Folashade Adeniran - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Folashade Adeniran
Jan, Mon, 2023

LP appoints zonal coordinators for Obi-Datti campaign

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Mr Adewole Egbodofo, South-West Coordinator, Special Duties, Obi-Datti Campaign

By Adekunle Williams

The Labour Party (LP) on Monday released a list of nominated Zonal Coordinators for contacts, mobilisation and grassroots engagement for the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council.

The party’s National Chief Mobiliser, Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council (LPPCC), Mr Olawale Okunniyi, made this known in Lagos.

Okunniyi said the appointment was in continuation of strengthening its campaign machinery for the forthcoming General Elections.

He said the party appointed three zonal coordinators for Grassroots Mobilisation; Contacts and Mobilisation; and Special Duties for the six geo-political zones of the country.

The official said the directorate had appointed Mr Adewole Egbodofo as the Zonal Coordinator, Special Duties in charge of the South-West Zone.

“Mr Adewole Egbodofo was born to Mr Simeon Egbodofo, an accomplished teacher, popularly known as ‘Baba Fonen (Phonetics) from Ode Ajagba and Mrs Janet Egbodofo.

“Adewole Egbodofo had both his primary and secondary school education in Okitipupa before proceeding to the Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State.

“He also attended the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, for training on Banking and Finance respectively, “he added.

Okunniyi said Egbodofo had over 20 years of cognate experience in Finance and Banking, having worked in First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Providus Bank Plc and other financial institutions.

He said Egbodofo was passionate about the need for the overthrow of those he described as members of the ‘Ruiners Generation’, who had looted the country into a coma.

The official said Egbodofo was also an internationally-acclaimed advocate of Ballot Box Revolution. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

Folashade Adeniran
Jan, Sun, 2023

General News

New Year: Oba Elegushi’s wife hosts children, cautions against social vices

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By Taiye Olayemi

No fewer than 200 children within Ikate Kingdom in Lagos State and its environs were on Sunday hosted to a New Year party by the Quality and Selfless Empowerment (QSE) Foundation.

The foundation is an initiative of Sekinat Elegushi, wife of Oba Saheed Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the annual New Year party is one of her humanitarian programmes for residents in the community, particularly the indigent.

In her remarks, Elegushi advised the children to be focused, disciplined and shun all forms of social vices, to make their parents and the country proud.

“Also, as you resume school tomorrow, I urge you to study very hard so as to become great personalities in life, make your parents and the country proud,” she said.

Elegushi thanked God on behalf of the children for keeping them alive and healthy to witness another year.

She thanked her husband, who is also chairman of the foundation, for his support and for spending time with the children.

She equally thanked the International Women Society (IWS) for their partnership and collaboration.

NAN reports that the children who had quality time of entertainment, amusement and merriment, were given different items including school bags; writing materials; lunch boxes; water bottles; snacks and toys.

Highlight of the programme was a return ticket to Ghana won by one of the children who won a dance competition. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

Folashade Adeniran
Jan, Wed, 2023

Education

GetBundi founder advocates digital skills learning across Africa in 2023

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GetBundi founder and CEO, Osita Oparaugo

By Taiye Olayemi

Mr Osita Oparaugo, founder and Chief Executive Officer of GetBundi, an educational technology platform, has urged African leaders to prioritise digital skills education in 2023 so as to build the right workforce to drive the continent’s development.

Oparaugo made the call while interacting with journalists in Lagos.

He warned that the lack of a digitally-skilled workforce would hurt Africa’s economic development “if not addressed immediately”.

He declared that acquiring digital skills was “a must for anyone in the 21st century, especially in Africa”.

To buttress his point, the GetBundi founder cited a study by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, which found that 230 million jobs across Africa would require some level of digital skills by 2030.

“That translates to a potential for 650 million training opportunities and an estimated $130 billion market,” he explained.

According to him, preliminary findings of another research on Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria and Rwanda markets by IFC and the World Bank (through the Digital Development Programme Trust Fund) showed that by 2030, some level of digital skills would be required for 50-55 percent of jobs in Kenya.

“The research equally showed that digital skills will be required for 35-45 per cent of jobs in Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Rwanda, and 20-25 percent in Mozambique,” he added.

He said that only countries with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and digital skills-enabled citizenry could achieve meaningful development in the present world.

He cited Singapore and China’s flourishing economies as examples of what nations could turn into if they became scientifically and technologically advanced.

“What China and Singapore have achieved in less than 50 years, Africa can also attain using STEM education and Science Technology Innovation (STI) skills acquisition “especially when one considers the abundance of human capital and the resilient nature of Africans, especially the youths.”

He said it was to promote digital skills learning across Africa that GetBundi, an educational technology platform designed to deliver high quality, engaging and accessible STEM courses and STI skills, was launched in Lagos, in June 2022.

“Recently, in December 2022, we decided to run some of our GetBundi digital skills courses in Pidgin English to make them more accessible to more Africans.

According to him, using that popular language followed a result of studies by the World Bank, UNESCO and others which showed that using a language of instruction closest to the people matters a lot, especially for learning foundational skills.

He said that the education technology platform had a vision to up-skill, through its STEM and digital skills centre, 10 million Africans by 2032 and beyond in order to create an inclusive sustainable development driven by technology. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

Folashade Adeniran
Jan, Tue, 2023

Entertainment

Insider explains why Burna Boy Lagos concert was delayed

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By Folasade Adeniran

With the social media still awash with complaints over the delay in the take-off of the “Lagos loves Damini” Sunday show, Mr Joseph Edgar has explained what happened.

Edgar, Chairman, Duke of Shomolu Productions, a theatrical plays producing outfit, who is a close associate of Wonder X, organisers of the show, blamed the delay on unforseen factors.

“A lot is being said about the just-concluded mega concert featuring global star Burna Boy.

“A lot of stories have come out from different sources, especially eye witness accounts, detailing delay in the show and the very unprofessional attitude of the star who came out cursing and spending quite an unacceptable time on stage despite the long wait for him.

“My unimpeachable sources have informed me that just as the show was about to start, a huge surge hit and blew off 15 microphones out of the 45 that were on stage.

“This meant that the show couldn’t go on and this explains the long unexplainable wait that the audience had to endure as organisers scrambled to find replacement in Lagos during a season where other such huge shows were taking place.

“Furthermore, I have also learnt that due to the popularity of the concert which attracted about 30,000 people, the roads were blocked.

“The adjoining streets – Adetokunbo Ademola, Akin Adesola and Ahmadu Bello – witnessed a complete lock-down.

“I have been told that the music star was stuck in traffic and getting him and his crew to the venue was more like a military action involving taking back roads within the expansive Eko Atlantic through to the Energy City site of the concert.

“The Star, Burna, did not help matters as he seemed to have a beef against the Lagos audience.

“He came out cursing and abusing them.”

Edgar, however, expressed happiness that the show could be termed a phenomenal success as Burna was able to rise above the initial delay to deliver some of his hit tunes.

“That excellent delivery made the crowd to forget their initial misgivings and they danced the night away.

“This was a learning experience for all stakeholders involved, especially the organisers, who would have to beef up their technical capacity and also seek an efficient working relationship with authorities, especially in traffic managemnt and security.

“I have heard reports of the Lagos State Government removing number plates from parked vehicles of attendees. Organisers must tackle such issues well in advance.

“In all, it was a wonderful experience as Nigerians were given another wonderful opportunity to watch their beloved Olu Burna who, despite it all, gave a wonderful, albeit brief, show to the satisfaction of the crowd.” (NAN)

Folashade Adeniran
Jan, Mon, 2023

Entertainment

“Lagos loves Damini” concert a huge success – Organisers

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By Folasade Adeniran

The historical concert – “Lagos loves Damini” – that featured Grammy Award winning singer and song writer Burna Boy, was a huge success, its organisers, Wonder X, said in a statement on Monday.

“The Burna Boy team took the bustling mega city by Storm.

“Burna Boy, leading a 30- man band, took the over 30,000 Lagos crowd through an eclectic set which drove the crowds to a frenzy making them forget the initial technical glitches which led to a late start,” it said.

The organisers, in the statement, apologised for the technical glitches which led to a late start of the show.

“We understand the frustration the fans must have felt for the unusual delay and do sincerely apologise even as we express our commitment to providing only the best and timely experiences for subsequent events.

“We like to send special thanks to Burna Boy and his team for showing stupendous professionalism in the midst of the confusion,” the statement said.

The Wonder X team also sent great appreciation to the over 30,000 fans who came out to show their undying love for their hero and who despite the long wait still kept the faith and eventually witnessed the electrifying musical performance ever.

The Lagos Love Damini concert witnessed over 30,000 fans in attendance and a car lot with an unprecedented 11,000 cars.

“The adjoining Ahmadu Bello, Akin Adesola and Adetokunbo Ademola Streets all jammed with traffic thereby positioning the concert as the biggest and most attended musical concert in recent history,” the statement said. (NAN)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran