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Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Project Manager, GAC Motors Ogba, Herman Tan and Chairman of CIG Motors in Nigeria, Mrs. Diana Chang, during an inspection of GAC Motors Nigeria Assembly Plant at Wempco Road, Ogba, Ikeja on Thursday, 11 August, 2022.
Falilat Ogunkoya-Osheku, a former Olympic medalist and holder of the African record for the 400-meter dash, has urged the Federal Government that is led by President Muhammadu Buhari to honour the women's 4x100-meter relay team that represented Nigeria so well at the recent Commonwealth Games in Birmingham by winning the elusive gold medal and setting an African record in the process.
The foursome of world record holder Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, Grace Nwokocha, and Rosemary Chukwuma ran a new African record of 42.10 seconds, which erased the one-month-old African record of 42.22 seconds they set in Oregon, the USA at the World Athletics championships. This allowed Team Nigeria to win the elusive gold medal for Team Nigeria on Sunday at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.
Ogunkoya, who was the first Nigerian athlete to win an individual medal in the track and field competition at the Olympic Games, expressed his excitement over the team's remarkable performance and remarked that the team had run well and done the country of Nigeria proud.
Ogunkoya expressed her congratulations to the Nigerian women's 4100 relay team in a voice message that she sent to LEADERSHIP Sports. "The Nigerian women's 4100 relay team ran very well, and I want the President to honour them," Ogunkoya said. "They made Nigerians proud, and they made themselves proud, too, so congratulations to them," Ogunkoya said.
Tobi Amusan set a new world record at the World Championships, which were held in Oregon, United States of America. The former gold medalist in the 400-meter event at the All African Games wants the President to recognize Tobi Amusan for her achievement.
At the most important athletic competition in the world, which took place in Oregon, the star athlete from Nigeria broke the record for the 100-meter hurdles twice before she was declared the winner of the event. She is the first athlete from Nigeria to accomplish this accomplishment.
"The President ought to recognize Tobi for her performance in breaking the World Record. She made Nigeria proud," Ogunkoya said.
Singer, Kizz Daniel, has apologized for failing to perform at a show in Tanzania on Sunday.
Daniel, who was arrested in Dar es Salaam over the incident on Monday, however, narrated his side of the story.
Recall police had arrested him over the incident while the show promoter, Stephen Uwa, had said he paid $60,000 to the music star and pleaded with him for over five hours to no avail.“He only said the airline didn’t bring his bag. That is why he could not perform because his gold chain is not there and he had a gold chain on his neck. He wanted everything,” he said.“I bought him different clothes but he said just because the airline didn’t bring one of his bags, he cannot perform without his gold on his neck,” Uwa had said.
However, in a press conference on Tuesday, the Buga crooner said he and the organisers had decided to make it up to the Tanzanian fans who had shown him so much, love.“The people were already going wild; the fans were going wild, which I know was out of love. So no disrespect to the fans… I was asked to stay back. ‘You can’t go, ‘It’s not safe. So I said ok. I sat down with the team, the organisers, and the promoters; let’s come up with a way to make it up to the Tanzanian fans and we decided to do a makeup show for free. I even agreed to partner with them this time around.
“This Friday, a free show; I will be partnering with Straight Up Vibes to make that happen. I must apologize to the fans. None of this was intentional.”
•Governor Appoints 7 Cabinet Members for Improved Governance, Service Delivery
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, appointed seven members into the State Executive Council to revitalise the administration’s effort towards improving good governance and service delivery.
The new members were appointed into the cabinet-ranked of Special Advisers. They were sworn in at an event held in the State Banquet Hall in Alausa.
Five of the appointees are newcomers, who filled in vacant positions, following the voluntary resignation of previous occupants. Two, who previously resigned from the cabinet, were returned to take back their positions.
Sanwo-Olu said his government considered seamless continuity in governance important, as he charged the new cabinet members to hit the ground running in delivering more electoral promises of the administration to the residents.
The Governor said the new cabinet appointment further reinforced the established tradition of diversity and inclusiveness, stressing that the choice of the appointees was informed by capacity, accomplishments, commitment and proven track record of hard work and professionalism in their previous endeavours.
Sanwo-Olu said: “Today, we are bringing in new Special Advisers to replace those who voluntarily left the State’s Executive Council in previous months to pursue their political ambitions. As cabinet members, you join a small but privileged class of people whose ideas and decisions go a long way towards impacting the lives of millions of Lagosians on a daily basis.
“Your appointment is a testament to your capacity, your accomplishments and your track record of hard work, commitment, dedication and professionalism in your private and public endeavours. Your role, as you might have imagined, is a demanding one, requiring intense levels of hard work and dedication. You are expected to hit the ground running, especially considering that we are in the final year of our first term in office.”
The Governor reminded the new cabinet appointees of the need to get themselves familiarised with their assigned portfolios in order to sustain and improve on the tempo of their predecessors, noting that their entry into the Council came in the last lap of the administration’s first four-year mandate when the State was consolidating on the programmes across the T.H.E.M.E.S areas.
Sanwo-Olu praised the State’s legislature, led by Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, for granting an accelerated approval for the appointment of the new members.
The Governor said: “Let me remind you all that this appointment must not be seen as an opportunity for self-service. While you discharge the responsibilities that will be assigned to you, you must imbibe our culture of transparency, accountability, fairness and value for money. You must show exemplary leadership as the necessary virtues needed to achieve the greatness we desire for our State and to deliver the prosperity our people deserve.”
Sanwo-Olu assigned portfolios to the new cabinet members, appointing a former member of the eighth Assembly in the State’s legislative arm, Hon. Sola Giwa as Special Adviser on Transportation.
Until his new appointment, Hon. Giwa was the Senior Special Assistant in Central Business District (CBD) to the Governor.
The Governor reappointed Princess Aderemi Adebowale as Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, the position she previously occupied.
Also, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka was reappointed as Special Adviser on Housing.
Other appointees are Dr. Olajide Babatunde (Special Adviser on e-GIS and Planning Matters), and Engr. Abiola Olowu (Special Adviser on Commerce and Industries), Mr. Robert Bolaji (Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs) and Mr. Olufemi Martins (Special Adviser on Tourism).
Benson-Awoyinka, who delivered the acceptance speech on behalf of the new appointees, appreciated the Governor for his faith in the appointees’ ability, pledging to work with Sanwo-Olu to deliver the Lagos of citizens’ dream.
Princess Aderemi Adebowale (Office of Civic Engagement); Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka (Housing); Dr. Olajide Babatunde (E-GIS and Planning Matters); Hon. Sola Giwa (Transportation); Engr. Okanlawon Olowu (Commerce and Industries); Barr. Femi Martins (Tourism, Arts and Culture) and Mr. Robert Bolaji (Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs) taking their Oath of Office as Special Advisers in the State Executive Council, presided by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday, 4th August 2022.
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat watches as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu presents the Oath of Office to Princess Aderemi Adebowale as Special Adviser, Office of Civic Engagement during the swearing-in of seven new cabinet members at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday, 4th August 2022.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu presenting Oath of Office to Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka as Special Adviser on Housing during the swearing-in of seven new cabinet members at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday, 4th August 2022.
• As Nge Urges Journalists to Uphold Ethics, Ensure Quality Content
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has urged politicians and public office holders not to gag the media, saying press freedom was important in a democracy.
He made the appeal on Thursday at a workshop organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), themed: "Journalist and Digitalisation: the imperative of Good Corporate Governance" at Ikeja, Lagos State.
Sanwo-Olu, who was the Special Guest of Honour to declare the workshop open, said ensuring good corporate governance and self-regulation of the digital space would completely eradicate false and fake news.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who assured that his administration will continue to promote Press Freedom and good corporate governance as well as enabling environment for journalists in the state, urged media practitioners to always regulate their activities in the digital space.
His words: “I stand with you (media practitioners) in solidarity; to say that, indeed, your profession is not just a noble one, but it’s the one that gives the general public an independent assessment; holding our governance and government accountable at all times. And so, we need to be very careful as politicians and public officers that we do not gag this profession (media) and do not unduly stifle the free press.
“Our government understands and appreciates that press freedom is the way in which we can hold government accountable. But it is also the responsibility of all of us here to ensure that we understand the thin line; and also self-regulate our activities.
“ I cannot agree less with the President of the NGE that says that the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission should not only be independent, it should be equipped with men of impeccable character and integrity that can work like the Oxfam of this world and indeed sanction erring people but give freedom for all of you to do your work.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu while stressing the need for media practitioners to self-regulate themselves, urged them to work towards the complete eradication of fake and false news.
“Regarding my view about corporate governance, it is also to ensure that in the digital space we eradicate completely within the profession false news and fake news. People sometimes rush to post something without doing proper due diligence to verify what they are posting and ask themselves what damage would I do if they found out what I posted is not completely true.
“You must be a bit more circumspect and know that once information is out there, you cannot retrieve it. That in itself puts a lot of professional pressure on whoever that is posting any report,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu also seeks continuous support from the media for his administration. “I have enjoyed working with all of you and I am looking forward to enjoying more in the remaining part of my four years tenure. And if all of you feel so compelling during the election, I will also not mind being your governor again for another tenure,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mustapha Issa, said the media would not succumb to pressure from the government to determine the people’s right to information.
He said the situation where the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) that reports to the Minister of Information would also be the one to unilaterally impose fines on broadcast stations for unfavourable reports was tantamount to gagging the media.
The NGE President, who urged media owners to embrace good corporate governance and accountability, said the role of scrutiny of the media should not be that of the government alone, adding that the media should not be threatened.
Issa said digital technology has provided room for journalists to become competitive and open sources of income.
Also speaking, a veteran journalist and the Chairman of the occasion, Mr Lanre Idowu, said digitalization had brought more opportunities to journalism but has equally brought to the fore the need to uphold ethics, and quality content.
He said journalists must decide whether to embrace digital platforms or be out of business.
Yemi Olakitan
Ayoola Omovo is a dynamic silhouette painter and part-time visual art instructor at Lycee Francais Louis Pasteur( French School, Lagos, Nigeria) Her differentiating painting approach of utilizing Black and White’’ ink form is noteworthy for the vibrant expressive artistic outcomes. As it also creates enjoyable nostalgia that comes from the early stages of photography development in her paintings.
She is presently the Vice Chairman of the society of Nigerian artists, (SAN) Lagos Chapter. She is the previous coordinator for the southwest zone of the Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FEAAN) among other reputable art associations. Ayoola artworks have been displayed in several exhibitions including, ‘Expressions Kambani London Art, Silverbird Gallery, Lagos, May 2006.
Ayoola was on Spotlight, a two weeks exhibition at Nike Arts Gallery in Lagos.
For a fortnight, her works were on display to various guests and visitors at the gallery. She spoke with Yemi Olakitan on the exhibition, why it is important to her and Mama Nike Okundaye’s contribution to Nigerian arts.
Yemi: What’s this exhibition about?
Ayoola: Spotlight is a series of exhibitions that were created by Mrs Nike Davies Okundaye, fondly called, Mama Nike. This exhibition is about giving a platform for all the artists whose works are showcased at Nike Arts Gallery. It is about all the works that Mama Nike has collected. This means each artist will have two weeks to showcase his or her works to the public. I am the one on Spotlight at the moment. My show will run for two weeks at the gallery and I have the privilege to invite my friends, collectors and colleagues to come, see and buy my work.
It is the first of its kind in Nigeria and the space is absolutely free for the artists. This is so important because it will encourage the artists to grow. Spotlight helps to show all the works of the artists in one piece.
When I put my work together on display even Mama Nike was surprised to see them. She has seen the works so many times, piece by piece but she has not seen all the works at once on display.
This is what an exhibition does for visual artists. One is able to appreciate the works of the artists more because of the variety on display. I am so grateful that Mama Nike gives me the opportunity to showcase my works at the largest art gallery in Africa. I am humbled.
Yemi: Let’s talk about the works on display, the titles and what they mean
Ayoola: ‘‘Yet I Rise” This is one of my works, here at the gallery. It is a storyline about children. It talks about giving them a chance to explore life, sometimes. If you give them the chance to explore, you will be surprised at what they will bring to light or put it in another way, you will be amazed at what they will discover. The picture, I painted was actually my brother’s son. His name is Oluwatobiloba Odupitan.
The second work is, ‘‘The Three Jolly Friends’’ The painting talks about an important lesson of life which is that three young friends cannot play together and stay together forever. Friends don’t stay together forever. At some point, they depart.
‘‘Beyond the Ordinary’’ is a painting of Mama Nike. She has helped many people in the sector. She has opened this place for young artists free of charge. She has been a ladder of success for many Nigerian artists so I painted one of my favourite pictures of her. She is a great woman, full of love, and an inspiration to all.
‘‘Art Therapy’’ is another work of mine on display and it is very dear to me because of the message. Art is therapeutic. It is a healing tool. I remember one time, I painted the children's ward at Lagos State University Teaching University, (LUTH)
It was reported that many of the sick children forgot their pain in the wards. There was a particular child that was reportedly dying of cancer. When the parents brought her to the ward, her spirits lighted up and she was full of joyful smiles throughout her stay, although, we eventually lost her. Her last moments were not sad or sorrowful as she was dying of cancer. She passed away, happy.
You can imagine if she had arts in her life long before then, it was possible that she would have lived and would not have developed cancer at all, in the first place. So, this work talks about the therapeutic value of art to humanity. We should have arts in all the hospitals.
The lady with beads is Titled: My Culture my Heritage,
Yemi: What message will you like to live behind
Ayoola: Let us protect our culture, let us be proud of our heritage, let us speak our language and teach our children our Culture so that we don't lose our value in the future.
The Ojude Oba festival is an annual celebration by the Yoruba people of Ijebu-Ode, a major town in Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria. This v...
