola, who was represented by his special adviser, Dr. Bola Ilori, is an endeavour to ensure that paramilitary men are competent in carrying out their tasks to offer supplemental internal security and other ancillary functions within the nation.

The interior minister, a native of the historic Ijesa town, announced his donation of 11 million naira, which will be added to the 26 million naira paid out by the federal government as compensation for the crops grown on the newly acquired huge tract of land.

Dr. Shuaib Belgore, the permanent secretary of the interior ministry, who was represented by Mr. Peter Egbodo, director of joint services, dispelled rumours that the government had acquired the land primarily for other uses by stating that it was for the Domestic Security Institute.

“3 lots have already been approved for the project Lot/CS/04 Project Title/Description Consultancy services for preparation of working drawings/models and tender documents for the establishment of institute of domestic Security Category B: Works: for invitation to tender Lot/WS/02 Project Title/Description Construction of perimeter fenceat Institute of Domestic Security, llesa-Osun State Lot/WS/03 Project Title/Description Construction of buildings at Institute of domestic Security, llesa-Osun State.”

According to Dr. Belgore, the recipients should consider themselves fortunate considering the economic and social benefits that often result from locating such a capital-intensive project in any location.

Chief Idowu Korede, who is in charge of the project monitoring team, was grateful for the payment after his group went through the rigorous process of evaluating the cash crops and holding numerous meetings over several months with the owners and traditional leaders in the communities of Ajubu, Ikoromoja, and Irogbo.

Chief Korede paid tribute to Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, the interior minister. He was honoured for his outstanding leadership, which he described as unmatched, and the high level of patriotism he has been displaying toward Ijesaland. He also assured the recipients that they would all be treated fairly in the grand scheme of things.

He gave the assurance that the monitoring team would look into their cases in order to offer answers to individuals who have complaints about names or account details.

Speaking on behalf of other recipients, the Akoromoja of Ikoromoja's Oba Samuel Adekunle Adelola thanked the residents of the three Communities for maintaining calm throughout the evaluation periods and expressed happiness over what he called a dream realised.

Oba Adelola encouraged the federal government to give future recruitment operations extra consideration for land givers, especially their children.

 Haastrup

In Ondo state, Father sets 5 children ablaze over rift with wife

The Ondo State Police Command has detained Mr. Ojo Joseph, 54, for setting five of his stepchildren on fire in the Fagun Crescent neighbourhood of Ondo Town, Ondo State.

The father said that his wife, who is the mother of the children, had upset him due to a little misunderstanding, according to report

More information was discovered, including the fact that one of the children was fatally burned after the father is alleged to have lit them on fire in their chamber while they slept.

Their mother and 18-month-old twins managed to escape the flames with with minor injuries, while four further victims are still undergoing treatment at Federal Medical Centre, Owo.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mrs. Funmi Odunlami, confirmed the occurrence and said the man had been detained by the police in connection with an alleged murder and arson case.

Before bringing the suspect to court, according to the PPRO, more investigation would be conducted.

OSUN ASSEMBLY CHARGES MDAs ON REVENUE GENERATION

Osun State House of Assembly wants government ministries, departments and agencies to improve on their internally generated revenue to boost state economy.

The Chairman House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mr.Taiwo Olodo made the call at the ongoing budget defense exercise at the State Assembly Complex, Osogbo.

Mr Olodo directed the management of Osun Parks and Gardens Management Agency to turn all the recreation centers into revenue generation based.

The Chairman House Committee and Finance and Appropriation also acknowledged the cooperation of various MDAs since the commencement of the budget defense exercise.

He confirmed that Osun state is second on budget performance after Kaduna state in the country.

In an Interview with Newsmen, the Chairman  House Committee on Environment and Sanitation Mr. Benjamin Ogundipe noted that the state government took pro- active measure in tackling the flood across the state.

Mr Ogundipe who said that the state did the needful on flood control  urged the ministry not to relent on it’s efforts to bring all the parks alive in the state.

In his respond, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment Mr. Rufus Oyegbile promised to improve on their services to the state.

He stated that new young environmental officers would soon be at work in the state.

Amongst the ministries, departments and agencies of government that appeared for budget defense today were ministry of Environment and Sanitation, OSUN Waste Management Agency, Osun Signage, Hoarding and Advertisement Agency and Osun state Emergency Management Agency.

Others were Osun Parks & Gardens Management Agency, Office of Forestry, Natural & Minerals Resources and  ministry of Political Affairs and Inter- Governmental Relations respectively.

Coverage: Mojisola Oladele