Oyo Govt, Trains Civil Servants on Digital Skills

 

The Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, mni has said that the present administration in the State would continue to sustain the tempo towards realization of strategic vision of having a dynamic and efficient public service in which officers can compete favourably with their compares across the globe. 

She stated this at the closing ceremony of a 3-day training programme for some selected officers in the Officer cadres on grade levels 08 to 12  across Ministries, Departments and Agencies held at an event center Ikolaba GRA, Ibadan. 

She said the 3 - day capacity development in public service is one of the several capacity training programmes  organized for both senior management staff across the State Civil Service by the office of the Head of Service. 

She stated further that the present administration in the State under the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde would continue to sustain the tempo towards realization of the strategic vision of a dynamic and efficient public service. 

She said "the need for digital transformation of the service especially in the areas of acquisition of relevant digital skills by officers and automation of Civil Service work, governance across the globe is tending towards digitalization and e -governance for economic development. 

She commended Governor Seyi Makinde for approving the conduct of the digital training programme for Civil/Public Servants in the State and also providing the necessary support for the execution of the training, hinting that, the strategic agenda of omititun 2.0 would be promptly achieved for the benefit of the masses.

The Head of Service then appreciated the management of Superurban Limited for partnering with the State Government to organize the training programme to impact digital skills that would help to embrace paradigm shift from the conventional analogue mode of delivery to digitalization.

She enjoined the participants to ensure that the digital skills they have acquired during the training programme reflect in their performance at their various offices.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, Superurban Limited, Mr. Adesola Kolawole commended the State Government for organizing the digital development training programme for its workforce for more efficient service delivery 

He pointed out that the world is moving towards ICT in governance including digital transformation in Civil/Public Service.

Abiodun Atilola 

Media Officer to the SSG/HOS 

21. May, 2025.

Nigerian Navy FOB Badagry Arrests and Hands Over 97 Bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice to the Nigeria Customs Service and 191 Wraps of Products Suspected to be Cannabis Sativa to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency

 

In furtherance of ongoing efforts to strengthen maritime security and suppress smuggling activities within the Badagry–Seme–Porto Novo waterways and adjoining land corridors, the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry has maintained a high tempo of operations. These sustained maritime security activities have resulted in the interception of significant quantities of contraband, including narcotics and foreign parboiled rice, within its designated Area of Operations (AOO).

Specifically, in a series of distinct operations conducted between 26 April and 14 May 2025, the Base’s Quick Response Team (QRT) successfully effected the following seizures:

a. A total of ninety-seven (97) bags, each weighing 50 kilograms, of foreign parboiled rice, intercepted within the Base’s AOO on Saturday, 26 April 2025.

b. One hundred and ninety-one (191) wraps of products suspected to be Cannabis Sativa, with an estimated weight of 114.6 kilograms, seized during three separate operations conducted around the Packo and Bedrome–Ashipa areas between 30 April and 14 May 2025.

c. Approximately three hundred and seven (307) kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), amounting to roughly 7,675 litres, seized in four distinct operations at Simtop Jetty, Tosuvi, Ashikpa, and Panshi between 23 April and 3 May 2025.

In accordance with extant legal frameworks and the Nigerian Navy’s Standard Operating Procedures, the aforementioned ninety-seven (97) bags of foreign parboiled rice were formally handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command. Likewise, the one hundred and ninety-one (191) wraps of suspected Cannabis Sativa were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Seme Special Area Command, on Tuesday, 20 May 2025, for further investigation and requisite legal action. Furthermore, the impounded PMS was duly destroyed to prevent its illicit distribution within the AOO.

These achievements are a testament to FOB Badagry’s unflinching commitment to the strategic directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, as articulated in the CNS Strategic Directive 06–2023. This directive underscores the imperative of safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime environment in the interest of national security and economic advancement.

FOB Badagry remains resolute in its mission to eradicate smuggling, narcotics trafficking, and other maritime-related crimes. The Base continues to foster robust inter-agency collaboration and nurture trust with host communities, with a view to ensuring sustainable maritime security throughout the region.

A Goal for the Future”: Hon. Kafilat Ogbara Scores Big with Youths as She Champions Football for Development in Kosofe

 

In a heartwarming and inspiring display of leadership and community engagement, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, Member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Kosofe Federal Constituency, partnered with the Kosofe Youth Forum and Universal Global Sports Agency Ltd to host a thrilling grassroots football tournament aimed at empowering and uplifting the youth of the constituency.

The grand finale, held on Sunday, 18th May 2025, at Ayedere Nursery & Primary School, saw two energetic teams — Omojuwa Estate/Church Avenue and Makinde Street — battle for glory on the pitch. But beyond the scores and the goals, the real victory was for the youth of Kosofe.

Following the pulsating final match, Hon. Ogbara addressed the enthusiastic crowd, praising the spirit of sportsmanship displayed by all participating teams and declaring that “every team is a winner.” In a symbolic and generous gesture, she awarded cash prizes to all the teams, underlining her commitment to equity and inclusion.

“This tournament is not just about football,” Hon. Ogbara said. “It is about our future. It is about taking our youth off the streets, away from thuggery and drug abuse, and giving them something greater to aspire to. It is about discipline, passion, teamwork, and hope.”

With emotion in her voice and sincerity in her words, the Honourable Representative promised that the tournament would not be a one-off event, but the beginning of a continuous initiative to engage the youth meaningfully.

“This is just the beginning,” she assured. “As long as I serve the great people of Kosofe, this initiative will continue and grow. Together, we will build dreams, we will inspire talent, and we will secure the future of our constituency.”

The event, jointly organized by the Kosofe Youth Forum and Universal Global Sports Agency Ltd, received widespread praise from the community. Mr. Michael Omojuwa, FIFA agent and representative of Universal Global Sports, lauded Hon. Ogbara for her unwavering commitment to youth development, while Hon. Ayo Omojuwa, Manager and key stakeholder in the event, described the initiative as “a legacy in motion.”

“Youths across Kosofe are grateful for this platform,” said a team captain during the appreciation remarks. “Hon. Ogbara has not only invested in our talents, but she’s also shown that we matter — that we can dream and achieve.”

The Kosofe Youth Forum expressed deep appreciation for her vision and impact, stating that Hon. Ogbara’s intervention has set a new standard for political leadership and youth engagement in the area.

As the sun set over the Ayedere field and cheers echoed through the air, one thing was clear — Hon. Kafilat Ogbara is not just representing Kosofe in Abuja; she is transforming lives, one goal at a time.

#KosofeYouthRising #OgbaraForDevelopment #FootballForChange #YouthEmpowerment #KafilatOgbara #GrassrootsLeadership #HopeInKosofe #UnityThroughSports

VIDEO - Oyo CPS on Monday: Makinde has put us in dire straits, says Olabiyi-Agoro, TUC chairman

Chairman of Oyo State council of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Bosun Olabiyi-Agoro, says the governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, has put the labour leaders in the state in a difficult situation.

Olabiyi-Agoro, who disclosed this in an interview with The People’s Verdict, said Makinde’s performance had made it difficult for labour leaders to be critical of his administration.

The TUC chairman said, “It has been very difficult for us as labour leaders to speak about this government, as led by Engr ‘Seyi Makinde, without sounding as if we are his hype men. He has been wonderful, he has been magnanimous. 

He has been good. This is not far-fetched going by the series of awards that he has been winning. Even before the awards, the NBS (National Bureau of Statistics) came out in September 2024 and stated categorically that Oyo State Government is the number one labour-friendly state in Southern Nigeria and number two in the entire nation. That tells us what he has done and how much he has given into the welfare of workers in the state.”

Talking about the recruitment of different categories of workers by the state government, Olabiyi-Agoro said, “In his first term he recruited 5,000 teachers. Just at the beginning of his second term, SUBEB took in 7,000 teachers; TESCOM took in 7,500; 1,500 medical and health workers, comprising of doctors, nurses and others, were employed. Even in the schools, 3,000 non-teaching staff were recruited. Some ad-hoc staff in the local government, who were just casual workers, he regularised their employment and brought them into the mainstream of local government employment. 

“Some staff that were thrown away before, he looked into their issue case by case and those that had good cases, he absorbed them back into the mainstream employment even with the promotion that they had missed while the issues were ongoing. There were some OYSADEP workers that were also regularised back into the mainstream of Oyo State employment. About 791 people were taken into the civil service; I am not talking about SUBEB or TESCOM now but the civil service. I can go on and on. 

“That is why I said he has put us in a difficult position, though a positive one, because it is what we see that we are going to talk about. When there are issues, we shout but when there are no issues and we see things that are positive like this, in the same vein, we must say it so that people will know and others will be encouraged.”

The labour leader also lauded the governor for taking the payment of workers’ wages seriously.

He said, “I make bold to say that Governor Seyi Makinde has laid a foundation of which anyone that comes after him cannot afford to go lower, it will become an issue because Oyo State workers are already used to what he has given us already. Since he came into the office six years ago, he has made sure that he pays salary on or before the 25th of every month.

 That was not the narrative before. As far as we are concerned in Oyo State, it is something extraordinary to us. Yes, we have people who say that paying salaries is his basic duty to do.

 My question to those people is that when we had governors who were not doing that, what were we able to do to them? In many states, even in Oyo State, we had governors who were not paying regularly, governors who turned workers’ salaries into ajo (contribution) and were paying in bits, we were not able to do anything to them. So, we are very grateful for what he has done. He has promised us that until he leaves the office, Oyo State workers will get their salaries on or before the 25th of every month.

 He added 13th month salary to it and he has been paying. When we had issues due to the removal of fuel subsidies and everybody was introducing wage awards, I can tell you that Oyo State was among the very few states that were religious with the wage award.”

The labour leader, however, noted that the governor’s commitment to workers’ welfare had not impaired the development of the state as the governor has also invested immensely in infrastructure development.

Watch the video.

  

Gov Dauda Lawal’s Weak Leadership Fueling Insecurity in Zamfara — Northern Advocacy Group

 

A northern civic advocacy organisation, Coalition for Safer North-West Communities (CSNC), has blamed the persistent insecurity in Zamfara State on what it described as the “lack of courage and gross administrative ineptitude” of Governor Dauda Lawal.

A strongly worded statement signed by its President, Alhaji Murtala Shehu Gusau, on Wednesday, said the worsening wave of kidnappings, killings, and banditry in the state reflect a failure of leadership at the highest level of the state government.

The group said despite the deployment of military personnel and federal government interventions, Zamfara remains one of the most dangerous states to live in, owing largely to the governor’s inability to take decisive action and coordinate effective security responses.

“We are alarmed at the continued deterioration of security in Zamfara State, and after a critical assessment, we have no choice but to hold the state government accountable. Governor Dauda Lawal has shown a worrying lack of courage in the face of terror and has consistently failed to provide strategic leadership that inspires confidence among residents or security agencies,” the group declared. 

CSNC said Zamfara’s rural communities have become killing fields, while residents in the capital live in daily fear of abductions, despite the governor’s repeated assurances and media statements.

“It is not enough to issue statements from Gusau. What the people need is action. From Dansadau to Maru, Anka to Tsafe, farmers can no longer access their farmlands, women are being kidnapped in broad daylight, and children are growing up under the sound of gunfire,” Alhaji Gusau said.

According to the group, the governor’s approach to security management has been marked by inconsistency, lack of collaboration with federal authorities, and an inability to rally local leaders and traditional institutions towards community-based intelligence gathering.

“Zamfara is bleeding, and the government seems more interested in political propaganda than real solutions. How many more people need to die before we begin to see seriousness? The governor needs to admit that his strategy, if any, has failed and make way for fresh thinking,” the statement added.

CSNC also accused the Lawal administration of sidelining critical stakeholders in the state’s security architecture, including traditional rulers, local vigilantes, and federal agencies, in a bid to centralise control without the capacity to manage such complexity.

“We must stop pretending that things are normal. The situation in Zamfara is a full-blown emergency, and if Governor Dauda Lawal cannot show the willpower to govern in a crisis, then he must accept that leadership is not for him. Zamfara deserves more than photo-ops and empty meetings,” the group insisted.

Alhaji Gusau said the group’s position is based on consistent engagement with affected communities, civil society organisations, and humanitarian workers in the North-West, many of whom have raised alarm over the governor’s silence or delayed responses to critical incidents.

The group also questioned how billions allocated to security in Zamfara’s state budget have been spent, demanding transparency and accountability from the administration.

“We challenge the Zamfara State Government to publish the breakdown of its security spending for 2023 and the first quarter of 2024. We deserve to know what has been done with public funds meant to protect lives,” Alhaji Gusau said.

The group called on the National Assembly, particularly lawmakers from Zamfara, to conduct an independent assessment of the security situation in the state and recommend a pathway to restoring peace.

“This is not the time for partisan silence. Zamfara’s future is at stake. We urge Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis and other representatives to raise their voices and ensure that the suffering of our people is not ignored at the national level,” the statement added.

CSNC said it would continue to mount pressure on elected officials at both the state and federal levels until Zamfara experiences a turnaround in security and governance.

“We want peace. But peace will not come through platitudes. It requires bold leadership, integrity, and vision — all of which are sorely lacking in the current state government. Governor Dauda Lawal must wake up to his responsibilities or respectfully step aside for someone who can,” the statement concluded.

Varsity Don, Dr. Akinyemi Ogunkeyede Ties Nuptial Knot

 

By Abiodun Atilola, Lagos 

A lecturer from the Federal University of  Petroleum Resources Efurun, Warri, Delta State, Dr. Akinyemi Ogunkeyede on Saturday tied the nuptial knot with his heart throb, Sarah Ogunkeyede, at her family home in the Somolu area of Lagos State

The event, which had in attendance dignitaries from all walks of life, including some Oyo State Permanent Secretaries,  General  Managers, Directors  and family members featured   special blessings for the couple, musical entertainment, and lots more.

The Bridegroom Dr. Akinyemi Ogunkeyede is the  Acting Director of the Centre for Waste Management and Sustainable Resources (CWMSR), Federal University of Petroleum Resources,  Efunrun, (FUPRE), Delta State. 

The bride, Mrs, Sarah Ogunkeyede, hailed from (itsekiri), Delta State, she is also a staff member of the Delta State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. 

The Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, mni advised the couple to be patient and tolerant of each other.

She added that understanding is the key to successful marriage,  hinting that it will prevent  the need to bring in a third party into their marriage.

She said there is nothing wrong in inter tribal marriage. It is the personalities that are involved that matter. "It is  not about the tribe. She concluded that the lady is a well trained girl from a disciplined home. We love her."

Dr. Akinyemi Ogunkeyede is the younger brother to the number one Civil Servant in the Pacesetter State, the Oyo State Head of Service,  Mrs Olubunmi Oni, mni.  

The wedding reception was held at a popular event centre in Lagos.

Oyo Lawmaker, Hon. Olorunpoto Canvasses for Alaafin as sole Permanent Chairman of Obas’ Council, Seeks Additional Slot for Oyo Zone

During the second reading of the Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendment) Bill, 2025, at the plenary session of the Oyo State House of Assembly on Thursday, Hon. Olorunpoto  Rahaman, representing Oyo East/Oyo West State Constituency, made a compelling case for the formal recognition of the Alaafin of Oyo as the Permanent Chairman and Presiding Officer of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

In his contribution to the debate, Hon. Rahaman emphasized the need for clarity in the bill, particularly expressing concerns over the use of the term “concurrent chairmen” to describe the proposed leadership structure, warned that such language is vague, potentially misleading, and could generate avoidable controversies among traditional rulers.

“I raised a red flag over the use of the word ‘concurrent’ in the proposed amendment. That term lacks clarity and opens the door to conflicting interpretations. If the true intent of the bill is to restore the traditional status of the Alaafin, then the law must state clearly and unequivocally that the Alaafin is the Permanent Chairman and the Presiding Officer of the Council,” Rahaman said.

The lawmaker further stressed that the Alaafin’s primacy in Yoruba history and traditional governance should be properly reflected in the law, not diminished by ambiguous language or equal chairmanship status.

In addition, the lawmaker advocated for an extra slot to be allotted to the Oyo zone in the composition of the Council, argued that Oyo, as the historical seat of Yoruba civilization and a zone with multiple revered traditional institutions, deserves enhanced representation in the restructured Council framework.

“I am calling for an additional slot to be allotted to our zone to ensure fairness, recognition, and proper representation,” he added.

Hon. Rahaman reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the amendment, when passed, reflects cultural integrity, historical justice, and balanced representation for all regions in the state.