SMART CITY: Sanwo-Olu launches N250 million seed capital for tech start-ups.

…Establishes Research And Innovation Council To Manage The Funds

…Lagos Hosts Maiden Art Of Technology Conference

With a whopping N250 million seed capital earmarked by the Lagos State Government for technology and innovation, tech start-ups and young innovators in the State now have the opportunity to push their entrepreneurial skills to the next level.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, launched Lagos State Science Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC) to be chaired by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, while also setting aside $687,000 start-up funds for investment in research and development of tech-focused solutions across the six pillars of his administration’s development agenda.

The Governor said the establishment of the Council and innovation funds officially began the process of implementing strategies that would help in the realisation of the Smart City initiative of the State.

Sanwo-Olu made the announcement at the on-going Art of Technology (AOT) Lagos 1.0 conference organised by the Office of the Governor’s Special Adviser on Innovation and Technology. No fewer than 1,500 young innovators and tech solutions developers are attending the event being held at Oriental Hotel on Victoria Island, with the theme: “Bridging the gap”.

The Governor said the innovation funds would also be directed to support Information and Communication Technology (ICT) research focusing on solving issues of national significance.

He said: “There is no gainsaying the fact that any society that wants to be reckoned with on the global stage must be grounded in the application of technology to growth and development. It is gratifying to note that the world has accepted that Lagos as the Silicon Valley of Africa with major investments by Microsoft and Google in the Ikeja-based Computer Village and emerging tech hubs, which have served as launch pads for the digital careers of numerous youths in software development.

“To further expand the opportunities, we are immediately earmarking seed capital of N250 million into Lagos State Science Research and Innovation Council to be accessed by tech entrepreneurs and software developers in innovation ecosystem for them to create various solutions from artificial intelligence to robotics, to health informatics and green energy.”

Besides, the Governor also launched Open Government Initiative, Innovation Master Plan and Lagos State Solution Hub to further drive synergy between policymakers in the public sector and innovators in the private sector.

While the Solution Hub is aimed at democratising access to state actors and serving as the first point of call for innovators, solutions providers and innovators on marketing their solutions, the Innovation Master Plan would be focusing on implementation of policies in four critical areas to unleash a culture of problem solving.

Sanwo-Olu said the master plan would be addressing the challenge of access to data and funding for innovations, adding that the plan would also bring about provision of faster Internet broadband that would catalyse talent development.

He said: “Our Open Government Initiative is focused on data access, which is seen as critical for the building blocks of a solutions culture. Open data promotes inclusiveness, participation and more fit-for-purpose solutions. The Open Government initiative has kicked off and we will be communicating subsequent milestones with the public soon.”

The Governor urged the participants and investors to leverage on the opportunities provided by the event to synergise and network with other innovators towards develop life changing software that would transform healthcare, agro-business, transportation, food security, housing and education in Lagos.

“It is our goal to foster the gains achieved by the Art of Technology 1.0 to enhance and empower the residents and investors in Lagos,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The convener and Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Technology, Olatunbosun Alake, said the event had the objective to bridge the gap between governance and innovation.

He said the Government and private sector could no longer afford to work in silos, stressing that the public and private sectors must co-create to key into the future.He added that outcomes of the event would bring about enabling policies that would empower Lagos Government to build a sustainable tech and innovation industry.

Also, Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Hakeem Fahm, observed that Lagos Government had started to look into the future by “thinking Smart” and using technology as an enabler to realise Smart City status.

The conference also featured panels of discussion with themes focusing on leveraging technology and innovation to providing solutions and services in key sectors of the State’s economy.

Ibadan Polytechnic Gives Scholarship To
10 Students For Excellent Performance In NIPOGA

Ten students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, who made the higher institution of learning proud during the zonal Nigeria Polytechnic Games, NIPOGA, have been offered scholarship.

Deputy rector, Mrs. Olubunmi Olubamiwa, made this known at the press conference heralding the 34th convocation of the institution.

It was learnt that the institution received 25 gold medals in tennis, basketball, scrabbles, chess and hockey at the games which took place at the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, in October 2019.

She said the management and the Rector of the institution; Professor Kazeem Adekunle Adebiyi approved the scholarship to motivate students and staff in the area of sporting activities.

According to her, the gesture was to prove that the institution does not only reward academic excellent alone but also gives full recognition to students that shine in the other field such as sports.

The convocation which starts this Friday would see Prof. Ayobami Ojebode, who is head of department of communications and language arts at the University of Ibadan speaking on ‘The dream, challenges and the reality of contemporary Nigeria for fresh graduates,’ on Thursday, 12th December, 2019.

Olubamiwa, who spoke further, said that any lecturer or any member of staff found in the habit of demanding sex for marks in the institution would be dealt with.

The management warned that any lecturer of the institution found demanding sex for marks in the institution will be sacked summarily after been made to face the standing committee to handle such offences.

It charged students who had previously fallen victim, to feel free to come forward to report any erring lecturer found to be engaged in the shameful act.

The institution said there are measures in place, standing disciplinary committees, to punish any lecturer found guilty of any offence capable of tarnishing the image of the higher institution of learning.

This is just as she said there is a staff disciplinary and students’ disciplinary committees to sanction anyone found guilty of sex scandal.

According to her, the achievements of the institution in recent time had outshined the challenges facing the school, and praised prompt intervention of the state government, unlike in the past.

She said; “like you have rightly said, there are challenges in every organisation but our prayer is that our right hand should be greater than our left hand that means our achievement should be greater than our challenges.

“I will like to say, in the current dispensation, most of our challenges have been addressed by the government of the day. A number of the moribund facilities have been resuscitated.

GAS EXPLOSION ROCK 4POINT SHERATON HOTEL, 7 INJURED, 10 VEHICLES DESTROYED.

At least seven people were injured today, with three severely wounded and hospitalized as a result of explosion at the 4POINT hotel by Sheraton in Oniru, on Lagos Island.

The explosion according to investigations of the LASEMA Response Team, resulted from a gas cylinder that exploded within the vicinity of the hotel.

It was further revealed that the gas cylinder was in use by welders working within the yard of the hotel premises, and that the explosion was due to a leakage of one of the gas cylinder’s hose pipes.

Three people sustained severe injuries as a result of the blast and two has been rushed to Lagos Island General hospital for intensive care by LASEMA AMBULANCE UNIT, while one was taken to a nearby private hospital.

According to the LASEMA Response Team at the incident site, another four people were also injured due to secondary incident caused by flying objects that injured the victims who were not among the primary victims of the defective welding equipment.

Reports had it that when welders attempted putting finishing touches to the last two pipes needed to complete the borehole project in the hotel premises, there was a blowback when the welding equipment was restarted, leading to a burst pipe and eventual explosion of the welder’s gas cylinder and the subsequent disaster that followed.

Aside shattered hotel room windows, damaged walls and other yet to be detected physical damages to the structure of the hotel as a result of shrapnel due to the blast, 10 cars were destroyed by effects of the explosion and flying objects.

More over, results from the initial assessment by LASEMA has shown that the Hotel’s emergency response plan is flawed with no visible emergency muster point.

Speaking on this incident, the DG/CEO LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke–Osanyintolu has appealed to all Lagos residents that they should remain calm and collected, that the Agency is looking at the situation holistically, with a scientific approach to ensuring that there’s no more gas explosions in Lagos State again.

Oke–Osanyintolu went on to elaborate that the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration is people-centric with the best interest of Lagosians at heart, and has put all necessary structures in place to mitigate against disasters in the state.

The DG went to say that LASEMA was on top of the situation, and has alerted all its relevant sister agencies to the situation at the 4POINT Hotel at Oniru and Lagos in general.

According to the DG, the Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory has been duly informed of the development and will conduct stability/non destructive tests to ascertain the status of the hotel, its beams and columns.

However, LASEMA has effectively brought the situation under control with the combined efforts of Officers of the Nigerian Police Force, Police EOD, LASG and LASEMA Fire Units, with ample assistance from staff of the hotel in ensuring a swift recovery.

In compliance with international best practices in emergency situations, the entrance of the building and the entire area surrounding the incident point, has been cordoned off, the Agency has notified other relevant Agencies of the incident while waiting to conduct necessary post disaster assessment.

While response teams from two units are returning back to base, one LASEMA Unit has been mandated to remain at the incident site to forestall any secondary incident as the Hotel remained sealed at the ongoing operation.

In a similar development, another team from the LASEMA Zone known as the Dolphin in charge of Ejigbo-Alimosho axis in it’s entirety, is also at a fire outbreak at Jubril Martins Street, Ejigbo putting out a pocket fire in partially affected shop with the assistance of Officers of the Lagos State Fire Services.

Education Incomplete Without Skill Acquisition – Akeredolu

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, has emphasized the need for Universities and other tertiary institutions to prioritize skill acquisitions alongside the acquisition of certificates.

The Governor said the practice of acquiring certificates without the skills and knowledge to solve problems cannot be equated with capacity.

Arakunrin Akeredolu, who delivered the 20th Founders’ Day Anniversary Lecture of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, on Wednesday, said the acquisition of certificates should be evident in the capacity to engage challenges and break new grounds to accommodate the inherent dynamism in human affairs.

The Governor, who lamented the embarrassing presence of a multitude of unemployed youths in the polity, called for an urgent review of the current practices.

While pointing out the errors that is often made, Akeredolu said the society usually mistake being lettered to be the sole purpose of education, adding that the ability to read and write only opens doors for opportunities.

He said: ”Proficiency in an official language of the State confirms elitism, not capacity. Being knowledgeable in specific areas of knowledge is an advantage. The needs of a society should be emphasized in a curriculum of training.

”A properly trained citizen is an asset to the community. An untrained compatriot is a perennial burden. A system of instruction must be purposeful; it must be designed to achieve an end. Acquisition of knowledge confers potential ability status on a people. Its application actualizes dreams and prevents untoward occurrences.”

Governor Akeredolu said universities in Nigeria will only contribute meaningfully to the development of the country if there is a remarkable change in attitude.

”Our universities must redirect their energies to peculiar areas of research, which will be beneficial to the environment. Until this is done, the tragic joke continues,” Akeredolu said.

While congratulating the graduating students, the Governor asked them to consider the acquisition of their certificates as basic, saying that they need to acquire new skills to survive at this current period.

He saluted the vision of late Pa Adebayo Adefarati for establishing the university, adding that the state must ensure that the noble idea continues to grow.

” I am not oblivious of the significant strides already made by this great institution. I must, however, nudge you not to be complacent. The fact that our products look up to government as the main employer of labour in the type of economy we practise shows that we still have a very long way to cover before arriving at the desired destination,” the Governor concluded.

Olabode Richard Olatunde
Special Assistant to the Governor (New Media)
December 4, 2019.

Jubilation as Sanwo-Olu flags off massive road construction in Ikorodu.

…Lagos Upgrades Ijede, Agric-Isawo And Bola Tinubu-Igbogbo Roads

A crowd of joyous residents of Ikorodu in Lagos State on Wednesday trooped out to receive Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu who was in the area to flag off massive rehabilitation and expansion of major roads.

Accompanied by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and members of the State’s cabinet, Sanwo-Olu formally kicked off the upgrading and reconstruction of Owutu-Agric-Isawo, Bola Tinubu-Igbogbo-Imota and Itamaga-Ijede roads, giving the residents the feeling of long sought relief.

The three road projects, which are expected to be completed in the next 20 months, are being handled by Messrs Hitech Construction Company and Arab Contractor.

The 11.9 kilometres Ijede Road stretches from Ewu Elepe to Ijede town, cutting across four local councils and 37 communities. Governor Sanwo-Olu awarded contract for the construction of the first phase of the road, which covers 6.05 kilometres from Itamaga to Ewu Elepe town.

Also, the Governor officially flagged off the construction of the first phase of Owutu-Agric-Isawo Road, covering 7.8 kilometres and cutting across eight communities. It is being upgraded to a dual carriageway.

Sanwo-Olu said: “Today’s event is remarkable not just for me personally, but for my Government and the people of Ikorodu who will directly benefit from this project. The flag-off of these projects is the beginning of the much needed relief we are bringing to our people on this axis.

“We are here today to fulfil the promise we made during campaign. These promises are now being translated to reality, because we have the construction of these roads. We have ensured that we deploy competent and reliable contractors to design and deliver the projects on agreed date.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu described Ikorodu as critical component of the Lagos project, assuring residents that his administration remained committed to reviving infrastructure in the Division.

“Ikorodu is critical and important to our agenda towards delivering Greater Lagos. This is why I personally created the time to come and flag off these projects,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The Governor said the projects were not being done to score cheap political point; rather, he said his Government considered them as right of the people who had been longing to benefit from dividends of governance.

After the completion of the first phase of the project, Sanwo-Olu assured that the Government would not delay the construction of the second phase.

The road projects, the Governor disclosed, would create a chain of job opportunities for residents living around the sites, pointing out that the contractors had agreed to engage community members in informal work and supply of materials.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, said apart from bringing relief to the residents, the projects would also eliminate problem of flooding on the axis and improve social-economic wellbeing.

She said: “These projects are being carried out to improve road connectivity, ease traffic flow, reduce travel time, enhance intermodal transportation services and safety of lives and property. They will be designed to eliminate perennial flooding, enhance property value and socio-economic wellbeing of the people.”

She appealed to the residents to cooperate with the contractors and be patient as work progresses on the projects, noting that there would be inconveniences in the course of the construction exercise.

When completed, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Jimi Hotonu, said the Owutu-Agric-Isawo and Ijede-Ewu Elepe Roads will have array of streetlights, bicycle lanes and other facilities to give residents comfort.

You Have Three Months To Deliver Works That Commensurate With Your Mobilization Fees – Oyo Govt To Road Contractors

Contractors of ongoing road projects in Oyo State have been told they have a maximum of three months to do the jobs that would be commensurate with the mobilization funds they have received from the Government or government would take necessary steps to enforce contractual agreements signed at the commencement of their contracts.

The State Commissioner for Public Works and Transportation, Prof Raphael Afonja, revealed this on Tuesday in Ibadan while on inspection tour of ongoing road projects in the State.

Afonja added that if after the expiration of the three months grace period and they were yet to deliver on the the work that would meet the acquired funding, necessary steps would be taken as regards some of the clauses stipulated in the initial agreement.

“We are here to inspect the level of work done in relation to the mobilization gotten by the contractors and with the spate of work, I am promising the contractors that government will not allow the public fund to go waste or be misused, there were terms in the contract agreements signed by the government and contractors when they were given the jobs, they will have to deliver on this.

“They have three months from now to meet up with the work that will commensurate with the mobilization they were paid or government will be forced to revisit these contracts and do the needful.

“The purpose of our visit today was to follow up on the initial assessment of the projects we met when we came on board and also to make sure that they’re doing quality work on site and also to catch up on lapse time that has been wasted.”

According to the Commissioner, mobilization funds have been given to the contractors and as a result, they have no excuse not to work, more so they needed to utilize the dry season to work effectively.

He added that the work of the Ministry wanted to make sure that the contractors have quality control team on site always, to make sure that the right things were done, in terms of the road designs and for the Ministry to have quality assurance team that would supervise what was done at the sites.

He said before the advent of the present administration, the Ministry of Works was not allowed to supervise any project, that the services of consultants were always engaged for road designs and supervision.

“Before we came on board, Ministry of Works workers were not allowed to supervise any project by the previous administration, they brought in consultants that did the project design and supervision, but right now, we are taking ownership, now we are going back to review the designs and the bills to ensure there are no breaches of any form anywhere and that quality jobs are done in the State.”

He charged the contractors to engage more manpower on site to work day and night to ensure timely completion of the jobs, adding that most of the contracts were awarded over three years ago and ought to have been completed.

Lagelu Grammar School Students Remanded At Agugu Police Station Over Alleged Rape

A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan on Tuesday remanded six students of Lagelu Grammar School at the Agugu Police Station over alleged rape of a female colleague.

The students- Akeem Abee, 17; Olaiya Faruq, 16; Kazeem Awal, 16, Ajao Waris, 17; Alamu Boluwatife, 17; and Dauda Mubarak, 17-are facing trial for conspiracy and rape.

The court did not take the plea of the defendants.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Taiwo Oladiran, in his ruling, ordered the students to be remanded at Agugu Police Station instead of a correctional centre because they were all minors.

Oladiran then adjourned the matter till Friday for mention.

Meanwhile, the Prosecutor, ASP Sunday Ogunremi had told the court that the defendants conspired to indecently assault the female student.

Ogunremi alleged that the defendants on Nov.17 at about 6.00pm at Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan, had unlawful carnal knowledge of the female student.
He said the offences contravened Sections 360 and 517 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

Former Oyo Local Government Chairman Dies

Kareem Adegoke, who was pioneer chairman of Asabari local council development area, is dead.

Adegoke, who was in his 60s, was said to have died last night. He was, until his demise, a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

He was once vice-chairman and later caretaker chairman of Saki West local government.

Not long ago, his wife, Abimbola Kareem, died in a ghastly motor accident along Iseyin-Saki road.

Lawyer to the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Tuesday evening, alleged that contrary to the report that only two people were shot dead in his house, he said that over ten people were killed in Oraifite by the Police.

In a video broadcast made available to Vanguard through the Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, Mr. Ejiofor alleged that the police shot his mother but she survived with a gunshot wound that is being treated in an undisclosed hospital.

Ejiofor who spoke from his hideout having been allegedly rendered homeless following his house that was allegedly burnt down by the Police alleged that nobody can give the accurate account of the number of people that were killed in his house but insisted that not less than twenty people were killed.

According to him, no policeman or officer was killed in my house, the police killed their victims in my house, took their corpses to an open place near Nkwo in between Oraifite and Ozubulu and burnt them in their vehicle if any policeman was killed it was not in Oraifite.

Ejiofor also disclosed that while the incident happened, he was away and was in contact with the Divisional Police officer who had earlier in the day had fruitful discussion with him on the incident and the purpose of the police coming to his house.

“I had agreed to meet with the DPO on phone to meet Jim at the station by 11am and he told me that time was of essence and I promised to be with him but was at s loss when my senior brother called me and told me the police invaded my house and was shooting anyone on sight.

“I did not understand anything about the incident, and as I am talking now I don’t have a home, my house was totally burnt down, my life is not safe the way things stand, I am appealing to the international community, the NBA Abuja, Amnesty International to note that my life is in danger now.” (Vanguard)

Open letter to OMOYELE SOWORE:
NIGERIANS DO NOT DESERVE YOUR SACRIFICES
by Olukayode Ekundayo.

I have taken my time to study your activities from the time you came into limelight as a student union activist at UNILAG

I saw and got direct eye witness accounts of how you liberated the Unilag campus students of the cultist’s activities and this earned you lots of pains, persecution and rejection.

I saw how you fought tirelessly beside MKO Abiola during the June 12 struggle.

I saw how you bravely confronted the Abacha junta and helped to initiate the journey back to democracy.

You had to relocate to USA to complete your studies that your struggles denied you.

You carved a niche for yourself, from the scratch, you started a new frontier in journalism which remains vibrant till today.

From your Sahara Reporters platform, you launched successful campaigns against the looters of our commonwealth, exposing them and their international collaborators.

You took the bull by the horn and returned with a vision to free the masses from the grip of the cabals who hold Nigeria into ransom since independence, by contesting for the highest office in the land.

For the first time, an aspirant without a Godfather or ill gotten wealth, was able to mobilise the few youths who are awake to take their destinies in their hands.

I saw how the ignorance of the masses, on behalf of whom you fought, collected bags of rice, groundnut oil, money, and other materials meant to induce them to vote against their conscience. Majority of them decided to remain indoors while the ballot boxes were being hijacked and their future snatched without a protest.

However, I saw the hope you raised in Nigerians abroad, those who are desirous of coming to give back to their fatherland, whose hopes are now apparently dashed.

Despite all these, you left an indelible mark within just one year of your coming into the political arena.

I have seen how political jobbers infiltrated your ranks and attempted to hijack the party you laboured to establish so that it will die prematurely.

Yet, the spirit in you will not relent and allow the masses to suffer for their ignorance, you made a call for a national protest.

To cap all these, you have been unduly and unjustly arrested and kept in solitary confinement for more than 100days, despite two Court’s Bail Bonds issued on your behalf, while the masses continue with their suffering and smiling.

I have read various unprintable comments, lies and propaganda made against you.

I have seen all efforts made to tarnish your image and coerce you to surrender your struggles, but you have proved your integrity beyond all doubts.

You are indeed a man sent, else, who will withstand all these pains for ungrateful people.

The cup of the sufferings of the masses is not yet full, for their unrighteousness must be adequately punished. They claimed they want people with heart for true service, Awolowo contested, they ignored him, Fela Anikulapo contested, they ignored him, Gani Fawehinmi contested, they ignored him, the youth clamoured for opportunity, you rose to the occasion, but was also ignored. The people deserve the leaders they have.

Therefore, they do not deserve your continuous sufferings. You have a bigger task ahead in due time.

My name is Olukayode Ekundayo, a catalyst for Transformation, a noble citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
I stand as EXTRA Surety, among others, of Omoyele Sowore, Bakare, and other prisoners of conscience to regain their deserved freedom.

Nigerians shall be free