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Community News: Oyo community gets light after 30 years of darkness

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Residents of Orita community, a densely populated area in Eruwa, Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State  had electricity restored to the area after thirty years of darkness  due to faulty electric transformer.

The residents, who had made several efforts to ensure that they were re- connected to the national grid after their source of electricity, (transformer) developed fault in 1989, lamented that the absence of power in the area had since then crippled their business activities.

They further explained that several efforts made by various groups and associations in the area hit a brick wall, until when they were recently rescued through the intervention of the World Bank.

It was however, excitement galore for the residents on Wednesday when the World Bank and the Oyo state government through its agency, the Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) handed over another 500kva transformer for the community.

According to the Chairman of the the Community Project Management Committee (CPMC), Hon. Olusiji Oyinlola, the project gulped over N8 million.
He added that the community contributed 10 percent of the total cost before the Oyo state government and the world bank supported the community financially.
Projects embarked upon by the committee in the area according to Oyinlola included; Drilling of a unit motorized borehole, renovation and equipment of school dinning -hall, installation of 500kva transformer and electricity extension, and construction of a block of six units VIP toilet.

 

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He appreciated the support of the World Bank and the state government for ensuring that they are taking development to the rural areas in the country.
Oyinlola who shared the experience of the residents before the intervention of the CSDA in the community narrated, “On the issue of power, it was another problem before now. Many of the residents, especially the artisans usually move out of the community because of the poor power supply.
“Also, our physically challenged children are now enjoying VIP toilets in their school. We thank the state government and the world bank for their support.
 “Water was a serious problem for our people before now. Our people travel for more than two kilometers before they could get drinking water, but now that we have our community water, we can fetch water at will.
“The projects also create employment opportunities for our people because we have somebody managing the water. The community also employed another person monitoring the transformer and the toilet. They have been managing it effectively”.

Chairman of the Landlord Association in the community, Mr. Adewole Emmanuel noted  that  the issue of power supply in the area was a serious problem before the intervention, stressing  that solving water challenges which seems impossible before is now possible.

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“We started planning of getting good water and transformer in our community since 1994. We talked to many politicians and associations without a positive solution. In fact, many people have sick while many have died because of poor water consumption but when we heard about CSDA, we applied and its management invited us to a meeting where we sealed the deal.

“Today, our people are now enjoying good water and a constant power supply. Many people are now coming back to our community. Thanks to the management of world bank and CSDA for their support.”

Secretary of the committee, Abiodun Olaosegbe also informed that life was miserable for the residents of the community before the intervention, “but today the story has change because our people need not to travel far before they could get drinkable water”.

 

A resident, Funmilayo Oladiran said before now, women endangered their lives by traveling far to scout for water, even in a thick forest where it is dangerous to walk at night because it is a must for them to get water to prepare food.

Oladiran said, “First of all, let me thank the Oyo state government and world bank for their support towards this community.

“Before now, we traveled for over 2 kilometers to get water but today, as you can see, I am fetching water in front of my house. At my comfort zone. Also, the light was not good for many years but today, the light is very full and constant.”

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Acting Principal of the school for the deaf and blind Eruwa, where the toilet was built, Mrs Adebisi Deborah Folasade said before the intervention, there was no chairs for the pupils to study while the pupils only defecate in the bush.

“We thank the world bank and the Oyo state government for these great projects”.

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Senate Approves Tinubu’s $500m Loan for Power Sector Boost

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The Nigerian Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s $500 million loan request intended to bolster the operations of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to enhance the financial and technical performance of electricity distribution companies, ultimately benefiting citizens.

The endorsement, announced on Tuesday, follows a thorough examination of the report presented by Senator Aliyu Wamakko, who heads the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts overseeing the 2022 – 2024 External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan specifically for the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

During the presentation of the report, Senator Haruna Manu, serving as the Vice Chairman of the Committee, emphasised the importance for the Senate to duly receive and deliberate upon the report of the Committee on Local and Foreign Debts concerning the 2022 – 2024 External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan for the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

The $500 million loan constitutes a portion of the $7.94 billion loan originally requested by President Bola Tinubu on November 1st, 2023, within the framework of the 2022-2024 external borrowing plan. In addition to the $500 million, President Tinubu also sought approval for a €100 million loan.

However, during a special plenary session on December 30, the Senate greenlit the borrowing of $7.4 billion after careful consideration of the report furnished by the Committee on Local and Foreign Debt.

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Melinda Gates Resigns from Gates Foundation, Set to Receive $12.5 Billion

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In this file photo taken on September 26, 2018, Bill Gates and his ex-wife, Melinda Gates, introduce the goalkeepers event at the Lincoln Center in New York. Ludovic MARIN / AFP

Melinda French Gates announced Monday she was leaving the philanthropy mega foundation she established with her ex-husband, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

The resignation, which becomes effective on June 7, will leave Bill Gates as the sole chair of one of the world’s most influential and powerful non-governmental organizations.

“After careful thought and reflection, I have decided to resign from my role as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” Melinda French Gates wrote in a statement posted on social media.

The statement gave no reason for her departure, but noted that “under the terms of my agreement with Bill, in leaving the foundation, I will have an additional $12.5 billion to commit to my work on behalf of women and families.”

The couple married in 1994 but announced their divorce in 2021.

They had continued to co-chair the foundation which they established in 2001 with the vast wealth acquired through the success of Microsoft.

With a focus on child poverty and preventable diseases, the foundation has been heavily involved in fighting malaria and in providing toilets and sanitation in poorer parts of the world.

The foundation’s website says it has spent $53.8 billion since 2000, and claims the number of children around the world who die before their fifth birthday has halved in this time.

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Bill Gates thanked his ex-wife for her “critical contributions” to the organization.

“As a co-founder and co-chair Melinda has been instrumental in shaping our strategies and initiatives, significantly impacting global health and gender equality,” he said.

“I am sorry to see Melinda leave, but I am sure she will have a huge impact in her future philanthropic work.”

The organization’s chief executive, Mark Suzman, said its name would change to simply the Gates Foundation — it has been known as The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“I truly admire Melinda, and the critical role she has played in starting the foundation and in setting our values, she has played an essential role in all that we’ve accomplished over the past 24 years,” he said in a video posted to social media.

“I will miss working with her and learning from her. I look forward to seeing her continued impact.”

 

 

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EFCC calls on banks’ compliance officers to uphold confidentiality

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The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has urged Compliance Officers of Banks nationwide to refrain from unauthorised disclosure of EFCC’s investigative activities and requests made to banks’ customers.

Speaking through the Acting Zonal Director of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC, ACE I Hauwa Garba Ringim, during a stakeholders’ meeting with Compliance Officers of Banks in Oyo State on Tuesday, Olukoyede emphasised the detrimental impact such disclosures have on the investigation of financial crimes and the timely filing of corruption cases in court.

Olukoyede expressed concern over the tacit support fraudsters receive from the Nigerian banking sector, highlighting the challenges it poses to the Commission.

He urged Compliance Officers to promptly respond to EFCC’s correspondence with certified true copies of relevant documents, as this facilitates swift investigation processes.

Also, Olukoyede addressed the illegal trading of naira with Point-of-sale (POS) operators, stressing the need to curtail such practices for the benefit of Nigerians.

In response to the chairman’s directives, Compliance Officers assured the EFCC of their unwavering support and commitment to enhancing collaboration between the Commission and banks for more effective anti-corruption efforts.

 

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