PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS ADVISED TO BE GOD-FEARING

The President, Crescent Muslim Professionals, Alh. Fatai Oloyede has advised Muslim political and public office holders to be more proactive and God-fearing in the discharge of their duties to ensure and promote effective governance in Ogun State, as well as propagate Islam well to the public.

Oloyede gave the advice at a reception programme put together by Crescent Muslim Professionals to celebrate and honour Muslim achievers in political and public offices in the Prince Dapo Abiodun led administration which includes the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, Hon. Farouk Akintunde, the Ogun State Head of Service, Dr. Nafiu Aigoro, among others.

Also speaking, the Missioner of the Association, Alh. Abdul-Lateef Ajetumobi admonished the honorees to use their positions to contribute positively to Islam, urging them to be good ambassadors by emulating the virtues of the prophet Muhammad (SAW) as attested to by Allah in the Holy Quran.

In his remarks, the Pioneer President, Crescent Muslim professionals, Hon. Justice Demola Bakre, represented by the immediate past President, Alh. Fatai Adeyemi enjoined Muslims holding political and public offices to see their appointment as a call to serve, adding that they should always put God first in the discharge of their duties.

Responding, Hon. Akintunde appreciated the Missioners for the award, advising every Muslim in positions of authority to be up and doing in their areas of jurisdiction and inculcate good morals for the development of the State, having it in mind that they would give an account to Allah on the day of reckoning.

On his part, Dr. Aigoro who expressed delight over the honour bestowed on them, emphasising that all political and public office appointees must be good role models, loyal and work for the success of the present administration.

"The populace read our characters as Muslims, and judge the Islamic religion based on their observations about us", he said.

NEED TO EMBRACE TECHNICAL, VOCATIONAL EDUCATION ACROSS BOARD, CANVASED

Technical and Vocational education has been described as a veritable form of education that is capable of making school leavers and graduates self-reliant and employers of labour, rather than job seekers, hence, the need for it to be embraced across board.

Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Technical and Vocational Education, Prof. Joseph Odemuyiwa, who made the disclosure while speaking with OGIS correspondent in his office in Abeokuta, advised that there is a pressing need to return to the traditional form of education, which is vocational, revealing that, the education curriculum designed by the Colonial Masters was mainly to teach people how to read, write and for arithmetic.

Prof. Odemuyiwa applauded the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration for making Technical and Vocational Education attractive by giving it the needed attention, disclosing that plans were underway to expand the scope to tertiary institutions.

“This present administration places a high premium on technical and vocational Education and our strides in these areas in partnership with the World Bank will no doubt address the issue of unemployment among the youths, as so many industries acknowledge the strides of the State Government. We are projecting technical and vocational education up to tertiary level; to ensure that our graduates are their own bosses”, Odemuyiwa said.

He submitted that technical and vocational skills were needed now and not just certificates in literacy and numeracy, as people who go to school without acquiring them would be limited, advising that the society should not see Carpenters, Mechanics, Plumbers, Electricians, among others as second fiddle.

The Special Adviser posited that the National Policy on Education stipulates acquisition of at least, a trade or vocational subject by school leavers and offering an introduction to entrepreneurship, emphasising that it would enhance vocational and technical skills as well as curtail social menace.

TRADERS IN OGUN CAUTIONED AGAINST ROAD DISPLAY OF WARES

Ogun State Government has warned traders against trading on streets and walkways, just as environmental health officers have been sent out to ensure compliance with environmental laws.

Leading a team of Environmental Health Officers to Sango and Ifo areas of the State, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, Hon. Farouk Akintunde who enlightened traders on the dangers of street trading, particularly on the median, noted that apart from endangering their lives they sometimes cause traffic bottleneck thereby making life intolerable for commuters.       

         "Ogun is an investment hub and the ambiance of its environment is important in attracting investors to the State", Hon. Farouk said adding that government would no longer fold its hands while traders deface the environment.

          The Director, Environmental Health, Sanitarian Wemimo Onaeko noted that the government was not trying to make life hard for anyone, but after the welfare of the people, pleading with citizens to make sanitation an integral part of their lives to prevent outbreak of diseases.

2021 IGANMODE PLANNING COMMITTEE RESERVES 10.5M FOR LEGACY PROJECTS

Following the successful hosting of the 2021 Odun Omo Iganmode Cultural Festival, the planning Committee led by Aare Ayodele Bankole has reserved N10.5million for legacy projects that would be of great impact to the people of Otta/Awori Kingdom, in Ado-Odo/Otta Local Government area of Ogun State, with the hope that the festival would in the nearest future become a veritable medium for developmental projects.

Presenting the general report of the festival to His Majesty, the Olota of Otta, Awori Kingdom, Oba (Prof.)  Adeyemi Obanlege in his palace at Otta, the Chairman of the Committee thanked all sons and daughters of Otta, as well as those in diaspora for their pivotal roles towards the success of the festival, saying "Over 90% of funding expended on the programme was sourced from within".

While reiterating his committee’s commitment to further enhance development in the area, Bankole listed legacy Projects that could be embarked upon to include; drilling of boreholes for public use, intervention towards the completion of the ongoing police station at Ita Court, education intervention among others, noting that these are subjected to the authority and approval of the Olota.

According to him, a total sum of N33,771,500.00 was generated for the festival, with N22,084,940.23 as total expenditure, N11,626,559.77 was provided for outstanding excess income and expenditure for the year, while N1,000,000.00 was reserved as takeoff  for 2022 event .

Responding, the Kabiyesi commended the Chairman and his team for being transparent and exhibiting patriotic spirit during the programme, while he reappointed Aare Bankole as the Chairman, Planning Committee for 2022 edition of Odun Omo Iganmode, based on his outstanding performance in tandem with having a world class celebration.

In attendance at the presentation were, Otun Bobagunwa Otta, Chief Temitayo Idowu, Former Chairman, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, Hon. Wasiu Lawal, Baamofin Otta, Hon. Akinpelu Aina,  Iyalaje Otta, High Chief (Mrs.) Abimbola Dada, the Majority Leader, Ogun state House of Assembly, Hon. Sheriff Yussuf Abiodun and Prince Adeyemi Olusesi.

Ogun HoS Charges Admin Officers On Accurate Coverage Of Meetings

Ogun State Head of Service, Dr. Nafiu Aigoro has charged Administrative Officers to pay special attention to the recording of minutes, planning and coverage of meetings as well as possess the necessary skills that would prove them worthy as proud inheritors of the legacy of excellence that the Civil Service is known for.

Dr. Aigoro who stated this while declaring open a Day's workshop for Lower and Middle level Officers in the Administrative cadre, with the theme "Achieving Efficiency in the Planning and Coverage of Meetings", held at the Staff Development Centre, Oke- Ilewo, Abeokuta, said that poorly written minutes of meeting can ruin the flow of projects and contribute to a disorganised, inefficient task distribution.

He explained that Public Service is the machinery for the day- to- day transaction of Government business and there is need to ensure that policies and decisions were properly recorded for clear understanding by all the parties involved.

"It is a very vital part of our duties as Public Servants to record important decisions and actions of Government, always bearing in mind that, we may be called upon to provide a picture in words and figures of any Government activity at any time. There are minutes of meetings, promotion interviews, disciplinary committees, Board and Committees set up for various responsibilities, hence, the need to pay special attention to the recording of such minutes and coverage of meetings" he said.

In her opening remark, the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Establishments and Training, Mrs. Lydia Fajounbo, explained that the workshop was designed to further equip the Lower and Middle Level Officers in the Public Service for efficiency in the coverage of meetings.

She thanked the Head of Service for his unflinching support and the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun for placing high premium on the training and re- training of staff, as well as commitment at ensuring that the Civil Servants are professionalised and empowered to carry out the basic mandate of running Government operations effectively and efficiently.

Speaking on the topic "Achieving Efficiency in Planning and Coverage of Meetings",  the facilitator, a retired Permanent Secretary from the State Civil Service, Alhaji Adebisi Osolase, said that the aim of the training was to prepare officers with the responsibilities of planning and covering meetings with a clear understanding of the assignment at hand, in order to be able to perform optimally in their various beats with less supervision.

In a communique issued at the end of the training, the participants appreciated the State Government for putting up the training and submitted that it should be incorporated into the orientation courses of newly recruited administrative officers into the Civil Service.

ACCURATE REPORTAGE IS MORE CRUCIAL NOW THAN EVER - ODUSILE

Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Waheed Odusile has said accurate information dissemination is more crucial now than ever as the 2023 electioneering year draws nearer.

Alhaji Odusile dropped the hint in Abeokuta at the weekly statutory meeting of information officers, calling on them to brace up for the task ahead.

The Commissioner noted that members of the public should be well informed about government policies and programmes to keep them abreast of the government’s activities, towards engendering the development and growth of the State.

He urged officers attached to Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to be versatile with current events of the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration, in order to project it in good light.

The former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists who affirmed that hard work pays, appealed to officers to do more to get to the pinnacle of their career.

On his part, the Director of Information (Strategy), Mr. Lanre Ogunyinka enjoined officers to sustain the spirit of teamwork, in order to deliver on the policy thrust of the Ministry, commending the effort of the Commissioner to further improve the working condition of the staffers

Uphold professional ethics for better service delivery - Abiodun's Aide charges office administrators

Office managers have been advised to follow professional ethics which is global phenomenon necessary for success and professional pride towards enhancing better service delivery at any organization. 

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Technical Education, Prof. Joseph Odemuyiwa gave the advice at the 1st Conference of National Institute of Office Administrators and Information Managers (NIOAIM) held at LeadCity University, Ibadan.

Prof. Odemuyiwa while delivering his paper tagged Repositioning Office Administration and Information Management for Innovation, Sustainable Development and Global Competitiveness, revealed that  attributes like integrity, honesty, respect, discipline and good appearance would ensure officers' competence while attaining the objectives and goals of an organization. 

Earlier in his welcome speech, the Vice Chancellor, Lead City University, Prof. Kabiru Adeyemo, noted that office administrators and information managers played major role in the development of a nation.

Prof. Adeyemo noted that they are expected to provide accurate information for better communication that would create values for individuals, organizations, communities and societies.

Busayo Malaolu