IGBETI ATTACK: ARRESTS MADE, SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT ACTIVE

Barely 24hrs after terrorists attacked a military camp in the outskirts of Igbeti in the Olorunsogo local government council, the Deputy Gov, Barrister Adebayo Lawal, was on the ground to assess the situation.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, who accompanied him, the Deputy Gov said that Governor Seyi Makinde had a message for the people: 'You will never be abandoned'.

While being conducted round the scene of the attack by the Commanding Officer, 81 Battalion, Lt Col Innocent Asogwa, the Deputy Gov learnt that not less than 120 soldiers have been sent into the bush on the trail of the terrorists.

Explaining the cause of the fire that burnt the building and a vehicle, the commander said that the terrorists used grenade launchers that escalated the cooking cylinders in the premises.

The Commissioner said that not less than five of the terrorists have been arrested in military uniforms, while more arrests are expected to be made.

The Dep Gov said that the state newly procured surveillance aircraft engage constantly in random sorties (exercises) and cannot be permanently in the sky but will remain handy for all operations and reconnaissance.

The Dep Gov, who was at the scene with some Local Government chairmen and the Onigbeti of Igbeti, said that an emergency committee of the five adjoining local government councils of Olorunsogo, Oriire, Saki East, Orelope and Irepo has been set up to immediately provide all the needs of the security men in the areas and liaise with the state govt for prompt assistance.

'As a responsible government, will continue to play our part in ensuring that our people are safe.'

He also said that government welcomed the news that there were no casualties.

Also in the Dep Governor's entourage were the Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Prof Saliu Adelabu, and the Senior Special Assistant on Security, CP Sunday Odukoya.

OYO GOVT REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO QUALITY EDUCATION AS SCHOOLS RESUME

The Oyo State Government has restated its commitment to improving the education sector through strategic policies and programmes to improve learning outcomes in public and private schools across the state.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola, stated this on behalf of the Executive Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, in his welcome-back message to students as schools resume for the first term of the 2026/2027 academic session on Monday, September 15, 2026.

Hon. Olayiwola described the new academic session as an opportunity for students to renew their commitment to learning and academic excellence. He urged them to remain focused, disciplined and dedicated to their studies, while also conducting themselves responsibly and abiding by the laws and regulations of their schools and the state.

The Commissioner charged teachers to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, urging them to be punctual, adequately prepared and consistent in the delivery of their lessons. He emphasized the need for proper lesson planning, regular attendance in classrooms and exemplary conduct, stressing that teachers must lead by example in discipline and dedication to duty.

He also called on parents and guardians to play an active role in their children's education by monitoring their academic progress, providing essential learning materials, including notebooks and textbooks, instilling discipline and maintaining close communication with teachers and school authorities.

Describing the first term as a crucial foundation-laying period for the academic year, Hon. Olayiwola urged all stakeholders in the education sector to work together towards achieving improved academic performance and the overall development of learners.

He further advised proprietors of private schools to strictly adhere to the academic calendar issued by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, noting that compliance with approved guidelines remains essential to maintaining standards across the education sector.

Oyo Govt Releases 2026 JSS Placement Screening Results

The Oyo State Government has announced the release of the results of the 2026 Placement Screening Exercise into Junior Secondary Schools across the State.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola, directed Head Teachers and other relevant stakeholders to liaise with the Local Inspectors of Education (LIEs) in their respective Local Government Areas to collect the results of their pupils.

The Commissioner stated that the release of the results marked another important step in ensuring a smooth and transparent transition of pupils from primary schools into the next level of their education. He reaffirmed the commitment of the State Government to providing a fair, credible and efficient placement process for pupils across the State.

While congratulating all successful candidates, Olayiwola urged them to remain focused and committed to their studies as they transition into Junior Secondary School One (JSS1) for the 2026/2027 academic session.

He also encouraged the pupils to embrace the new phase of their education with seriousness, discipline and determination, assuring them that their continued dedication to learning would contribute significantly to their academic success.

Oyo Govt, UNICEF Strengthen Auxiliary Social Workers’ Capacity for Digital Child Protection

As part of efforts to strengthen child protection and social welfare services across the state, the Oyo State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has commenced training for Auxiliary Social Workers on  Child Protection Information Management System 

The Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Faosat Joke Sanni disclosed this during a two-day training programme for Auxiliary Social Workers held from September 10 to 11, 2026, at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Inclusion in Ibadan.

She described the training as timely and significant, noting that effective child protection required not only adequate social welfare personnel but also accurate, timely and reliable information to support decision-making, case management, referrals, monitoring and planning.

According to her, " the state government was prioritising capacity building, community-based child protection mechanisms, alternative care, prevention of and response to violence against children, gender-based violence interventions, and the strengthening of social service delivery."

She said the knowledge and skills acquired through the training would contribute significantly to improving the quality of child protection services at the community and local government levels.

The Commissioner urged participants to take the training seriously and ensure that the knowledge acquired was translated into improved service delivery in their respective areas of assignment.

The training had in attendance 50 Auxiliary Social Workers from Ibadan South-West Local Government Area, and it is expected to be extended to other Local Government Areas across the state to equip more community-based social workers with the skills needed to protect children, particularly in the digital space.

Also speaking, the UNICEF Child Protection Officer for Data, Planning and Monitoring, Mr Aminu Awal Sani, said the training formed part of efforts to support the state’s transition from paper-based to digital case management.

Mr. Awal-Sani explained that Oyo State was transitioning to PRIMERO, an electronic protection-related information management platform that would enable Auxiliary Social Workers to identify cases, provide services and make referrals directly from the field.

He said the digital system would facilitate real-time monitoring of child protection cases and improve the availability of reliable data for decision-making and planning.

According to him, " the Child Protection Information Management Centre at the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Abuja, through the National Case Management Dashboard, would be able to monitor child protection cases across all 36 states of the federation."

In his presentation, the Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Mr Dennis Onoise, stressed the need to strengthen community-based child protection structures, noting that communities had traditionally played an important role in protecting and supporting children.

Mr. Onoise said the shortage of professional social workers in the country made it necessary to build the capacity of Auxiliary Social Workers, who could serve as a link between vulnerable children, their families, communities and formal social service institutions.

He noted that properly trained Auxiliary Social Workers would be better positioned to identify cases of child abuse, document them and facilitate appropriate referrals for support and intervention.

He explained that the digital information management system would enable workers to document incidents such as sexual abuse, physical abuse and harmful practices, including female genital mutilation, using mobile devices.

He emphasised the importance of reliable data in addressing child protection challenges, noting that documented statistics would help governments and development partners understand the scale and nature of child protection issues and develop appropriate interventions.

Present at the training were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Oluyinka Shotonwa-Roagess; the Director of Child Welfare, Mr Gbémileke Ojerinde; and the UNICEF Desk Officer in the Ministry, Mrs Oluwawemimo Adediran, among others .

OYO CPS ON MONDAY: Built for Statecraft: The Technocratic Ascent of Bimbo Adekanmbi in Oyo

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

Honourable Abimbola Adekanmbi stands today as one of the distinguished figures in Oyo State whose life story unfolds not as a mere professional record, but as a carefully constructed journey of purpose. Born on April 5, 1973 and raised in Ibadan, a city where scholarship, enterprise, and civic engagement converge to shape minds inclined toward public duty, his early years were marked by influences that would later define his leadership.

In the vibrant energy of Bodija Market, where his mother was a trader, he absorbed the intuitive wisdom of everyday commerce; in the contemplative halls of Ibadan’s academic tradition, he encountered the discipline of structured thought. This dual inheritance — instinct refined by experience and intellect strengthened by education — formed the foundation of a mind capable of interpreting both human needs and institutional demands with clarity.

Emerging from this grounding, 

Adekanmbi spent decades mastering the essential disciplines of governance: fiscal responsibility, development financing, youth empowerment, and the intricate design of public systems. His rise has been defined not by theatrics, but by the steady, principled work of building institutions that endure beyond political cycles. Thus, when he affirms, “Governor Makinde has achieved a lot of beautiful things, and through the bridge he has built, I am ready to take Oyo State to the promised land,” his words carry the weight of preparation and the calm assurance of experience.

A Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), with degrees from Obafemi Awolowo University and Oxford Brookes University, Adekanmbi built a career that spans Nigeria’s banking sector and enterprise technology consulting in the United Kingdom. His professional journey reflects a commitment to excellence grounded in global standards. As he recalls, “I have worked in the best places in the world using the best technology. At Birmingham City Council, the biggest city council in Europe, I designed, built, and implemented their financial systems. When things went wrong in councils, businesses, or enforcement systems, they called on me.” This exposure sharpened his analytical instincts and cultivated a systems‑oriented approach to solving complex problems he intellectual discipline that underpins effective statecraft.

Yet one of the most defining dimensions of his evolution is the rare privilege of learning directly from four governors of Oyo State. Few technocrats in the state’s modern history have observed governance across such varied temperaments, philosophies, and eras. 

“I have the legacy experience,” he notes, “having worked in different capacities in government over the years and being someone who has related with four past and present governors.” From Senator Rashidi Ladoja, he absorbed political depth; from Chief Adebayo Alao‑Akala, the instinctive wisdom of grassroots engagement; from Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the discipline of structural reform; and from Governor Seyi Makinde, the clarity of data‑driven governance. 

These influences gave him a panoramic understanding of Oyo State’s administrative soul — a blend of institutional memory and lived experience, technocratic rigour and marketplace intuition.

Adekanmbi’s formal entry into government under Senator Ajimobi marked the beginning of a technocratic journey that would quietly strengthen Oyo State’s administrative architecture. As Deputy Chief of Staff, he became a stabilizing force within the executive arm the unseen conductor ensuring coherence across ministries, agencies, and policy channels. He approached governance not as performance, but as system‑building, guided by the conviction that leadership is ultimately measured by the durability of the structures it leaves behind.

His appointment as Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning marked a decisive turning point, the moment when his technocratic discipline met the full weight of state responsibility. He assumed office during a period of national economic turbulence, yet he steadied Oyo State’s finances with prudence, transparency, and structural reform. Budgeting became more strategic, expenditure controls more rigorous, and financial reporting more credible. Among his most enduring legacies was the transformation of the Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue. 

“The Board was once not independent,” he recalls. “I drafted and implemented the law that gave it independence, transforming it into a meritocratic agency that attracts top talents and incentivizes performance.” It was a demonstration of statecraft at its most disciplined: reforming not only the numbers, but the machinery that produces them.

One of the most consequential chapters of his public service was his stewardship of the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP), a $200 million World Bank intervention born from the devastation of the 2011 flood. At a moment when the project risked derailment, he restored administrative alignment and rebuilt trust with global partners. His coordination ensured compliance with international safeguards, strengthened financial reporting, and protected the project from delays that could have jeopardized funding.

 The continuity he secured enabled the construction of bridges, culverts, drainage channels, and flood‑forecasting systems that today form the backbone of Ibadan’s urban resilience, a clear demonstration of his ability to translate global partnerships into local transformation.

This same discipline defined his tenure as chairman of the Ibadan Airport Upgrade Committee. “The airport upgrade is a massive project,” he notes. “We had about nine federal agencies. 

Those agencies were hostile because of party relationships, but we navigated all the dangerous bends and got the necessary approvals.” Under his leadership, the airport advanced toward becoming a more viable regional gateway, aligning with Oyo State’s ambitions for economic expansion, tourism growth, and improved connectivity. 

He is quick to acknowledge the collective effort: “I must give kudos to the Federal Airports Authority boss, an excellent woman, and other members of the committee who worked with me to achieve success.” The project stands as further evidence of his capacity to harmonize stakeholders, manage complexity, and deliver infrastructure that serves both present needs and future aspirations.

At the grassroots level, Adekanmbi’s philosophy of development becomes even more vivid. He has long maintained that governance must be felt not only in the capital, but in the smallest communities, the places where progress is measured in boreholes, classrooms, electrified streets, and thriving market stalls. His oversight of the Oyo State Community Development Agency (OSCDA) strengthened this conviction. Through community‑driven development frameworks, OSCDA delivered micro‑infrastructure across rural and semi‑urban areas, ensuring timely counterpart funding, transparent procurement, and genuine community participation. “Development must touch the smallest communities,” he often says. “If it doesn’t reach them, it is not development.” In those words lies the essence of his administrative philosophy: that the true measure of governance is not the grandeur of its announcements, but the reach of its benefits.

Beyond formal government roles, his commitment to human capital development reveals another dimension of his worldview that governance must not only build systems, but also build people. Over the years, he has invested in students through scholarships, free UTME forms, mentorship programmes, and quiet interventions that seldom make headlines but often change destinies.

 His approach to empowerment is structural, intentional, and rooted in the belief that opportunity is the most powerful form of social infrastructure. This belief runs through every initiative he has shaped from youth employment schemes to digital modernization in land administration. In each case, he has insisted that development must be inclusive, accessible, and anchored in dignity.

Across all these roles, a clear pattern emerges: Adekanmbi is a builder of systems — a technocrat whose work strengthens institutions, stabilizes finances, aligns donor relationships, empowers communities, and expands opportunities for young people. 

His contributions form a continuum of disciplined service stretching across administrations and political climates. He has operated at the intersection of policy, technology, and human development, translating complex ideas into structures that endure.

 “These are the kinds of contributions and experiences I believe will greatly help us in advancing Oyo State,” he says, a statement that reads less like ambition and more like a quiet declaration of readiness.

In the end, what emerges from Adekanmbi’s journey is not merely the portrait of a technocrat, but the outline of a man shaped by experience, sharpened by global exposure, and anchored by the native intelligence of his Ibadan roots. His story is one of systems built, institutions strengthened, youth empowered, infrastructure modernized, and relationships navigated with uncommon dexterity. It is the story of a public servant who has walked through the engine rooms of governance — from the marketplace to the ministry, from the council chambers of Europe to the executive corridors of Oyo State — and returned with the discipline required to build what endures.

In a state that demands both memory and modernity, structure and empathy, vision and execution, Adekanmbi stands as a figure shaped by history itself to lead Oyo State to greater heights. His past has forged a readiness for the future, and his journey reflects the true architecture of statecraft in its most refined form.

Dr Olanrewaju is the Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor of Oyo State.

Muslim Community Commends Oyo SSG’s Humanitarian Efforts, Applauds His Commitment to Public Service

 

The Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land, Fodhilatu Shaykh Bilaal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu, has commended the  Secretary to the  Oyo State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde, for his contributions to public service and his support for the Muslim Ummah.

 In a statement issued and signed in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital, the Chief Imam appreciated the outstanding academic scholarship, public service and continued contribution to the Muslim community in the Pacesetter State.

The Grand Chief Imam described Professor Babatunde as an exemplary intellectual whose accomplishments demonstrate academic excellence, responsible public service and commitment to faith that work together for the advancement of the society

Barrister Akeugberu hinted that Professor Musibau Babatunde has established himself as a distinguished economist whose academic journey was built at the University of Ibadan, where he obtained his B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Economics. 

Barrister Akeugberu said. "Following his years of teaching, research and academic service in the Department of Economics, as well as Deputy Director of the University's Distance Learning Centre, Professor Babatunde attained the prestigious rank of Professor of Economics in 2021".

 "His research interests span Energy Economics, International Economics, Macroeconomics and Applied Econometrics, with a substantial body of scholarly work addressing important questions surrounding trade liberalisation, energy consumption and structural economic development, particularly across Sub-Saharan Africa".

He added that Professor Babatunde  expertise has also received international recognition. His professional engagements have included service at the United Nations African Institute for Economic Development and Planning in Dakar, Senegal, where he contributed to the training and development of policy makers across Africa.

Oyo Muslim Community maintained further that Professor Babatunde's contribution extends beyond the university environment, it spread into public administration and economic policy.

It will be recalled that. Professor Musibau Babatunde public-service journey within the Oyo State Government became particularly prominent in 2019, when he joined the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde as Special Adviser on Economic Affairs, before and during this period, he played a significant technical role in the development of the Oyo State Roadmap for Accelerated Development.

The statement added, "Professor Babatunde subsequently served as Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, contributing his expertise to economic planning, budgeting and policy formulation in the state" .

He continued "On 5 January 2026, Governor Seyi Makinde appointed him as the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, and he was sworn into office on 12 January 2026" .

"His appointment was welcomed across different section of Oyo State, including the Muslim community, where his professional competence, intellectual depth and Islamic identity have earned considerable respect".

Beyond his academic and governmental responsibilities, Professor Babatunde continues to demonstrate an active commitment to the Muslim Ummah.

The statement reads in part. "As a practicing Muslim, he has participated in Islamic intellectual and educational programmes, including engagements with scholarly platforms such as the 'Niqoobatul Markaziyyin", where his experience in economics, public policy and governance provides an important bridge between contemporary intellectual discourse and Islamic values.

"He has also participated in grassroots Islamic programmes and Ramadan lectures, including the Omituntun Benedict Forum, where he has addressed subjects such as Qadar (Divine Destiny), encouraging moral responsibility, faith, intellectual reflection and communal harmony".

"His public engagement reflects an important message to younger Muslims, that excellence in secular education and professional life can coexist meaningfully with Islamic identity, ethical responsibility and service to humanity'.

 Akeugberu, congratulated Professor Musibau Babatunde for his remarkable achievements in scholarship, his distinguished service to Oyo State and his continued contribution to the Muslim Ummah.

Oyo born cleric, Barrister Akeugberu prays that Almighty Allah continues to preserve Professor Musibau Adetunji Babatunde in good health, wisdom, strength and steadfastness.

Abiodun Atilola 

Media Officer to the SSG/HOS 

September 10, 2026.

Oyo HOS Charges Retiring Perm Secs to Continue Contributing to State’s Development

The Oyo State Head of Service, Dr. Adenike Fasina, mni has urged retiring Permanent Secretaries in the State Civil Service to continue contributing their wealth of experience and expertise to the development of Oyo State and Nigeria at large.

She gave this charge during the maiden edition of the Experience Sharing Forum, tagged “Courtesy Visit to the Head of Service,” organised for two retiring Accounting Officers, Mr. Olajide Okesade and Dr. Sunday Ojelabi, at the Head of Service, Conference Room, Secretariat, Ibadan.

She said the forum was designed to promote knowledge transfer and strengthen institutional memory within the Oyo State Public Service, the initiative would enable serving officers, particularly younger civil servants, to benefit from the wealth of experience, knowledge and wisdom accumulated by retiring senior officers during their years of service.

The Head of Service noted that the retirees’ insights on leadership, policy implementation, human resource management, institutional continuity, financial discipline and the challenges of public administration would serve as valuable lessons for the Service.

She said. “As you prepare to retire from active service, I urge you to remember that while retirement marks the end of one phase of your career, it is the beginning of another opportunity to contribute to society".

“Your experience, wisdom and networks remain valuable assets, and I am confident that you will continue to make meaningful contributions to the development of Oyo State and the nation at large.”

Dr. Fasina stated that the present administration in the State under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde  was committed to leaving the State Public Service better than it met it.

She charged serving Permanent Secretaries to mentor younger officers, document institutional knowledge and establish systems that would promote continuity, efficiency and sustainability in the Service.

She congratulated the retiring Permanent Secretaries on the successful completion of their careers, appreciating them for their years of dedicated service to Oyo State.

“On behalf of the Government and the entire Oyo State Public Service, I congratulate you on the successful completion of your careers and sincerely thank you for your years of dedicated service to the State, I wish you good health, peace, fulfilment and continued relevance in your post-service years,” 

Responding, the retiring Permanent Secretaries, Mr. Olajide Okesade, formerly of the Ministry of Trade and Investment and Dr. Sunday Ojelabi, of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, expressed appreciation to the Head of Service for initiating the programme and for honouring them as they bowed out of the Civil Service of the Pacesetter State.

They described the forum as a commendable initiative that would encourage knowledge sharing and provide an avenue for retiring officers to pass valuable lessons and experiences to their successors and younger colleagues.

Abiodun Atilola 

Media Officer to the SSG/HOS 

September 10, 2026.