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2020 Maltina School Games: Lagos Govt. rewards 37 students
From left, Executive Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, (LSSC), Sola Aiyepeku, representative of the winners of the Maltina National Games and the Director General, LSSC, Oluwatoyin Gafar at the presentation held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos
From Left, the Executive Chairman, LSSC, Sola Aiyepeku middle representative of the Maltina National Games and D-G of LSSC, Oluwatoyin Gafar at the presentation at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, on Wednesday 17/09/2020.
2020 Maltina School Games: Lagos Govt. rewards 37 students
Reward
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, Sept. 18, 2020 (NAN) The Lagos State Government has rewarded the 37 students who won medals at the pilot edition of the Maltina National Games organised by the National Schools Sports Federation (NSFF).
The students were reward for winning 21 gold, 12 silver and five bronze medals at the national finals held at Yaba College of Technology, Akoka on March 11.
Their counterpart from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, came second with four gold medals 13 silver and 10 bronze.
Kano State was third with three gold medals, four silver and eight bronze.
The Team Lagos State went home with a cash prize of N5,000,000, while outstanding athletes were rewarded with scholarship worth N500,000.
Titi Oshodi, the Director of Public Relations, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), who made the disclosure in a statement on Thursday in Lagos, said the young students were rewarded at a reception held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere.
Oshodi noted that the Executive Chairman, LSSC, Sola Aiyepeku, said: “What we are witnessing today is the synergy between us and the Lagos State Ministry of Education and this is very important for sports development in Lagos State.
“It is important for us to recognise the success recorded by our students in Lagos State for doing the state proud at the last Maltina National Games by claiming the first position.
“We have the raw materials in our youth and it is left for the Ministry of Education, the coaches and for us to follow up to work on their progress both in education and sports.
“Ours is to ensure that they have a smooth career progression and sports development.
“On our part, we will leave nothing to chance to ensure that they become successful in their sports career because they already have the talent to become superstars in their sporting career.”
Aiyepeku urged the students to be self-disciplined and also encouraged them to always aim higher in academics and sports.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Abosede Adelaja, said that the ministry appreciated the Lagos State Government for rewarding the excellent performance of the students.
“Lagos State is noted for rewarding excellent performance,” she said.
She appealed to LSSC to work towards re-enacting the glorious days of Inter House Sports and Principals Cup in the state.
Adelaja added that LSSC should ensure that sports facilities were provided in public schools for the state to discover more talents.
The National President, National Schools Sports Federation (NSSF), Olabisi Joseph appreciated Lagos State Government on its efforts through the LSSC by rewarding the students who had done the state proud at the Games.
Joseph also commended the synergy between the LSSC, the Ministry of Education and the NSSF.
“School sports is the bedrock of sustainable sports development and we must continue to ensure that school sports get the needed attention,” he said.
All the 37 medal-winning students were presented with training kits.
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IPOB’s lawyer accuses Anambra govt of violating citizens’ rights, wants all arrested charged to court
The counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on the Anambra State Government to either charge to court or release individuals allegedly detained for the past five weeks without trial.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Ejiofor criticized what he described as “violations of citizens’ rights,” emphasizing that the detainees have not been presented before any court or formally charged with a crime.
“Today, March 15, 2025, marks five full weeks since several citizens of Anambra State were arbitrarily arrested and detained in a private facility controlled by the state government. Shockingly, they have not been charged with any offense or brought before any court of law. This is a flagrant violation of their fundamental rights,” Ejiofor stated.
He expressed concern that the detainees were not held by the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), or the military, but instead in an undisclosed facility, without any official explanation from the government.
Ejiofor, who has previously supported the government’s security efforts, urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to ensure the rule of law is upheld.
“I have always championed active citizen participation in combating insecurity and have publicly urged the government to act against criminal elements. However, this must be done legally and transparently,” he said.
While commending the efforts of the state’s Agụnechemba security outfit, Ejiofor insisted that professionalism and adherence to due process are crucial.
He reaffirmed his support for lawful measures to combat crime but warned that arbitrary detentions could erode public trust in the government’s security strategy.
The Osun State Amotekun Corps has denied allegations of nepotism in its ongoing recruitment of 1,000 cadets, following claims by some dismissed recruits that they were removed in favor of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members.
Some affected candidates, seen outside the NYSC camp venue in Osogbo, alleged they were removed due to their affiliation with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking on behalf of the group, a dismissed cadet, Usman, claimed that they had been in camp since Sunday before being replaced by PDP members, some of whom, he alleged, were unfit for training.
However, Amotekun’s Board Chairman, retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Wale Abass, dismissed the allegations as baseless. He explained that those removed from the training camp either failed to meet the required standards or did not follow the proper recruitment process.
“The 1,000 cadets invited for training went through a rigorous selection process. They submitted applications online, underwent document verification, and passed physical fitness tests before being invited to camp,” Abass stated.
He further revealed that some unqualified individuals managed to gain access to the camp, while some selected candidates failed to meet the reporting deadline. Those with health issues were also disqualified.
Abass reaffirmed that the Amotekun Corps remains committed to fairness and impartiality in its recruitment process. He described the allegations as an attempt to create confusion and undermine the security outfit’s credibility.
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Osun State has raised concerns over the alleged recruitment of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the state’s Amotekun Corps, claiming it threatens the safety of opposition members.
In a statement issued on Friday, APM Chairman, Mr. Adewale Adebayo, criticized the recruitment process, alleging that non-PDP applicants were deliberately screened out. He warned that Amotekun, originally created to enhance security, was being turned into a political tool.
“We are disturbed by the protest by well-meaning Osun residents who applied but were deliberately excluded because they are not PDP members,” Adebayo stated.
He further alleged that over 1,000 PDP members had been recruited into the corps, describing it as an attempt to silence opposition voices. According to him, the recruitment exercise was merely a formality to cover up a pre-arranged selection process favoring ruling party members.
APM has called for the resignation of the Corps Commandant and Field Commandant of Amotekun, demanding an apology to the affected applicants and the people of the state. The party insisted that the security outfit must remain apolitical to maintain public trust.
Neither the Osun State Government nor the leadership of Amotekun has responded to the allegations as of the time of this report.
IPOB’s lawyer accuses Anambra govt of violating citizens’ rights, wants all arrested charged to court
Osun Amotekun recruits accuse Adeleke’s govt of nepotism
Opposition no longer safe with recruitment of Osun PDP members into Amotekun – APM
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