Month: December 2023

NEWS RELEASE

 

BON Awards: Governor Adeleke Unveils Creative Industry Agenda

 

OSOGBO- 24/12/2023- Osunstate.gov.ng

 

A day after hosting 2023 BON Awards in Osun state, Governor Ademola Adeleke has unveiled his administration’s plan for the creative industry inclusive of entertainment, culture and tourism.

 

Hosting top stars of the Nollywood industry at his country home of Sunday, the state Governor opened up on his expansive agenda for the sector which involved hosting of several global standard events, creation of entertainment village in the three senatorial districts, infra upgrade of tourist sites, logistics support for Osun as a film locations, cluster industry for craft sub-sector among others.

 

The Governor disclosed his intention to take advantage of the state’s global music stars such Davido and Bred to host global concerts and push towards an annual global Yoruba Heritage week to draw thousands of tourists from South America, Europe and North America.

 

According to Senator Adeleke who is now christened “a dancing and working Governor”, the plan also touches on the development of the hotel sector in terms of standardization and facilitation to secure and maintain high quality service for global visitors and national visitors the state will be receiving starting from next year.

 

He described Nollywood as the uncelebrated booster of the national economy, assuring that his administration is prepared to collaborate with the iconic platform to deepen Osun as a global tourist destination.

 

Governor Adeleke narrated that his focus on infra upgrade in the last one year was to attract investors and the creative industry people to Osun, adding that ” we are working to make the roads motorable, the health centers workable, the workers very happy, the water access very accessible, the school facilities very conducive and security truly water tight.

 

” The entertainment sector is a huge money spinner. In other developed countries, national earnings run into billions of dollars. In Africa, Nollywood is a household name.

 

” Osun as the cradle of the Yoruba nation must rise to serve as the center of the creative industry. As the custodian of Yoruba major cultural assets, we must be the capital of the cultural creative industry. That is what my administration is committed to.

 

” We will support you as a very important economic driver. We will soon call for a further partnership meeting”, the Governor noted.

 

Speaking earlier , the Founder of BON Awards, Seun Oloketuyi who led the Nollywood team to the Governor commended the Governor for hosting the 2023 BON Awards, describing the Governor as a major of the entertainment industry.

 

” We appreciate your hosting us as well as granting new energy to the Awards by your active participation. We look forward to deeper collaboration “, Mr Oloketuyi noted.

 

In attendance at the event was the publisher of Ovation Magazine, Akinrogun Dele Momodu, Fred Amata, Adebayo salami, Keppy Ekpeyoung, Toyin Adegbola,Shushu Abubakar among others.

 

Signed

Mallam Olawale Rasheed,

Spokesperson to the Governor.

 

 

By Biola Lawal

Abuja” (Flowerbudnews): As Nigerian Christians join their counterparts from across the world to celebrate this year’s Christmas, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dauda Ali Biu has felicitated with tthem, assuring the Corps’ readiness to make the highways safe during the Yuletide.

This was contained in his Christmas message in which the Corps Marshal reiterated his earlier call for people to guide against bad driving habits that could compromise the safety of road users, a statement by DCM Bisi Kazeem disclosed.

The FRSC boss particularly cautioned travelers against dangers that go with road travels in this period of increased human and vehicular traffic, stressing that people must show extra vigilance while using the road to overcome any form of carnage.

Dauda Biu further called on road users to support the ongoing road safety sensitisation programmes by the FRSC to address issues of poor attitude to road usage, saying such behaviour accounts for why the periods of Christmas and new year become the most challenging to the campaigns for safer road environments in the country.

He further noted that while FRSC as part of its annual end of year special patrol has put adequate measures in place and mapped out strategies to address all the anticipated traffic challenges that could hinder free movement of people and vehicles, such measures would remain inadequate without cooperation from members of the public particularly those that travel on the roads.

He therefore warned people against offences like route violation, overloading, speeding, light signs violation and driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs which have been identified as being responsible for most crashes and deaths that occur during the yuletide seasons.

All road travelers must observe basic traffic rules to ensure the desired safety outcome, not only during the Christmas and new year celebrations, but beyond the seasons.

He assured the public that adequate patrol and Rescue logistics as well as personnel have been deployed along all black spots and major highways across the country to ease movement of travelers and render prompt medical care in case of crashes related and other emergencies.

He further appealed to Nigerians to report any cases of obstruction, crashes and other emergencies to the FRSC toll free line: 122 or directly call to the studios of the FRSC National Traffic Radio-107.1fm through the numbers: 08052998090 or 09067000015 for prompt response to the distress calls on all parts of the roads across the country.

The Corps Marshal wishes all Nigerians happy Christmas and safe celebration. (Flowerbudnews)

 

 

By Flowerbudnews
Enugu: The Owelle Ejikeme Odumegwu Foundation (OEO) has donated well-furnished station to Nigeria Police in Enugu State to support Federal and state governments efforts in fighting crime and criminality.

The OEO Foundation newly-built police station is furnished with solar lights, adequate offices furnishing with public conveniences with tiles, standard perimeter fencing and outer barb wire fencing of the entire land space of the station to forestall land encroachment.

inaugurating the Police Station located at Petsan Layout, Ogurugu Etteh in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area on Sunday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, noted that the station would help in clamping down on kidnappers, night marauders, cultists and heinous crimes.

Uzuegbu, represented by the Police Area Commander of Udenu Area Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ukwa Amanga, said that the police station came at the right time, noting: “There will be no hiding place for criminals within this axis of the state”.

 

“I am highly elated to be here. I have known the Founder of OEO Foundation, Owelle Ejikeme Odumegwu, for a long time and it was for the same reason that we are here for today that brought us together then.

 

“Owelle has been standing behind the Nigeria Police and giving us support in so many areas and I do not think the history of Nigeria Police will be complete without mentioning his name.

“He has done so much for Enugu State Police Command. I was aware when he renovate the Commissioner’s office at police headquarter in Enugu; he renovated so many police division in the state and we are here to commission a police station built single handedly by him.

 

“It is only God that will bless you and your Foundation. God will replenish your source,” he said.

 

The commissioner assure that police personnel would make judicious use of the station and its facilities.

“We give God the glory that the crime rate has started reducing drastically; while this police station and the present of officers that will man the station will bring the crime rate the barest minimum on this road and the adjoining communities in this council area.

“We want everybody to give us support, it is not one man’s support. Owelle Odumegwu has done his part and its now the turn of the community to give us their support by giving us information. If you see something say something and say it to the right person,” he said.

Earlier, Odumegwu said that he built the police station to compliment the only police station at the local government headquarter, stressing that it would help Nigeria Police respond to distress calls when the need arises.

 

He said that the station is situated on a large expanse of land, measuring 6,608.52 square meter, fenced all round with solar lights and I have also promised to build a shelter for the officers working here.

 

He said: “Like Nostradamus, I peeped into the future over some decades and rather than build industries and factories, it interested me most to build a facility for the police.

“I will proudly state also that my value for security and for the protection of life and property has prompted my renovating over 30 dilapidated police stations in Enugu State single handedly.

 

“I also renovated the CP’s building at the Command Headquarters and over one kilometre perimeter fencing of the Divisional Police Headquarters Enugu- ezike in 2018. This prevented the intrusion of unknown gunmen in the recent attack of the division.”

 

According to him, recently, resource persons in a security summit organized by Enugu State government (Gov. Mbah) and state Police Command, theorises that security actually is a catalyst to community development.

Odumegwu, who is also the Director of OEO Foundation, noted that it was important to mention that the new station, which would be a divisional headquarters, is so strategically placed at the border between and connecting Northern Nigeria, South-East abd South-South states of Nigeria.

 

He said there is no other police presence within a radius of over 40km from Enugu-Ezike Police Station which is said to be the most populous community in the whole of West Africa, housing over 42 villages.

 

Odumegwu, who made a vow to continue supporting the Nigera Police in combating crimes, urged
the Nigerian Police to embrace a proactive and informed approach of crime-fighting through intelligence- led policing.

“Since, policing involves everyone, community policing should not only be encouraged but should be seen as a powerful tool for effective and pragmatic crime prevention in our rural communities,” he added.

 

In a message, the Igbo-Eze North Local Government Chairman, Prince Ejike Itodo, expressed delighted on the rare donation, saying: “What happened today shows there is still hope in Igbo-Eze North council area”.

 

Itodo, represented by the Leader of legislators in the council, Mr Fabian Eze, noted that Owelle and his foundation had contributed immensely to the peace being enjoyed today by the people of the council area.

Speaking, Dr Sally Adukwu, former Member Economic Advisory Committee to the President, commended Owelle and his Foundation for his bold step to built the police station, stressing that he remained “a leader per excellence and problem solvers”.

 

“Owelle Odumegwu has done what the government officials could not do, and I advise that our people should queue behind him in all he does to ensure peace and development in the area,” Adukwu, who is also National President, National Association of Proprietors of Private School (NAPPS), said.

 

The President-General of the community, Mr Obunwa Mamah, lauded Owelle and his Foundation; adding that all the council of elders, cabinet member and leaders extend their appreciation. (Flowerbudnews)

Group photograph of the Management staff of NAN and the MD ,Malam Ali Muhammad Ali

By Aisha Gambo
Kaduna:  Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, newly appointed Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN,, says the agency will witness greater efficiency in the coming years.

Ali spoke on Saturday at the closing of the three-day ” Strategic Foresight Management Retreat” for NAN in collaboration with Paragon Linkulting held in Kaduna.

“The last three days we spent here, we are looking at the history of NAN, vision and mission and the reason? Why NAN is in business and the challenges, impediments.

“We realized that we need to have new revenue streams for the agency; What we have been taught is that for us to make headway, we must have two things, impact and revenue,” he said.

Ali said that the agency had impacted over the years but had challenges with revenue, adding that the management was looking to diversify ways of generating revenue.

The managing director explained that the retreat had enlightened the management on the importance of cross- collaboration between various departments of the agency, adding that they were not competitors.

He stated that the management hoped to expand the strategic retreat for the entire agency at the top, to the zones and to the districts in the first quarter of next year.

Ali added, “We are going to look into some of the revenues unexploited and leverage on technology; We are going to have the right training and the right attitude.”

He also appreciated the uncommon commitment of the participants, saying, ” this is much commendable at this critical time with a deluge of end-of-year activities.

Ali said, ”We have brainstormed on how to take the agency forward. We want to see a reborn NAN. I appreciate the support of the management and the members of the agency.

” I must also commend the show of solidarity and mutual respect. Together, there is nothing that we cannot achieve, but it is difficult if we are alone.”

Speaking earlier, the Editor-in- Chief, Mr. Ephraims Sheyin said, “The tide has changed in NAN’, ‘ adding that the editorial department would be working closely with other departments to achieve the set goals.

”We have to work very closely practically with all the units of the agency. We have been fully prepared for the arduous task ahead.

”We have to set targets and do everything humanly possible to ensure that they are diligently met. We will also intensify internal communication.

”’We will all change. I will cascade the knowledge acquired here and we spoke as adults and professionals,” Sheyin added. .

Also speaking, the Director, Admin/ Human Resources, Malam Khalil Abdulhadi, assured Ali that all the knowledge learnt during the retreat would be put to proper use, urging the staff to work together as a team.

He said,”The only way we can thank the managing director is by giving assurance of putting to use what we have learnt here.

”We are leaving here as a bonded group un;ike how we came in. We will go back and pursue the targets and goals we set for ourselves.”

Other management staff at the retreat appreciated the managing director for the gesture, saying that it had given them a new approach to the work.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng/ Flowerbudnews

 

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

Ilorin:. Prof. Ademola Popoola of Department of Surgery, University of Ilorin (Unilorin), has warned that penile erection after 30 minutes in sexual intercourse is purposeless, dangerous and harmful to men.

Popoola raised the alarm in Ilorin during his paper presentation at the 250th Inaugural Lecture of the university, entitled: “That All May Pee in Peace”.

According to him, ”a person who has more than 30 minutes of erection should report immediately to the hospital”.

He stated that the erection must be aborted as soon as possible by a competent doctor in order to preserve penile erection subsequently.

The expert, who observed that the penis need to be turgid or erect for satisfactory sexual intercourse, however, said the erected penis often fractures or breaks.

“Research shows that the right side of the penis ruptures more than the left side,” he said.

Similarly, Popoola stated that in a person’s lifetime urination, which is supposed to be fun and relieving may become a problem and sometimes if intervention is not made on time, it could lead to the demise of the individual.

The don, who teaches in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences of Unilorin, observed the various causes of challenges with urination in women.

“They include abnormal shifting of the uterus, urethrocele and other uncommon causes such as perforation ovarian teratoma and anteverted uterus,” he said.

The expert warned that blood in the urine should cause great concern and peace-less urination.

This, he said, may signify underlying disorders that need to be investigated, adding that the cause of blood in urine should be identified within a week or two of presentation to the hospital and a deadline of treatment set out.

He therefore, called for comprehensive care of the patients with urological malignancies, which should be covered by the National Health Insurance Authourity.

Popoola also advised the Federal Government to make available research funding to support genitourinary problems, including kidney failure. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng) / Flowerbudnews