News
I will keep making appointments on merit – Makinde
The Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, declared on Tuesday that he would keep ensuring that his appointments are made based on merit rather than ethnic and religious biases.
The governor, who stated this while performing the swearing-in ceremony of the former State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Bayo Titilola-Sodo, as a Permanent Secretary, said that those seeking to always x-ray his appointments through religious and ethnic binoculars were wasting their time.
The governor also swore in the governing councils of six state-owned tertiary institutions at the Government House on Tuesday.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor, at the two events held at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, stated that merit and competence would continue to be parameters for appointments into positions.
He enjoined those working to divide the state through the manipulation of religion, to turn a new leaf, because, according to him, their efforts will always be an exercise in futility, as the people of the state will not yield to their deceit.
“To the folks that always look for loopholes; whatever we do they are quick to jump out there and carry placards, I make bold to say that they are completely useless to our people, because if they are not, they won’t just criticize us; they can bring alternatives to the table. But they cannot divide this state on religious grounds,” he said.
The governor added: “What we have done today is to demonstrate to the whole world that even if you operate on a different side of the divide, our focus is the same. When I came in as the governor of Oyo State, I called the chairman of NLC, Comrade Bayo Titilola-Sodo, and explained to him that the objective is the same. One may be on the side of government and the other may be on the side of labour, but the objective is to develop our state, to make life more meaningful to our people.
“We had an agreement that there will be a relationship of harmony between the Oyo State Government and labour union, that is exactly what we are witnessing now. So, I use this opportunity to implore people, whether you are PDP or APC, we don’t have to destroy ourselves and our state because positions and political players will come and go. Some of the players of yesterday are not here anymore, but our state remains.
“I want to commend Comrade Titilola-Sodo for managing the labour union well; we are partners in the development of our state. This was why it was not difficult for me to sign when they brought the recommendation for me to sign that you should become a permanent secretary.
“I don’t have any doubt that you have the capacity and ability to deliver. Hope you will do the job to the best of your capability as it is expected.”
In another vein, the governor urged the new chairmen of governing councils of state-owned tertiary institutions to see their appointment as a call to service, adding that they should use their experiences to uplift the education system of the state.
He said: “We are here to swear in the chairmen and governing councils of tertiary institutions in Oyo State. We have the chairmen here but the members are also being sworn in in absentia just to observe the COVID-19 protocol. We cannot have all the people here.
“Presently, Oyo State has 10 tertiary institutions. We are swearing in six today. Out of the 10, we have the Tech-U. We are currently carrying out sustainability study on Tech-U just to be sure that it is a sustainable venture. We also have the school of nursing and midwifery and Oyo State College of Hygiene and Health Technology. We do have one tertiary institution jointly owned by the government of Oyo State and Osun State, that is the LAUTECH.
“When we released the names of the chairmen of the governing councils, some people were upset that there were more Christians than Muslims. Well, we would not have noticed because, apart from one or two of you that I have met one on one before, I don’t think I have sat with the rest before. You were nominated by your constituency. If we have to make any progress, we have to listen to the people who have been in that sector over the years and they know the challenges that the sector has been facing over the years. We called them, we sat down and they nominated some of you.
“I believe we will continue to make progress in our society when we stop looking at people through the lens of ethnicity, tribe or religion and start paying attention to competence. I checked you out even though they nominated you. And I am glad to say that every one of you seated here is competent to occupy that position. I know things will balance out. As an individual, I am blind to religion, and the people trying to divide us through religion seriously need to look for something else to do.”
The governor maintained that the new chairmen of the governing councils will be responsible for institutional change in their respective institutions, promising that as the state expands its economy, most of the tertiary institutions would benefit and become more stable.
He added that even though the immediate past administration which, hitherto, paid 25 percent subvention to the institutions, jerked it up to 100 percent immediately after his March 9, 2019, victory, he has continued to pay the 100 percent subventions because that was what he intended to do on assumption of office.
According to him, despite the challenges imposed on the state’s finances by the COVID-19 pandemic, he has kept faith with the 100 percent subvention payment.
He expressed the confidence that the councils would be able to address the issues of quality assurance, effective teaching methods and efficiency in running the system, which he noted, are some of the challenges facing the tertiary education system in the state.
He charged the new chairmen and members of the councils to think outside the box, declaring that the government would give them maximum support to succeed in the new task.
Air Commodore David Olumuyiwa Babalola, a consultant clinical pharmacist in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has achieved an extraordinary milestone in Nigerian pharmacy practice, earning three prestigious honors at the 97th Annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).
Held from November 4 to 9, 2024, the conference celebrated Babalola’s exceptional contributions with the Biogenerics Integrity Award, the Pfizer Excellence Award, and the Fellowship of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN).
Babalola was recognized as the best overall public-sector hospital pharmacist in Nigeria, clinching the Biogenerics Integrity Award. This esteemed honor, accompanied by a ₦1,000,000 cash prize, celebrates excellence in patient care, career achievements, innovations, training, research, professional service, philanthropy, and leadership in public hospitals.
Adding to his accolades, he was one of four pharmacists nationwide to receive the Pfizer Excellence Award. This award highlights outstanding contributions to hospital and community pharmacy and includes a ₦250,000 cash prize, a commemorative plaque, and a certificate.
Representatives of Pfizer Nigeria presented the award during the conference’s grand closing banquet at Flairmore Event Centre, Uyo.
This achievement makes history as Babalola becomes the first pharmacist in the Nigerian Armed Forces to win a PSN-sponsored corporate award since its inception nearly two decades ago.
In his acceptance speech, Babalola expressed gratitude to Biogenerics Nigeria Ltd and Pfizer Nigeria for their sponsorship, which he said inspires excellence in hospital pharmacy practice.
He also acknowledged the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal HB Abubakar, for fostering an enabling environment for pharmacists within the NAF and for approving the implementation of the Pharmacists Consultant Cadre in the force.
Babalola’s accolades were further crowned by his conferment with the Fellowship of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN), the highest honor awarded to pharmacists in the country. This recognition, reserved for individuals who have rendered exemplary and meritorious service, solidifies Babalola’s status as a trailblazer in the field.
As the first pharmacist in the Nigerian Air Force to attain the rank of air commodore, Babalola’s career is marked by groundbreaking achievements.
His latest recognitions underscore his relentless commitment to advancing pharmacy practice in Nigeria and inspiring a new generation of pharmacists.
The investiture ceremony for his FPSN honor is slated for early 2025, promising yet another celebration of his outstanding contributions to the pharmacy profession and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The Founder and Executive Director of the Temmy Helping Hands and Youth Empowerment Foundation, Mrs. (Pastor) Elizabeth Bakare, on Saturday unveiled the Ibadan Food Bank Project during the foundation’s 2024 annual convention in Ibadan.
The initiative tagged “Let Nobody Go to Bed Hungry,” aims at tackling food insecurity and hunger among Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations”.
Mega Icon Magazine recalled that a recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has highlighted the severe economic challenges faced by Nigerian households, revealing that two-third of the population struggle to afford healthy and nutritious meals.
The survey titled “Nigeria General Household Survey – Panel (GHS-Panel) Wave 5 (2023/2024)”, noted the worsening multidimensional poverty and the erosion of purchasing power due to the persistent rise in the cost of goods and services.
According to the report, approximately 63.8% of households have been forced to eat only a few kinds of food due to financial constraints. About 62.4% of respondents admitted worrying about food insufficiency, while 60.5% ate less than they thought they should.
“The situation has deteriorated significantly since the last survey, as the proportion of households expressing food insecurity concerns rose from 36.9% in the previous wave to 62.4% in the current one”, the report reads further.
Speaking at the unveiling in Ibadan, during the 2024 annual convention of the foundation, Mrs. Bakare described the alarming rise in hunger caused by the nation’s economic challenges, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the increasing exchange rate, which have led to soaring food prices.
She noted that these conditions have placed immense strain on widows, single parents, orphans, and other underprivileged groups, making it imperative to act swiftly.
The Ibadan Food Bank is set to provide food support to 2,500 individuals monthly, with plans to expand its reach to 30,000 beneficiaries annually by 2029 and 105,000 per annum by 2034.
The initiative incorporates several interventions, such as the free distribution of essential food items, a food subsidy programme offering discounted staples, and a mobile kitchen service providing one free meal daily.
Continuing, it includes outreach to prisons, orphanages, IDP camps, and leprosy centers, as well as educational meal subsidies for schools and centers for people with disabilities. The project also encourages self-reliance through a home farming initiative that offers seeds, tools, and training, and through food processing training to empower beneficiaries with sustainable livelihood skills.
Since its establishment in December 2023, Temmy Helping Hands has already made significant strides in alleviating hunger and poverty. Past achievements include food distributions during World Food Day celebrations and financial support for widows.
Bakare also announced an upcoming initiative, “Make This December One to Remember,” which will provide assistance to 500 vulnerable individuals during the festive season.
She called for partnerships to expand the scope and reach of the Ibadan Food Bank, urging individuals, organizations, and corporations to support the initiative through food donations, financial contributions, and volunteering.
Highlighting various ways to collaborate, she appealed for sponsorship of families or meals, establishment of endowment funds, employee volunteer programs, and media campaigns to raise awareness.
According to Bakare, such contributions would not only transform lives but also demonstrate a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainable development.
She thanked the awardees for their dedication to humanitarian service, urging everyone to join in the fight against hunger.
“Together, we can ensure that no one in Ibadan goes to bed hungry. Every act of kindness matters,” the Founder added.
The keynote address at the occasion was delivered by Dr. Ibraheem Okunlola Akinwale, an Assistant Director at the National Orientation Agency (NOA), who spoke on strategies for coping with the economic hardship in the country.
Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, Princess Oyedele Bolatito, from Oyo State WAZOBIA Widows commanded Temmy Helping Hands and Youth Empowerment Foundation for the laudable initiative, urging others to emulate such kind gesture.
A recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has highlighted the severe economic challenges faced by Nigerian households, revealing that two-thirds of the population struggle to afford healthy and nutritious meals. The survey, titled Nigeria General Household Survey – Panel (GHS-Panel) Wave 5 (2023/2024), underscores the worsening multidimensional poverty and the erosion of purchasing power due to the persistent rise in the cost of goods and services.
The report shows that approximately 63.8% of households have been forced to eat only a few kinds of food due to financial constraints. About 62.4% of respondents admitted worrying about food insufficiency, while 60.5% ate less than they thought they should. The situation has deteriorated significantly since the last survey, as the proportion of households expressing food insecurity concerns rose from 36.9% in the previous wave to 62.4% in the current one.
Power Outages and Access to Energy
The survey also sheds light on the nation’s energy crisis, revealing that Nigerian households experience an average of 6.7 power blackouts per week. While 82.2% of urban households have access to electricity, the figure drops to 40.4% in rural areas.
Cooking remains predominantly dependent on traditional methods, with 65% of households using three-stone stoves and 70.2% relying on firewood. However, the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is reportedly increasing.
Sanitation and Asset Ownership
In terms of sanitation, the report highlights that many households still lack basic toilet facilities, relying on bushes or streets for waste disposal. Access to clean drinking water is often through tube wells or boreholes, reflecting a lack of formal infrastructure in many areas.
On asset ownership, the survey indicates a decline since 2018/19. While two-thirds of households own mobile phones, only 21.3% have internet access. Housing ownership remains significant, with 70.4% of households owning their homes—80.1% in rural areas compared to 49.1% in urban centers.
The NBS report provides a stark reminder of the challenges many Nigerians face daily, from food insecurity and power outages to inadequate sanitation and declining asset ownership. It calls for urgent policy interventions to address these critical issues and improve the living standards of the population.
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