News
Ooni Unveils Education Trust Fund, Targets 5 Million Students Tuition Payment
Five (5) million students particularly in public tertiary institutions across Nigeria are to benefit from the Ooni of lfe Tertiary Tuition Trust Fund, for the next 4 years.
Ooni of lfe, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi disclosed this at a press conference held at his palace in lle-Ife, Osun State.
Oba Ogunwusi said the gesture is in consonance with government’s desire to mitigate economic effects of COVID 19 and the subsequent recession on Nigerian youths.
Even with the current economic recession, the monarch noted that seven million Nigerian youths will require close to 500 billion naira to pay tuition fees by next year, inability of which portends danger for the nation.
He said the Tuition Trust is therefore initiated to provide succour to these young Nigerians in tertiary institutions.
“I am putting together Education Trust Fund to support what the government is doing. “We are not all safe. We have to cut our social activities and focus more on youth empowerment. It is better to stay and fix this country than to be running out of the country.”
“We are seated on a keg of gunpowder if we do not look at how best to assist our youths, I have said it before and I will keep saying it. We all have a feel of their anger during the #EndSARS protests, we must begin to engage them productively.
“The Covid-19 has made many youths and their parents to be jobless, while the current recession in the country’s economy is another blow which has made the youths to be the most vulnerable group in Nigeria.
“We have between seven to ten million of them in Federal Tertiary Institutions and they need to pay close to N500 billion in tuition fees in January, 2021. But how would this demand be met when the bulk of the parents of these students are petty traders, peasant farmers and other average Nigerian parents who might not be able to get the needed fees to return to school. That is the reason behind the project.
“Earlier before now, I have personally assisted many in paying tuition fees, vocational trainings and other empowerment initiatives but I have come up with this to bring more beneficiaries on board.” The Ooni said.
He asserted the youth, most of whom are either unemployed or have lost their jobs due to the pandemic are the most vulnerable group in the nation, hence the need to empower them.
He urged government to redirect its budget to accommodate finances that will emancipate the youth and allow peace and stability to reign in the nation , just as he appealed to the Academic Staff Union of University, ASUU and Federal Government to reconcile their differences.
On how funds would be generated for the project, the Ooni revealed that individuals and organizations home and abroad would be contacted for donations to ensure the success of the initiative.
“I am appealing to all our people to let us come together and achieve this for our youths. I am promising that everything will be counted for to the last kobo while details of beneficiaries would be verifiable for accountability.” Ooni Adeyeye added.
On the prolonged Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, the monarch said, Nigerian traditional rulers are fully aware of the talks ongoing between ASUU and the Federal Government to end industrial action.
He expressed confidence that the imbroglio would soon be over and in the best interest of Nigerians.
“You will recall that we traditional rulers from across the 36 states of the recently held a meeting in Abuja on the state of the nation the communique of which I submitted to President Buhari in my capacity as Co-chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, on behalf of others.
“It is part of it and I wish to assure you that the Federal Government and ASUU are almost done resolving the grey areas.” Ooni Ogunwu.
News
Remember there’s a God of second chance” – Ooni tells inmates during visit to Kuje Correctional Centre
The Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Tuesday, kickstarted his annual coronation anniversary with a humanitarian visit to the Kuje Correctional facility in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.
According to Director of Media & Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the monarch told the inmates to always remember that God created everyone and that he’ss the God of second chance.
Ooni Ogunwusi was on an official duty in the F.C.T. when he decided to visit inmates at the facility for a programme organized by Hopes Alive Initiative (HAI) under his Chairmanship to motivate those who are often ignored by the society.
Addressing the gathering of inmates and prison’s officials after being welcomed into the facility by officers of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Ooni Ogunwusi who was flanked by his Queen & Deputy Convener of Hopes Alive Initiative HAI Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi, explained that the best part of human life is the one spent to serve others particularly the poor and vulnerable individuals.
“We should always remember that God created all of us and that is the God of second chance, we have seen in this country from prison to presidency, right from prison all the way to become the president of this country.
“So please do not write off yourselves, whatever the situation you might have found yourselves here remember that their is a God of second chance.
“I am here to tell you that there is a life after here, it does not end here and that is why you all must see this current phase of your life as a learning stage for the lessons with which you will live for life after here.
“I have not come here to tell you that it is not difficult but I am here to tell you that it is possible for you all to be better and be amongst the best members of the larger Nigerian society when you eventually leave here.”
Highpoint of the event was when five (5) inmates were freed after fulfilling all requirements including payment of bail/fines through the assistance of the HAI, with a promise to keep an eye on them and also empowering them in the trade they learned while in the Correctional Centre.
Other event earmarked for the Ooni Ogunwusi’s coronation anniversary is the Staff Appreciation Night during which all staff members (Traditional and Official) working with His Imperial Majesty will be honoured and gifted series of items including cars for the best performing ones.
In the same vein, parts of the statement said the Palace is not unaware of false, malicious and misleading reportage particularly by some unprofessional bloggers and armchair journalists about the event which does not tally with the event or any of its realities.
“These purveyors of fake news who are bent on blackmailing top personalities for income (Online traffic), prominence or whatever reasons predetermined by them wrote nonsense from the figment of their imagination and got it circulated by armchair (lazy) journalists with no regard for principles, laws and ethics of the prestigious pen profession.”
The Ooni’s Hopes Alive Initiative (HAI) has in the last five years engaged in the charity work which targets to give hope to the hopeless and vulnerable members of the society. Ooni Ogunwusi through the NGO has donated befitting homes to the orphanage and destitute, water borehole facilities to several market’s across the South West in Nigeria, educational materials to several schools in the country.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists,Osun State Council will on Friday hold a Commendation Service in honour of late Bishop-Elect, Adesunmbo Samson Abioye.
A statement by the Chairman of the union,Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu and Secretary,Comrade Adeyemi Aboderin indicate that the service will hold at NUJ Press Centre, Iwo /Ibadan Road,Osogbo by nine in the morning.
The statement calls on members of the union,friends and associates of the deceased to be part of the ceremony.
Late Bishop-Elect, Adesunmbo Samson Abioye was a former Secretary of NUJ,Osun State Council.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has said that the second in command of an outlawed Eastern Security Network (ESN) Commander, Ebube Virus, has been killed in a fierce gun battle.
The deceased suspect was on the Imo State Police Command’s wanted list due to his nefarious activities in the Aboh Mbaise area of the State.
The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, disclosed this in a statement issued by the Police spokesman, Henry Okoye, on Tuesday.
According to the CP, “Following the confessions made by the suspected IPOB/ESN Terrorist allegedly involved in the killing of DPO Ahiazu Mbaise and other dastardly acts in the Mbaise axis, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping squad led by CSP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa on Monday 4th of December, 2023 stormed the criminal hideout of a deadly IPOB/ESN Terrorist Syndicate led by Ebube Virus and Ishaka, at Umuogu Amuzu in Aboh-Mbaise LGA of Imo State and dislodged the terrorists.
“In the process, a ferocious battle broke out between the terrorists and the combat-ready Police agents, neutralizing the Second in Command Ebube Virus, who is well-known on the Command’s wanted list due to their nefarious actions in the Mbaise axis. Others who had been shot at had escaped. From the neutralized terrorist, one AK-47 rifle with 19 rounds of live ammunition was found.
“An operation is underway to find additional fugitive suspects and bring them to justice.”
While praising the brave officers for their unwavering efforts in the fight against all violent crimes in the State, CP Danjuma affirmed the Command’s commitment to working with other security agencies with the aim of restoring peace in the state.
CP Danjuma called on Imo residents to support the Police and other sister security agencies with timely and actionable information that will assist in the crusade against terrorism in the state.
He encouraged owners of hospitals and first-aid outlets to report any person seen with or treating gunshot injuries to the nearest Police Station.
Source: Leadership
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