Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State on Thursday, condoled the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu, on the death of his mother, Madam Rafatu Ajikeola Ajadosu, who died Wednesday, at the age of 91.

The Governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan in Osogbo, described her death as a painful loss, saying that no matter how old our parents are, their departure is always keenly felt.

Oyetola who also extended his condolences to the entire family of Ajadosu of Ile esa oni Ayowo compound, Obaagun area of Osun, urged them to take heart and be comforted in the fact that Mama was blessed with old age and lived a fulfilled life, in devotion to Allah and service to humanity.

He said: “On behalf of the government and good people of Osun, I commiserate with the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu and the entire Ajadosu family over the death of your mother, Madam Rafatu Ajikeola Ajadosu, who died on Wednesday, at the age of 91. 

“Even though, Mama lived a fulfilled life to a ripe old age, the death of a loved one is usually painful no matter how old the person lived. I, therefore, urge you to take solace in the great life of devotion to Allah, service and commitment to humanity Mama Ajadosu lived while she was still with us. 

 “It is my prayer that Almighty Allah (SWT), will grant her Aljanatu Firdaus and equally grant you, your siblings, friends and family the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.”

He added that the care and wise counsel of the matriarch would be greatly missed by those she left behind.

PR/Dominica Nwabufo

Following an increase in Communal crisis in Ebonyi state, the Ebonyi State Government, Southeast Nigeria has mapped out strategy to end the disputes.

The State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barrister Orji Uchenna stated this while addressing Journalists on the outcome of the Executive Council (EXCO) meeting in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Barrister Orji said the state government, elders and Religious leaders were making frantic efforts to end the crisis.

Isinkwo and Abaomege crisis
The Commissioner said after considering the report on the crisis at Isinkwo and Abaomege it was agreed that if any further clash occurred between Isinkwo and Abaomege, government would hold the leaders of the two communities responsible.

Effium Ezza Effium crisis
Orji also said the report on the meeting held by the state government with stakeholders of Effium and Ezza Effium on the crisis in the area signified that all stakeholders and people of Effium/Ezza Effium community deserved commendation for their avowed commitment towards keeping the peace and ceasing all hostilities.

“The executive further commended the efforts of Christian Association of Nigeria, Elders Council, Founding fathers and the committee that will supervise the peace processes headed by Bishop Monday Nwankwegu, for their efforts in resolving the problem in that community.”

Enyigba and Enyibichiri crisis in Abakaliki and Ikwo Local government
The Commissioner said the crisis at Enyigba and Enyibichiri Communities in Abakaliki and Ikwo Local Government were based on land disputes and resolved to carry out land demarcation process for the communities.

ENDSARS Youth Summit
Barrister Orji recognised the progress made by the committee on #ENDSARS Youth Summit and resolved to further shift the date of the summit to Wednesday 5th March, 2021 to enable resource persons prepare adequately and make available lecture notes in advance to the participants.

“The executive commended the efforts of the committee on #ENDSARS Empowerment Programme and resolved to give a window of two weeks for more applications to be received,” he said.

He called on People of the State to maintain peace at all times.

Lateefah Ibrahim

The Niger Delta Power Holding Company says it has a power purchase agreement to supply 70MW of power to West African nation- Togo from the power plant and is in discussion to supply another 100MW to Paradise City in Calabar.

Its Executive Director, Generation, Kassim Abdullahi who made this known while inspecting the company’s Power Plant in Odukpani, Calabar, Cross River State said the Company was working to improve power supply to Nigerians through Eligible Customer framework.

The Calabar plant under the Niger Delta Power Holding Company NIPP program has five units (Gas Turbines) with a total designed capacity of about 600 Mega Watts.

Shortly after the inspection, Mr Abdullahi described the plant as one of the best plants with uninterruptible gas availability and a good dispatch network.

 “Calabar is one of our best power stations and is one of the power stations with good gas supply, where we have a GSA with ACCU Gas. The Power Station also has a good dispatch network and some eligible customers as well,” he said.

“We are here on our on-going inspection as part of the routine maintenance we do on all our Power stations. Calabar is currently running two units. In the morning it was three units that were available and on the grid but because of the instability and some frequency controls we had to go down with one unit”. He added

 “The other two units are undergoing routine maintenance on the transformer lube oil system and also a Boroscope inspection on the engines,” he stated.

The executive Director mentioned that when all the units were firing, Calabar power plant has a total capacity of 560MW available power for dispatch.

He said the Eligible Customer framework “is one of the key relieves for the power sector that Nigeria has.”

“Calabar is one of the Plants where we have bilateral agreement with Togo, with a PPA to supply about 70MW and also there are on-going discussions with other potential customers in Calabar like the Paradise City, where they are willing to off-take 100MW.

The Chief Operating Officer of Calabar Power Plant- Engineer Oyewale Olugbenga John, noted that the plant has remained the best through the support of the Company’s management and the good operation and maintenance team at the plant.

Lateefah Ibrahim

The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board LASUBEB has received Yoruba Early Grade Reading Materials titled ‘Je Ka Kawe’, an initiative, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The Je Ka Kawe (Let’s Read) project, was developed based on the Yoruba language curriculum, to promote literacy through the use of indigenous languages amongst pupils in primary 1-3 classes to engender positive learning outcomes.

The learning and reading books are structured on phonemic awareness, alphabetic principles, vocabulary, comprehension and writing.

The Executive Chairman of LASUBEB, Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King during the official presentation of the books applauded the initiative, stating that the resources will expand the availability of quality local teaching and learning materials for reading Yoruba Language among pupils in Lagos State Public Primary Schools.

He noted that the use of the indigenous learning materials in schools will not only increase literacy levels in pupils, but also enlighten them on vibrant Yoruba culture.

Alawiye-King assured that the resources would be used to complement the existing teaching and learning of Yoruba language in schools, stressing that the infusion of Local languages into the educational system would also help pupils to succeed academically.

Commissioner for Education in Lagos, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, commended USAID for the initiative and for also promoting the mother tongue that is gradually going into extinction.

She advised parents to encourage their wards to speak their local languages, particularly the Yoruba language, for this will make them unique in any part of the world.

The representative of the Honourable Minister of Education, Mrs. Chinyere Nwokorie noted that the book is premised on the language provision in the National Policy on Education, which encouraged the use of mother tongue as a medium of instruction at the lower primary level.

Giving an overview of Je Ka Kawe at the event, Professor Solomon Olanrewaju Makinde, Faculty of Education, Lagos State University, LASU, said that the book was developed to provide Pre-Reading and Pre- Writing lessons.

He explained that the materials consists of pupils books and teachers’ guide, adding that teachers do not need to write lesson plans to teach any lesson.

Chief of Party, USAID/Northern Education Initiative Plus, Mr Nurudeen Lawal who decried the low level of usage of Yoruba language which according to him is declining the pockets of culture in our society, mentioned that the book was aimed at helping children develop critical thinking and literacy skills.

He added that teaching in mother tongue would help the children transfer knowledge to other subjects for better understanding and also promote life-long learning.

Other speakers at the event which included the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Abosede Adelaja; the state NUT Chairman and other stakeholders also commended the initative.

Dominica Nwabufo