DURODOYE : THE MATHEMATICIAN WITH THE ROADMAP TO A NEW ERA IN OSUN STATE

Affectionately called and known as ' Duro" among friends and family members, Professor Raifu Durodoye, a Professor of Mathematics, had long dreamed of giving back to his country and particularly, his homeland, Osun State, having been constructively critical of the way Nigeria was squandering legacies and witnessing a wasted generation of potential geniuses.

The belief of Professor Durodoye is that the education we acquire as citizens  of the world, should not be used almost exclusively for personal gain ,in view  of the fact that man's development should not strictly be an internal matter which can altogether be divorced from the social, economic and political life of the society in which he lives ; not even when the whole world itself has shrunk into a global community.

 

Professor Durodoye had regrettably watched the ways too many youths are living lives bereft of hope and had ruminated on the one-time resolve of Abraham Lincoln, who as a young man at a slave market, had whispered  to himself :" If I have the chance to hit this thing ( slavery) I shall hit it hard. 

Shaped by his moral opposition to the inhuman activity, and with strong belief in the principles of liberty and equality, Lincoln, as America's President, later solidified his commitment to ending slavery.
Conversely, the best moment Professor Durodoye had been waiting for and working assiduously to achieve however came ,when he seized on the opportunity  to facilitating Nigeria's membership of GLOBE, and promptly set the stage for sustenance of the educational reform in the country and the development of a roadmap for future generations of scientists.

 He did not however attain the lofty height by mere sudden flight but through  the educational system he encountered and the right approach given the teaching of Mathematics by   his one- time College tutor whose efforts he identified as having impacted on him tremendously.

 " I credit my high school teacher, Mr. Akinola who taught mathematics straight from memory ,with no reference to textbook except for reinforcement and assignment. " He attested.

" We are blessed with the system of education in Nigeria as the knowledge and the training we underwent provided solid foundation to compete anywhere in the world. My background at Saint Charles High School, Osogbo and the University of Ibadan, Ibadan gave me easy and smooth academic ride at Marshall University.  

" I was a Part two student at the University of Ibadan when I was offered scholarship, but with the right counselling from my academic father, Professor B.B. Adeleke, I transferred to Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia to complete my Bachelor's degree, Masters at Texas A&M University, Commerce, TX and Doctorate at National American University. "

 Durodoye, indeed represents a combination of future and success, in view of his belief that the future belongs to the patient and diligent individuals ,no wonder why his name is an abridged symbol of Persistence and Patience,all of which epitomises Innovation ,struggles and achievements.
GLOBE Nigeria facilitator,Professor Durodoye, is a Professor of Mathematics at North Lake College in Texas, USA .He is from Osogbo, Osun State and had worked with experts in America and with officials of the Federal Ministry of Education in  Nigeria on developing educational materials to improve the teaching of maths and science in schools in both countries.

Professor of Mathematics, Durodoye, and Physicist,Dr. Jim Roberts, Professor of Physics and Material Science, Projector Director of the Regional Collaborative for Excellence in Science Teaching UNT and Directir of the Center for Nonlinear Science UNT had been collaborating for over ten years on developing the  educational materials and sharing their experiences with teachers in Nigeria as well as developing collaboration between schools in the two countries.

 Towards this end, Professor Durodoye utilized a grant he received from Allied Consulting and Educational Partnership of Texas to organise workshops in which teachers from Nigeria participated at workshops held at the University of North Texas in 2002 and in 2005.
 GLOBE was an essential component of the teaching materials used in the workshops, with Dr. Rebecca Boger ,GLOBE Deputy Director, International/U.S. Partnerships and Outreach and International Project Scientist teaching many of the protocols in the Atmosphere, Phenology,Soils ,Hydrology and Land Cover / Biology investigations .
According to a release by U.S. Embassy, Public Affairs Information Section, GLOBE,as an education program for K-12 students all over the world, has provided an inquiry-based, non-advocacy partnership encompassing over 11,000 GLOBE schools in 97 countries.
Dr Roberts corroborated the assertion and described GLOBE as the great integrator of science ,adding:" In more than three decades of teaching physics to all levels, pre-medical  engineers,physicist and teachers of science,  I have come to the conclusion that the GLOBE Program is the greatest vehicle to deliver science knowledge and to show the relevance of science to the needs of mankind that I have experienced during those years ."

Former Minister of Education, Professor Babalola Borisade at the pact-signing agreement between GLOBE and Nigeria ,was hopeful that Nigeria joining 88 other countries as a GLOBE member, would become an important partner in international environmental research while enhancing the scientific and mathematics skills of students and teachers in Nigeria.

He then acknowledged the efforts of Professor Durodoye through whose commitment, assiduity and tenacity, Nigeria became a member of GLOBE,positing that Nigeria's joined because of its belief in the initiator of the programme, former U.S.Vice President, Al Gore and the US .
 At the 2006 Ondo State workshop in which 80 participants drawn from over 30 schools attended, Professor Durodoye described the period as " ONE OF THE BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE " and that the workshop which followed at Osun State where-in more than 60 University Professors, graduate students and Ministry of Education representatives participated was a fulfillment of his long-term ambition to give back to Osun State.

" I found home in a progressive community in which academic-assisted talent plays vital role. Improving the quality of humanity through education, health care delivery, economic development and agricultural mechanization are the focal points. " the Professor of Mathematics remarked.

Dr. Olusegun Agagu, the former Governor of Ondo State and  Professor Rafiu Durodoye took the first giant step forward by hosting the first GLOBE Nigeria Trainer Workshop in Ondo State.

 " With this workshop, Ondo State has developed a roadmap for the creation of a future generation of scientists by providing access and opportunity in Mathematics, science and technology, and a sustained professional development program for teachers.  This roadmap will be implemented in the next workshop in Osun State !" Professor Durodoye remarked at the occasion.

True to his words,  a week-long second GLOBE workshop was subsequently held in 2007 at the African Regional Centre  for Space Science and Technology Education located at Obafemi Awolowo University, ile-Ife, Osun State. At the workshop, Mrs Tiffany Litton , one of the members of the International team described the forum as " a model of an international collaborative effort. "

To ensure  long-term sustainability of GLOBE in Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola , the Governor of the state, equally provided 20 schools with the necessary equipment to implement Atmosphere, Soil and  Hydrology protocols while including funding of the programme in the state budget to support future GLOBE workshops.

Professor Durodoye explained that his motive for facilitating Nigeria's membership of GLOBE was to afford him the  opportunity to " serve boys and girls in Mathematics, science and technology ( STEM), starting from Osun State  ,adding that : the original plan was the expansion of the project to  over 36 states of the country and link them with over 144 countries. 

" With this strategy, we develop alumni as role models for the programme while serving as networking towards academic interactions and solicitation of financial resources." Professor Durodoye stated .
According to him, the partnership between GLOBE students in Nigeria and other countries is partly intended to supplement research equipment  provides autonomy and confidence in the research experiments and protocols. 

The independent knowledge and skills will serve as paradigm of global integrity for our students. " He responded.


.BY OLALERE FAGBOLA

WHEN A MATHEMATICIAN AND ENVIRONMENTALIST ENTERS THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

It's no surprise that mathematicians often make significant contributions to governance, administration, and public life. Mathematicians who understand interdisciplinary studies excel in various fields, whether in public or private roles.

 

My brother, a respected mathematician, once shared with me that mathematics is unique in that its results are absolute.
 According to him, mathematics is like facts, which are sacred, whereas other subjects are like comments, which are open to interpretation.
 He noted that a correctly solved mathematical problem would yield the same result regardless of who marks it or where it's evaluated.

Being a mathematician, however, doesn't automatically guarantee expertise in all areas. Unfortunately, some mathematicians may struggle to find employment that matches their skills.

EXPLORING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MATHEMATICS AND EDUCATION
The GLOBE program has introduced a scientific and excellent approach to teaching mathematics. Those who understand the connection between mathematics and spirituality recognize the underlying principles of cause and effect in spiritual laws.
Meanwhile, those who understand the connection between mathematics and spirituality are less likely to be offended by spiritual laws, such as "whatever a man sows, so shall he reap" (Galatians 6:7) and "as for the good, good will be theirs, and for the evil, evil will be theirs" (Qur'an 24:26).
JESUS' TEACHING ON CAUSE AND EFFECT IS MATHEMATICAL
Jesus' commission to his disciples to teach nations about cause-and-effect principles can be seen as a form of "mathematizing" nations.

PROFESSOR RAIFU DURODOYE'S STORY
Professor Raifu Durodoye, a mathematician based in Texas, exemplifies persistence and patience. He credits his Nigerian education for providing a solid foundation, enabling him to compete globally. With over a decade of experience collaborating with experts, Professor Durodoye has promoted environmental research and scientific skills through the GLOBE program.

GLOBE
The GLOBE program's mission aligns with Professor Durodoye's efforts, enhancing scientific and mathematical skills. His work explores the intersection of mathematics, education, and environmentalism, demonstrating innovative approaches to learning.

BY OLALERE FAGBOLA.

Easter: Prof Durodoye preaches peace, love, patience, sacrifice, tolerance | Calls for continued prayer for Security in the Country

A professor of Mathematics and Chieftain of All Progressives Congress,  APC, Osun state Prof. Oyewole Rafiu Durodoye has called for peace, love and tolerance among Nigerians in the spirit of Easter celebration.

In his Easter message which he personally signed, Prof Durodoye has heartily felicitated Nigerians, the people of Osun State and his town, Osogbo, particularly the Christians, as they join their brethren across the world in celebrating Easter.

Durodoye who is a frontline politician and an academician urged all Nigerians to pray for peace and security amidst seemingly intractable insecurity around Nigeria and an end to terrorism in the land.

According to him, Easter which is the season of the remembrance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ marks the trial, sacrifice, victory and completion of the divine mandate of the author of the Christian faith.

He appealed to all to practise the Christian virtues of sacrifice, patience, love and abiding faith in order for us as Nigerians to have a better tomorrow which has been symbolized in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

According to him, nations can be developed and grow bigger where  Christian virtues of love, sacrifices for one another, patience and hope for a better future are in place.

Prof. Durodoye who called on Nigerians to remain committed, faithful,  hopeful, stressed the need for all to continue to support President Bola Tinubu’s efforts in the challenge of building a better society that would be devoid of rampant insecurity, just as he prayed that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ will open a window for a better Nigeria with hard work and prayers.  

Durodoye said, “As we celebrate the unique occasion, let us keep in mind the significance of the season, which is the perfect demonstration of sacrificial love to others. As the lent ended in triumph, the season should also rekindle our hope of victory over personal and communal challenges.

” I pray that the triumph of Christ will encourage all people of faith to be hopeful of victory against trials and challenges, whether as individuals or as a nation.

“Our nation is faced with rampant insecurity from Boko Haram Insurgents, bandits’ attacks, kidnapping, herders/farmers clashes that are not only affecting the economy and the progress of the nation but threatening its existence. I call on all to pray for peace and security during the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

OYEDOKUN COMMENDS ADELEKE FOR HIS COURAGE

 

"Anyone who knew how the former Asiwaju of Ede, Chief Adetunji Adeleke impacted positively, the lives of People of his hometown, Ede ,Osun State and the entire country, Nigeria ,would have no option than to rejoice with  Governor Ademola Jackson Adeleke for his courage in stepping into the shoes of his late brother as the new Asiwaju of Ede land ."

The Oluomo of Inisa, Chief Shuaib Afolabi Oyedokun has noted.

In a statement released  by the Oluomo of Inisa, he described the life of the former Asiwaju of Ede as a brilliant testimony and demonstration of the golden thought which says that:" it isn't life that matters but the courage  one puts to it ."

"With Chief Adetunji Adeleke, charity also, did not only begin from home ,  the training he imbibed from his Adeleke Dynasty towards his passion for and sense of pursuing people's welfare, became an undying badge which he wore courageously as he expanded the legacy of good governance to the state and Nigeria in general" He  recalled .

 "It is therefore along the pleasant metaphor which  the traditional chieftaincy title of Asiwaju has  exuded in the dynasty, bequeathing worthy  heritage from one generation to another, that I am congratulating  the Osun State Governor for taking up the mantle as the Asiwaju of Ede." Oyedokun added. 

According to him:

It is my prayers that the Governor would brace up to the privileges and challenges which the chieftaincy aptly confers, even towards the progress of the state, not forgetting to do proud the fulcrum , goodwill  and platforms upon which he rode to power, particularly the welfare of the commoners which his Dynasty fought for since the days of his father.

The Oluomo of Inisa then commended the Timi of Ede,His royal Majesty, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal as well as his council of chiefs for the great honour done to Governor Adeleke and for their commitment to the advancement of the ancient town and the state in general. 

"That this honour is  coming  at a time the Governor is clocking 64, shows that the new age portends  double blessing commensurate with the responsibility of tapping into the wisdom there-from while preparing him graciously for the task a-head ." Oluomo reckoned.

PRECISION HAND OF GOD IS FANTASTIC IN JOURNALISM

 

How does Precision come into the Hand of God in Journalism  ? One may ask.

It is like the promise or covenant which God gives ; it is purified seven times  and re-purified in the fire of fulfillment seven times. 

Conversely, It is an open secret , for instance, that my brand of Journalism practice goes beyond one which fulcrums  on mere western paradigm .

This had become apparent since 1989 when I won my first Best Reporter of the Year award, and after which the then Cross River State University, Uyo,( Department of Communication Arts) invited me to contribute a chapter to a journalism textbook which was then on the drawing board .

 It was after I submitted my contribution that God, during my journey into trance,revealed to me the secret of Journalism, where-in, His breath exuded into the documents while it translated to my first Journalism textbook titled:" JOURNALISTS AND THE HAND OF GOD.

Precisely, the message  in the Book of Revelation in the Bible, Chapter four put it most succinctly :

" After this I looked, and,  behold,  A DOOR WAS OPENED IN HEAVEN ( emphasis in capital letters is mine ) and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, COME UP HITHER AND I WILL SHOW THEE THINGS WHICH MUST BE HEREAFTER. "

No doubt, the Hand of God has been working for me in the profession, knowing full well that in the business of Journalism, which is geared at ensuring good governance, whatever door government is trying to shut for selfish end, is the same door that journalists set out to open up in the interest of the public.

Let me confess here however that until April,14,1994, I didn't know that midwifery is an office with its own door, and that only the HAND OF GOD opens and closes the  door as He chooses.

 Conversely ,when a new King over Egypt which knew not the Biblical Joseph ascended the throne, it was his plan to kill all male children of Hebrew and upon which he recruited midwives detailed to carry out the dastardly act.

King Pharaoh resultantly gave them the order :" When ye do THE OFFICE OF A MIDWIFE , to the Hebrew women ,and see them upon the stood, if it be a son, then ye shall kill him, but if it be a daughter then she shall live ."( Exodus 1:16 ) Today  April, 14, 2024 ,I am happy to recall that God, on April, 14, 1994, intervened in opening the Door of the office of midwifery for my wife, Prophetess Idowu  Deborah Fagbola who gave birth to Kayode John Fagbola, now marking his 30th birthday today. 

How did it happen  ?

 My wife had in 1994 kept shuttling, time without number,  between our Ring Road  Ibadan residence and Punch's Oke-Bola-based hospital, anticipatory  and preparatory to her time of delivery in which the arrival of the expected child was mysteriously delayed. 

On the afternoon of this April 14 ,1994, Mummy ,was still in the usual protracted labour when the Lord inspired me to go to the family altar where we always prayed to God ,giving me His gentle instruction that I should fill up the hand bell there with water, bless it and give my wife to drink .

Barely twenty minutes after she took the water, she put to bed effortlessly right in our three-bed room flat.

Hallelujah, Kayode is a child of prayer and indeed an answer to God-inspired prayers.  It was shortly before his birth that Punch Management approved for me a car loan with which I bought my first car, JETA. 

The second precision to this Miracle birth which heralded the arrival of my car was that it revealed the potency in Precision Journalism in which we scoop out big news through subjecting  statistical data into intelligent and intelligible interpretation .

Mrs Christie Ohuabunwa , who was on the Crime Beat, being our Amazon Crime Correspondent, had stormed the news room one afternoon with her usual exclusive stories. 

When I demanded from her the source of her stories, she yielded to me two heavily bound books of Crime statistics which she got authoritatively from credible source. 

After she had exhausted her write-ups from the documents, she yielded the books to me, on request, and for three months, I locked myself up in my office, being the Acting News Editor of Sunday Punch,interpreting the statistics of crime intelligently and intelligibly. 

For a whole quarter of the year, 1994, the statistics of various crimes in Nigeria by Nigerians from 1950 to 1994 were speaking to me while I plotted data of crimes which lay in the kitties of both Federal and State governments in Nigeria. The result was fantastic  !

The Sunday Punch under the supervision of my Editor, Godwin  Nzeakahnnamdi, alias Ogbefi was for the period commanding frontline respect in the market with the newspaper becoming an instant sell out. At one of the board meetings presided over by our actuarial and mathematical Chairman,  Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, my editor gladly presented my case for a car loan, based on my excellent performance while the request was granted instanter.

The Hand of God in Precision Journalism is indeed fantastic. 

OLALERE FAGBOLA REPORTING

EXPERTS CALL FOR SCHOOL PRESS CLUB IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE

Amid increasing cases of  substance abuse and gender-based violence in Nigeria, with attendant toll on socio-political and economic life of the youths ,two child experts and educationists have stressed the need for schools to adopt a threefold educational initiatives towards urgent implementation of ongoing fight against the social malaise.

The recommendations which were adopted at a recent workshop for teachers in Osun State are the setting up of Drug-free Press Club in schools ,the energisation of literary and debating society programmes and the engagement of students in creative drama which fulcrums on  the upliftment of moral values in school environments.

The three-pronged policy is encapsulated from two lectures delivered separately by the Assistant State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Dr Yetunde Ofoha and the Director of Public Schools, Mrs. A.O. Adeoye .

The two experts agreed that the impartation of needed knowledge through the faithful implementation of their recommendations would go a long way to inculcating sound academic and moral values in the lives of students while building in their psychology, the stamina vital to coping with pressure of life as well as helping to debunk the fallacy that prosperity comes without labour.

Both of them stressed that it was important to integrate the three initiatives into the school time table and argued that if the ongoing fight against drug abuse and addiction would not end up as a mere shadow-chasing antics,  the sensitisation must be methodically inculcated into the school system, beginning from their assembly so that it would serve as a lifeblood which students would carry beyond the four walls of the schools .

The Assistant State Commander of NDLEA expressed regret that Nigeria which formerly was regarded as a transit country for hard drugs has now become a producer, consumer and trafficker country, pointing out that the immediate victims are youths, regarded as future leaders.

Dr Ofoha equally noted that it was not even palatable that Osun state is purportedly classified among states with the highest cases of drug addicts.

 She however noted with delight that the United Nation has encouraged the incorporation of spiritualism in the prevention of substance abuse and in the rehabilitation of drug addicts, adding that the NDLEA has equally been operating new strategies in its War Against Drug Addiction, acronymed WADA.

 In her own contribution, the Director of Public Schools in the Ministry of Education, Mrs Adeoye who charged teachers that " discipline is inseparable from teaching," urged workshop participants to be mindful of their behaviours with students whom they are supposed to lead by examples, adding that:" a toaster ( child abuser) of students can't preach honesty before his or her students. "

The Director of Public Schools who described the workshop as very timely, stated that the ministry of education in Osun state is committed to the march against drug abuse and gender-based violence ,stressing that the month of March is intensifying its march against the menace through FIGHT, being the acronymed for Fill In The Gap And Halt The Trend .

 In the commitment of the state Government to rid Osun state of social malaise, Mrs Adeoye disclosed that no fewer than 5,000 new teachers are being recruited by the state government towards the education of youths while ensuring that they equip their students with moral armament needed to fortify them as future leaders.

 At the Uniosun Teaching Hospital, Osogbo workshop venue in which the Osogbo Window on America is located ,resource persons drawn from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA and the Ministry of Education ,presented papers while the Chief Executive Director of Trauma of Dreadlocked Publisher , Olalere Fagbola treated participants to  renditions of poetry  in support of the Fight.

Earlier, the Director of Osogbo Window on America, Mr. Samuel Ibitoye stated that the Window is an initiative of the Public Affairs of the U.S. Consulate , stressing that the workshop,through collaborative efforts with Imole foundation, is part of programmes by which the Window has not relented in empowering youths in Osun state through different educative initiatives geared at moulding their minds in being productive .

The Imole Foundation, a nongovernmental  organisation was established  by Mrs Hembadoon Babatunde and under the Board Chairmanship of Mr Kehinde Babatunde .

Imole foundation. The organisation is committed to the fight against drug abuse, sexual abuse and gender-based violence in schools across Africa.  

The founder has been using her book, WOUNDS THAT WON'T HEAL " now adopted by the Osun State Government for the use of schools in her sensitisation campaign to educate students as well as parents in different programmes for early advocacy for kids .

BY OLALERE FAGBOLA

ATAOJA ENACTS ADIRE PALACE POLICY : BESTOWS OSUNMUNREWA ON BALOGUN SANGO OF USA

The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Oyetunji has assured that no stone would be left unturned in the quest to restore the credible old Glory of Osogbo as the cradle of authentic Adire indigo in Nigeria. 

Beaming with smiles as he welcomed to his palace , visiting Balogun Sango of USA, Sangorinu Fabunmi Akinlana, who himself was bedecked in rich flowing Agbada gown of Adire fabrics, Oba Oyetunji added that all efforts would be made to encourage the production and promotion of Osogbo indigenous Adire and Batik all over the world.

The Ataoja announced that he is making it a policy that his chiefs as well as august visitors to his palace wear Adire to annual Osun festival and to other important ceremonies in Osogbo .

The Osun State government has also issued a statement in recent times that civil servants as well as pupils in primary schools and students in secondary schools should wear adire to office and schools respectively in order to encourage the promotion of the indigenous industry.

In recognition of the humanitarian efforts of Balogun Sango of USA, particularly his commitment in promoting the works of Adire and Batik in Osogbo , the Ataoja of Osogbo bestowed a new traditional name of " Osunmunrede on him , stressing that Balogun Sango's patriotic efforts were worthy of emulation.

 Balogun Sango has arrived Osogbo from America to launch the new "Adire digital " being pioneered by a blind genius and Proprietor of African Craft shop, Adebayo Muritala Akanbi David, popularly called AMAD BULLDOZER " .

 At the ceremony coming up this Friday at Zebaff Event Centre  Osogbo,  Balogun Sango along with a Ghana-based philanthropist ,Abdul Rasheed Sanni and Adebayo Muritala Akanbi David would introduce the adire digital as one of the projects of their non governmental organisation called " Three Good Hearts "

 In his response ,the Balogun Sango thanked the Ataoja of Osogbo for the honour bestowed upon him and promised to carry Adebayo's project to higher heights ,adding that his moving train is going to metamorphose into a moving aeroplane .

Among highly placed personalities who witnessed the occasion was Chief Jimoh Ibrahim, a forerunner of Nigerian art and bead works.

WHEN ROYAL FATHER( PROFESSOR) AMBUSHED BUHARI'S EX-SPECIAL ADVISER

Where military strategy rules an environment, it is often a fulcrum upon which attire an ambush is masterminded for attacks and it's always the common language spoken by the military who are usually on offensive mission.

Unlike a Hollywood or Nollywood movie where actors die in one episode and resurrect in another one dramatically, ambush is not such a parody crafted as same bedfellow with riddles and jokes.

But the last time I noticed the word :" ambush" stealing publicly into our socio-political vocabulary was in 1998 when the media reported that top notchers of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP ambushed General Olusegun Obasanjo at his Otta farm to present him Presidential ticket to contest on a platter of gold .

Sensing that it would be an uphill task wooing the war General to pick interest in the 1999 Presidential race,and particularly as the PDP was not disposed to exposing its joker and winning strategy for the race to political opponents, the PDP chieftains paid unscheduled visit to Obasanjo's farm and persuaded him to join the party and carry the party's banner.

 Emerging from the meeting with the party stalwarts, Chief Obasanjo described their unscheduled visit and mission to his farm as an ambush, even though it was devoid of attack which is  peculiar to such field operation.

This was exactly the nature of what similarly and  pleasantly played out last week at Origbo Community High School playground where Femi Adesina was ambushed. 

It all happened at the venue of this year's annual Ipetumodu Day Celebration which witnessed His Royal Majesty,  Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, Oba ( Professor) Joseph Olugbenga conferring on Femi Adesina, the coveted chieftaincy title of Oluomo of Ipetumodu ( The Prima inter Pares) amid pomp and pageantry.

 It turned out to be double honour for him as the League of Veteran journalists ,Osun State  also decorated the former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity with the league's Merit Award for his commitment to the pursuit of Excellence in Professional journalism.

That he was conferred with the Oluomo of Ipetumodu chieftaincy title on Ipetumodu Day was strategically driven to lure Adesina to attend the function as it is obligatory for illustrious sons and daughters of Ipetumodu to attend it ,particularly as this year's annual anniversary was intended to raise #500 million Appeal fund for building of Apetumodu Ultra-modern palace of the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu.

 According to the master of ceremony for the Ipetumodu Day, Oba ( Professor) Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede heard it on good authority that Femi Adesina was not given to accepting honorary or chieftaincy titles and may not attend the Ipetumodu day, if he had fore knowledge or any inkling of an Oluomo title waiting in the wing for him .

 With the royal institution adjudging him fit for the title of the Oluomo of the ancient town, Oba ( Professor) Oloyede and key members of the community kept their plan secret ,even as it was strategically not listed on the programme of the Ipetumodu Day .

Trust Veteran journalists who are experts in sniffing news and having penchant for scoops, they appeared to have caught wind of the plan to bestow honour on Adesina but  could not  confirm the nature of award by which Adesina was going to  be decorated .

Just at the beginning of the programme, the League was invited to present its award to Adesina and leading the team was the Chairman of the veterans, Prince Adesupo Atobatele who officially admitted the former Spokesman of the  Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari into the league as a honourary life member and presented him with a certificate of Merit in recognition of his laudable achievements.

With the stage set for the surprise package, Oba Olugbenga Oloyede recalled , with joy ,how Femi Adesina had use his good offices to facilitate the choice of Ipetumodu as the location for citing and building of the multimillion naira and Ultra-modern 80-bed multi-purpose hospital. He added pointedly that  he was conferring the title of Oluomo of Ipetumodu on Femi  Adesina in recognition of his many contributions to the development of the ancient town. 

It was thunderous ovation that rent the air amid booming of dane guns by traditional hunters who fired intermittently to the sky ,even as drummers and acrobatic dancers celebrated Adesina, punctuating the royal speech with applause.

According to Apetumodu, the hospital which he described as " second to none" has been fully equipped and furnished with modern health gadgets to serve not only the locality but its environs as well as passersby Ibadan-Ife Express Way and the state entirely

Oba Oloyede then appealed to the Osun State  government to ensure commencement of operation in the hospital .

Among very important dignitaries who witnessed the occasion was the Yeyeluwa of Ede,Dr. ( Mrs) Modupe Adeleke-Sanni who was the Mother of the Day .

Barely few weeks to the time Adesina  bowed out of office honourably as the Special Adviser  to President Muhammadu Buhari, he had begun to be vindicated. 

Judging from comments now referring to the patriotic way in which he handled his immediate  constituency ( the Press ) with fairness, not stifling press freedom in any way, even in spite of all vitriolic attacks on his Principal,  it is certain that history has begun to absolve him.

 In an open letter written to Bayo Onanuga by Richard Akinnola, he stated that it was remarkable that , Femi Adesina, as Special Adviser, Media and publicity to the President,  did not petition against any media throughout his tenure. 

Let the golden words of 

Fidel Castro, in his historic speech," HISTORY WILL ABSOLVE ME" continue to serve  Chief Femi Adesina, the Olu-Omo of Ipetumodu. 

" To those who would call me a dreamer , I quote the words of Marti:

" A true man does not seek the path where advantage lies, but rather the path where duty lies,and this is the only practical man whose dream of today will be the law of tomorrow, because he who has looked back on the upheaval of history and has seen civilisation going up in flames, crying out in bloody struggle, throughout the centuries,knows the future well-being of man,without exception ,lies on the side of duty ."

OLALERE FAGBOLA.

FEMI ADESINA: A LESSON IN FRATERNAL PHILANTHROPY AND EQUANIMITY

The plan by my association, Association of Veteran journalists, AVJ,Osun State to host Femi Adesina in a Media chat today, September, 20, 2023 became known to me only yesterday through a Press statement forwarded to me by my God father in politics, the Olu-Omo of Inisa,Chief Shuaib Afolabi Oyedokun who is currently in America. 

That the media chat with him ,under the Chairmanship of the state Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation  Alhaji Kola Alimi ,is being held as a way of welcoming him back home to his state ( Osun state) after his eight years of meritorious service to the father land  ,is another way in which I see history absolving him .

 One of the reasons why I did not, in good time ,know about this historic event in which the Special Adviser to former President, Muhammadu Buhari would be at home in the midst of  Chief Executive Officers of ten Broadcasting Officers, among others, is because I have not been attending meetings of my Association regularly.

 This is not however unconnected with the fact that in the past two years, I have steadily been a care giver to a mental patient, one of my children, whose medical treatment has not been without the philanthropic assistance of Femi Adesina.

 In a new book of my authorship titled:"TRAUMA OF THE DREAD-LOCKED " documenting the TRAUMA within TRAUMA associated  with his  mental illness amid shuttle from five different hospitals ( 2019-2023) I wrote in the Acknowledgment page of the yet- to- be launched book ,the immense contributions, notably ,of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Femi Adesina for their moral,financial and spiritual support to my family towards ensuring that my son did not walk naked to the market square.

 It is a cause of painful concern for me that Femi Adesina's home-coming chat with the veterans is happening today, a date in which I am supposed  to be in Lagos towards keeping an appointment, ( 12 noon ) with an Abuja-based  indomitable lawyer  Rockson Igelige who is studying my case and considering instituting legal action against a reputable record company for violating my intellectual property.

I do now recall that Femi Adesina was with the National Concord newspaper when I was also working with the Punch newspaper,  ( 80s through to 2000 ) and we knew ourselves only  through our bylines which rocked the weekends

 But it was through an earlier media chat in 2015 organised by the Association of Veteran journalists for him at NUJ Press Centre, Osogbo that we met for the first time, flesh and blood.

At the end of our question and answer session , Femi Adesina got a complimentary copy of my Journalism textbook, Journalists and the Hand of God,  second edition ,leaving me with  a remark that continues to surprise me till now .

 " I must not take this book for free, please let me sow a seed to encourage you ." He remarked as he handed over to me a robust sum of money.

 When I was a Media Consultant ( Senior Executive officer ) in charge of the production of the magazine of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital ABUTH, Zaria, I had genuine reason to initiate a fund-raising charity to take care of whooping medical bill of a kidney patient,  Mass communication graduate, Miss Mercy Echeburu, who was then on admission at the hospital.

 It was through the direct assistance of Femi Adesina, then ,Editor-In - Chief of the Sun newspaper that my project to raise the needed fund through his newspaper succeeded.

And barely a month to leaving office as the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, Richard Akinnola  in an open letter to Bayo Onanuga ,stated that it was remarkable that Femi Adesina, in spite of vitriolic attacks by the Press on his principal ,did not in any way, stifle press freedom.

Unlike the characteristic manner in which some  spokesmen for Presidents and Governors often master minded  booby traps of detention for fellow journalists  through unleashing  venom of petitions against them for criticising their principals , Femi Adesina did not for once engage in such unholy act .

Rather he engaged and still engages minds,  pen for pen ; point for point ,allowing a more superior judgement to rule while making saner conclusions possible.

In assigning values to my collective experience as a journalist,  I have  for some times been praying that nobody may dare me over my long-held view about journalists that sometimes we are our own worst enemies.  

Were I to be dared , I may have to relate  different case studies in which journalistic cocks of wire-pulling, betrayal and dog-biting dog syndrome had crowed many times, louder than the Biblical cock .

If I were  opportuned today to be one of his interviewers at the NUJ Press Centre for his home-coming reception,  one question I would have asked him is this : 

" From where did you draw your equanimity in  resisting the temptation of using your high office to selling out your fraternal brothers in spite of their vitriolic comments and attacks on your Principal ?

Let the golden words of 

Fidel Castro, in his historic speech," HISTORY WILL ABSOLVE ME" here ,serve Femi Adesina at this home-coming reception :

" To those who would call me a dreamer , I quote the words of Marti:

 " A true man does not seek the path where advantage lies,but rather, the path where duty lies, and this is the only practical man, whose dream of today will be the law of tomorrow, because he who has looked back on the upheavals of history and has seen civilisation going up in flames, crying out in bloody struggle, throughout the centuries, knows the future well-being of man ,without exception, lies on the side of duty ."

OLALERE FAGBOLA.

THAT LIGHT MAY BEGET LIGHT FOR THE AFRICAN CHILD ( SOLUDERO : IMOLE FOR IMOLE)

Light complexioned and cloudlessly wrapped up in blue royalty, the front cover page of "WOUNDS THAT  TIME WON'T HEAL" presents a  picture of a beautiful lady whose  arms and ankles shrank in DEPRESSION:

HEAD BLOODY BUT UNBOWED .

Going by this picture of Depression at its gloom ,the Front cover of this book  leaves us with the impression of the lady whose wounds are psychological and which TIME has refused to heal.

 In this intelligible and intelligent account rendered  in the 90-page literature however,  I perceive that the evil of procrastination ,is  the thief which has been robbing the society of decisive action on how to stamp out the evils of abuses that have been befuddling the African Child .

But  with the way the author of this book has intelligently weaved through her account however, her strong clarion call for action gives one the hope that the involvement  of an AFFIRMATIVE ACTION for effective  participation of women  in decision making , would assist in ensuring that the ongoing sensitisation would yield fruit afterall.  .

 It is therefore good news that WOUNDS THAT TIME WON'T HEAL authored by Feranmi Babatunde has been adopted for use in all secondary schools( junior and senior classes ) in Osun State, having recently received the stamp of approval by the State Ministry of Education. 

In recognition  of her consistent  contributions to the upliftment of the welfare of the girl child, the book, launched on the 2023 International day of the Child was faithfully dedicated to honour  Her Excellency, Soludero , Titilola Adeleke; The wife of the Governor of Osun State , Senator Ademola Jackson Adeleke .

 This is indeed a great challenge before Her Excellency whom the author ,herself, ( in her opening remarks) described as an Icon of hope .

It is also not by mere coincidence that iron sharpens iron and that Imole foundation, owned by the author , has thought it fit to honour a gubernatorial Adeleke dynasty which has become Imole of Osun state . Honour begets Honour ; Light should equally beget Light  for the African child, and this hopefully should manifest in the plan and policy of the office of Her Excellency in carrying the product  of this ngo( the book ) to enviable heights .

 It is said that the Destiny of a people would be determined by their response ( not reaction ) to the challenges facing them . It is really unfortunate that Osun state appears to be the only state in Nigeria where there is no single woman in the legislature .

How does the hallowed chamber ,in this regard, ensure adequate voice for the girl child ? 

Thank God however that this book could be one of the  road maps with which Her Excellency( herself an Icon in championing the cause of women) could choose as a vessel of raising the heads of the girl child and in giving education to their parents on how to prevent their girl child from becoming victims. 

Amid good signals also coming from the National Assembly which is making it mandatory for schools to include lessons on how to prevent gender-based violence in their curriculum, it would be adding value to this policy if the office of Her Excellency ensures that this book ( which readily fits in ) is given wide circulation in secondary schools.

The only way to doing this is for her office to bulk purchase copies of the book for free distribution in all schools. 

 There is no doubt that the words : WOUNDS AND HEAL are not words that appeal only to the physical but more to the psychological and the Spiritual.  In the holistic healing of the wounds , there is no way religious institutions could be left out of the scheme . The Imole foundation must therefore ensure that it makes up the leeway by ensuring that its book circulates wide in our religious circles .

There is no doubt that this is a critique which should be driven on the fulcrum of objectivity.  However, as much as newspapering thrives on facts which are adjudged to be sacred ( even as comments are free ) the soul of any newspaper document worth its salt is its editorials . Just as an editor without an opinion would go nowhere, a critique without its own constructive voice would be pointless.  It should be noted here that the  International Day

 of African Child, being  the date chosen for the public presentation of the book, is built on the education consciousness of the African child who were painfully mauled down ( in hundreds )  for asking for their rights to be well-educated. It  behoves on government and all of us to support the dreams and vision of this foundation which are being formidably prosecuted  in its sensitisation drives through the nooks and crannies of the state . 

There is no doubt that the administration of Governor Nurrudeen Ademola Jackson Adeleke is stepping up to higher level its policy on zero tolerance  against child abuse in Osun state, it is noteworthy that the African child in Soweto ( in 1976 ) dared bullets fired at them by their assailants in their hunger for true development . They chose the path of true development in their demands to be educated in their mother tongue, even in the African language.  We can therefore borrow a leaf from here by ensuring that this book , having been recommended for use in our secondary schools, is given financial muscle , by philanthropists and governments  for wider circulation while equipping the foundation with necessary wherewithal to translate the book into the Yoruba language so that parents can be educated on the standards to preventing our wards from falling prey to the whims of criminals masquerading as relatives and child caregivers.

-OLALERE FAGBOLA.

FIRST FCT MINISTER IS DEAD

Nigeria's first Minister of the Federal Capital city, FCT Abuja, Chief Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun is dead.

A statement released by Oluremi Ajose-Adeogun FNIA  for the family, confirmed that the former Minister  and businessTitan  died last Saturday, July, 1, 2023

Chief Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun, appointed as the Minister by the General Muritala Mohammed military government, was responsible for the Master Plan of Abuja during his time as the Federal capital city Minister .

 

Before he was appointed  as the Federal Capital city  Minister, Chief Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun had served meritoriously as a  two-term Federal commissioner.

He was the Federal Commissioner for Cooperatives and Supply( August 1975) 

and was later appointed as the Federal Commissioner for 

 Special Duties, Federal Capital Development Authority .

 

Chief Ajose-Adeogun of Ita-Aladan, Obun Eko , Isale Eko, Lagos had a distinguished career with the Shell Petroleum ( West Africa) and also  in Manufacturing and Real Estate.

DREADLOCK :AN ADDICTION WORSE THAN HEROIN AND COCAINE

 

Just as it is said of Time, as having its different seasons, to everything upon the earth , is attached , its different purposes. It is when one is ignorant of the purpose to which a thing is being put into use that abuse, misuse or even disuse becomes inevitable. Also , to every sense ,  is its own measure does revolve around , but when it is  without moderation , it becomes an addiction. To be addicted to a thing is to be bound or hooked to such thing .

It is a curse of the Cross of dependence and a prick that pierces and stabs.

Yoruba calls it :" eedi" or " eefun" to which spell one is metaphysically and irrevocably tied.

Sociologically and psychologically, it becomes a stub or a stump of equivocation, and upon which gutter, one stumbles or trips and falls into , leaving behind wounds which stigma or scar ,  have become an injury that time have refused to heal up .

It is generally believed that hard drugs are the only  substances which are easily abused and to which people are addicted .When Nassim Nicholas Taleb however wrote that :" Salary is a financial  drug that is as strong as cocaine or heroin " the reactions that yelled at his statement drew tons of distasteful comments from readers. 

I am afraid that I will  definitely attract from my readers and listeners, a more distasteful reactions by my own declaration and conviction, right here,  that dreadlock is a social and religious opium that  is worse than heroin and cocaine put together.

To illustrate the irrevocable ugliness pervading the dreadlock either as a fashion , religious or as an ideological expression, it is worth recalling here the encounter between a woman and Winston Churchill over a matter  revolving around drunkenness and ugliness. A woman had once approached Winston Churchill, ostensibly stepping upon the tail of his cobra, having planned in her mind to embarrass him in public. 

" You are drunk" She said to Churchill , who, was reputed with the knack of an orator ,not known to suffer fools gladly. 

" You are ugly " Churchill charged back,  adding :" Madam, I may be drunk today and be sober tomorrow but yours is irrevocable."

 In drawing similarities between salary and hard drugs,  Taleb argued that both give us " high" as the brain releases same hormone. 

" You hate your job but the next day it's " bam " ! your salary releases dopamine in the brain while you keep the job despite all struggles..."

 For the salary earner , the job is an indispensable part of life , which like drugs, you can't live without as there appears to be no other option for success and sustenance, even as this predicament resembles that of a drug addict.  You are accustomed to earning more money without mental efforts , receiving than giving; more on consuming than producing; no incentive for invention ; no application of mind to solve challenges and in a state of numbing creativity, courage and determination. So much addiction for salary and for the salary earner,  but worse addiction for the dreadlocked whose addiction is irrevocably weaved around the neck of ugliness, even on  his or her hairdo like a rattlesnake. The word , ugly, going by its dictionary definition, means" unpleasing to the sight".   It derives from old Norwegian language, " uggligr; to be feared, and from the word:" ugga " meaning " to fear , to dread ".

Just as the word ugly is an appearance that causes dread or horror, dreadlock is a word that  connotes fear . It is a number of ugly and dreadful looking strands of hair , curled or hanging  together with ferocity.

 But wait for it :  there are dreadlocks and there are dreadlocks. There are dreadlocks which exquisite beauty, pervading and permeating them, are under the lock and key of gods, having fashioned them after vows of chastity and dignity. 

These are the dreadlocks naturally worn by Nazirites. It is when the hairs upon which crowns, their heads are dignified,  suffer abuse (as a result of ignorance bufuddling the vision , purpose and mission by which  they were created ) that they become an addiction, worse than heroin and cocaine put together.  There are ofcourse , dreadlocks which are worn and cultivated  artificially as mere statements of expression  of ideological and sociological  leanings, but which rules  of engagements, are riding roughshod over the spirituality from which  depths , the strands are curled into threads of dreads and locks. 

For instance, when  Nigerian music lovers, particularly youths , sing with ferocious hilarity, jumping and shouting as they dance to the golden music of Adekunle Gold that:" Dangote and Otedola " ko lori meji ( Dangote and Otedola, each of them does not have two heads) what message are they trying to convey about "Ori " ( head ) being the concrete part of the body personifying luck, fate and destiny  ?  

Was it by mere coincidence that the Ooni of ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and Nigerian billionaire business woman, Evangelist Folorunso Alakija, in separate interviews granted both of them by different media , gave a pride of place to Ori ( Yoruba word for head) being part of the body to which is associated the idea of primacy , chieftaincy, headship and captaincy  ?

 It's however a matter of regret today how too many of our youths are paying lip service to Ori( head ) through the way they are desecrating the sanctity of their heads , attaching to their hairs , the braids and brainwaves of toxicity and oddicity.

Why do many of our African women find it very impossible to appreciate their God-endowed complexion  and hairdos ? 

Does the act of  fastening to our hairs , the yoke of different colours of imported wigs, peculiar to the white , not portray us as a people of low esteem ? 

What of the odious manner in which the African woman bleaches  her natural skin of ivory and olive oil? 

I do not look further, any longer , for any reason, why mere Affirmative action driven outside of the mindset of the African woman, would not liberate the African woman from inferiority complex . No wonder why she is not readily  embracing her rightful position as an amazon, either in political or economic or sociological phase.

However , there are enough case studies about women, who with their natural dreadlocks , have led men , nations and kingdoms to victory , both in moments of crises and at critical periods.

These are women around whose dreadlocks are woven vows of commitment to chastity and spirit of liberation. 

Call them Rastafarians , the Dadas , the Dodondawas or the Nazirites, their Rastafarianism, individually , takes root 

  from " Ras- Tafari" the " Ras" being  " head " sharing same root with Arabic " ra'" while " Tafari" signifies dread fullness. 

An ode to the woman of valour, dignified in her natural dreadlocks, should here suffice. 

" Although I am not in any way effeminately helpless by my bodily construction ,the strands on my head are under the lock and key of gods .

It was this uncultivated  but consecrated land of virginity that raised the metaphor  of "Mariama", "Mary" and "Moremi "in their commitments to their vows of naziriteship.

They were able to devout their offsprings to the gods in order to free their people from the bondage of slavery and menace of satanic forces.  Like the proverbial goose reputed to bring good luck to her family, we are the rare female equivalence of the Biblical Deborah, the woman who is manly in everything she does.

 " I  am not only manly in my physique as a woman but in my behaviour , constituting the opposite side of what people do, even in taste, in my attire and in  my utterances." 

Talk of “nazir" in Hebrew  and “Nadiyr” in Arabic and you are finding my equivalence in the "Ndira" cognate which is referring to a woman behaving like a man-: That's the Ndira Gandhi of India. As the vocabulary dictating my hairdo moved to Greek, my Dada   metamorphosed into "Andrrizonai "which is a personification of one who is not effeminate , but manly enough to confront danger head-long. 

This is why the Ndira of India wears the same robotic android-loaded energy of the Andrew and the android culture in the English expressions.

Ruminating on the dreadlocks of artificiality, and the half-obedience to the rules of Naziriteship ,even , the criminality which  partiality constitutes an addiction, like hard drugs, the phenomenon of which has become worse than heroin and cocaine put together, I am reminded of Nazirites that have come and gone , leaving behind "so-so" sorrow.  Knights are no longer knights but Knaves. Nazirites have ceased to be nice, Notoriety is now the stock in trade of Nazirites, even as all manner of Dadas are feigning dreadlocks and painting the picture of stupidity. 

" We now wear dreadlocks that are as fascinating as they are incriminating.

" I am Dada Ogbegun in Yoruba land, the Dodondawa in Hausaland. 

With my hairdo, I break into the garden of fantasy, recruiting into fashion every fad of fallacy .

what an array of youths whose vision and mission are as blurred and as dead as dodo.

Fake prophets in their artificiality, Sorcery and sophistry are all at street corners disciplining the riff- raffs in their hundreds. Reckless house wives keep filling the ilks  with insanity of the highest order.

I am  now the Dada Ogbegun, I am recalcitrant, a truant, dropping out of schools like a teddy boy.

 I dared the forest of ten thousand demons with the midas touch of my terrific hair do.

 Even against sense, reasoning and Commonsense.

I smoke weeds of different cannabis in the wee hours of the night. 

You would find me at the proverbial lya fatality's joint , smoking like hell, snuffing weeds, Sweet grass like a teddy grass.

I am still myself, the David of the Hebrew generation. 

The only Dawodu whose David is without the sceptre of honour.

I exercise power without responsibility as I am Lemuel who has rubbished the sanctity of my mother's vow. 

Poor contemptible Bobby who has continually disgraced his father's Corrections.

I shunned my mother's pruning as a wild cannabis which twines have twinged her heart a thousand times. 

I am not like the obedient Sammel who stood rooted to his mother's post at Shiloh.

I have been placed on the narcotics of the sacred herb, ganja, goaded with the fantasy that it was capable of erasing other scriptures that do not believe in the truth of our Rastafari.

Amid this rebound of an echo of character, would it not amount to fighting Belzebub with belzebub ? Would this dreadlock of unending narcotic not going to end in a deadlock of insanity?

I am Dada Ogbegun , or simply call me Dada Dodon Dawa.

I am the brother of Ojo the proverbial Troublemaker who is fond of brewing defiance from the bridge of his two nostrils.

I have desecrated every rule of Nazirite, dragged in the mud of temerity, the name of Moses Orimolade, the first Dada of honour in Yorubaland.

I am the Samson , heavily dread-locked in my mission to break the jinx that had haunted long my people of Israel.

 Alas  I endedup being broken between the two laps of Delilah who made me foul my nazirite ship.

OLALERE FAGBOLA

( Dedicated to commemorate International Day Against Drug Abuse .

Delivered at Osogbo Window on America. 

Sponsored through collaborative efforts of Imole foundation and Trauma of the Dreadlocked Publishers .

Monday, June, 26, 2023 .

Photo Credit : Pixabay

TITILOLA CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT, PARENTS SYNERGY

The wife of Osun State Governor, Chief ( Mrs) Titilola has called on the people of the state to form a robust synergy with the administration of her husband, Senator Ademola Jackson Adeleke in his efforts at giving the youths a brighter future while improving the standard of living of the people of the state.

Titilola Adeleke who stated that the youths occupied a pivotal place in the agenda of Governor Adeleke, believed that Nigeria would be rapidly transformed if all stakeholders inculcated in their children moral values towards re-orientating their consciousness and sense of responsibility.

She further charged  parents and other stakeholders to reawaken their sense of responsibility towards building their minds,  being the only sustainable measure to safeguard them against numerous predicaments, such as child abuse, underage marriage, female gender mutilation, examination, school dropout  ,malpractices and internet fraud among other vices for which Osun state government has zero tolerance.

She gave this charge in her address at Ataoja School of Science , Osogbo, last Friday during this year's Day of the African Child at which occasion , the Imole Foundation, convening the programme presented an award of Excellence to the wife of the governor for being an icon whose life has been dedicated to the upliftment of the youths.

 She stressed that as Osun state is joining the Organisation of African Unity ( OAU ) to commemorate and honour the African Child , mothers particularly should look into various challenges confronting our children with a view to engaging them in dialogues and actions that would ensure a better world for them.

The wife of the Governor was presented with a plaque in recognition of her iconoduly in offering hope for the Girl child and the youths in general while she unveiled a new book written by the Chief Executive  Officer  C.E.O. of Imole Foundation, Oluwaferanmi Babatunde titled:" Wounds that Time won't heal ."

In her lecture titled  " Maintaining Zero tolerance Against  abuse of the Osun state Child, the Head of the Legal Unit of the university of Osun teaching hospital, Osogbo, Barrister Olopade Abimbola noted with delight that Adeleke-led administration, since assumption of office, has supported the creative energies of women affairs ministry in stamping out the menace of every form of abuse , neglect or exploitation of the child in the state.

She noted that government and its relevant agencies have constantly raided streets to rid them of children hawkers, embarked upon regular sensitisation of traditional and religious leaders on the evils associated with child trafficking and organ harvesting while government's school feeding programme as well as its " Omoluabi culture " have been energizing the girl child to resist abuse of her dignity.

Earlier in his welcome address, Babatunde Kehinde, the Chairman of Spectacular International Magazine under which auspices the Imole foundation organised the event , commended the remarkable achievements of the wife of the Governor, Chief Titilola Adeleke whom he described as a beacon of inspiration, guiding light and symbol of Hope for the children of Osun state .

IMOLE FOUNDATION HONOURS THE WIFE OF THE OSUN STATE GOVERNOR : SOLUDERO

 As part of this year's celebration of the Day of the African Child, The Imole Foundation under the auspices of the Spectacular International Magazine , would on Friday, June ,16, 2023, 10am,  honour the Wife of the Osun State Governor Chief Titilola Adeleke at Ataoja School of Science Osogbo. 

At a three- In-one  occasion in which the Orangun of Oke-ila, Oba ,( Dr) Adedokun Abolarin would  be the Royal Father of the Day , the International magazine would officially launch its non governmental  organisation, Imole Foundation , present to the public its first book titled " Wounds That Time Won't Heal "authored by Hembadoon Oluwaferanmi Babatunde while holding an interactive session that promises to create networking opportunities for all stakeholders in the   promotion of the good welfare of the African Child .

A statement signed by the Publisher of the international organisation,  Babatunde Hembadoon , affirmed that the celebration of this year's Day of the African Child is fashioned at honouring the wife of Governor Ademola Adeleke , Chief Titilola Adeleke whom she described as an Icon of hope and a Mother whose unwavering commitment and tireless efforts in championing the cause of the children's rights is unequalled and commendable.

 The Head of the Legal Unit of the University of Osun Teaching hospital, Osogbo, Barrister Abimbola Olopade is going to deliver a paper on " Maintaining Zero Tolerance Against Any Form of Abuse , Neglect or Exploitation of Osun State Child "  at the occasion to which the cream of the society would be identifying with the Child as a day of showing gratitude to caring leaders worldwide.

 The international Day of the African child being celebrated since 1991,  originally was in remembrance of hundreds of protesting youths massacred in the Soweto uprising of 1976 where-in they were demanding their rights to quality education . 

In identifying with the spirit behind the protest and towards ensuring the realisation of the rights Of the African child  , leaders as well as non governmental organisations around the world have been commemorating the day to draw the attention to the many plights of the African children towards  enlisting the support of caring stakeholders to promote the welfare being of the child .

" We adopt the African Union themes and campaign from the Sustainable development goals (SDG) relating to the welfare and progress of the Nigerian Child.

Accordingly, we have joined the states in the African Union,  Unicef, WHO, the Civil society organizations, the international and private sectors to highlight issues that are germane to the contemporary Nigerian child, especially on access to health care, including child and maternal health ;education, including gender equality ,eradication of violence and safety ,and quality of life."

  The African Union theme of the 2023 day of the African child event is " Eliminating Harmful Practices Affecting Children: Progress on Policy and Practice since 2013.

Hembadoon Oluwaferanmi Babatunde

Publisher/ Convener

DR.FEMI ADESINA: A LESSON IN LOYALTY

There is no doubt that the level of thinking concentration required by nations  in Africa to enable  us compete squarely with developed nations should be more .

But it appears that we are tending towards fool hardiness in which we ( as dumping ground for all manner of imported goods ) believe that we are giants  of Africa and are equal partners with our competitors.

The over-weening self importance of our university system in the hands of our academics, is preventing the system from bursting out of their cocoons towards thinking outside the box, in order to take the bull of development by its two  horns. 

Amid the crisis of overtopicalisation and over-centralisation plaguing the university system, our lecturers have, for instance, been unable to identify and examine the principles behind the creation  of , for instance, the African Instituted churches to see the need for freeing our economy from the apron strings of over dependent on foreign goods .

In a chat with Mr Modupe Oduyoye, the philologist of our time , it was his contention that today's churches should be able to think outside their cocoons for an economic roadmap if African Instituted churches could survive during the world wars which saw white missionaries fleeing this land . Also, institutes of African studies should be committed to the Mbari culture in which African writers series of the days of yore continue to dwell on higher grounds .

Ofcourse, this could only be achieved whenever our university system think outside the box , allowing statesmanship within the four walls of the university to collaborate or co-respond with statesmanship outside of the ivory tower of the university walls. 

As God doesn't put all wisdom in the basket of the university , but put some in the heads of the lowly who are intellectually minded , so also the university should not pretend to have monopoly of knowledge. 

It is in the realisation of this fact which necessitates the university system to give medals or honorary doctorate degrees to geniuses and statesmen outside of the universities. 

Indeed universities do not have all the lines of knowledge and are not the exclusive custodians of first class materials. 

There are first class-honour products outside of the walls of university who level well with university dons. 

In one of the Havard university's journals: "Dialogue " ,  a golden thought on the  way forward  from " Five crises of the World's universities " remarked thus :" Statemanship of the highest order, both in and out of the universities, will be necessary if they are to fulfill their historic mission in our new world." 

This brings us to the point of right statemanship within and without university walls co-responding together. 

Barely few weeks to the time Dr. Femi Adesina  bowed out of office honourably as the Special Adviser  to President Muhammadu Buhari, he had begun to be vindicated. 

Judging from comments now referring to the patriotic way in which he handled his immediate  constituency ( the Press ) with fairness, not stifling press freedom in any way, even in spite of all vitriolic attacks on his Principal,  it is certain that history has begun to absolve him.

 In an open letter written to Bayo Onanuga by Richard Akinnola, he stated that it was remarkable that , Femi Adesina, as Special Adviser, Media and publicity to the President,  did not petition against any media throughout his tenure. 

As if to cap this view with a feather to his cap , Femi Adesina was honoured with a Doctorate degree in Strategic Management and Leadership Development by a United Kingdom based Institution of higher learning .

According to the Learn To Live Business School, United Kingdom, the Doctorate degree was conferred on him ( wait for it ) in recognition of his selfless service to Nigeria and his UNCONDITIONAL LOYALTY ( emphasis in capital, mine ) and Commitment to President Muhammadu Buhari as well as his administration 2015/ 2023

But Farooq Kperogi  does not think that Femi Adesina deserves being conferred with the doctorate degree. 

If Femi Adesina, even before becoming the Special Adviser to the president, was the Managing Director/ Editor-in-chief of a successful newspaper, and former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors , is now being so honoured, it smacks of bad belle for anybody to think that he does not merit it .

If Femi's Professionally towering ( elephant) stature is being ( proverbially) described as a negligible creature who dashes across in the flash of lightning, then some motive outside of good intention must be accountable for such cynicism.

Also Segun Adams in his response to Femi Adesina's: parting valediction:"The Good in Goodbye " described him as the worst thing  that ever happened to Nigeria's journalism , arguing that Femi was a disaster of monumental proportion.

But Brother Isaac's response to this was that he was yet to find a spokesman

 for past Presidents who,while walking the tight rope, controverted the actions of his principal while in office.

I am also yet to find any past President without admirers, including most  vilified Abacha and IBB.

So,Femi Adesina cannot definitely be the worst of the past spokesmen.

And as professionals, can we at least agree that there are two sides to every story?He posed. 

 As a veteran journalist and writing Prophetologist, it is not an empty boast for me to affirm here that I have since 1979 till date ,  correctly predicted the emergence of no fewer than ten  Nigerian Heads of state/ Presidents before they were elected and sworn in. 

In 2015 when the contest was between President Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, my trance experience, based on the principles of jubilee of the period,  gave electoral victory to Goodluck Jonathan. 

I obliged Femi Adesina who was the the Managing Director of the Sun newspaper, a copy of the 2015 Yearly Revelation for consideration  for publication. The revelation fell flat for the first time in many years .

 Barely a year in office, I had reason to book for an appointment to interview the Special  Adviser to the President  at Aso Rock and rather than turning down my request, he   obliged me and it was during the session that I knew his motive for leaving his lucrative job to serve the Buhari's administration.

" What is the driving force and motive behind your movement from newspapering to the Presidency and doesn't it prick your conscience, leaving the frontline, even at a time like this when you are most needed to prod the conscience of leaders to act for the good of the society  ?" I asked him.

" There is just one  basic thing that motivated me into leaving my job for public service. If it was not Muhammadu Buhari, I would never have served in the public service.  I had said it before and I keep saying it .Nobody else would have brought me to serve  in the public service except Muhammadu Buhari. In 2007, I remember a friend had asked me ; can you ever serve in government? I said never , I didn't give it a second thought. I said , never, I would never serve in government. Then I thought about it again for a few minutes and I added a proviso that, except if that government is headed by Muhammadu Buhari. 

So the simple and singular reason that brought me into public service is the person of the President. I have always believed in him , I still believe in him and I would continue to believe in him. " Femi Adesina answered.

Conversely , one of the first lessons I went through in Journalism class in the 70s was that the Word is the number one Tool of the journalist . Probably because the coins around the period were potent means of financial transaction everywhere, my instructor used to say that the words like coins must continue to jingle in the pockets of the ideal journalist because he would need them for the construction of  ideas, facts and opinions in every form. 

Even with the effrontery by which we have replaced handling of coins in favour of crisp currency notes in our own part of the world, the word in the pocket dictionary of the journalist must still, for ever, be loaded while it  must  be effectively transferable from his diction of  account , now that the marriage between the media and technology has shrunk distance into a global market of a world without walls.

For me now ,  that was a time  when I was still a child  . I did speak like a  child, running with the idea that knowing everything grammatical  about the word was all I needed to drive home my ideas . But as I continue to grow up gradually into the world of the veteran however, it is dawning on me that in the mastery of the art , knowing the Word is not enough but understanding the history, rudiments, radicality and rooted ness of the word, lest one ends up being superficial , with one's word falling down like a fence of toothpicks.  What I am saying in essence is that the journalist cannot afford to treat the Word ( with temerity) like any other professional would want to treat it , even off-handedly .

In driving home my point on the need for our own  society of Pen fraternity to avoid arbitrariness in the use of words , I have fallen  in love with the thought of Confucius to the extent that I have had too many occasions in which I tend to have over quoted this Chinese Philosopher, Confucius, who said that one of the first things he would do if given the opportunity to rule the world would be to correct language.

 " If language is not correct, then what is said is not what is meant; if what is said is not what is meant, what ought to be done would remain undone; and if what ought to be done remains undone , morals and arts would deteriorate, if morals and Arts deteriorate, justice will go astray ;  if justice goes astray, the people would stand in helpless confusion. Hence there must be no arbitrariness in whatever is said.This matters above everything. " He had remarked.

 What does it mean to be loyal ?

What does it entail for Femi Adesina who did not disguise his belief in Muhammadu Buhari to be honoured with a doctoral degree, even in recognition of his selfless service and particularly his UNCONDITIONAL LOYALTY and commitment to President Muhammadu Buhari  ?

In Nigeria where the average Nigerian electorate does not know the significance of the word VOTE, with public office holders not understanding the implications of oath of office while clerics dont understand the sacredness of testimony, the likes of Farooq could continue to look askance at the rationale behind Adesina's honorary award for his loyalty.

 It was the living legend and sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo who once said :" If you dont trust him , don't engage him but if you engage him, don't doubt him ."

 It would not be right for those who jumped into the trusted  boat of Muhammadu  Buhari in 2015, and who have now become wailers in 2023 (because they did so impetuosly) to look down  on Femi Adesina who trusted and believed in Buhari out of conviction, and who till the time of leaving office  understands  what loyalty means  .

It is a good horse that never stumbles and a good wife that never grumbles. 

But against whom should be the laughter of the intellect ? Against the  wailers or against the faithfuls? 

With no doctorate to his name then , he understood what the word loyalty meant and  till the time he left office, he didn't betray that loyalty. Dr Femi Adesina's loyalty is not an easy catch. 

 There is a whole lot of world of words which share same cognate family with the word :" loyalty " and which confers on it the picture of a vow of commitment that is binding .

Ordinarily, to be loyal is to be true and faithful to a cause or a person or government.  A loyalist is faithful and true to a ruler and government especially during a revolt. 

But faithfulness in loyalty is not seasonal as it is an obligation which is paid at all times because it wears the toga of law that is binding both at peace and crisis period.  This obligatory feature of loyalty derives from its French root of legalis while its legality stems from the latin legalis.  Where it becomes binding at all times shows in its form of a League, being a union for mutual help but which pursuit of common interest is like a band tying the cord of association together.  

It is from this bound of unity in togetherness that the word takes its Latin root Legare ( which is to bind )

By this legacy from which the word loyalty Is bequeathed by will, ( taking the Latin root legare : a bequest,) it becomes an obligation which nature is like a vow ; a duty and a thraldom being a state of enthralment.  

All of these make loyalty an oath or vow which share same cognate union with vote as both have the Latin root called votum. 

It is this testament of faithfulness by which features, Femi Adesina becomes a testimony of a loyalist par excellence. 

Testimony is a statement under oath or an affirmation. The word is formed from the Latin " testimonium; from testis; witness ; testis itself being a testicle. 

Beyond this, testimony is therefore that which makes a man a witness to and in which ultimately ones spectatorship finally becomes the spectacle.  As the change agent , one becomes the change one wants or expects in others ."

Let the golden words of 

Fidel Castro, in his historic speech," HISTORY WILL ABSOLVE ME" serve Femi Adesina. 

" To those who would call me a dreamer , I quote the words of Marti:

 " A true man does not seek the path where advantage lies,but rather, the path where duty lies, and this is the only practical man, whose dream of today will be the law of tomorrow, because he who has looked back on the upheavals of history and has seen civilisation going up in flames, crying out in bloody struggle, throughout the centuries, knows the future well-being of man ,without exception, lies on the side of duty ."

Either you call him Doctor or not , Femi Adesina is one of the rare solid professional journalists you can wish for anywhere . Without being a university Professor, his testificatory standing is a veritable jus ubique docendi with the right to teach anywhere.  

OLALERE FAGBOLA