Speaker Danladi Reshuffles Standing Committees
Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Yakubu Salihu Danladi carried out a minor reshuffle of the ‘Standing Committees’ penultimate week.
Many had considered this as going on the offensive against two among the state lawmakers who had dared him and openly endorsed the candidacies of his main ‘rivals’.
They were quick to leap to conclusions that Hon Razaq Owolabi and Hon Yisa Gideon were ‘punished’ because they had endorsed Senator Saliu Mustapha and Alhaji Yahaya Seriki’s candidacies respectively.
Hon Razaq who had served as Chairman, House Committee on Health and Environment since 2019 has been given a Grade C committee, Energy while Hon Yisa Gideon has lost a segment of his committee.
Also, Hon Tundun Babatunde Alanamu who represents Ajikobi/Alanamu state constituency headed the Committee on Business, Innovation and Technology and Women Development but she is to now oversee the Committee on Agriculture.
Sources say the Speaker plans to run for governor in 2027 when Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq would be completing his constitutionally allowed two terms of eight years.
He is therefore willing to compensate loyalists and ‘punish’ disloyal members.
Student Loan: NELFUND’s Awareness Campaign Train Berths In Kwara
The awareness campaign train of the Federal Government’s Student Loan scheme, NELFUND berthed in Kwara State penultimate week with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq submitting that it will boost the hope of children of low-income earners in the country with respect to having access to quality higher education.
A sensitization programme was organized by the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) in partnership with the Office of the governor’s Special Adviser on Education, Policy Formulation & Human Capital Development, Dr Adetola Ariyike Salau.
The programme held in Ilorin had as its theme ‘Empowering Students through Financial Inclusion and Entrepreneurship’.
AbdulRazaq commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the initiative that will address the major challenge faced by young people in respect of tertiary education.
He added that his administration is partnering with NELFUND on the sensitization to ensure that students across the educational institutions in the state benefit from the scheme.
‘There is a lot to be grateful to the federal government for creating an opportunity like this. Like I said earlier, the major challenge facing the young people with respect to gaining access to quality education is lack of funds. So, providing this kind of opportunity is huge and this is not just about money but empowerment’, the governor, who was represented by Dr Salau submitted.
‘We are going to be rolling out more programmes, talking about how we are going to mentor and give them skills at different centers across the state.
This is important because after leaving school, what next? Do they have the right skills so that they can be employable? So, we are going to partner with NELFUND to carry out this programme. That is very key because they all need to be involved’, she added.
Managing Director NELFUND, Akintunde Sanya who spoke through Executive Director, Operations, Mustapha lyal said they have so far received over 400,000 applications across Nigerian institutions since the launch of their operation, out of which 70% have been cleared.
He added that thousands of students from Kwara State have benefited from the loan scheme with about N900 million disbursed to public tertiary institutions in the state.
The NELFUND boss explained that after successful application, the agency pays the school fees of the beneficiaries into the bank accounts of their respective institutions while their annual upkeep of N240,000 is paid into their individual bank accounts.
Vice -Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole in his remarks said the initiative is bringing a great relief to parents who have the responsibility to pay the tuition fees of their children and urged students to enroll en masse and take advantage of the opportunity that has been provided.
Egbewole, who was represented by Deputy VC Management Services, Professor Adegboyega Fawale hailed the federal government for the programme.
Vice -Chancellor, Muhammad Kamal-deen University urged the federal government to find means of incorporating private institutions into NELFUND, saying their students also want to benefit as bonafide Nigerians.
Other speakers at the programme, including deans of student affairs of the various institutions in the state advised the students to explore the opportunity to advance their knowledge.
Lawal Oloungbebe Shows Seriousness In First Week In Office
The new Kwara State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Lawal Oloungbebe got off to a good start penultimate week.
Recall that he was sworn in as commissioner by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq penultimate Monday.
Dr Lawal Oloungbebe left his cozy office to visit Ansarudeen College, Ijagbo, Oyun local government where rainstorm had destroyed several classrooms to assess the extent of damage.
The commissioner, who was warmly received by the school management team led by the principal, Mr. Olaniyi Musbau made damage assessment and was also briefed about the challenges facing the school.
Giving his speech, Dr Olohungbebe conveyed heartfelt message from Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq reassuring those in charge of the school and the broader community of the government’s swift response to fix the affected facilities.
He emphasized the Abdulrazaq administration’s commitment to ensuring an enabling learning environment for students and the teachers.
‘I want to assure the school management that their concerns, particularly regarding staff shortages would be addressed promptly to ensure uninterrupted academic activities’, he said.
The principal, Mr. Olaniyi Musbau thanked the governor for continuing to invest in education and other critical sectors, noting the remarkable improvements in infrastructure and learning conditions across the state.
The visit has not only reinforced government’s dedication to education but also strengthened the bond between the state and its educational institutions which will ensure a brighter future for students across Kwara State.
Gov Adeleke Receives New Telegraph Newspaper’s Governor Of The Year Award
Governor Ademola Adeleke has received New Telegraph Newspaper’s Governor of the Year Award.
Presenting the award to the governor, Mr Aminu said the good performance of Governor Adeleke is widely known to the public at home and abroad, a factor he said warranted the award particularly for the health sector.
According to the media chief, ‘we watch with interest your passion for good governance. We note the rehabilitation of over 200 primary health care centres. Thousands have also benefited from your Imole Medical Outreach.
Your good work was noticed nationally and internationally, hence you were rated the best Governor in the South West for attention and positive delivery on primary health care. That award earned your state 500,000 US dollars.
For us at Telegraph, we note that you deliver where your predecessor did not. In our selection process, we were unanimous to confer this award on you to further encourage you to deliver more for the collective good of Osun people’, the Managing Director said.
Responding, Governor Adeleke expressed appreciation for the award, describing it as ‘an incentive for me and my team to do more not just within the health sector but across critical areas of the state economy’.
‘When we came on board, we met the primary health care centres in a terrible state. As PHCs is the first point of medicare for our population, we resolved to upgrade and rehabilitate the primary health centres. We have upgraded over 200 already with solar power and water supply alongside rehabilitation of the structures.
We are commencing phase two of the rehabilitation and upgrading alongside our move to the secondary health centers. As you have recognized us, the Bill Gates Health Challenge competition also rated Osun as the best in the South West on Primary Health Care.
As you noted, we were awarded a 500,000 dollar prize. We are ploughing back the money to the PHCs to complete the process of upgrading and secure the lives of our people at the grassroots. So this award strengthens our resolve to push ahead with serving the people at all cost’, he added.
Chief Of Staff Kazeem Akinleye Intervenes In Amotekun Recruitment Matters
Osun State government penultimate week resolved issues and controversies that have to do with the ongoing training of new personnel for the Amotekun security service with the absorption of more intakes for the service.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon Kazeem Akinleye had intervened on the issue following the directive of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Hon. Akinleye had met with state leadership of the Amotekun service during which the entire recruitment process was scrutinized and the issue of excluded applicants thoroughly discussed.
The Chairman of Amotekun security service, Hon Wale Abbas had also presented a situation report to the Chief of Staff following which due approval was secured to add the agitating applicants to the training.
He clarified in his report that nobody died during the minor protest while assuring the Chief of Staff that there were no plots or moves to introduce partisan consideration in the enlistment of the new personnel.
The Chief of Staff accompanied by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Bashiru Salami and the Chairman of the Amotekun security service, Wale Abbas (AIG Rtd.) later visited the training camp and announced the absorption of the protesting applicants outside the gate of the training center.
Hon Akinleye reminded the trainees that the essence of Amotekun is to render selfless service to society, urging them to take the training seriously.
OIA Reacts To EFCC Decision On Cititrust Holding PLC
Osun State people have begun to react to the recent pronouncement that has to do with the status of Cititrust Holding PLC.
A group, Osun Itesiwaju Alliance (OIA) submitted penultimate week that the recent development has got Governnor Ademola Adeleke vindicated in respect of his stance on the running of the affairs of the Living Trust Mortgage Bank Plc.
Chairman of OIA, Mr Paul Oderinu and Secretary, Mr Iwaloye Sulaiman noted that the Cititrust Holding PLC getting declared as an illegal company alongside 57 others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has justified the position maintained by the governor in respect of getting the Living Trust Mortgage Bank Plc repositioned.
While hailing the governor for taking proactive measures to protect the interest of the state, the group also expressed the need for the people of the state to continue to support conscientious leaders like Adeleke.
‘Alhaji Adebayo Jimoh, a former group Managing Director of Oodua Investment Company Ltd, had while in charge of the Living Trust Mortgage Bank Plc supervised the sale of its shares to Cititrust Holdings Plc in 2019.
Citi Trust Holdings Plc owns 41% ownership of the financial institution while Osun State government owns 40% ownership, the remaining 19 % is owned by diverse individuals with no single person having up to 10 % ownership.
Also, based on the shareholders’ agreement, Citi Trust Holdings Plc produces the Managing Director while the state government nominates the chairman.
On April 8, 2024, Governor Ademola Adeleke approved the appointment of Dr. Wale Bolorunduro as chairman of the Living Trust Mortgage Bank Plc and his letter of appointment as LTMB Chairman was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Teslim Igbalaye, yet efforts were made to frustrate him from taking over as head of the financial institution.
It was through resoluteness of the governor that he eventually took charge of affairs of the company.
With the new status that Citi Trust Holdings Plc has just earned courtesy of the anti-graft agency, what happens to the decision taken in 2019? What is the future of our Living Trust Mortgage Bank Plc: These are germane questions that require answers.
We urge Dr Wale Bolunrunduro not to get distracted but rather remain focused on his mission to reposition the financial institution’, the group said.
About Saraki’s Video Call with Cute Abiola
Former Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki had a video call with Abdulgafar Ahmed Abiola, who is popularly called ‘Cute Abiola’ penultimate week.
An indigene of Ilorin, Cute Abiola is one of the prominent faces in the nation’s entertainment industry and many are saying the former Senate President is not only planning to reclaim the control of Kwara State politics which he lost in 2019 but doing all it takes to win everyone to his side.
The former Kwara State governor was in town penultimate week and he hosted different groups to iftar dinner at his GRA residence while he also distributed 7,000 bags of rice and other items to people across the state.
