Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji The Chief of Lagos Field Office at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF),Celine Lafoucriere has raised the alarm over the  statistics surrounding out-of-school children and educational dropouts in Nigeria.  Speaking during an advocacy visit to the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, on Thursday,Lafoucriere attributed the issues to a range of systemic problems. She added that the factors  include  inadequate evidence-based policies, insufficient budget allocation, a shortage of teachers and classrooms, poor infrastructure, cultural norms, health and safety concerns, and child labour. Lafoucriere emphasized UNICEF’s commitment to addressing these challenges by developing models aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school…

Former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, has commended real estate firm, Pelican Valley Ltd, for naming its longest estate road after him, urging it to persevere in its determination to improve life and comfort by making urban living to align with nature’s beauty. Osoba expressed both confidence and expectation that in the next couple of years, the CEO of Pelican Valley, Ambassador (Dr) Babatunde Adeyemo, would turn the estate into an iconic architecture city. The elder statesman spoke at the inauguration of the Pelican’s Ecostay Apartments, the first set of eco-friendly homes at Masa-Kobape corridor of Ogun State…

Daud Olatunji The Federal Government has revealed that Nigeria requires over 20 million toilet facilities to combat the alarming issue of open defecation, which remains prevalent among 48 million Nigerians. This was disclosed by Mrs. Chizoma Opara, Deputy Director of the “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” campaign, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, during a media dialogue organized by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with Oyo State Rural Water Supply Agency.  The event, aimed at raising awareness on ending open defecation and eliminating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), was held in Lagos. Opara, while presenting an…

Aisha Ademigbuji While it might go unnoticed by many, book lovers around the world know that August 9th is an unofficial holiday dedicated to celebrating the joy of reading and literature. It’s National Book Lovers Day, and I’ve been eagerly anticipating it since May 2024. Let me share a brief summary of how I celebrated Book Lovers Day. First, I picked up a book I had previously set aside and made sure to finish it on August 9th. Afterward, I created a short reel highlighting both classic and contemporary works by African authors, including Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Buchi…

The leadership of the Labour Party (LP), headed by its National Working Committee (NWC), has called for a thorough investigation into alleged financial misconduct involving key figures in the party’s 2023 presidential campaign.  The party is urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to probe its presidential candidate, Peter Obi; activist Aisha Yesufu; Pastor Itua Ighodalo; and several prominent members of the socio-political group, Afenifere. At a press conference held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Wednesday, LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, made the allegations public.  Arabambi claimed that over…

In a bold call for political reform, Dr. Oluwatoyin Jokosenumi, former Director at the Central Bank of Nigeria, has advocated for a single five-year term for the president and governors, arguing that the current system fosters corruption and hampers national development.  He made this statement during the popular current affairs programme, Boiling Point Arena, held on Sunday night. Jokosenumi, contributing to the topic “The Nigerian Socio-Political and Economic Quagmire: What are the Rescue Options?”, described the existing two-term system as a “crazy idea” and an enabler of greed within the political class.  According to him, politicians have exploited the loopholes…

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has imposed fresh sanctions on Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, over the institution’s failure to reinstate its “unjustly” dismissed leaders seven years after their removal. The lecturers, sacked under controversial circumstances, have remained out of office despite a resolution by the university’s governing council ordering their reinstatement. In a statement issued by ASUU’s Lagos zone on Tuesday, Zonal Coordinator Adelaja Odukoya announced that the union had prohibited any member from engaging with LASU in official capacities such as external examinations, conferences, or sabbatical exchanges. The sanctions are part of a…

Daud Olatunji  The Federal Government has rejected claims made by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of the United Kingdom regarding alleged human rights abuses in Nigeria, labeling the accusations as unfounded and based on misinformation.  The controversy erupted after the TUC leader in the UK accused Nigeria of rights violations at the opening of its conference in London, citing the recent travel restriction imposed on Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero. According to a statement from the Nigerian State House, the allegations stemmed from Ajaero’s failure to comply with a lawful invitation from the Department of State Services (DSS),…

The DigGeoNaija project is on a mission to revolutionize geotourism in Nigeria. Dr. Kamaldeen Olakunle Omosanya, the project’s director and principal investigator, brings over 17 years of experience as a geoscientist and certifications from Google and Microsoft. He is spearheading efforts to digitally preserve Nigeria’s geological heritage and harness new economic opportunities through advanced technology. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the DigGeoNaija project represents a significant step toward preserving Nigeria’s natural and cultural heritage. It was further gathered that through this initiative, the digitization of Nigeria’s geosites will serve as a lasting record for future generations, providing an invaluable resource for…

The De Renaissance Patriots Foundation has alleged that non-indigenes in Lagos State are seeking to capture political control of the state and deny indigenes their constitutional rights.  The group, a socio-cultural organization representing Lagos indigenes, made this claim during a meeting with the Eminent Persons of Ikorodu Division on Tuesday. The President of De Renaissance Patriots, Mr. Miftah Bolaji Are, addressing the gathering, emphasized that the group is non-partisan and dedicated to ensuring that Lagosians retain control of key political offices, including the governorship, deputy governorship, and speakership positions.  Are, who recently assumed leadership of the group following the death…