Category: Nigerian Tribune

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin on Monday inducted 32 new veterinary doctors at its seventh induction/oath-taking ceremony.

Speaking as the keynote speaker at the event, a former vice-president Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), Dr. Bala Mohammed, told both the graduands and audience at the event that solutions to contemporary health challenges demand interdisciplinary cooperation.

‘Solutions to today’s greatest health challenges cannot be designed in isolation-they demand cooperation across veterinary medicine, human medicine, environmental sciences, and public policy’, he said.

Mohammed, a veterinary surgeon, also said that, ‘the health of humans, animals, and the environment can no longer be treated as separate concerns.

‘They are intricately linked, forming the foundation of the one health approach, a global strategy that requires collaboration across disciplines to achieve optimal health outcomes for all,’ he said.

He also said that: ‘Despite successes, veterinary services remain underfunded, under-recognised, and under-integrated into national health frameworks.

‘Many countries, including ours, face surveillance blind spots, weak laboratory capacity, and governance silos.’

‘These gaps allow diseases to simmer unnoticed until they explode into public crises, with devastating health and economic consequences.

‘To truly protect one world, we must invest in veterinary infrastructure and laboratories, foster collaboration among doctors, veterinarians, ecologists, and policymakers to strengthen education, funding, and data systems which empower community-centered prevention strategies. ‘Veterinarians must be recognized not only as responders but as guardians of planetary health’.

Earlier, Dean of the Faculty Professor Saliu Ameen, said that the induction marked the formal licensing of these young doctors as veterinary professionals.

Professor Ameen added that, ‘this ceremony is not merely a ritual; it is a defining moment. It signifies the transition of our graduands from students of veterinary medicine to full members of a noble and globally relevant profession’.

In the heart of Kathmandu, where devotion meets tradition, little Aryatara Shakya, barely three years old, has been chosen as Nepal’s new Kumari, the ‘living goddess.’ She now carries the weight of centuries-old reverence and unspoken expectations that go far beyond divine worship. Here are five of the most profound, often overlooked expectations placed on Nepal’s living goddesses:

1. Embody Physical Perfection

Before being chosen, a Kumari undergoes an intense selection process. She must possess flawless skin, perfect teeth, unblemished eyes, and an overall aura of serenity. Even the smallest mark or hesitation during tests, like being left alone in darkness or seeing animal blood, can disqualify her.

2. Never Show Fear or Pain

Once chosen, the Kumari becomes a symbol of divine power, meaning she must always appear fearless. Tears, fear, or any sign of discomfort are considered human weaknesses unfit for a goddess. From a young age, she learns to suppress emotions that most children naturally express.

3. Remain Emotionally Composed

Kumaris are expected to stay calm and expressionless, even in isolation. Their words are considered sacred prophecies, so every gesture and statement carries spiritual significance. This emotional restraint often shapes how they experience and limit their humanity.

4. Live Apart from the Outside World

As a living goddess, the Kumari’s movements are restricted. She rarely steps outside her palace except for ceremonies, and interactions with the public are limited. While she is adored by millions, her life is one of quiet solitude, watched, revered, but rarely truly known.

5. Transition Back to Normal Life After Divinity

When puberty arrives, the goddess must retire, instantly becoming an ordinary girl again. Many former Kumaris struggle to adjust to school, friendships, and social life after years of being worshipped. The divine silence they were trained to maintain often follows them into adulthood.

The story of Aryatara Shakya is not just about a child crowned as a goddess; it’s about the invisible weight of perfection placed on her shoulders. Behind the incense and prayers lies a quiet truth: to be a Kumari is to live like a goddess while learning to hide the heart of a child.

THE Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria (FEPPPAN) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to extend the recently approved N32,000 minimum pension to retirees of seven defunct parastatals who were omitted from the increase.

The association described such inclusion as a ‘just and befitting Pensioners’ Day gift’ that would further demonstrate the President’s commitment to fairness, inclusiveness, and justice for all retirees.

In its 2025 Pensioners’ Day Celebration Message jointly signed by the President General, Elder Benjamin Amakko, and the General Secretary, Mr. Franklin Erinle, FEPPPAN appealed to President Tinubu to ‘graciously direct the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to include pensioners from the seven defunct parastatals who were wrongly excluded from the N32,000 pension increase.’

The affected entities, the statement noted, include the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), NITEL/MTEL, People’s Bank, Assurance Bank, NICON Insurance, Nigeria Insurance, and the Petroleum Institutes.

FEPPPAN expressed deep appreciation to President Tinubu for his administration’s continued commitment to improving the welfare of retirees, especially for ensuring regular and prompt payment of pensions across the country.

The association said the President’s compassion has brought renewed hope and dignity to many senior citizens who once suffered neglect, noting in particular his approval of palliatives for pensioners to ease the hardship caused by fuel subsidy removal. ‘That gesture speaks volumes of a listening and humane leader,’ the statement read.

FEPPPAN, however, urged the Federal Government to release the three-month N25,000 palliative already approved by the President to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal on pensioners nationwide.

The Association further called on all tiers of government-federal, state, and local-to prioritise pensioners’ welfare by ensuring prompt payment of pensions and gratuities, and by providing affordable healthcare and housing tailored to the needs of senior citizens.

‘These are not privileges; they are rights earned through decades of loyal service to our beloved country,’ FEPPPAN declared.

Celebrating Nigeria’s senior citizens as heroes of service, the Association saluted the strength, dignity, and legacy of pensioners who gave their best years to the growth and stability of the nation. ‘You are the pillars upon which our nation stands tall,’ it said. ‘You gave your youth, your strength, your skills, and your best years in service to Nigeria. Today, we say with pride: You are our pride, our inspiration, and our moral compass,’ it added.

The message, titled ‘A Salute to Our Heroes: Celebrating the Strength, Dignity, and Legacy of Nigeria’s Senior Citizens,’ described October 5 as a special day in the heart of every pensioner – one proclaimed in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari as the National Pensioners’ and Senior Citizens’ Day, set aside to honour the invaluable contributions of the nation’s elders to peace and progress.

FEPPPAN urged every pensioner to ‘wear this day as a badge of honour,’ adding that their labour and sacrifices are written not only in national policy but also in the living memory of the nation they helped to build.

The Association praised pensioners as ‘beacons of integrity, discipline, and service,’ whose legacy continues to inspire younger generations. ‘Your story teaches that dedication and integrity are never in vain,’ it said, stressing that the Nigeria of today stands firmly on the foundation of their sacrifices.

Reaffirming its dedication to protecting the rights and welfare of retirees, FEPPPAN pledged to continue engaging constructively with government to ensure that no pensioner is left behind. It extended goodwill to all senior citizens, both in the public and private sectors, wishing them good health, long life, peace of mind, and the respect they truly deserve.

HOW will you assess the housing sector in the last 65 years of Nigeria’s independence

Nigeria prides itself in gaining political independence in 1960 but to me, the bondage of Nigerians today is more grievous than we were under the colonial rule. Looking at it from all angles, there is no indication of freedom. Our social, economic and political lives are tied to the desires of the colonial masters. The housing sector has not faired so well because it has suffered so much epileptic policy direction and weak political will. Today, it is rumoured or estimated that the housing deficit is in the region of over 20 million units. Even at a very unrealistic and conservative estimate of an occupancy ratio of 2 persons per habitable room; then we have not less than 40 million persons who are critically in need of decent houses to live. This is to say the least, embarrassing and undesirable. Despite the huge intervention of the private sector in housing by increasing the quantitative availability, affordability of the houses is a problem. Though Nigeria’s housing sector has shown resilience and some positive momentum, especially in the last few years, it is still not well enough. Government initiatives, growing recognition of housing as a priority, innovative models, and increasing private sector engagement are all good signs but they end up as issues in political manifestos. Giving housing a head-on, pragmatic response is still far-fetched. On the whole, the gap between policy/initiative and lived reality is still large. The majority of people who need decent, affordable housing are still priced out, unable to access mortgages, burdened by high rents, or forced into informal housing or overcrowding. If, in the first quarter of the 21st century, some Nigerians are still living in terrible slums, shanties and under bridges in our National capital, State capitals and major settlements, we can conclude that a lot still needs to be done in the housing sector.

Can you say that Nigerians have been properly housed?

As indicated earlier, Nigerians are not properly housed. Apart from the deficit, prices of housing and rents are getting out of reach for an average Nigerian; indeed, they rise much faster than wages. Many Nigerians spend 40-60% of their income on rent, far above the recommended 25-30%. The level of informal housing is high as innumerable number of Nigerians live in slums, informal settlements, or overcrowded conditions without any physical plan for their development and access to safe water, sanitation, or reliable electricity and other basic services. This would also account for incessant building collapses which remain a recurring tragedy, reflecting weak enforcement of standards.

What are major achievements in the housing sector and notable challenges?

There are some achievements made by government over the years. First is knowing that Nigerians need to live in decent houses. It is said that knowing a problem makes it half-solved. In the public sector, a lot of investments have been such as low-cost houses during Shagari regime and other similar interventions by successive administrations upto the current Renewed Hope Housing programmes. But these programmes were simply political programmes whereby they make a lot of noise declaring outrageous number of housing units and building only few. Even the few that are built go to their cronies as rewards for political patronage. Other interventions include the establishment of financial and mortgage institutions such as Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, National Housing Fund, Family Homes Fund, Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company and related agencies. The private sector has also made significant impact on housing through acquisition of land for mass housing and constructing them in different parts of the country. Some of the interventions include the rent-to-own programme which has provided an alternative for low to middle income earners. The private sector has also been involved in advocacy through institutions such the Housing Development Advocacy Network and the recently inaugurated Nathaniel Atebije Foundation for Planning Advocacy. Major achievements in the development of local building materials have been made through research by the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute which has increased the use of local materials, prefabricated housing, and modular construction to reduce costs and speed up delivery.

The challenges that we still face include the lack of consideration of physical planning for housing interventions. Their locations within the settlement fabric are uncoordinated to make the needed impact. Most times they are cited out of immediate reach of the dwellers of the benefitting town hence, they face challenges of infrastructure, transportation, security and other environmental problems. Therefore, they are left unoccupied until they are vandalized and the houses become useless and wasted investment of public funds. High cost of land, building materials, and finance keeps housing out of reach for the majority while mortgages remain unaffordable due to high interest rates and short tenures. The Land Use Act (1978) is outdated, creating bottlenecks in land acquisition and titling. Numerous housing policies and masterplans have been developed, but weak implementation, corruption, and lack of political will undermine progress.

Can you say the government of the day is living up to expectations in the housing sector?

I would say, not quite. Nigerians expected much more than what they are getting. The current administration launched what they call Renewed Hope Cities and Estates. Good as the idea may be, it was conceived and located without considerations of physical planning. Implementation in some of the States (including even the Federal Capital City – Abuja) did not pass through required planning approvals as prescribed by the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Act. Some of the positive efforts include the moves to strengthen the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), expand mortgage access, and create special real estate investment funds (MREIF) showing intent to tackle financing gaps. Another is the strong collaboration with developers, cooperatives, and housing advocacy groups.

However, a lot of negative issues surround the expectations of the Nigerians. Less than two years into the first term of the current administration, efforts have been much on campaigning for a second term. Attention has tilted from housing to the hunger for retaining power. Meanwhile, affordability remains elusive as cement, steel, and land costs continue to soar; mortgage interest rates remain out of reach for the average worker; informal settlements keep expanding in cities, showing that housing supply for the poor is not matching demand; programmes are launched with fanfare, but delivery is slow, fragmented, and sometimes politicised; and, the massive infrastructure deficit as new estates are often poorly serviced with roads, water, and power, making them less attractive or unsustainable.

What are the solutions to the challenges in the sector?

The government needs to take some quick steps to resolve the challenges. First, there is the need to engage consultants to prepare master plans and other levels of physical plans for cities and major settlements in Nigeria. This will appropriately identify the areas of the settlements where housing would be located profitably (in terms of social satisfaction). There is the urgent need to review the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law, which is over 33 years old, some parts of which are greatly inconsistent with contemporary demands of the Nigerian society. Other important steps to take would include reviewing the Land Use Act o 1978, digitize land records to make titles more secure; strengthen institutions by building the capacity of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and state housing agencies to deliver affordable housing at scale; encourage cooperative housing schemes and provide targeted subsidies on land, infrastructure, or interest rates for affordable housing developers. There is the need to invest in local cement, tiles, timber, and alternative technologies (compressed earth blocks, bamboo, prefab); provide incentives for developers by giving tax breaks or reduced duties for developers who commit at least 40-50% of projects to affordable housing. Encourage land-for-housing exchanges whereby government can provide serviced land to developers in return for affordable units. The Federal Government, as a form of technical assistance to the States should embark on upgrading informal settlements by providing basic infrastructure (water, sanitation, roads).

President Theodore Roosevelt (October 27, 1858-January 1919) was the 26th president of the United States. He served from 1901 to 1909. When asked to rein in his 19-year-old daughter, Alice, whose conducts had become so embarrassing to the people, the man known as TR, had this to say: ‘I can do one of two things. I can be President of the United States, or I can control Alice Roosevelt. I cannot possibly do both.’

Children of the mighty and most powerful, in some instances, are pains to their parents. Yoruba sociology of parenting categorises children based on their behaviours in the public. There are some children regarded as àkóìgbà, which refers to the category of children who are patently impervious to correction. An àkóìgbà child, though well-brought up, remains an outcast in behaviour. He or she behaves in manners that negate the home training given from the cradle.

The second categorisation is the àbíìkó or àbíìpabé children. These are the ones whose antisocial behaviours can be excused because the fault lies with poor parenting. An àbíìkó or àbíìpabé child receives no home training and as such, has nothing going on for him or her in terms of good upbringing. In the real street lingo, they are called born throwey (born and throw away).

There are some known as omo òwúrò alé. Children in this category are the ones who were given the normal proper family training but, along the line, abandoned those lofty morals due to bad influence and adopted behaviours that conflict with their family. The beauty of an omo òwúrò alé is that timely intervention can save the situation and bring them back on track.

The worst category is the omo pàpànlagi. Those in this typology are lost, completely – nothing can change them. They attach no importance to family values and have no sense of shame. When an omo pàpànlagi exhibits his or her characters in the public place, the opprobrium is always on the family. Unfortunately, the majority of members of his or her family are of good accounts, good characters and enviable dispositions. The question is: how does an omo pàpànlagi acquire the bad behaviour?

When a child displays any character that indicates an error in his or her upbringing, the African society has a way of correcting that. In most cases, the reaction of those who experience the detestable character is to send the unruly child back home. This method, I dare posit, is common in Yorubaland where the saying: Òde la ti únkó omo tí kò ní èkó (a bad child receives lessons in good conduct from outsiders) holds sway.

Back to Alice Roosevelt. Two biographers, Colin McEvoy and Tyler Piccotti, in a July 23, 2025, piece titled: Hunter Biden and the 8 Most Problematic Presidential Children of All Time, say of Alice thus: ‘Although her actions might seem harmless by today’s standards, Alice Roosevelt was such an unconventional woman during her day that she repeatedly made headlines and caused headaches for her father Theodore Roosevelt.. Alice smoked and swore in public, which was practically unheard of among female socialites at the time. She also attended and placed bets at horse races and took her pet snake to parties. Before William Howard Taft became president, Alice buried a voodoo doll of Taft’s wife, Nellie, in the White House front yard, earning herself a ban from the nation’s capital.’

Alice was so notorious that she featured again in another article by the Newsweek, The Most Problematic Presidential Children, published a year earlier on June 13, 2024. That notoriety by Alice informed why Americans called on their president to do something about the behaviour of his daughter, and he quipped the opening quote.

Nigeria has its fair share of Alice Roosevelt. Noemie Emery, on June 25, 2003, details misbehaviours of the children of the mighty and powerful in Why Have So Many Presidents’ Kids Gone Wrong? A reading of the portraits of the children mentioned in the piece will resonate with what Nigerians have experienced in the hands of spoilt brats of their leaders. Something close to Emery’s piece occurred the penultimate week in Edo State.

What played out in the sacred palace of the Oba of Benin, last Thursday, between the Benin monarch, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II, and the self-imposed Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Mrs. Folasade Ojo-Tinubu, daughter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calls for sober reflection.

Every society defines its own structure. The Benin people of Edo State are a peculiar lot. When our elders say how we behave here is a taboo in another land (bí a ti únse níbí, èèwò ibòmíì), they probably have the Benin people in mind.

That is exactly what the Benin sovereign, Oba Ewuare II, did to Mrs. Folasade Ojo-Tinubu when she came calling to the Benin Palace with the misadventure of Iyaloja of all Edo Markets.

The uniqueness of the Benin Palace lies more in the carriage of the oba. The Omo N’Oba is the epitome of the culture, tradition and custom of the Benin people. In him, the people find their essence. His personage speaks royalty in all ramifications. Thus, what one can do and get away with in many palaces will no doubt attract severe sanctions if done in the Omo N’Oba’s palace.

If there is any Black nation that still holds to its foundational culture, give it to Benin. Everything in the ancient city, and by its people, revolves around the monarch. He, like the modern-day executive president, is the fountain of honour. The Omo N’Oba owns every inch of Benin land. He creates dukedoms and appoints Dukes to oversee them in trust. He is the law, the judge and jailer!

The Benin palace operates a new level of protocol. For instance, the Omo N’Oba does not wait for anybody. The oba, hailed as Umogun, determines who he sees. And when he sits in his court, the entire kingdom bows in deference. In any of his court sessions, he determines the proceedings. He appoints who to talk and dictates what to say. Benin palace functionaries, at any time, can read the body language of the oba and act accordingly.

Another unique nature of the Benin palace is the way different guests to the ancient palace are treated differently. Beyond the general courtesy extended to guests, the issues to be discussed determine how the king reacts. For issues of less importance, the Omo N’Oba does not speak directly. Especially when it has to do with the tradition of the Benin Kingdom, the palace does not place a premium on the personality of the guest. For the oba and his subject, it is Benin tradition before any other thing.

When the oba prays, he calls on God and the ancestors – because without the tradition, there is no kingdom. Therefore, when anyone approaches the palace with any alien tradition different from that handed over by the ancestors, the palace does not spare any effort at setting the record straight.

One of the traditions of the Benin people is that when the oba speaks on any matter, his words become law. No one fights the palace and becomes popular. Whatever the Oba of Benin hates, becomes abhorrent to the entire Benin. Whoever clashes with the oba becomes an enemy of the entire kingdom.

Once a person is declared the enemy of the palace, Oghionba, the person immediately becomes a pariah. No Benin son or daughter associates with anyone who has a score to settle with the Uku Akpolokpolo! This is an unwritten code that has passed from generation to generation. There is nothing to show that such will change soon. This is one of the lessons any guest to the palace must learn and understand before venturing to the sacred ground where the Oduma (Lion) of Benin Kingdom resides. ‘Civilisation’ has not succeeded in changing that order!

Albert Lekan Oyeleye, a professor of English Language, taught Pragmatics, Semantics and Discourse Analysis at the University of Ibadan. In his Truth Condition seminar class a few years ago, he posited that meanings are in binary oppositions of plus or minus. He added that when words are spoken, they carry meanings that are not of surface values, called ‘Deep Structure’ in that branch of Linguistics. ‘Deep Structure’ meaning states that one must consider all the variables to be able to arrive at the intended meaning of any spoken word.

When the Omo N’Oba looked at the president’s daughter last Thursday, and said: ‘You are in Benin, the home of culture. We have our culture here,’ my mind raced to Oyeleye’s ‘Deep Structure’ and the binary opposition of meaning. I asked: what was the deep structure implicature of the statement?

If, without being speculative, one applies Oyeleye’s Truth Condition, can one successfully submit that what the Benin monarch told the president’s daughter is: in case you have no culture where you come from, here in Benin, we have our culture? This semantic implicature is further amplified by the next question Oba Ewuare II asked Mrs. Ojo-Tinubu thus: ‘Do you know the role of Iyeki in Benin culture?’

But more importantly, and still in the realms of Pragmatics, when the oba considered the response from the self-styled Iyaloja General of Nigeria, the next step the Benin monarch took, indicated clearly that the issue in discourse is of no importance – indeed an aberration in Benin Kingdom. He simply directed a chief to educate the woman on how Benin runs its market system. ‘Iyaloja is a bit alien to us here in Benin. I have discussed this matter with my chiefs and those who are knowledgeable’, the Omo N’Oba said, and directed Chief Osaro Idah, the Obazelu of Benin, to educate Mrs. Ojo-Tinubu.

Those who were physically present during the encounter recalled that the Benin monarch was visibly angry – justifiably so. Ever since the encounter, there have been series of activities in Benin City surrounding the issue of Iyaloja of all Edo Markets. The debate in town centres on the misadventure of Mrs. Folasade Ojo-Tinubu to impose on the ancient kingdom of Benin, a strange market structure that makes an individual the head of all markets in Edo State.

In a daring move, Mrs. Ojo-Tinubu had, earlier, before coming to the palace, inaugurated one Pastor Josephine Ibhaguezejele. as the Iyaloja of all markets in Edo State. She did that at the Festival Hall of the Edo State Government House. The Benin Palace had the information in disbelief. It was after the ‘installation’, that the president’s daughter ventured into the sacred palace ground to ask the Omo N’Oba to rally support for Josephine Ibhaguezejele. Sacrilege!

Naturally, such a stranger-than-fiction position would infuriate the palace which had in 2024, kicked against such an anomaly. What gave the Iyaloja General of Nigeria the boldness to go ahead and do what she did? What height of bravado propelled her to visit the palace to ask the Omo N’Oba to rally support for the new Iyaloja of all Edo Markets?

When the Omo N’Oba asked if Mrs. Ojo-Tinubu understood the concept of Iyeki, what the oba was saying was that Edo markets are not without leaders. The only difference is that while, for instance, Mrs. Ojo-Tinubu could transmute from being an Iyaloja of Lagos to Iyaloja General of Nigeria, no such position exists in Benin, nay the entire Edo State.

According to Benin culture which Oba Ewuare II lectured the president’s daughter on, no single market leader can control another market in Benin. The oba was emphatic when he told Mrs. Ojo-Tinubu that ‘Iyaloja is a bitalien to us here in Benin. I have discussed this matter with my chiefs and those who are knowledgeable.’

The concept of Iyeki, a pure traditional position, according to Chief Idah who spoke on behalf of the oba, is different from the social and cosmetic Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Mrs. Ojo-Tinubu parades. What the Benin palace told the president’s daughter could pass for an inaugural lecture on cultural diversity.

While anyone without a single store in any market can become Iyaloja General in the culture that produces the like of Ojo-Tinubu, in Benin, and the entire Edo State, no single individual can lord it over other market women in different markets in the state.

More importantly, too, while it is possible for President Tinubu’s daughter to turn the Iyaloja chieftaincy title to a family affair and transmute from being Iyaloja of Lagos, the position formerly held by the late Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, to becoming Iyaloja General of Nigeria, in Benin, an Iyeki (market leader) is the representative of the Oba of Benin in any Benin market. The occupier of that position also carries out some assigned duty for the oba in the market.

This is why Chief Idah, speaking for the oba, tutored Mrs. Ojo-Tinubu: ‘Iyaloja is alien to us here in Benin. Every Iyeki has a special relationship with the palace. Are you aware of that? Do you know that every Iyeki has a cultural role to perform inside every market?

‘The Oba does not interfere so long as the Iyeki does what is expected of her in the shrine of a particular market on behalf of the Oba. We are not going to say much, except to explain to you the concept of Iyeki in Benin. Iyeki is independent in every market, like the Oba Market, Ogiso Market, and others. The traders select their leaders from within the market. The Iyekis do more than the role of coordinating traders. There are certain shrines in all the markets. They play certain roles on behalf of the palace. After their selection, they bring the person to the palace for confirmation.

‘The novelty of a general Iyeki is alien to Benin custom and tradition. We just believe the Iyaloja is your socio-cultural thing, like you have other clubs. It is not in our culture to have a general Iyeki. Iyeki is particular to each market. No one has the right to control another in a different market. The Iyeki in Oba Market has no role to play in Ogiso Market. The Oba established the market for all in the society.’

Let us go back to Alice Roosevelt. Why would President Tinubu’s daughter flout Benin culture? I ask this question because on April 30, 2024, she had written a letter to Oba Ewuare II, asking him to provide all necessary support for Pastor Isi Ibhaguezejele, as her appointed Iyaloja of all Edo markets.

In the letter, Mrs. Ojo-Tinubu did not just introduce herself as the Iyaloja General of Nigeria but also as: ‘.the First Daughter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR).’ You may wish to ask as I did, what is the import of that family background in a letter seeking support for a venture? What was she trying to tell the oba? Then she went ahead to say:

‘With greatest sense of responsibility and utmost regard to our Royal Father, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II, The Oba of Benin, I humbly write to introduce PASTOR MRS JOSEPHINE ISI IBHAGUEZEJELE as the Edo State lyeki-Elect.

‘With the development, it is her responsibility to see to the day-to-day affairs of the traders in the state (Edo State).Your Majesty, I humbly request that you give your daughter every necessary backing to succeed in this great and noble assignment as I look forward to your fatherly blessing for her to be fruitful in her newly assigned responsibilities.’

Expectedly, the letter, when it became a public document, generated a lot of heat in Benin. All daughters and sons of the Benin Kingdom, at home and in the Diaspora, rose in its condemnation. The agitation was heavy such that the president’s daughter backtracked.

The prevailing situation in Edo State then was not favourable. That was the period Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was holding sway. There was no way the self-imposed Iyaloja General of Nigeria could have appointed a stooge in the state.

But after the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election which produced the current Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs. Folasade Ojo-Tinubu got her confidence back. Her father’s political party is the ruling party in the state. The rumours of the installation of Pastor Josephine Isi Ibhaguezejele as Iyaloja of Edo markets gained traction. But many did not believe that the venture would be revisited so much so that the Omo N’Oba had earlier rejected it.

Now the president’s daughter has installed an Iyaloja for Edo Markets, with the full support of the Coordinator, Office of Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo-Anani and possibly the Edo State Government’s tacit support as implied in the use of the Government House Festival Hall. In contrast, Oba Ewuare II, Oba of Benin, who by tradition and custom, determines what happens in his kingdom, has said that such a position is alien to Benin tradition. The die is cast! Who blinks first? Who shifts ground: the Benin tradition or the position of ‘the First Daughter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR)?’

This is where President Tinubu should act. As the father of the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, and as an elder, President Tinubu must tutor his daughter that it is not every cloth that the chameleon imitates. The president must act fast before people begin to ask questions that will interrogate his parenting method for his children.

President Tinubu, this time, cannot speak the way TR spoke when asked to caution his recalcitrant Alice. Tinubu, I submit here without hesitation, must be President of Nigeria and control Folasade at the same time. Unlike TR, our PBAT must ‘possibly do both.’ This is the Toro (half Kobo) I have to loan to the President.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Barrister Olúwa?eun Mayomi Faleye, has assured subscribers to the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) of a new era of improved, efficient, and compassionate service delivery under his leadership.

Faleye gave the assurance on Monday while declaring open the 2025 Customer Service Week at the Fund’s corporate headquarters in Abuja. He said the new management is determined to make every interaction with subscribers a reflection of empathy, professionalism, and swift response.

‘I assure our subscribers that whenever they engage with the NSITF, they will meet a compassionate organisation that is truly ready to serve and empathise with their situation,’ he said.

‘Subscribers often come to us at some of the most challenging moments of their lives, dealing with loss, accidents, or workplace injuries. Our staff must be people who understand the urgency and the importance of timely, effective service in easing such difficult experiences. I want to assure everyone that we are ready and equipped to rise to that challenge.’

Speaking on the theme of this year’s celebration, ‘Mission Possible,’ the NSITF boss described it as a message of hope and renewed commitment. According to him, ‘Mission Possible is about encouragement and belief. It tells us that excellent, qualitative service delivery is achievable if we set our minds to it and if management provides the right support and resources. That is the essence of this week-to remind ourselves that we can and must deliver the quality of service Nigerians expect from NSITF.’

Faleye noted that the Fund has, in recent months, intensified efforts to enhance communication with subscribers and stakeholders through improved engagement platforms. ‘We have introduced a multi-omni channel that allows subscribers to reach us easily for enquiries, clarifications, and guidance. We are also simplifying our claims process to make it faster and more transparent,’ he explained.

According to him, internal reforms have been carried out to streamline documentation and eliminate bottlenecks, making service delivery more responsive. He further disclosed that the Fund’s partnership with SERVICOM has been instrumental in driving these changes, particularly through the review and implementation of its service charter. ‘Our collaboration with SERVICOM has been very helpful. We’ve opened up our service charter, engaged multiple fora, and are steadily moving in the right direction,’ he added.

Highlighting the growing recognition of the Fund’s transformation efforts, Faleye noted that SERVICOM recently scored NSITF high in its annual assessment of service delivery performance.

The 2025 Customer Service Week, which is being marked across the Fund’s offices nationwide, features roadshows and awards of excellence for outstanding staff, as part of efforts to celebrate commitment and reinforce a culture of superior service.

Faleye reaffirmed that under his leadership, the NSITF will remain focused on providing prompt, compassionate, and transparent services to all ECS subscribers across the country.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has tasked traditional rulers along border areas of Osun state to be vigilant and report any suspicious infiltration of their communities by alleged bandits from neighbouring states to security agencies.

Speaking after a state security council meeting held at Osogbo, the Governor enjoined traditional councils across the state to report strange settlers who may have entered their territories to security agencies.

According to the governor, this is not the time to allow mass internal migration into Osun communities in view of the ongoing banditry crisis in states bordering Osun state, charging community leaders and stakeholders to report suspicious movements.

‘Osun is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria. We are keen to sustain that record. We should watch our borders. Bandits should not be allowed to infiltrate Osun state,’ the governor was quoted as saying.

The governor expressed satisfaction that the security council has mapped out effective plan of action to stop the bandits from gaining foothold in Osun State, thumping up his security team and the various service commanders.

The Governor specifically commended the Agbooro Community, Ikirun, for working with the security agencies to get the group of Bororo settlers who recently occupied parts of their community to peacefully vacate the area.

‘I commend the security agencies and the Akinrun-in-Council for acting promptly to resolve the matter. Our border towns should emulate this step and adopt open surveillance in partnership with the security agencies,’ the governor noted in the statement.

Governor Adeleke further decried the reported attacks on the Corps Commander of Amotekun Security Service, Isaac Omoyele, calling the reported assassination attempt unacceptable and a threat to the peace and security of the state.

The governor who expressed shock at the incident called on the police authorities to conduct thorough investigation into the incident, charging the police to apprehend the suspects without delay.

The Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements, (AYDM), a coalition of 130 pan- Yoruba groups, has commended the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo Olu, for his decision to officially grant electricity distribution licenses to two new Distribution Companies, describing the as a unique initiative.

AYDM also commended the state deputy governor, Dr. Kadir Obafemi Hamzat, over the move, further describing it as the most important public interest decision in Lagos since 1999.

It would be recalled that the Lagos State Government had registered Excel Distribution Company and the IE Energy Lagos Limited, which will now take over Eko Electricity Distribution PLC and Ikeja Electric PLC.

The coalition gave this commendation in a statement jointly signed by its Secretary-General, Comrade Popoola Ajayi and the Mobilisation Director, Chief Kunle Oshodi respectively after its Executive Council meeting, saying that the decision of the Lagos State Government on the new licenses represented what it termed a ‘radical departure from gross corporate irresponsibility to a new frontier in the search for energy stability in Lagos State with far reaching implication on the South West and Nigeria.’

AYDM said Governor Sanwo-Olu and his team had through the move written their names in history, just as it quickly noted that it was not enough to register new DISCOs and, therefore, the need for both the Federal and state governments to probe the owners of DISCOs for their crime against the people.

This was just as the movement promised that it would in collaboration with other civil society organisations push for sanctions on the managers of the affected DISCOs by the international community by documenting their crimes, saying that many people had died due to their activities.

According to the coalition, people had died in Lagos either in hospitals due to abrupt disconnection by the said DISCOs or through power surges that had led ‘to the burning of many buildings where people lost their lives and property or through target attacks on property of energy users,’ declaring that the DISCOs were worse than the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), their predecessors.

‘Lagos and the people of the South West are praying for the Government of Lagos State for this bold step. The people have been subjected to the most horrendous crimes inflicted on innocent energy users by existing DISCOs who lack human conscience and driven only by primitive and ungodly accumulation of wealth,’ the AYDM said.

AYDM, however, urged the new DISCOs not to repeat the gross misconduct of their predecessors, saying that it was ready to work with them to reclaim lost public confidence, just as it expressed the belief that the new DISCOs would save business and industries from the fringe of collapse.

Besides, it also urged the Lagos State Government to explore cleaner energy possible from the tonnes of waste generated daily in the state.

‘The decision to register new DISCOs will save business and industries from the fringe of collapse. When there is no efficient electricity, businesses, health and industrial growth will suffer while social and night economy will crumble.

‘This has been the situation in Lagos. Millions of electricity users are sidelined by arrogant bullies who parade themselves as business operators but who lack any iota of human compassion but motivated by cruel zeal for profit,’ the movement said.

It was a joyous moment in Ogun State on Tuesday as the first commercial flight took off from the Gateway International Airport, Iperu-Remo, to Abuja.

The passengers of the maiden flight were conveyed to the Federal Capital Territory by Value Jet Airline.

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, who spoke to journalists after the plane took off at 10:02 a.m., described the event as a major milestone in the actualisation of his administration’s vision to transform the state into an investment-friendly and economically viable entity.

The elated governor said the new airport was a strategic component of the state’s multi-modal transportation master plan, designed to integrate road, rail, air, and water transport systems, thereby boosting trade, tourism, and industrialisation.

‘It’s a delightful honour to witness the inaugural flight of a commercial aircraft taking off from Ogun State.

‘This is not like Artificial Intelligence (AI); this is real – commercial operations starting from Ogun State in the lifetime of an administration.

‘We came here in 2021; some people said it was just politics, some said it was just a dump site, but we are here today, and you have seen what can be achieved when there is vision, passion, and diligence.

‘Building an airport is one thing; having an airport become operational is a totally different thing. It is a highly regulated industry,’ he said.

He appreciated God for making it possible, noting that God had given the team the grace to envision, implement, and see it happen.

Abiodun commended the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the security agencies for their support and professionalism throughout the airport’s certification and approval process.

According to the governor, the Gateway International Airport is expected to serve as a key driver for investment inflow, job creation, and improved connectivity.

He appreciated the people of the state for their support, noting that his administration, since inception, had transformed the socio-economic status of the state by making it an investment destination of choice.

The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, expressed joy at the latest development in the state.

‘I feel elated, excited, and on top of the world that this is happening in Ogun State under a government in which I am a part.

‘The economic gains, the comfort, and the convenience are some of the advantages of this airport in Ogun State. I don’t need to go to Lagos. Within 20 to 30 minutes, I am here,’ he said.

The State Head of Service, Mr Kehinde Onasanya, described the event as historic and a giant step towards economic development.

The Senator representing Ogun Central, Shuaib Salis, said there was nothing more exciting than taking a flight from one’s own state.

‘The Senate is resuming plenary today. There is nothing more exciting than to take a flight from your own state, in an airport built by the state government, in an aeroplane operated by another son of Ogun State.

‘History is being made. We are grateful to God and the governor. It is a great opportunity,’ he said.

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The Kogi State government has launched the 2025 Integrated Measles-Rubella, Polio, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Campaign, a major public health initiative aimed at protecting children and adolescents across the state from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo performed the official flag-off of the campaign on Tuesday through the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and development partners.

According to the government, the exercise reflects the administration’s commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of every child and adolescent in Kogi. It also marks a key step toward eliminating vaccine-preventable diseases and protecting young girls against cervical cancer through the HPV vaccine.

Speaking at the ceremony held at the Old Market Primary Health Centre in Lokoja, Governor Ododo described the vaccination campaign as a renewed commitment to saving lives and strengthening primary healthcare across the state, adding that it represents ‘a commitment to life, health, and the future of Kogi State.’

He reaffirmed his administration’s determination to build a healthy and productive population, stressing that the vaccines are free, safe, and effective. He further urged that no child in Kogi should be left behind in the journey to a healthier life.

Governor Ododo called on parents, caregivers, and traditional and religious leaders to support the campaign, assuring that the vaccines are completely free and essential for every eligible child. He commended development partners and health workers for their continued support and dedication to improving the well-being of Kogi’s citizens.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, commended the governor’s leadership and noted the growing community support for the revitalisation of primary health centres across the state. He expressed gratitude to traditional, religious, and community leaders for their roles in advancing public health awareness.

Earlier, the Executive Director of the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Mu’azu Musa Omeiza, announced that the vaccination campaign targets 1.9 million children aged nine months to 14 years against measles and rubella, alongside additional coverage for polio and HPV.

He explained that the campaign, which runs from October 6 to 15, represents a coordinated and evidence-based approach to protecting the state’s next generation. Mu’azu commended all stakeholders and health workers for their dedication and urged families and the media to ensure every eligible child receives the life-saving vaccines.

In his goodwill message, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Babatunde Ishola of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) praised Kogi State for achieving 100 percent immunisation coverage and lauded Governor Ododo’s commitment to public health. He also called for the recruitment of more frontline and auxiliary health workers to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.

The event, according to the government, reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to bolstering primary healthcare delivery and safeguarding the health of women and children. It further reflected the administration’s broader strategy to improve healthcare access, enhance immunisation coverage, and reduce preventable diseases in communities across Kogi State.