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Olowofela leaps to the next level
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THE global events point to one fact that the world longs for people who will stand up for what they believe, even if they have to stand alone, leaders whose courage has such a strong sense of purpose and security that they welcome the unknown.
May 3rd, 1963, in the sleepy but rapidly – developing town of Omi-Adio, via Ibadan, Ido Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria, late Mr. Owen Adeyinka Olowofela and his loving wife, late Mrs. Elizabeth Ajibike Olowofela were blessed with a baby boy named Joseph Adeniyi Adisa Olowofela. The boy is now Professor Joseph Adeniyi Olowofela, an academician of national and international repute, a grassroot mobilizer, political scientist, social crusader, human rights activist and an epitome of celebrated achievements whose contributions to the socio-political landscape of his community and state cannot be written off. His ilk constitutes great blessings to the black race.
Olowofela attended Hope Central Primary School, Omi-Adio between 1969 and 1975 before proceeding to United Christian Secondary School, Omi-Adio between 1976 and 1981. He later proceeded to the University of Ibadan, between 1982 – 1986 to earn his Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics, and graduated with Second Class (Upper Division).
He served at Union Secondary School Agulu, Njikoka Local Government Area (old Anambra State) as a physics teacher. And, thereafter, studied for and earned his M.Sc. in 1987 and PhD, (Solid Earth Physics) in 1995 respectively. He, also lectured at the Department of Physics, University of Ibadan, between 1994 – 2003.
Continuing, he joined the services of the Federal University of Agriculture, (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, first on a sabbatical appointment from 2003 -2004, then as an Associate Professor and Head of Department, from 2005 to 2007 before rising to the position of a Professor of Solid Earth Geophysics in 2009.
As a cerebral and highly respected scholar of no mean stature, he holds various professional qualifications which include: Certificate in Seismic Hazard Assessment obtained from Potsdam, Germany; Certificate in Water Resources in Flensburg, Germany; Certificate in Microprocessors obtained from the United Nation University, Rome, Italy as well as the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) Italy among others.
Professor Olowofela has since, successfully trained over 25,000 students, supervised over 50 B.Sc projects and more than 15 Ph.D projects, some of whom have become Professors and Associate Professors. In the course of his academic career, he had more than 70 publications to his credit, two of which are being used by University students in Germany till today.
With a passion to lift the fortunes of his community and people and with the desire to right societal wrongs, while promoting freedom and social justice, Olowofela joined active politics in the 80’s. His sole objective remains an advocacy for the improvement of the lot of his people and ensuring that young men and women coming after him in the community have a better deal through responsive, responsible and effective governance.
The Democratic Professor had served different parties and governments in various capacities which include:
* National Delegate – National Republican Convention (NRC), 1990
* Member, Governing Council, Oyo State College of Education, Oyo, 2000-2003
* Party Chairman, Alliance for Democracy (AD), Ido Local Government, Oyo State, 2002-2003
* Chairmanship Aspirant, All Nigerian People’s Party, (ANPP). He won the controversial election conducted by the then Oyo State Governor, His Excellency, Senator Rashidi Ladoja in 2007.
* He was appointed by the Governor, His Excellency, Senator Abiola Ajimobi as Transition Committee Chairman, Ido Local Government from 2011 to December, 2014.
* He was also appointed as the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Oyo state from June 2016 to September, 2018
To the glory of God, Professor Olowofela had received several awards and honours; both locally and national, they include:
√ Overall Best Performed Local Government Chairman in Nigeria, 2012 at the 19th Edition of National Award for Excellence in Grassroots Leadership, Presented by Grassroots Leadership Centre, Abuja.
√ Overall Best Performed Local Government Chairman in Nigeria, 2012 on Works/Education at the 10th Edition of the All Nigerian Local Government Chairmen Merit Award (LOGMA 2012) by Mentors Communication, Abuja.
√ Oodua Hero Council Chairman, 2013, an award presented by the Yoruba Youth Development Council, (YYDC).
√ Oyo State Commissioner of the year, at the 2017 Miss Oyo State Beauty Pageant, an award presented by Silverstone Communications.
√ Prestigious Award of Ambassador of Ethics and Conscience, and Induction into Hall of Fame, 2018 by Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation.
√ 2018, he emerged as one of the fifty most inspiring personalities in Nigeria according to The Guardian Newspaper.
√ Oyo State Commissioner of the year, at the 2018 Oyo Herald Magazine Annual lecture and Merit Awards
√ Award of excellence at the 2018 Prominent Oyo Peoples’ Awards (POPA 2018) by Cornerstone Media International
Olowofela is happily married and blessed with children.
He’s contesting as a representative of Ido/Ibarapa East federal constituency under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in the forthcoming general elections billed for February, 2019.
News
Food Security: Rep. Oseni Boosts Oyo Agriculture, Distributes 5,200 Bags of Fertiliser to Farmers
The Chairman, House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and member representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Engr. Aderemi Oseni has distributed 5,200 bags of fertiliser to farmers across his constituency.
The distribution, which took place on Tuesday, is part of Oseni’s agricultural empowerment initiative under the Soludero Movement. According to a statement by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, the initiative is designed to boost food production and combat the rising cost of food items in the country.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, which drew traditional rulers, party leaders, farmers, and constituents, the lawmaker described the gesture as a “landmark intervention” aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
“This is not merely a fertiliser distribution,” Oseni stated. “It is an empowerment programme designed to enhance productivity, boost food supply, and restore hope to thousands of households.”
He explained that the initiative aims to support farmers as the planting season begins while alleviating the burden posed by high agricultural input costs. The APC chieftain added that the intervention reflects his commitment to grassroots development and food security.
The Soludero Movement, launched shortly after he assumed office, has rolled out several empowerment programmes, including scholarships for over 1,000 students, interest-free loans for market women, and multi-million-naira grants for small business owners.
The lawmaker also unveiled plans to strengthen farmer support systems through the newly established Remi Oseni Soludero Cooperative Societies. The cooperatives, he said, are designed to support farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs in the constituency.
“We are creating sustainable systems that will outlive political tenures and build enduring legacies,” he said, highlighting that the effort goes beyond fertiliser distribution to promoting long-term economic growth.
The Onido of Idoland, Oba Gbolagade Babalola (Gbadewolu I), who was present at the event, commended the lawmaker for the initiative. He urged beneficiaries to use the fertilisers on their farms and not to sell them.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Nigeria Cassava Association in Ido Local Government, Oladipo Nurudeen, speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, praised Oseni for his continued support. Oladipo further noted that fertiliser is a critical input for farming and that the intervention would go a long way in enhancing food security in the area.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially rescheduled the commencement of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to Thursday, 24th April, 2025, across Nigeria.
This development was disclosed in a statement signed by Dr Fabian Benjamin, Public Communication Advisor to JAMB, on Saturday.
The examination, earlier slated to begin on Friday, 25th April, has been brought forward by one day due to what the Board described as “essential commitments by the Board and its partner agencies.”
According to the statement, “The 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is now set to commence on Thursday, April 24, 2025, instead of the previously scheduled date of Friday, April 25, 2025. This adjustment has been made to accommodate essential commitments by the Board and its partner agencies.”
In preparation for the nationwide exercise, the Board has opened its official portal for registered candidates to print their 2025 UTME Notification Slips, which contain crucial information such as examination date, venue, and time.
“All candidates who have registered for the 2025 UTME scheduled to commence on Thursday, 24th April, 2025, are urged to print their 2025 UTME Notification Slips before the date of their examination,” the statement added.
To access the slip, candidates are required to visit www.jamb.gov.ng, click on the “2025 UTME Slip Printing” link, enter their registration number, and proceed to print the document.
JAMB strongly advised all candidates to familiarise themselves with the locations of their respective centres prior to the examination date to avoid any confusion or delay.
Furthermore, the Board reiterated its strict policy on examination locations, warning candidates not to appear at any centre outside their officially assigned venue or examination town.
“Please note that candidates will be assigned to centres within their chosen examination towns; no candidate will be placed in a centre outside their selected town,” JAMB emphasised.
The Board assured that all necessary arrangements are in place to ensure a seamless conduct of the 2025 UTME and urged candidates to comply strictly with the guidelines provided.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced the temporary closure of Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu to allow for essential runway maintenance works.
In a statement issued on Saturday, FAAN revealed that a sudden and significant rupture had appeared in the asphalt surface of a critical section of the runway, necessitating immediate intervention.
Emergency repairs will take place from 22 April to 6 May 2025, during which time the runway will be entirely closed to all landings and take‑offs.
“In compliance with Nigerian civil aviation regulations, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has, therefore, closed the runway during this period,” the authority said.
FAAN emphasised that this measure forms part of its ongoing commitment to passenger safety and the modernisation of airport facilities.
“All flights to this airport will be diverted to nearby airports,” FAAN added, appealing to airport users and stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation. The authority also apologised for the late and unexpected notice regarding the closure.
Reacting to the announcement, Air Peace confirmed on Saturday morning that it had suspended all flights scheduled to the airport.
In its own statement, the carrier attributed the suspension to the deteriorating condition of the runway infrastructure, which it said had repeatedly raised safety concerns.
“At Air Peace, we prioritise safety first over convenience,” the airline declared. “We believe that if flights are not operated into this aerodrome for the next few days, it will allow the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria the opportunity to perform the necessary repairs on the runway.”
Air Peace further explained that all affected services would instead operate from Asaba, Delta State.
“Please be informed that all flights scheduled into and out of Enugu will now be operated into and out of Asaba. We regret any inconvenience this change may have caused,” the statement concluded.
Ibom Air has likewise suspended its Enugu services for the duration of the maintenance. Its Customer Contact Centre will reach out to passengers already booked on affected flights, and those seeking alternatives may make enquiries at Lagos (LOS), Abuja (ABV), or Enugu (ENU) airport desks.
“The safety of our passengers remains our top priority, and we look forward to resuming full operations in Enugu once the runway maintenance is completed,” the airline said.
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