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Education

Curriculum crisis impedes Nigerian education system – Counsellor

By Yinusa Ishola

Education
Omu-Aran (Kwara), Feb. 25, 2020 (NAN) Mr John Aransiola, an Education Counsellor with Irepodun Local Government Education Authority, in Kwara, says curriculum crisis is hindering the growth of the country’s education sector.

Aransiola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Omu-Aran that the present 6-3-3-4 and 9-3-4 systems of education had been watered down and already faced with poor implementation.

According to him, there is not much difference from the past systems of education.

Aransiola said the present curriculum was too overloaded with 13 subjects at the Lowest Basic, 14 Middle Basic, 16 at the JSS levels and over 20 Electives at the SSS level.

“Too bookish curriculum, devoid of any seriousness about science and technology.

“Also, without the necessary resources to teach them and other teaching aids, leading to poor foundation in the education system.

“The 2004 education policy stipulates that JSS students will be streamed into Senior Secondary Schools, technical colleges, out-of-school vocational training and apprenticeship.

“This is not the case presently with our education system,” he said.

Aransiola said the present curriculum lacked the necessary resources for teaching science and technology including teachers education.

“No sooner was the policy enacted that the government began to close some technical schools while those left became shadows of their past.

“Teachers sent abroad for training came back to find no workshop to work with and with many unemployed due to change of government and priorities,” he said.

Aransiola lamented that formal education had been progressively shed of informal education unlike what was obtained in the past.

He said the curriculum was also being poorly handled by regulators as it laid more emphasis on how many credits students had at a given period not minding how they obtained such credits.

“This is contrary to the good old days, whereas the two work in synergy to produce good results and responsible students.

“The curriculum is also plagued by crisis of teachers’ quantity and quality as teachers till date remains a major bridge between the curriculum and the students.

“His or her knowledge, skills, attitude to work, and life are the tools he or she brings into the school to make teaching and learning more effective,” Aransiola said. (NAN)
ISHO/BOLA/MST

Edited Bola Akingbehin/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Education

Ex-commissioner identifies bane of education

Education

Omu-Aran (Kwara), Feb. 22, 2020 (NAN) Mrs Alimat Yusuf, former Commissioner for Education in Kwara has identified lack of synergy among critical stakeholders as one of the factors responsible for  underdevelopment in the nation’s education sector.

Yusuf made the assertion on the sideline of the 17th Annual Inter-House Athletic competition of the Federal Government Girls College, Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of the state.

Yusuf, who is also Chairman, School Based Management Committee (SBMC) of the college, said there was presently no coordination between government, parents and the students in the education system.

According to him, each of this critical segment of the education sector has different beliefs and approach without clear cut understanding on how to go about the system.

“The government as the regulator is on one side while the parents and the students are on another page entirely.

“The desired transformation in the sector could not be achieved until there is a formidable and workable synergy among these critical stakeholders,’’ said Yusuf.

The ex-commissioner expressed displeasure over the recent delisting of 165 schools by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) for exam malpractices in the 2019 SSCE examination.

“This is the product of lack of synergy among the stakeholders which to be seriously addressed.

“Government as the regulator must be seen to be proactive and forthcoming with policies that will benefit everyone while parents and students must not compromise the laid down rules and regulations,” he said.

Yusuf urged the students to engage more in sporting activities along side their academic pursuit in order to stay healthy.

Mrs Oluwatoyin Kolawole, the College Principal, expressed the management’s commitment toward sustaining sporting activities among the students and officials.

Kolawole listed the advantages of girls’ involvement in sports to include helping to have greater confidence, self-esteem and pride in their physical and social activities.

She added that their involvement in sports could also help to distract girls attention from involvement in drugs and other illicit acts and help them to excel in their academic pursuit.

She further said that it could as well as assist girls in developing transferable skills such as leadership skills, teamwork and goals getting.

The principal urged everyone to always involve in one form of sporting activities or the other in order to maintain healthy minds.

Alhaji Olabisi Salami, the Executive Director, Mucenty Hotels, Omu-Aran, who is the Chairman of the event, said sports and academic were two inseparable entities.

“You need to engage in sporting activities to have healthy minds while you need a healthy mindset to excel in academic pursuit.

“The two (sports and academics) go hand in hand and inseparable, so it is going to be beneficial for students, irrespective of the classes and categories, to be active participants in sports alongside their academic programmes.

He however urged the students to avoid indecent and illicit acts that could be capable of tarnishing, not only their images, but that of the school and their parents. (NAN)

ISHO/ELLA/MST
Edited by Emmanuella Anokam/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Group drums support for Kwara Gov, other political appointees

Support
Iloffa (Kwara) Feb. 21, 2020 (NAN) A group, A.A. Support group in Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara, has called for continuous support for Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara and other APC political appointees from the council in order to achieve success in the discharge of their civic responsibilities.

Mr Kayode Bamidele, the Group’s Coordinator in the Local Government Area, made the appeal during an inter-religious prayer for the governor and his team in Iloffa, on Friday.

Bamidele said the prayer was organised toward seeking God’s divine intervention for the present administration in the state toward achieving the desired growth, progress and socio-economic development.

According to him, no matter how laudable or credible the government programmes and policies may be, there is need to seek God’s assistance to achieve results.

He said the formation of the group was not meant to run contrary to the party’s principles in the council, but to promote unity, togetherness, love, peace, progress and success among party members.

Bamidele used the opportunity to recognise the notable efforts of some APC council leaders and elders that ensured the formation of the group in the area.

“The fundamental aims and objective of the group is to promote unity, love, tolerance and togetherness for the overall success of the present administration.

“I equally want to appreciate the good efforts of our party leaders in the council for ensuring the formation of this group right at our door step.

“I want to appeal to all members of the party, leaders, stalwarts and political appointees, particularly party executive, to see ourselves as one united family in complementing the administration’s laudable programmes and initiatives.

” It is only by maintaining cordial relationship that our desires to transform the party in the council could be actualised,” he said.

Mr Michael Ajamu, the Assistant State Secretary of the group, in his remarks, described the occasion as very unique, saying it is a formidable platform toward promoting unity among members of the party.

“My advice is that we work as a formidable team and support our able governor, Malam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

“I will also add that we assist the government with experience so that in the long run we will benefit from the dividends of democracy,” he said.

Pastor Ajimoti Sunday, who led the Christian prayer, urged political leaders to strive toward fulfilling their electoral process and should not betray the trust reposed in them by the electorates.

“This is very important because one day you will give account of your stewardship before God almighty,” he said.

Alhaji Suleiman Imam, who led the Muslim prayer, reminded the gathering to always seek the favour of God through prayers whenever in any difficulties.

“Only God has the ultimate power to appoint or remove a person from position,” he said.

Some political appointees from the council including, Mr Raphael Adetiba, the Deputy Speaker of Kwara House of Assembly; Mrs Florence Oyeyemi, the state Commissioner for Finance; and Alhaji Suleiman Iliyasu, Commissioner for Works, were honoured for their meritorious services.

The major highlight of the event was the offering of prayers for the party, political appointees, the state and the country at large. (NAN)
ISHO/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

APC youths protest appointment of cashier in Kwara council

Protest
By Yinusa Ishola
Omu-Aran (Kwara), Feb. 18, 2020 (NAN) Some youths under the All Progressive Congress (APC) across the 11 wards of Irepodun Local Government Area in Kwara on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest over the recent appointment of a cashier for the council.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the youths, accompanied by some APC Ward Chairmen and party leaders in the area, stormed the council secretariat in Omu-Aran as early as 9am to register their grievances.

NAN gathered that the council management had last Friday handed a letter of appointment to Mr Yemi Ayandiran who hails from Esie-Ijan ward of the council as Cashier 1.

Mr Bayo Salahu from Omu-Aran Ward and the erstwhile Acting Cashier 1 was given the position of Cashier 2.

The youths  carrying placards with different inscriptions, however, rejected the appointment of Ayandiran as Cashier 1 in place of  Salahu who was said to be the party’s preferred candidate.

Some of those who spoke with NAN described the appointment as against the interest of the party and an act of imposition, favoritism and  nepotism which would not stand.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards read: “No to imposition, nepotism”,” We don’t want Yemi as Cashier 1, Ayandiran is not the party’s choice, candidate” among others.

Mr Lanre Olaoye, the APC Chairman in Omu-Aran Ward 3 and Secretary of APC Chairmen Forum in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state, who spoke on behalf of the protesters, said Ayandiran was never the party’s candidate for the disputed position.

He accused Ayandiran of working against the party’s interest in the last general elections, saying “Ayandiran cannot benefit from the same party he worked against during elections.”

Olaoye said, although the issue was already being addressed by the party’s high hierarchy in the area, but

The APC youths in Irepodun LGA of Kwara during their peaceful protest in Omu-Aran on Tuesday

posited that the peaceful protest was to intimate the council management on the youths’ position over the appointment.

“We are here to show our displeasure and grievances over the recent appointment of Mr Yemi Ayandiran as the new Cashier 1 for the council.

“We,  the APC youths and party leaders across the 11 wards of the council, view this appointment as an act of imposition by a leader against popular demands of the people of the council.

“While loyalists  from other parties  have benefitted from appointments  into the same position in the past, it is therefore the turn of APC as the ruling party in the council to ensure its loyalist is equally favoured in the same appointment

“In as much as there are other qualified staff in the treasury department aside Mr Ayandiran who can be appointed to man the position, we hereby reject in totality Mr Ayandiran’s appointment.

Olaoye said the party youths in the council would not condone any form of imposition or favouritism from any leader no matter how highly placed.

Responding, Mr Ahmed Babatunde, the council’s Director of Personnel Management (DPM) thanked the party members for their peaceful conduct during the protest.

He said the recent appointment of cashiers in the council was not the exclusive preserve of the management but sequel to a letter and directive from the Local Government Service Commission dated Jan. 29.

Babatunde advised the party members to also visit the office of the Local Government Service Commission in Ilorin to register their grievances and seek for redress.

He promised to put up a report on the development for onward transmission to appropriate quarters for necessary action.

Mr Femi Oladipo, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the council, said the union would work with the management to address the issue.

He urged the protesters to embrace dialogue in ensuring amicable settlement of the dispute. (NAN)
ISHO/ECN/OJO

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(Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Mufutau Ojo)

Economy

FG urges state govts to consider IGR as critical instrument of funding

 

Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Dr Rabiu Olowo; Jigawa State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Namadi; Benue State Commissioner for Finance & Chairman, Forum of Commissioners for Finance, Mr David Olofu; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, Representative of the Hon. Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, at the Year 2020 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) Retreat held at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island

Retreat
By Oluwatope Lawanson
Lagos, Feb. 17, 2020 (NAN) The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, on Monday in Lagos called on states to consider Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as a critical instrument of funding.

Ahmed said this would help in blocking leakages and ensure effective and efficient collection of revenue.

The minister said this at the opening of a three-day retreat of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) with the theme: “Efficient Federation Revenue Allocation as a Nexus for National Economic Diversification.”

She said that the introduction of State’s Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) in partnership with World Bank was to strengthen fiscal discipline and financial stability.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that FAAC retreat is held every two years as part of the governance framework with the main objective of exposing new members to the workings and dynamics of the Committee and refreshing the memories of existing members.

Represented by Dr Mahmud Dutse, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Ahmed said that there must be collective efforts in ensuring overall economic stability.

The minister assured that the Federal Government was ready to help in lifting millions of Nigerians out of abject poverty by partnering with states and all other relevant stakeholders.

She said this would bring about sustainable development and improve welfare of the citizenry.

Speaking on the over-reliance on income from the federation account by governments as not only risky but also unsustainable, the minister stressed the need for the tiers of government to look inwards toward generating more revenue from internal sources.

“We must give serious consideration to diverse sources of revenue at national and sub-national levels with a view to deploying appropriate measures to plug leakages and ensure efficiency and effectiveness in revenue collection.

“Though the conduct of economic policy is a shared responsibility of the three tiers of government in Nigeria, we must collectively sustain efforts to build a virile and stable economy.

“The states should imbibe the culture of peer learning among themselves as a way of ensuring continuous performance improvement,” she said.

Ahmed noted that the Finance Bill 2019 was a legislation to remove deficiencies in tax laws by amending obsolete and contentious laws, saying it sought to promote fiscal equity.
She added that the bill was to align domestic laws with global best practices and boast revenues and investments in both public and private sectors.

“The Finance Bill alongside the Strategic Revenue Growth Initiative (SRGI) and other initiatives being introduced by government will enable it to significantly diversify and improve revenue generation.

“It will help toward achieving the target of revenue of GDP of 15 per cent in medium term,” she said.

The minister assured that the federal government would continue to pursue its plans to encourage investment in industries and agriculture through the implementation of sustainable trade policies to enhance domestic production in order to curtail imports.

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, while declaring the retreat open, called for the creation and boosting of new sources of export in Nigeria’s bid to meet the increasing demand for public goods by Nigerians.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, he urged state governments to explore ways of reducing dependency on what comes from the federation account on monthly basis by adopting creative and strategies to boost IGR.

Sanwo-Ou called for a “new fair and just revenue sharing formulae for federation revenues.”

“Lagos deserve a special status funding; Lagos shoulders a heavy burden which, if not properly discharged, posses great danger to the attainment of our national economic growth aspirations.

“Lagos needs help in order to meet the challenges of half a million people migrating into the metropolis daily,” he said.

According to the governor, the new revenue formulae should take cognisance of population density in addition to nominal population while also increasing Lagos share of VAT.

He described Lagos getting 10 per cent of VAT while contributing 55 per cent as “inequitable.”

Earlier in his address of welcome, Chairman, Forum of Commissioners for Finance, Mr David Olofu, said the choice of theme was informed by the continued relevance of national economic diversification to the survival of our country.

He said there was a need for a synchronised, consistent and sustained effort at all levels to diversify the economy and provide opportunities for our people.

He noted that it could only be achieved when available resources were used to create and unlocking existing potentials.

“FAAC is held monthly basically to distribute accrued federation revenue to the three tiers of government and as representatives of our respective tier of government.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that the distribution is done in line with established indices and that the remittances are carried out as distributed at the meeting in addition to other matters that affect the financial wellbeing of the federation,” he said. (NAN)
LAW/ENN/WOJ
=========
Editing by Edwin Nwachukwu/Wale Ojetimi

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Politics

Tinubu praises El-Rufai at 60

Tinubu praises El-Rufai at 60

By Oluwatope Lawanson
Lagos, Feb. 15, 2020 (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Chief Bola Tinubu, has felicitated with Kaduna State Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai, at  60.

In a congratulatory message signed by his Media Adviser, Tunde Rahman, in Lagos, Tinubu  said that El-Rufai’s reputation as a public servant always eager to confront challenges was commendable.

 

Tinubu said that El-Rufai served Nigeria  to the best of his abilities with unquestionable zeal.

 

The APC leader said: “I congratulate Malam Nasir El-Rufai on turning 60.

“Your reputation as a public servant eager to confront challenges is well deserved.

“It is not surprising that this milestone birthday has come with you still in active public service.

“Whether as Director-General of Bureau of Public Enterprises, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory or Governor of Kaduna State, El-Rufai served to the best of his abilities with unquestionable zeal and energy.

“My prayer is that God Almighty grants you many more years, gives you good health and renewed strength to continue to govern the people of your state and serve our nation,” Tinubu said. (NAN)

LAW/SSA/IGO

===============

Edited by Shuaib Sadiq/Ijeoma Popoola

Education

Strive toward academic excellence, Official tasks students

By Yinusa Ishola

Advice
Offa (Kwara), Feb. 14, 2020 (NAN) Mr Wole Alawode, the Head of Department (HOD), Mass Communication, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, on Friday advised newly admitted students in the department to strive toward academic excellence for their future benefit.

Alawode gave the advice during an orientation programme organised for the students at the institution in Offa, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two students of the department – Anifowose Gbemisola and Nbwagwu Oluwatosin in ND1 and ND11, respectively received awards for outstanding performances.

Alawode said the department was known for maintaining academic excellence, urging the new students to uphold the spirit toward writing their name in gold.

The HOD charged the students to set their targets toward attaining higher grades, saying “you should not allow your social activities affect your academic performances”.

He commended the awardees for imbibing high academic standard and enjoined them to maintain the tempo.

“You would be surprised to see a female student that fixed  eye lashes and nails as best student.

“It shows her social lifestyle does not affect her academic affairs.

“This is a big challenge to others to be more serious.

“If a distinction is never your target, that is the beginning of failure and your position here in school determines what your tomorrow would look like.

“Mass Communication department is known for academic excellence in the history of Federal Polytechnic Offa and we will not relent in order to achieve more,” Alawode added.

Mr Solomon Adetunji, the institution’s Mass Communication Department Part Time Coordinator, enjoined the students to take their studies with utmost priority.

“To achieve success in academic pursuit, it requires God and effort.

“So, take your studentship as priority because once your ‘GP’ is marred, your studentship is at stake,” he said.

Contributing, Mr Rotimi Adegboyega, the Mass Communication Students’ Adviser, and Mr Zakariyah Imran, also advised the students to feel free in expressing their problems and challenges with relevant officers to achieve success.

“We can not know your problems without you saying it out.

“Always feel free to discuss your academic related problems with Exam Officer or Students’ Adviser so that it can be timely rectified,” Imran said. (NAN)
ISHO/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Expert recommends regular dental cleaning of teeth to stay healthy

Dental
By Yinusa Ishola
Omu-Aran (Kwara) Feb. 13, 2020 (NAN) A Chief Surgical Dental Technologist with Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Dr Ale Oluwafemi, on Thursday, advised the public to ensure regular dental cleaning of teeth to maintain a healthy condition.

Oluwafemi gave the advice during a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Omu-Aran, Kwara.

Acording to him, insufficient oral hygiene had been linked to several serious illnesses.

He said that professional dental cleaning was not just for keeping brighter smile but could have a significant impact on human’s health generally.

Oluwafemi listed associated medical and dental issues arising from inadequate dental cleaning to include bone loss, cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer and many other problems.

The medical expert said it was most unfortunate that in this part of the world people were careless about dental care at the expense of other unwarranted social activities and engagements.

“Every human being must visit a professional dentist at least once in six months for general cleaning and proper examination.

“If there is going to be any serious problem at that level, such person can be educated appropriately on what to do so as not to aggravate his or her condition.

“Visit to the dentist is one of those things that many people put off, sometime for years,’’ he added.

He said that majority of the population, who skipped those dental visits, were putting their total health at significant risk.

“Overall, poor dental hygiene can raise the risk of heart and lung disease and diabetes, as well as impact cognitive health.

“New studies have found that our brain and heart health are directly correlated to our oral health but we have the power to combat it all.

“A large recent study found that those who had a teeth-cleaning performed by a dental hygienist at least twice a year were 24 per cent less likely to have a heart attack than those who missed a professional teeth-cleaning each year.

“Even more astounding is the correlation between brain health and dental care. The same study found that having that bi-annual dental exam and teeth-cleaning can lower the risk of stroke by as much as 13 per cent.

“Previous studies discovered that missing routine appointments with a dental hygienist for a teeth-cleaning, as well as skipping basic at-home dental care can increase the risk of heart disease by as much as 70 per cent,” Oluwafemi said. (NAN)
ISHO/AIJ/AJA
===========
Edited by Abigael Joshua/Adeleye Ajayi

 

General news

Group donates cash to families of Offa bank robbery attack

Group donates cash to families of Offa bank robbery attack

By Yinusa Ishola

Support
Omu-Aran (Kwara), Feb. 10, 2020 (NAN) The Offa Descendants Union North America (ODUNA) on Monday said it donated N1.650 million to the families of the 33 persons killed during the April 4, 2018, bank robbery in Offa.

ODUNA is an umbrella body for indigenes of Offa residing in North America through which they undertake socio-economic matters affecting the people as well as assist people at home.

Dr Adegboyega Abdulkodir, the President of the union, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview at Omu-Aran that each of the the 33 families would receive N50,000 cash.

Abdulkodir said that the union also made provision for a token of N10,000 to some of the survivors of the attack.

“The donation is part of the union’s corporate social responsibility towards assisting people at home and this time,  the families of the victims of April 2018 bank robbery in Offa,” he said.

He said the gesture was to ameliorate the financial difficulties being faced by members of the families left behind by the dead as well as those of the survivors of the unfortunate  bank robbery.

Abdulkodir hinted that the union also donated N150,000 as scholarship to three indigent undergraduates at N50,000 each and N10,000 to four secondary school students at N10,000 each.

“The union also donated books to eight community schools in Offa and the Department of Paediatrics, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH),” he said.

Abdukodir, a US based Neonatologist and Fellow of America Academy of Paediatricians, was part of the team that visited the country last month for the union’s annual free medical outreach in Offa.

He said 70 persons underwent free medical surgeries during the 2020 edition of the outreach executed in collaboration with University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara State Sight Savers and the Kwara State School of Health Technology, Offa.

He said that more than 15,000 indigenes of the area have benefited from the union’s medical outreach since its inception in 2016, with more than 600 free eye glasses distributed to patients with sight challenges. (NAN)
ISHO/FEO/MST

Edited by Francis Onyeukwu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Kwara 2020 budget will address infrastructure, human capital devt. – Govt.

Education
By Yinusa Ishola
Osi (Kwara) Feb. 8, 2020 (NAN) The Kwara State Government said on Saturday that its recently passed 2020 budget would address challenges associated with infrastructure and human capital development across the State.

Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq said this while speaking  at the 50th anniversary of Central Secondary School, Osi, in the  Ekiti Local Government Area of the State.

Abdulrazaq, represented by the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Olasumbo Florence, said 19 per cent of the budgetary allocation was for the education sector.

He said the bulk of the said allocation was meant for basic education.

According to him, our dream is to meet the UNESCO threshold in the coming years.

He said the budget was also set out to support community development, especially home grown enterprises, empowerment for different categories of the people, roads, and basic healthcare system.

Abdulrazaq applauded the laudable efforts of  the Old Students Association of the school  saying his administration would not hesitate in appreciating various stakeholders who were doing their best to help the system.

He called for stakeholders’ synergy to curb examination malpractice in schools in various communities.

“The 2020 budget, which I have just assented to, has been designed to address the questions of human capital and infrastructure in our state.

” Our government will partner all stakeholders to tackle various developmental challenges confronting our communities,” he said.

Prince Adams Asasofegbe, President, Osi Central Secondary School Old Boys Association, in his remarks, said the association had so far expended over N8 million on various projects in the school.

He listed part of the projects to include renovation of a block of two classrooms, the school entrance gate, donation of books as well as the construction of a modern latrine.

Asasofegbe charged members of the association to redouble their efforts toward rebuilding and reinvigorating the school morally and academically.

He said the association would not relent in doing its best possible in bringing back the school’s past glory in all ramifications.

Oba Solihu Adasofegbe, the traditional ruler of Osi , applauded the association for its magnanimity, dedication and foresight.

He pledged the continued support of the traditional institution in the area toward ensuring the desired growth, progress and socioeconomic development.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 48 distinguished personalities received merit awards for their contributions toward the development of the community.

Among them 23 were posthumously honoured at the occasion also organised for the launching of a N50 million developmental project for the community.

Some of the awardees included Rtd. Vice Admiral and Mrs S.O Afolayan, Maj-Gen. A. A. Atofarati (Rtd), Oba Solihu Adasofegbe, Mr Gabriel Adewumi, Ms Felicia Owolabi and Chief Samuel Baale.

Those posthumously honoured included Late Oba Ezekiel Afolayan, Chief James Owolabi, Alhaji Usman Atofarati, Johnson Bello, Chief Adebayo Afoloke, among others. (NAN)
ISHO/ECN/DCU

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Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Donald Ugwu