Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji  The One-Day Peace Education Symposium, organized by the Cardinal Onaiyekan Peace Foundation and hosted in Abeokuta, was marked by a compelling welcome address from the convener, Nurse  Oladejo Al-Ghazal Shakirat.  Addressing the audience, she emphasized the crucial need to educate individuals on peace-building in the face of rising political divides leveraging diversity. “Education on peace-building is paramount in today’s society. Diversity should unite us, not divide us. We’ve witnessed the use of diversity as a political tool, as seen in the last election with Muslim-Muslim tickets.  “Now, more than ever, we must strive for peaceful coexistence while practicing…

Daud Olatunji The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), announced that it produced 122 students with First Class Honours Degrees for its 31st Convocation Ceremony.  Vice Chancellor Prof. Olusola Kehinde revealed various distinctions, including 1,540 in the Second Class Upper Division, 1,705 in the Second Class Lower Division, and 187 with Third Class Degrees. Speaking at a press conference to mark the commencement of the 31st convocation ceremony, the VC stated that a total of 3,574 students received Bachelor’s Degrees across various disciplines, with an additional 20 earning Veterinary Medicine Degrees.  Prof. Kehinde emphasized the institution’s potential to contribute significantly…

Daud Olatunji In a resounding testament to academic excellence, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) proudly announces that 174 graduating students have achieved First Class honours out of a total of 11,784 graduates from the academic sessions of 2021/2022 and 2022/2023.  The revelation came from the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, during a press conference held on Wednesday in anticipation of the university’s 32nd and 33rd convocation ceremonies. The convocation, scheduled for January 29-31, 2024, at the Otunba Gbenga Daniel Lecture Theatre, will see the conferral of scrolls upon the deserving graduates.  Prof. Agboola, a distinguished Professor of cancer pathology, highlighted that…

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organization, Afenifere, on Wednesday sets up an elders forum to advance the course of the organization and further drive it’s goals and objectives. Rising from a meeting held at the residence of its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the organization announced that the members of its newly formed elders forum spread across all the states of Yoruba land. Also, the organization abrogated the position of Acting Leader and Deputy Leader of the organization, which has hitherto been held by Chief Ayo Adebanjo. Members of the Afenifere Elders Caucus endorsed at…

In a significant legal development, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Willie Obiano, the immediate past governor of Anambra State.  The court’s decision follows a hearing during which Justice Ekwo imposed certain restrictions on Obiano’s movements, confining him to the court’s jurisdiction. As part of the bail conditions, Justice Ekwo instructed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to deposit the travel documents belonging to the former governor with the court registrar.  This move aims to ensure that Obiano remains within the specified boundaries during the legal proceedings. To further enforce these…

Daud Olatunji A group of individuals launched a violent assault on medical staff at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Lokoja.  The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, was triggered by the death of a patient. A medical doctor, who documented the chaos on his X handle, k_f2d, detailed the harrowing experience.  According to the doctor, the group, led by an unnamed political figure, forcibly entered the hospital premises and demanded to see the doctors on duty. Videos shared by the doctor depicted a scene of chaos, with individuals struggling over a firearm, and gunshots heard in the background.  The doctor explained…

In a directive issued on Tuesday, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a global transparency organization, called upon the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to furnish detailed information regarding its 20% equity stake in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, valued at $20 billion. The EITI delegation, present in Nigeria, emphasized the necessity for increased transparency, asserting that NNPCL had not sufficiently clarified its interest in the refinery during their visit. Alex Gordy, the EITI Technical Director, addressing journalists at the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative headquarters in Abuja, highlighted the need for accountability in NNPCL’s acquisition of the equity. “NNPCL…

In a significant initiative spanning three years, UNICEF has successfully trained approximately 285,000 children orphaned by the Boko Haram insurgency, as well as vulnerable children, in basic literacy and numeracy.  This endeavor, known as the Teaching at the Right Level initiative, was made possible through funding from the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office of the British government. The project, now in its third year, aims to provide safe, inclusive, and high-quality learning opportunities for children, with a special focus on girls, those with disabilities, and those affected by conflict.  Mustapha Shehu, the Education Officer at UNICEF’s Maiduguri Field Office, emphasized the…

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has announced the distribution of a total sum of N1.13 trillion in earnings for December 2023, among the Federal Government, States, and Local Government Councils.  This marks an increase of N500 billion compared to the N1.08 trillion shared in November. In a communique released after its January 2024 meeting, chaired by the Accountant General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, FAAC detailed the composition of the N1.13 trillion distributable revenue.  The breakdown includes distributable statutory revenue of N363.188 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N458.622 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy revenue of…

Daud Olatunji The 60-year-old immediate-past Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, became a sacrificial lamb on Tuesday as he was impeached by 18 out of 26 lawmakers. Oluomo was impeached while he was a few kilometers away from the chamber, attending a public event with the state governor, Dapo Abiodun. His impeachment, however, was a smooth ride except for pockets of violence that erupted when security operatives attempted to foil the impeachment of  Oluomo. An eyewitness hinted  PLATFORM TIMES that the lawmakers who had perfected the plot dragged the deputy speaker Bolanle Ajayi…