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Youth Bureau Lauds Sanwo-Olu For Appointing Student Leaders As SSAs

Published

1 year ago

March 10, 2024

… Increases bursary allowance

Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been applauded by a prominent youth organization for appointing four student leaders from tertiary institutions in Lagos, Eniola Opeyemi, Kayode Samuel, Giwa Moor and Adeola Adewunmi., as Senior Special Assistants, SSAs.
The governor also lauded for increasing the bursary allowance of students of Lagos origin to N60,000 and scholarship grant from N200, 000 to N225,000 for both indigenous and non-indigenes of the state as well as the poor.
The Youth Bureau made this known through its Publicity Secretary, Saheed Adegboyega during a press conference addressed on Sunday in Abuja.
It will be recalled that the governor had announced the appointment on Tuesday at a One-day interactive session between the governor, students’ union leaders and stakeholders in the state held at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa with the theme “Students as Strategic Partners in the Governance Process: Challenges and Prospects for Youth Development.”
Sanwo-Olu made the appointment following the request by the Lagos State Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Lekan Alimi, demanding that there was a need for the student union to have representatives in government who would interface between the government and the students.
The governor told the students that they are ‘important stakeholders in the governance of Lagos State, urging them to believe in themselves, adding that the country expects so much from them.
“The country is about you and believes in you. You have to believe in yourselves too,” he advised.
The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, said the interactive session was a further demonstration of Sanwo-Olu’s administration’s commitment to quality tertiary education and youth development.”
He commended the management of Lagos owned universities and the students for avoiding any students unrest and industrial disharmony that could warrant strike or closure of any of the state owned institutions
The Commissioner also thanked the governor for making students and staff welfare a top priority of the state government as well as embarking on infrastructural development projects across campuses.
The Lead Speaker, former Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University, Professor Lanre Fagbohun, urged the government to be sincere adding that ‘where there is sincere governance, students are always supportive.’
Fagnohun further urged the government to always make room for consultation with the students, adding that students need constant thorough support.
He, however, urged the students to be ‘disciplined and responsive leaders’ and stay away from drugs.
Lekan Alimi, while speaking on behalf of the students, said the union had gone beyond the era of protests and promised to work with the government.

News

PANDEF Clarifies Visit To Tinubu, Knocks Wike Over Inflammatory Comments

Published

3 hours ago

March 15, 2025

Online Editor

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to retract his publicly disparaging remarks made recently against the socio-political body.

PANDEF described as regrerrable and embarrassing comments by Wike in the aftermath of the group’s visit to Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, even to the extent of insulting the late former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin.

Recall that the FCT minister had, on Thursday, during a media chat, described PANDEF as “the worst organisation anybody can rely on”, while also calling the board of trustee members of the body “political merchants”.

In a statement signed by PANDEF Chairman on Saturday in Abuja, Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali, urged President Tinubu as the father of the nation, to prevail upon the Honourable Minister to retract his inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent.

Igali clarified that the meeting with the president provided a valuable platform to discuss pressing issues of national and regional importance. Adding that “PANDEF remains unwavering in its commitment to peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta. We will continue to engage with great vigour, all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region.”

His words: ^To set the record straight, PANDEF the foremost socio-political body representing the South-South regions, composed of some of Nigeria’s most distinguished personalities. The delegation to Mr. President included chairpersons of at least four of the six SouthSouth states’ traditional councils, senior traditional rulers of major ethnic groups, former governors, past presiding officers of the Senate, prominent entrepreneurs, academics, and high-ranking retired military officers.

“It is, therefore, highly regrettable and totally unacceptable that a serving minister in the Federal Government would exhibit such brazen disrespect towards individuals of this standing. This attitude perhaps explains his continued refusal of the Minister to engage with the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which PANDEF constituted as far back as October 2024, despite repeated attempts to reach.

“The Honourable Minister (Wike) characterized PANDEF as the worst organization ever” and accused its members of visiting the Presidential Villa merely to solicit financial favors. These statements are not only false but also unbecoming of a public official of his stature.

“PANDEF hereby calls upon Mr. President, as the father of the nation, to prevail upon the Honourable Minister to retract his inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent Nigerians and traditional rulers who were, after all, esteemed guests of the Commander-in-Chief. It is apt to remind that the Minister does not own the Niger-Delta and his errant conduct should not be condoned.

“Notwithstanding this regrettable development, PANDEF remains unwavering in its commitment to peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta. We will continue to engage with great vigour, all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region,” Igali stated.

On efforts to restore peace in River State, Igali restated PANDEF’s commitment for peace in the oil-rich State.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which remains committed to resolving the Rivers State crisis,” Igali stated.

News

IPOB’s lawyer accuses Anambra govt of violating citizens’ rights, wants all arrested charged to court

Published

7 hours ago

March 15, 2025

Online Editor

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.

News

Osun Amotekun recruits accuse Adeleke’s govt of nepotism

Published

7 hours ago

March 15, 2025

Online Editor

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.