By Oladunni Adeniyi
A Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ogun State, Omooba Adekunle Adebayo Ayoola has said that the conferment of 'Industrial Revolution Award' on the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun by President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday was another indication that the much talked about excellent performance of the governor was after all not a fluke.
Ayoola, an international trade expert based in Poland, while congratulating Governor Abiodun on this well deserved award from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, disclosed that the honour only confirmed further that the governor has done so well and therefore deserved another term.
In a statement made available to journalists in Abeokuta, Ayoola said "we really have to commend Abiodun for his various efforts tailored towards attracting further investments into the state, for a visionary leader, that's the way to go, industrialization is the way to go because of its obvious benefits.
"By doing this, we shall create more employment, create more wealth, take our teeming youths off the street, create more income for the state through taxes and ultimately the government will have more financial resources to take good care of its citizens.
"It's on this note that I am commending Governor Abiodun for providing this excellent and strategic leadership that is making many people in the state, at home and abroad to tell him to continue his good works beyond 2023".
He added that coincidentally, Governor Abiodun received this award on a day the party launched its manifesto and action plan for a better Nigeria christened "Renewed Hope" ahead of 2023 presidential election saying that he was confident that the combination of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima would deliver on many yearnings of Nigerians.
Ayoola said "with the launching of our party's policy document which is an action plan for a better Nigeria, I want to say that Tinubu/Shettima presidency will bring with it so much turn around for the country and of course build on the successes of the APC in the last seven years".
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2023: I'll push for LG autonomy, if elected Senator-- Ex-Gov Daniel
By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta
The Senatorial candidate for Ogun East Senatorial District of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has promised to fight for local government autonomy, if elected in the 2023 general elections.
Otunba Daniel, who said this at a rally in Atan, the headquarters of Ijebu North East local government area of the state while rounding up his ward-to-ward tour of the council area, said this will guarantee development of the third tier of government.
According to the former governor of the State, Nigeria would remain underdeveloped unless the third tier of government is fully independent and detached totally from the apron string and control of the states.
He said the nation's Constitution confers independence on the third tier of government.
“The best way we can achieve development is by getting autonomy for the local government and enforcing transparency for the purpose of delivering democracy dividends to the people.”
He added, "in the last one week, we have been in this local government, we have toured all the nooks and crannies of this local government, we know what is happening here, we understand the condition of the roads, which is a big challenge and I want to assure you that we will let the 'power that be know', and I am sure that something will be done very very soon".
"The work of a Senator is a little bit different from that of a governor. We want to go to Abuja and make laws. But its compulsory that Senator and Governor and the President must work together. So, I want to plead that this election, is not about OGD alone, but all APC candidates".
The work of a Senator is to facilitate, to use the network that is possible within what is going on at the federal capital to help our situation".
"Part of the problem we have in many states today is the issue of local government autonomy.
And part of what we want to go and fight is that local government resources should be given to local government.
Without the local government being properly empowered and funded, nothing can happen, and that is what I think that is very important that we are going to the Senate to do"
During the political rally, scores of the people were empowered with different working tools, ranging from sewing machine, grinding machines, deep freezers, tractor, a car among other items.
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Adequate funding of poultry production can reduce unemployment rate, increase IGR, Odukoya
By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta
The Chief Executive Officer of Vanguard Pharmacy, Odukoya Taofik has identified massive opportunities that abound in the poultry sector of agriculture, saying that if it is well explored, it will improve the nation's economy and enhance the its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Odukoya, who stated this at a One Day Farmers' seminar held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said, the massive opportunities that abound in the industry can change the unemployment narrative in the nation and as well alleviate poverty among Nigerians.
The programme tagged, 'Gaining An Edge In Poultry Business', was put together by Vanguard Pharmacy Limited in partnership with Adamore Nigeria Limited.
Odukoya said, the programme was an initiative conceived to train farmers and make them more productive towards boosting the economy, and create massive employment in the country.
He noted that for the nation to make a fortune through poultry production, government and private sector must render massive support for poultry farmers in terms of training and investment in the sector.
Odukoya said "poultry production in Nigeria today is an area that needs massive support not just from the government, but also from private sector and if we can take our poultry production from what it is today by eliminating some challenges facing the sector, improvement on the part of farmers and production of enough eggs for consumption, can also create massive employment".
"We know that as a nation, we cannot produce everything we need, but we have our own area of strength. If properly harnessed, we can use it to ensure that we don't only feed ourselves, but can be a way to export and earn foreign exchange".
"This programme was our way of giving back to the society. We started this idea almost eight years ago and we have had different series like this in Ogun State. It is to educate the farmers because if there are no farmers, there's no nation. We are educating them on best practices so that they can improve their businesses".
On her part, the Executive Director of Vanguard Pharmacy Limited, Mrs Kawthar Bolajoko Odukoya, said the federal government should create an enabling environment for Small and Medium Enterprises to thrive in order to create job opportunities for the Nigerian youths.
Kawthar Odukoya said the initiative would will discourage Nigerians, especially the youths from leaving the country and becoming second class citizens in Europe or America.
The Executive Director who described Nigeria as a land of opportunities noted that the Vanguard Pharmacy Limited is spreading its tentacles through opening of branches in different parts of the country to buttress the government efforts of job creation.
Her words "We are highly focused on job creation. Right now, we have over 300 people in our employment because, we believe that in any country, it is the SMEs that provide jobs and not the government. They contribute greatly to the GDP of every nation and that's part of what we are currently doing.
"That is also in line with our mission statement to transform the pharmacist space by providing quality products and services that benefit the general public and there is no way we want to do that without providing jobs for those that will render the quality services.
"We can put a voice in discouraging people from leaving their country and going to become second class citizens in Europe or America. Nigeria is known as a country of opportunity, the data is everywhere and that is why the Chinese, Lebanese are coming into the country to tap into opportunity".
"We know there are a lot of challenges in the country, insecurity is the major one, unemployment is another one. That is why we are appealing to the government to create an enabling environment for the SMEs for job creation. Enabling the environment in terms of infrastructure, security will make businesses thrive and provide more jobs" ,she added.
On his part, the Guest speaker at the programme, James Baba Wageti argued that a nation cannot exist without farmers, hence the need for the government to invest in the poultry industry.
He noted that the nation can make enormously wealth from poultry businesses if taken seriously by the federal government, this Wageti said, can place Nigeria on the prosperity page like the first world nations of the world.
"Poultry business has a lot of benefits only if we can see it. The opportunities in the industry can bring fortune for Nigeria. Government should invest in it."
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We knew nothing about award given to Neo-Black Movement--
FPI Students' Union
By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta
The Students' Union of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro has disassociated itself from an award purportedly given to Neo-Black Movement of Africa (worldwide).
This was contained a statement made available to Vanguard in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital and signed by the Students' Union President, Comrade Ogunsan Joshua.
The statement read, "Our attention has been drawn to an award, which was purportedly given to a particular group named Neo-Black Movement of Africa (worldwide)".
"As Students' Union body; we dissociate from the award or anything whatsoever that has to do with it".
"We regret any inconveniences the publication of the award might have caused any individual, group of people or association particularly our
esteemed institution, The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro".
"At this juncture, we want to re-emphasize the zero tolerance to cultism of
our great institution and that is what we as a Students' Union body stands for".
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