Just In: Lawmakers Demand Identities Of 6 Cabinet Nominees Sent By Sanwo-Olu For Confirmation
– invite procurement agency, others over reports of govt spending
The Lagos State House of Assembly has received a letter from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu seeking the screening and confirmation of six new nominees for cabinet positions.
At a sitting presided over by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, the Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko, read the letter before the lawmakers quoting the governor as seeking the confirmation of a commissioner-nominee and five nominees in the position of special advisers.
However, the letter only named the commissioner-nominee as Mr. Abiodun Ogunleye, while the identities of the nominees for the position of special adviser were not mentioned making the House resolve to write back to the governor for the remaining identities.
Dr. Obasa, while agreeing with the lawmakers that names should be attached to the letter, said: “it is necessary for us to know who and who would become part of the cabinet.”
Reacting earlier, the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Adedamola Richard Kasunmu, observed that the letter did not follow the usual procedure of revealing the identities of the nominees.
“Thus, the process of not mentioning the names seems like coming through the backdoor,” he said.
He was supported by his colleagues, Hon. Ladi Ajomale and Hon. Owolabi Ajani, who noted that the previous lists from the governor had details of the nominees and that this made the screening by the ad-hoc committee easy.
“But in this case, it is only the commissioner-nominee that had a name attached to it and this is surprising. Maybe we should also pass information to the governor that the names should be specified,” Ajomale said.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State House of Assembly has invited the state’s procurement agency over reports of alleged spendings by the Offices of the Governor and the Deputy Governor.
Dr. Obasa, while noting that the executive arm of government had made efforts to declare the story as untrue, it was necessary for the House to look into the issue so as the establish the facts behind the story.
“So we call on the committee in charge of procurement to invite the agency and others mentioned and do a thorough job on this in order to establish facts concerning the publications,” the Speaker said.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Access Compromised: How Access Bank Expensive, Porous Financial Security
The primary function of banks is to make sure the money deposited with them and the data of their customers’ are kept safe at all times. This is the reason the current situation in Access Bank, a bank that used to be one of the most reliable financial institutions in the country, is sad and pitiful.
In the interim consolidated financial statement of June 30, 2023 of Herbert Wigwe led Holdings, it was recorded that Access Bank incurred a loss of N5. 46 billion to fraud and forgery incidents, a situation that places the bank on top of the list of most risky banks to save your money.
Findings shows the recorded loss were the money the owners were able to recover from the bank and this did not includ several billions whose owners were frustrated or bullied by the actions of Access Bank from recovering their money deposited from safe keeping with the bank that were somehow stolen.
The statement which was released by the Bank’s newly formed parent company Access Holdings reports that the N20.85 trillion asset company has been doing a shoddy job in securing the savings of their many customers which is primarily the bank’s responsibility and has only been able to prevent a loss of mere N975 89 million out of N6.44 billion which means they can confirm depositors with Access Bank incurred N5.46 billion debt due to the bank’s porous cyber security despite the several billions being earmarked for that purpose in the bank’s annual budget.
The report reveals the loss of N5.459 billion is as a result of fraudulent transfers, fraudulent withdrawals and reactivation of customers’ accounts, while N4.53 million loss was from cash theft, cash suppression, cash pilferage and dry posting.
If it would be recollected the bank was accused of practices that are not professional by Mr P of the singing duo of PSquare. The grouse of the musician is that the Bank and some other banks colluded with some individuals to use his name to perpetrate fraud on hapless Nigerians by allowing elements that are not him to use a combination of his stage and real names to open account to defraud the people.
He also accused the bank of not making moves to curbing the fraud months after he had reported the actions of the scammers to the bank over the anomaly of allowing such account to operate without the BVN.
It is important to note that the once proactive AccessBank seems to have been swimming in the deeps of banking security services for some times as there has been several incidents involving the bank that was at a time running the best secured online banking platform in the country to actions that has seen several depositors lose their life savings kept with the bank or use an account opened with the bank to steal.
FIRSTBANK REWARDS CUSTOMERS WITH 170,000,000 WORTH OF CASH PRIZES IN ITS WIN BIG PROMO
FirstBank, Nigeria’s premier financial institution and leading financial inclusion services provider, has launched the Win Big promo to reward and delight its valued customers. The four-month promo, which started on 23 October 2023 and will run till 23 February 2023 will reward several new and existing customers of the Bank with a total cash reward of 170,000,000.00 naira.
At the end of the four-month promo, 1,240 new and existing customers would have been rewarded with N100,000.00 each as each month will have 310 new and existing customers winning N100,000. Up to 40,000 customers who reactivate their dormant account stand a chance to win free airtime as 10,000 customers will be rewarded with free airtime monthly for reactivating their dormant account.
6 customers will emerge lucky winners of N1,000,000 each in the grand finale draw. The promo is open to new and existing savings and current account customers.
To open a FirstBank account dial USSD code *894*0#and follow the prompt or visit the Bank’s website and click on “Open Account”. You can also visit any FirstBank branch near you to open account.
To qualify for the N100,000 monthly draw, customers will have to deposit and maintain a minimum amount of 5,000.00 in their account monthly and transact a minimum of 5 times transactions on any of the Bank’s digital channels: FirstMobile, LIT App, USSD, First Online as well as Debit Card transactions.
Customers who are eligible to win N1,000,000 must have a deposit of N50,000.00 monthly for four consecutive months or maintain a minimum deposit of N200,000.00 for four months and transact a minimum of 5 times on any of the Bank’s digital banking channels; FirstMobile, LIT App, USSD, First Online as well as Debit Card transactions to qualify for the grand finale draw.
Customers who reactivate their account(s) are also eligible to win. For reactivating their account, the first 10,000 customers to deposit N1,000.00 and transact on any of the Bank’s digital channels: FirstMobile, LIT App, USSD, First Online and Debit Card transactions will be rewarded with free airtime. Customers who reactivate their dormant account could also qualify for the monthly draw when they deposit and maintain a minimum amount of N5,000 monthly and transact a minimum of 5 times on any of the Bank’s digital channels. They could also emerge winners of N1,000,000 in the grade finale draw if they meet the criteria.
To reactivate account, the customers will have to dial USSD code *894*7# and follow the prompt to reactivate Tier 1 accounts or visit any nearest FirstBank branch for Tier 2 and 3 account reactivation.
“We are thrilled to launch this promo in appreciation of the patronage, trust and loyalty our customers have shown us over the years,” said Ms. Folake Ani-Mumuney, Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, FirstBank Group. The exciting modalities of the promo reflect our commitment to enhancing the banking experience of our customers across any or all of our digital banking services.”
This is the season when FirstBank provides opportunities and platforms for the yearly memorable homecoming experience from across the world. The promo is an enabling opportunity for customers, their friends, and families to have exciting, fun-filled, memorable experiences. We encourage our customers to seize this opportunity and participate actively’ she concluded.
For more updates on the promo and other exciting offerings from FirstBank, follow the Bank’s social media handles on – Facebook: First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Instagram: @firstbanknigeria and X (formerly twitter): @FirstBankngr.
Adron Homes Unveils ‘Lemon Friday’ To Create Stream of Opportunities for Customers
As the global culture of Black Friday Sales draws nearer across the globe where several top brands slash their prices ridiculously low in a bid to give back to customers; Real Estate top playing company; Adron Homes and Properties in its usual manner redefined its own to LEMON FRIDAY, which is also similar to the Black Friday but because of the uniqueness of Adron Homes Lemon colour, the company adopted Lemon Friday as a means of giving its existing customers and new customers an unimaginable slash on the prices of their landed properties littered across Nigeria and beyond.
At the launch and official press briefing at the head office of the company on Omole Phase 1 Lagos on Friday, the 17th of November; the company’s representatives and sales team highlighted and unveiled the massive discount on their properties in a bid to follow the global trend and also follow top companies across the world that will be giving an amazing discount to customers at the upcoming Black Friday Sales coming.
The Adron Lemon Friday has become a way of encouraging customers to take an opportunity to secure landed properties at affordable prices while they also stand chances of winning mouth-watery prizes. At the unveiling; customers are encouraged to pay as low as 30k for a landed property and stand a chance of winning a Bag of Rice and chicken in a bid to celebrate the Yuletide season that is fast approaching.
While many would wonder why buying lands attracts prizes, it will be very open to clear the air that Adron has a track record of always delivering on what the promise. To buy land and pay as low as 30k gives the subscriber a double value for their money in landed property and gifts and also massive infrastructural investment within the estates across the country. It’s a roller coaster of opportunity for anyone who seizes the opportunity of the Lemon Friday promo. Some other categories include; Paying 60k and getting a gift like Rice, Oil, Electric Blender, Fan and cooking pots.
Customers can also pay 100k and stand a chance of winning prizes like; rice, cooking oil, double-faced gas burners, electric cooking pots and chicken.
Subscribers can also stay hooked to the pocket-friendly 200k plan and stand a chance of going home with Mouthwattery prizes like; a standing fan, air fryer, live Goat and a bag of rice.
There is also a category for 500k which not only qualifies customers for a plot of land but also allows the customer to go home with a chest freezer, Live Goat, washing machine, Microwave and rice.
For high-earning subscribers; the 1Million NAIRA down payment qualifies you to win amazing juicy prizes like; A smart TV, a Live Goat, a Cow, an Air conditioner, a Bag of Rice and a host of other gifts.
For customers who are making a down payment of 1.5 Million Naira; this increases their chances of going home with a twin-door standing freezer, a cow, a bag of Rice and a water dispenser.
For customers who are making a down payment of 2 million NAIRA on our lands, they stand a chance to go home with not only a plot of land they will also be gifted a Cow, Twin Door standing fridge with freezer and a Bag of rice.
According to the company; customers have the right to select the category of the gift they want and immediately they subscribe by filling out the necessary forms and also paying the amount required into a designated company account; they are entitled to the gift of their choice that falls within the category of the amount they paid. They also disclosed that a third party can also pick gifts on behalf of customers when they get written authorization or authorization via email which will enable them to verify authenticity to avoid giving gifts to the wrong person.
On payment method, the company emphasized customers who are willing to pay and enjoy the massive benefits of Lemon Friday to refrain from paying into any sales rep’s account and that the company will not be held liable if any customer pays into the account of a staff member rather than paying into the company’s account via bank transfer or bank Cheque. The company also advised customers to desist from bringing cash to avoid being a soft target for fraudsters or thieves which will also give room for customers’ safety.
Like most companies Black Friday only starts and ends on the same day; Adron’s Lemon Friday does not end on the same day, the promo runs through the end of November till the first week of December thereby creating rooms for those within the shores of Nigeria and outside enjoy from the massive slash in prizes.
For more information, visit any of their offices nationwide or contact them via their social media channels on Facebook Adronhomesofficial, Twitter @adronhomes and Instagram @adronhomesofficial or visit our website at www.adronhomesproperties.com to read more about Adron Homes and schedule an inspection to any of their lands in Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Niger, Nasarawa and Abuja with their well-trained sales representative who is ready to take your round or facilities and answer every question to clear every curiosity. The company is also working on the latest AI tool with a 360 panoramic virtual tour of their properties which enables customers to take a virtual tour of their properties without even visiting there in person. The newest innovation will save time and also give clients an Avenue to make decisive decisions on the spot.
Apart from Lemon Friday; Adron is known for engaging in massive sales promo to encourage tenants to achieve their dreams of being landlords without breaking the bank. With a payment plan for 12-48 months, Adron has maintained its consistency in ensuring that customers pay in bits and after confirmation of payment allocation of lands is done for those who are building immediately. Their estates are well and taste fully built with modern roads and concrete pavements with recreational facilities and malls. It also boasts of the best street lighting, surveillance security cameras, solid road networks, perimeter fencing and a whole lot of amenities that make an estate habitable.
The dice have been cast and the floor of opportunities has opened for customers to take advantage of the Lemon Friday delay might be dangerous. Subscribing to any of the plans further solidified your opportunity to transition from being a tenant to a homeowner. Hurry and start paying because with Adron Homes you are sure of a community built with serenity, peace and tranquillity at am affordable prices.
***as lawmakers suggest ways to improve future elections
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday congratulated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, over the affirmation of their victory in the March 18 governorship election by the Court of Appeal.
The lawmakers also said there was a need for the National Assembly’s electoral committee to work on issues of delay in voters registration as well as the high number of election cases handled by the Courts of Appeal.
This position of the lawmakers followed a letter read by the Clerk of the House, Barrister Olalekan Onafeko, informing the House that the National Assembly Committee on Electoral Act would have a three-day retreat in Lagos.
The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mojisola Lasbat-Meranda, who presided over plenary on behalf of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, agreed that registration of voters should be a continuous exercise in order to accommodate more eligible voters.
Lasbat-Meranda suggested that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can start requesting for means of identification in the course of registering voters to ascertain an electorate’s actual places of residence.
The Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petition and LASIEC, Hon. Ajomale Oladipo, had earlier identified delay in voters registration and post-election legal matters as two challenges that the committee should tackle.
The lawmaker said that after general elections, Appeal Courts face the hurdle of attending to many cases leading to delayed judgements.
He added that the Electoral Act should accommodate state High Courts to handle some of the cases.
The Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Noheem Adams, said it was necessary for the National Assembly to create more awareness about the electoral review exercise while Hon. Sanni Okanlawon, representing Kosofe 1, suggested that the Electoral Act should accommodate diaspora voting.
On his part, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, representing Eti-Osa Constituency 2, urged the electoral committee to look into situations where people are mobilised to vote in areas where they are not resident.
“They occupy hotels during elections to sleep and leave for their states of residence after voting. Something should be done to address this,” he said.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Media Assistant to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Last Sunday, November 12, like the Sundays before it, was a huge spectacle at the Zion Prayer Movement Outreach in Okota, Lagos.
Founded by Evangelist Chukwuebuka Anozie Obi, the ministry has become synonymous with stories of mind-boggling miracles of healings and deliverances occurring either at Zion City there or those witnessed in different parts of the world.
The testimonies come from people who say they were located during online prayers by Evangelist Ebuka or were healed after using Seraphic Water and Seraphic Oil blessed by the Spiritual Director of the ministry, Ebuka.
The people who testified to their healing last Sunday included a woman who had breast cancer; a US-based kidney disease patient (Onyedikachi), and Beatrice Obiozor from United Kingdom who had glaucoma for 40 years and was healed after surgery failed to rectify the problem.
There was also the story of Pirekina Anyanwu of Isiala Mbano, Imo State, who flew in from Florida, US, to testify to how the Seraphic oil and water healed his spinal chord injury and saved him from a highly risky surgery recommended by doctors.
– says Akiolu’s reign has brought peace to Lagos State
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has described Oba Rilwanu Akiolu as a blessing to Lagos adding that at 80, the revered monarch had contributed immensely to the progress of the state.
Dr. Obasa, the Baa’sofin of Lagos, said this in a congratulatory statement to mark the traditional ruler’s 80th birthday on Sunday.
Praising Oba Akiolu for his contributions to the advancement of Lagos and its cultural institution, Obasa said the monarch had made indelible footprints in the history of the state with the way he has constantly stood for its peace and growth.
The Speaker, who extolled the virtues of the king as the Permanent Chairman of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs, further appreciated him for his guidance, advice and love.
“It gives me immense joy to honour a monarch whose reign as the Oba of Lagos has been characterised by unwavering dedication and compassion for his people.
“Your guidance and leadership have propelled the political class and our dear state to greater heights, fostering progress, unity and prosperity.
“Your wisdom and wise counselling have touched countless lives, inspiring generations to strive for excellence and embrace the values of tradition and progress.
“As head of the traditional council of our state, you have demonstrably employed your throne to strengthen the bond among the traditional rulers in diverse communities paving the way for that enduring peace that we all enjoy today.
“You are, indeed, a blessing to our dear state and country.
“On behalf of my family, colleagues, management and staff of the Lagos State House of Assembly, I congratulate you on this occasion of your 80th birthday. This milestone is truly worthy of celebration,” Obasa said.
The Speaker prayed for more strength and wisdom for the monarch so that he would continue to use his wealth of experience and passion for peace to support the goal of sustaining the enviable position of Lagos in Nigeria.
“May your reign continue to be a blessing that constantly ushers in abundant accomplishments for generations to come and may you continue to enjoy sound health and happiness, amin,” Obasa prayed.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Media assistant to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Owner’s Mismanagement may Force the Closure of Oyo Popular Radio Station
A popular radio station in Oyo State may be winding up to get out of broadcasting business soon. The station, which boasts as the first ‘three-language’ radio station and owned by a southwest activist seems not able to adapt to current economic realities.
According to an old member of staff who prefers anonymity, “the proprietor of the station has the habit of using and dumping his staff and not paying. He is also fond of taking actions to frustrate his staff out of the company just to avoid paying any outstanding salaries. I was owed several months salary and not paid till date. Anytime I remember the time I spent working in that organization, I always feel I invested and wasted the meaningful part of my life with an unworthy organization”.
It was also gathered that the station has been blacklisted by several clients (agencies and companies) due to transmission inconsistencies. The source revealed that the proprietor enjoys to tamper with transmission procedures of the station without notice, making himself the alpha and Omega of the station’s operations. This news outlet also got reliably informed that the proprietor runs the accounts at will without transparency, making it very difficult for any management team to work independently.
While some so called activists complain about leadership at the national level, we must also check their private leadership roles vis-a-vis what they claim to stand for. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.
While this news outlet compiles other authentic proofs, we assure you of more updates soon.
The Great Ifẹ̀ Empire and Its Legacy: A Blueprint for Mending Our Broken World- Akin Ogundiran
Excerpts of the Keynote Address Presented by Prof. Ogundiran at the Opening of the International Conference, “Ile-Ife and Yoruba Civilisation: The Nexus between Tradition and Modernity,” at Ojaja Arena, Ile-Ife, October 10, 2023
I pay homage to His Imperial Majesty, Ọ̀ọ̀ni Adéyẹyè Ẹniìtàn Babatúndé Ògúnwùsì, Ọ̀jájá II. I salute government representatives, all the Ọba, Olori, Chieftains, Princes and Princesses, Vice Chancellors, University Administrators, Fellow Scholars, and Conferees—distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen. I am honored to join you this morning. I commend the Imperial Majesty for his vision and generous support for this conference on Yoruba history. My commendation also goes to the conference conveners led by eminent historian Professor Siyan.
In the next three days, the conferees will explore different aspects of Ife history, ancient, recent, and contemporary. They will do so from several disciplinary angles. A multigenerational cast of speakers will showcase their recent discoveries from archaeology to archives, oral tradition to rituals. My contribution this morning focuses on answering the following questions: How can we use the past to guide our present? How can the true knowledge of our history, unmitigated by politics and ideology, set us free from the bondage of ignorance that has broken our world?
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I chose “The Great Ifẹ̀ Empire and Its Legacy: A Blueprint for Mending Our Broken World” as the title of my keynote address because of my sincere belief that history has a purpose. In our clime, the ultimate purpose of historical study is to uplift our spirit, explain how we got here, and use historical knowledge to restore and repair our broken selves. Like many of you at this conference, I am committed to studying history so I can use the knowledge of the past to create a new mirror that we can use to look at ourselves. Those who use other people’s mirrors to look at themselves are bound to see distorted images of themselves. The mirrors we create must give us a balanced view of who we are as a people and account for the brilliance and shortcomings that make us human.
The Yoruba believe that Ile-Ife is the origin of their civilization. A century of historical and archaeological research has confirmed this. It also shows that the origin of the civilization is different from the origin of the deep-time Yoruba-speaking people. Those ultimate Yoruba ancestors (proto-Yoruboid) originated from the western part of the Niger-Benue Confluence in the present-day Okun-Yoruba area as early as 2,500 BC. This research has also given us insights into how Ile-Ife spearheaded a revolution about 1000 AD that gave birth to the present-day Yoruba cultural identity. The name, Ile-Ife, hints at how special this city was over the past 1,000 years.
Contrary to the oft-repeated folk etymology, Ile-Ife does not mean “House of Love.” Rather, it means “House of Abundance” and “House of Expansion.” The ancient city also has several aliases, such as “City of Daybreak,” City of Sunrise,” and “The Source.” These names and monikers illustrate the Yoruba belief that Ile-Ife is the ground zero of humanity. It is the place where the earth and humanity were created. The Yoruba ancestors knew that what makes us human is not biology. It is culture and consciousness. So, these labels refer to Ile-Ife as the birthplace of classical Yoruba civilization as we know it.
Historical records show that Ile-Ife occupies a special place in African history. When Ibn Battuta, the Berber-Moroccan traveler, visited the Mali Empire in 1352-53, he was told about Ile-Ife as one of the biggest kingdoms in Africa and its king (the Ọ̀ọ̀ni) as one of the greatest kings in the Land of the Black People (Sudan). Duarte Pereira Pacheco, the Portuguese explorer and soldier, was informed in the court of the King of Benin in 1475 that the King of Ile-Ife was the mighty lord of the region, and the explorer likened the status of the Ọ̀ọ̀ni (Oghoni/Owoni) among the Blacks as similar to that of the Pope among the Europeans. The people of Oyo (Old Oyo) told Richard Landers in 1830 that it was in Ile-Ife where their first parents were created and from where all Africa was peopled. The Yoruba people that Leo Frobenius (German scholar) met in Timbuktu (Mali) in 1909 told him that their forebears originated from Ile-Ife and turned into stones which are to be found in Ile-Ife.
The accomplishments of Ile-Ife in arts, science, technology, commerce, statecraft, religion, and philosophy are the reasons for this fame. Based on archaeological research that several scholars and I have done in Ile-Ife and other parts of Yorubaland, we now know that Ile-Ife is the oldest continuously occupied city in West Africa. Its leaders developed one of the oldest urban planning systems in West African history.
Ile-Ife was one of Africa’s most powerful economic engines during its heyday, 700 to 1000 years ago. The city was famous for glass, iron, and steel production, and its products were sold as far as Ghana and Mali Empires during the eleventh through fourteenth centuries. The material scientists of Ile-Ife invented a unique glass technology, and the city’s political leaders and merchants used this technology to create a glass-bead currency system that integrated the economy of many parts of West Africa, from Igbo-Ukwu in present-day Nigeria to Walata in Mauretania. This is a feat that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has yet to accomplish. Through its glass industry, Ile-Ife was a pacesetter in African history on the principle of technological independence. By 1200 AD, the political entrepreneurs of Ile-Ife had converted their vast networks of colonies, trading stations, and client states into the first empire in Yorubaland. It is also the first empire in all parts of Africa that lie south of the River Niger, from Lokoja (Nigeria) to Cape Town (South Africa).
Ancient Ile-Ife was also a centre of learning in all branches of science and arts, including philosophy, material chemistry, Ifa divination, and astronomy. This Yoruba city was a contemporary of other intellectual cities in the world, such as Oxford and Cambridge in the United Kingdom and Timbuktu in present-day Mali. As a centre of education, research, knowledge, pilgrimage, and high art, Ile-Ife was a tourist center, attracting visitors across West Africa.
Unfortunately, the above stories are not taught in Nigerian schools, from nursery to the university. There is hardly a home in Nigeria that is aware of these accomplishments. Even some of our elders and traditional rulers who should know better often mislead us with wrong stories that cater to their ego rather than scientific, historical information. This lack of knowledge about our past is a symptom of our broken world. It is a world beset with little regard for knowledge and innovation and the discipline that goes with it. No respect for human dignity and life. I’m talking of a world where the gaps between political leadership and common people widen daily. In this broken world, there is a lack of confidence and appreciation for African indigenous culture and history, and the priority of the general population is the consumption of imported goods over locally produced goods.
We can’t blame the poorly educated and ill-informed citizens for thinking their ancestors accomplished nothing and that their salvation lies outside the shores of their country, in the hands of those who look different from them. This conference must energize us to re-educate the youth and the old so they can become conscious of the depth and richness of African history. With that consciousness, we will understand that Ile-Ife anticipated and accomplished many aspects of modernity that we often erroneously attribute to the Europeans. In ancient Ile-Ife, respect for human dignity, including people with disabilities, was promoted as the foundational ethos of civilization. In Ile-Ife, it was required that citizens must be educated and become knowledgeable in history, philosophy, arts, and crafts. The Ife ancestors also developed indirect democracy, a system that curtailed and, for the most part, prevented autocracy. They reminded us that you cannot have a true democracy where there is scarcity, hunger, and insecurity. To this end, the philosophers and economic planners of classical Ile-Ife developed an economic theory that was based on the principle of abundance. This is opposed to the principle of scarcity that drives Western economic theories today.
To begin to mend our broken world, our political leaders, educators, teachers, and university administrators must be deliberate and strategic in integrating the accomplishments of the Ife Empire into the history curriculum, noting that these accomplishments are the pride of all Africans, not the Yoruba people alone.
This conference is the beginning of a long conversation and action plan that must be put in place. It cannot achieve everything our royal father and conveners have outlined as the rationale for this three-day gathering. There is so much we still do not know about the history of Ile-Ife and the Yoruba. Therefore, we must continue searching and studying. To convert our talk into action that will yield long-lasting desired results, I urge Ọ̀ọ̀ni Ogunwusi to use his vast social networks and influence to coordinate the setting up of a 100 Billion Naira Global Endowment Fund for Yoruba Historical and Cultural Research. The priority is to use the fund to create a Center for the Advancement of Yoruba Studies that will coordinate such research endeavors, build a top-notch ultra-modern Museum and Library of Yoruba Civilization in Ile-Ife, and provide year-to-year research grants and fellowships for the study of Yoruba archaeology and history.
Every Oba in Yorubaland must also take up the challenge to work towards establishing a Museum of History and Culture in their respective towns and cities. They should rally their sons and daughters at home and abroad to fund and establish these museums. This proposition is not an assignment for the federal, state, or local government. It must be solely a community effort. When you visit any European town or village, they will take you first to their museums. Sometimes, a European town of 5,000 people will have ten museums that tell different aspects of the town’s history. Yoruba towns and cities have as deep a history as those European towns if we can learn to tell our stories with imagination and historical evidence. This is a task we must pursue. We owe it as a duty to our ancestors and the unborn generations. Thank you.
Akin Ogundiran is a Professor of History and Cardiss Collins Professor of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University (Evanston, USA), President-Elect of the Society of Africanist Archaeologists, and a Member of the Nigerian Academy of Letters. He is the author of The Yoruba: A New History (2020).
Just In: President Tinubu Appoints Ola Olukoyede as EFCC Chairman
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday approved the appointment of Mr. Ola Olukoyede to serve as the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a renewable term of four years in the first instance, pending Senate confirmation.
This comes nearly four months after he suspended the erstwhile anti-graft agency chief, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa.
“Mr. Olukayode’s appointment follows the resignation of the suspended Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa,” a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, read on Thursday.
The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu appoints new EFCC. Chairman and Secretary of the Commission.’
Olukoyede is a lawyer with over 22 years of experience as a regulatory compliance consultant and specialist in fraud management and corporate intelligence.
He has extensive experience in the operations of the EFCC, having previously served as Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman (2016-2018) and Secretary to the Commission (2018-2023). As such, he fulfills the statutory requirement for appointment as Chairman of the EFCC.
Below are key things to know about the new EFCC boss:
Olukoyede was born in Ikere-Ekiti on October 14, 1969.
The new anti-graft agency chair is an indigene of Ekiti State.
He is an alumnus of Lagos State University; University of Lagos; Institute of Arbitration ICC – Paris, France and University of Harvard (Kennedy School of Executive Education).
He is an experienced lawyer specialised in compliance management, corporate intelligence, and fraud management.
Olukoyede has extensive experience in the operations of the EFCC, having previously served as Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman (2016-2018).
He is a Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
In same vein President Tinubu also approved the appointment of Mr. Muhammad Hammajoda to serve as the Secretary of the EFCC for a renewable term of five years in the first instance, pending Senate confirmation.
Hammajoda is a public administrator with extensive experience in public finance management who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maiduguri and a Masters in Business Administration from the same university.
He began his career as a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi. From there, he went into banking, including successful stints at the defunct Allied Bank and Standard Trust Bank.
The president tasked the new leadership of the commission to justify the confidence given to them in this important national assignment as a newly invigorated war on corruption undertaken through a reformed institutional architecture in the anti-corruption sector remains a central pillar of the President’s Renewed Hope agenda.
