…To Feed 2,000 Pupils in Three Schools …200 Women to Receive Microcredit Support Deborah Hundenu & Phebe Falodun The Olowu of Owu-Abeokuta Kingdom, Oba (Prof.) Saka Adelola Matemilola, has unfolded an ambitious community upliftment programme, tagged “the Olowu Hope Initiative”, aimed at reducing poverty and improving access to education and healthcare. The programme was rolled out during the ongoing 2024 Odun Omo Olowu cultural festival, targeting 2,000 pupils and 200 women in Abeokuta, Ogun State in the first phase. The Olowu revealed plans to develop a vast agricultural estate through the Awowo Agro-business Cooperative, which will involve…
Author: Platform Times Newspaper
Ayomide Awe The Wakeel Muslimeen of Yorubaland, Edo, and Delta States, Sheikh Iskil Lawal (also known as Sugar), has received a prestigious award of recognition from the League of Imams and Alfas in the United Kingdom and Ireland. PLATFORM TIMES reports that this gesture marks a significant moment in the League’s history, as it is the first time the international body has honoured a religious leader from outside the UK with such an award. PLATFORM TIMES further gathered that the recognition came as part of a productive meeting between the League of Imams and Alfas in the UK and Ireland…
A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Hon. Tolu Philips, has called on Nigerian youths to abandon the trend of seeking opportunities abroad—popularly known as “japa”—and instead focus on rebuilding the country. Philips emphasized that the future of Nigeria lies in the hands of the youth, who he described as crucial to national development. Philips made the statement on Sunday in Abeokuta while receiving the South West Young Political Icon Award at an event organized by Synergy, a group promoting youth engagement in politics and social development. He urged the younger generation to channel their energy…
According to the fiery and irrepressible human rights crusader, late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, it is better to stand on the truth, even if one is standing alone . The recent directive of the minister of education, Professor Tahir Mamman on the minimum age, initially, for writing both WAEC & NECO SSCE and JAMB and later JAMB exam vis-a- vis entering Nigerian universities has generated a lot of what could be termed needless controversies as usual with Nigerians. According to him, no candidate under 18 years should be allowed to write the JAMB exam or be admitted into any of the…
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has explained its reasons for rejecting the federal government’s two payment platforms, the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and the Government Integrated Financial Management and Information System (GIFMIS). Instead, the union has advocated for its own alternative, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), which it claims aligns better with the statutory autonomy of Nigerian universities. Speaking on Sunday, ASUU President Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke emphasized that the union’s stance is rooted in the need to uphold the independence of the nation’s tertiary institutions, as provided by law. He stated that the…
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised alarm over the growing number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, warning that the situation poses a serious threat to national security. He expressed concerns that these children, numbering over 20 million, are being primed for recruitment by terrorist organizations such as Boko Haram and other criminal groups in the future. Obasanjo made these remarks on Sunday during the commissioning of several projects executed by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed. He emphasized the urgent need for human capacity development through education to prevent the looming danger. Citing World Bank statistics, Obasanjo noted that Nigeria, with…
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is facing widespread allegations of extortion as passport applicants in Lagos accuse officials of demanding an unofficial fee of N30,000 for passport renewals. The illegal fee, which is reportedly being collected after the stipulated N130,000 official payment for the renewal and change of data, has sparked outrage among Nigerians. An applicant, while speaking with SaharaReporters, recounted his ordeal with immigration officers at the NIS office in Alausa, Lagos. According to him, after paying the required N130,000 as advertised on the NIS website, he was instructed to pay an additional N30,000, which is not legally mandated.…
Daud Olatunji Crescent University, Abeokuta, marked its 16th convocation with remarkable achievements, graduating 479 students, including 49 first-class honorees. The event, which highlighted the institution’s academic excellence, also saw the conferment of honorary degrees on three distinguished individuals for their outstanding contributions to society. The convocation’s highlight was the academic breakdown of the graduating class: 49 first-class graduates, 197 second-class upper division, 173 second-class lower division, 54 third-class graduates, and six who earned pass grades. The ceremony also witnessed the graduation of 47 Master’s degree students. The ceremony honoured Daniel Oyeniyi, the best graduating student, who achieved a 4.95 CGPA,…
Daud Olatunji The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has urged the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to take decisive action in recovering over $55 billion owed to the Nigerian government by international oil companies (IOCs). This significant sum is tied to outstanding revenues under the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Act, as ruled by the Supreme Court in 2018. HEDA’s call, communicated through a formal letter by its solicitor, Bolarinwa Elijah Aidi, SAN, draws attention to the Supreme Court’s judgment in Suit No. SC/964/2016. The judgment, delivered on October 17,…
Abubakar Badaru, the minister of defence, has urged traditional rulers, religious and community leaders, and heads of security agencies, to work towards tackling the growing insecurity in Plateau. Mr Badaru, who gave the charge at a meeting with the stakeholders, said the gathering was aimed at fashioning out lasting solutions to the rising security challenges, particularly the clashes between herders and farmers. ”I am highly delighted to be here this afternoon to interact with the critical stakeholders, opinion leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other components of the military and security agencies responsible for peace and security in Plateau. ”The…