Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Mr Kamal Olowosago, presenting document to one of the beneficiaries of the apartments

By Abiodun Lawal

The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) on Thursday inaugurated 72 units housing estate in Emuren, Sagamu, Ogun State.

Speaking during the inauguration, Mr Madu Hamman, Managing Director, FMBN, said the residential housing estate was developed by LSDPC under the FMBN Cooperative Housing Development Loan window.

Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Mr Kamal Olowosago, presenting document to one of the beneficiaries of the apartments

Hamman said the project, fully funded by FMBN, was in fulfillment of its commitment to the realisation of the home ownership dreams of Nigerian workers who were contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme.

The managing director stated that the commitment led to the development of the FMBN Cooperative Housing Development window through which the estate was delivered successfully.

He said that FMBN had continued to ensure that Nigerians had access to decent and secure accommodation through affordable mortgage financing and access to products in the Nigerian financial services sector.

He appreciated Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, for the support extended to FMBN and the National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme.

“This support has ensured consistency of NHF contributions by the state workforce.

“This project consists of 72 housing units comprising 48 units of two-bedroom terrace apartment and 24 units of three-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.

“The estate is fully serviced with basic infrastructure including internal road network, drainages, electricity, and water to create a conducive and liveable environment,” he said.

“By this endeavor, we are not only reducing the housing deficit in the country, we are also creating jobs and tackling unemployment,” he said.

The FMBN managing director appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for his support which he said made the project a reality.

In his remarks, Mr Ayodeji Gbeleyi, Chairman, Board of Directors, FMBN, said the projects reaffirmed the commitment of FMBN to deliver affordable housing to Nigerians, who were contributors to the NHF scheme managed by the bank.

Gbeleyi lauded the Ogun State Government for allowing the project to be located in the state, adding that the synergy deserved commendation.

In his speech, Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Mr Kamal Olowosago, said that his government would continue to prioritise workers welfare.

Sanwo-Olu commented FMBN for the scheme, saying that the  government would continue to collaborate with the bank in ensuring that the state workers benefited more in various housing projects.

Oba Adesegun Abolaji, the Elemuren of Emuren, Sagamu, expressed gratitude for siting the project in his community, promising that he was ready to donate another 20 hectares of land for another phase of the project.(NAN)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Olawunmi Ashafa

Don seeks adoption of outcome-based education in engineering

Engineering

By Olatunde Ajayi

Ibadan, March 10, 2023 (NAN) Prof. John Olorunmaiye, the former Vice-Chancellor, Crown-Hill University, has called for the adoption and implementation of the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) to enhance the quality of engineering education in Nigeria.

Olorunmaiye made made the call at the second Prof. Olusoji Ofi Distinguished Academic Lecture 2023 organised by the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE), Ibadan chapter, on Thursday.

He said the adoption of OBE in the training of engineers would make them employable globally.

According to him, OBE emphasises student-centered learning and focuses on output instead of input.

Olorunmaiye, the guest lecturer at the event, listed some of the problems affecting the delivery of high quality engineering education in Nigeria as inadequate number or quality of academic and non-academic staff in many universities.

“We also have excessive number of students in some universities especially public universities, lack of modern equipment or inadequate number of equipment in the laboratories, weak or poor industrial training programmes and poorly motivated staff, among others,” he said.

“Specific and clearly defined outcome must be described to the students to set their own expectations and means to achieve the desired outcome.

“If the students trained in the engineering programmes run in Nigerian universities are to compete well with products of similar programmes trained in developed countries, there is a need to enhance the quality of engineering education,” he said.

Also speaking, the National Chairman, NIMechE, Dr Olufunmilade Akingbagbohun, said that the lecture was apt as it addressed what the country needs for growth and development.

Akingbagbohun said engineering remains the bedrock of growth and development for any country.

“Any nation that aspires to grow or develop requires engineering because the profession is about problem solving,” she said.

She said that NIMechE had created many solutions in engineering with professional development and innovation strategic programme.

“We have started industry academic parley by taking people from industry to the academia to bridge the huge gap between the classroom and industry,” she said.

The celebrant, Prof. Olusoji Ofi, the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, University of Ibadan (UI), said that the guest lecturer who also graduated from UI represented the original design concept of engineering profession of the university.

Ofi, a Fellow of Nigeria Society of Engineers and the inventor of the first instant powdered pounded yam in the world, thanked NIMechE for the recognition of his contributions to the engineering profession.

Earlier, Chairman, NIMechE, Oyo State chapter, Mr Victor Ogunranti, also a Fellow of Nigeria Society of Engineers, said that the lecture was named after the celebrant to give him a long-deserved proper recognition for his humble sacrifice and service as the doyen of Mechanical Engineering. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Olatunde Ajayi

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Coordinator in Oyo State, Mr Abel Odoba, says the development and unity of Nigeria rests heavily on the youth of the country.

Odoba spoke on Thursday, in Ibadan, at the passing out ceremony of the 2022 Batch ‘A’ Stream II corps members.

He reminded the corps members that nation building remained the core mandate of the one-year mandatory national service they have undergone.

The coordinator commended them for their meaningful contributions to their host communities and their initiatives of executing various community-oriented projects and making positive impact.

Odoba charged them not to be deterred by the current situation of the country, but to take up leadership roles that would enhance the advancement of the nation.

“You must be disciplined and always exhibit such, because without discipline, you can’t be good leaders,” he said.

The coordinator also advised them to utilise the training they had received through NYSC to change the narratives of disunity among members of the diverse ethnic groups.
He implored them to make the unity of the country their priority and duty wherever they found themselves after their disengagement from service.

Odoba, while encouraging them on entrepreneurship and self actualisation, said that the world had become more entrepreneurial, making white collar jobs less attractive.

“NYSC places emphasis on self-reliance and wealth creation; I therefore urge the outgoing corps members to put into practice all they have learnt.

“They should explore all the facilities available to them for start-up capital from various financial institutions the NYSC is partnering with through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme,” he said.

The coordinator advised the outgoing corps members to apply necessary acumen, right ideals and stay focused in their chosen career, business or other human endeavours.

Odoba said this was necessary to propel them to greater heights in the interest of the nation and themselves.

He enjoined them to be good ambassadors of the scheme, their families, and their various institutions of learning.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Local Government Inspector, Ibadan North, Mrs Kolade Comfort, said that most of the outgoing corps members performed excellently and deserved the Certification of National Service. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Oluwole Sogunle

By Oladele Eniola

Mr Ben Llewelyn-Jones, British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, has urged Nigerians to respect the electoral process.

Llewellyn-Jones gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He urged politicians to resolve their grievances in a peaceful manner and avoid heating the polity and inciting violence.

“My advice to politicians in the upcoming elections is that they should respect the process as the new technology is there to ensure that people can vote and that must be respected.

“If the politicians have problem or dispute, then the use of legal or peaceful processes should be carried out and if their supporters are angry, ensure peaceful protests and avoid any form of violence.

“Most importantly, politicians must desist from buying votes as the right thing is to tell people to vote for you because of what you would do and not by buying votes to convince them to vote for you.

“It is imperative of politicians and people to do the right things as the UK government is committed to issuing visa restrictions where it is aware of attempts to subvert the democratic process,” he said.

Llewellyn-Jones noted that since 2019, the UK government has spent over £10million working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), institution capacity building and civil societies, amongst others.

He urged the public to cooperate and work with the INEC, noting that the commission has the capacity to deal with challenges facing it.

“We have been working very closely with INEC and we have spent over £10 million since 2019; not just on them as that money went into capacity building for Nigerian government institutions, civil societies and observers who have been working closely with INEC.

“We are impressed with steps that have been taken as we know there is still a lot do, especially in terms of logistic challenges, but INEC is very experienced and they would overcome the challenges.

“We encourage Nigerians to work and cooperate with INEC as there would always be challenges, but Nigerians should remain supportive,” he said.

The UK envoy noted that there should be inclusiveness of people across the board in elections.

He encouraged People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs), youths and women to contest various positions in future elections.

“We are strong supporters of the ‘Not-Too-Young-To-Run’ Movement, as we supported the act and encouraged more people to come forward to participate in the elections because we want to see more inclusiveness across the board.

“We want to see people with disabilities, people from different backgrounds and ages contest in elections but that is still a real challenge as we don’t see that.

“More women should participate in politics as you can look at the UK who has had three female prime ministers and we believe it is important to see more women participating as it would be a massive encouragement in general.

“It is important to have that identification process so we are actively supporting all of that to make that difference to happen,” he said.

Llewellyn-Jones expressed confidence that the forthcoming elections would be peaceful and fair.

He revealed that the UK government did not have preferred candidates noting that its concern was for the public to determine their preferred leaders.

“I have been watching elections in Nigeria since 2014 and every election since 1999 has been an improvement as there have been changes, improvements, development, assurance and more confidence from the voters.

“I’m certain that the upcoming elections would be a step forward and the technology that is being introduced is a big part that would ensure that people can’t rig the elections.

“We would be observing the elections and we are really hopeful that the elections would go smoothly.

“The key thing is that Nigerians vote, that they vote in a peaceful environment and that their votes count and the process is credible.

“The UK government is not bothered about who wins the elections but our focus is on the process and to ensure Nigerians choose their leaders,” he said.

The general elections will start with the presidential poll on Feb. 25.

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Kingsley Kubeyinje

By Olatunde Ajayi

The newly-appointed Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, has given assurance of safety to Youth Corps members during the forthcoming general elections.

Ahmed gave the assurance during his official visit to the Oyo State NYSC Orientation Camp on Friday in Iseyin, Oyo State.

He informed the corps members that he had on assumption of duty visited all service chiefs in the country to get assurance from them for the protection of Corps members on election duties.

He, however, urged the Corps members to abide by the rules and regulations guiding their participation as umpires in the elections and desist from unauthorised journeys throughout their service year.

The D-G charged them to maintain high level of discipline and translate the sound training imparted on them into impactful service year as they assumed various roles in their Places of Primary Assignment (PPA).

Recounting his own experience as a Youth Corps member in Osun State, in 1995, Ahmed urged them to make friends and respect the culture of their host communities.

The NYSC boss further urged corps members to relate well with the people in their host community to have a memorable and rewarding service year.

He said that NYSC scheme had zero tolerance for extortion and promised that security and welfare of Corps members would be his topmost priority.

The Oyo State Coordinator of NYSC, Mr Odoba Abel, in his welcome remark, gave a report of the ongoing 2023 Batch A Stream 1 Orientation Course.

Abel, therefore, paid tributes to the participating Corps members and the NYSC staff working with him who made the exercise successful.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit of the new D-G, who assumed duty on Jan. 22, was his first to the South-West.

He was accompanied by senior officials of the scheme from the Directorate Headquarters.

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Grace Yussuf

L-R: An Engineer from the Lagos State Office of Infrastructure, Mr Tokunbo Oyenuga; Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs Aramide Adeyoye and a Town Planner, Oladimeji Animashaun, representing the Commisioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Omotayo Bamgbose-Martins during stakeholders with Eti-Osa Local Government Area residents towards dualisation of Alpha Beach Road at Alausa.

By Grace Alegba

The Lagos State Government on Thursday said it had given the deserved attention to infrastructure development and delivery for the wellbeing of the residents.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Omotayo Bamgbose-Martins, said this at a stakeholders meeting held in Alausa for the dualisation of Alpha Beach Road, located in Eti-Osa Local Government Area.

The meeting, held with the Eti-Osa stakeholders, was jointly organised by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development in collaboration with its Works and Infrastructure counterpart.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Alpha Beach road, which is off Lekki-Epe Expressway, is also called Omo Oba Murphy Adetoro Road.

The project has a length of about 1.9km and width of 14.6m, and will link the proposed Coastal Road.

Bamgbose-Martins, represented by Oladimeji Animashaun, a town planner, said the project was in line with the THEMES Agenda, to improve traffic flow and assist the socio-economic development of the entire Eti-Osa axis.

He said the Sanwo-Olu administration began year 2023 on good note with inauguration of iconic projects such as the Blue Rail Line, Imota Rice Mill, Dangote Fertilizer Plant and the Eleko-Epe Road.

“The dualisation of Alpha Beach Road is yet another that is capable of further articulating the economic potential of the Lekki axis as the development zone of the state.

“Therefore, I make bold to say that this administration has earned a reputation as a progressive one that is paying the deserved attention to infrastructure development for a 21st-century Lagos, which is evident on many fronts, including education, public health, and transportation, where the state is growing rapidly as a result of the addition of the facilities required for the wellbeing of the people.

“Therefore, I am elated that the proposed dualisation of Alpha Beach Road in Eti-osa Local Government Area is coming at this point in time when the populace are able to assess the government, based on the delivery of electoral promises of which transportation and traffic management are important components,’’ he said.

The commissioner said the stakeholders’ meeting was organised to have inputs of residents, discuss issues Right of Way (RoW) recovery and other activities for the successful take off of the project.

Bamgbose-Martins said the meeting was well publicised to ensure adequate information on the modalities for the establishment of the RoW and other requirements for payment of compensation to affected property owners.

He appealed for support of the residents towards successful execution of the project while urging citizens to always comply with physical planning laws, build right and avoid illegal constructions.

The Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs Aramide Adeyoye, said the project was being executed in partnership with Zenith Bank under the government’s Public Infrastructure Improvement Partnership Project.

She listed other projects being built in partnership with other private sector partners and commended Zenith Bank for the project and others it had undertaken in the past.

Adeyoye urged other private sector partners to join in such collaboration, while giving a brief of the project being upgraded to be built with rigid pavement to carry heavy axle load for longevity.

She assured that CCTV cameras would be included in facilities on the road project as requested by a stakeholder, for effective monitoring after completion by community development associations.

Adeyoye, however, expressed disappointment over absence of the members of the Lekki Estates Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA) who were important stakeholders on the project alignment.

She said there was opportunity for further future engagement with stakeholders on the project while listing ongoing collaboration with the private sector in the area of road constructions.

“I am a little disappointed that LERSA is not here,’’ she said.

Adeyoye called for continued support of stakeholders to government while appealing to residents to take ownership of the project and prevent it from all forms of abuse prevalent on the Eti-Osa axis.

Earlier, while giving a brief, the Project Director, Mr Tokunbo Ajanaku, said the Alpha Beach Road constructed between 1990 and 1994 would be upgraded to a dual carriageway to connect 20 estates.

Ajanaku, a certified Engineer from the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, said the project would also link the proposed Coastal Road project with proper drainage channel and service ducts for future passage of cables and utility lines.

He said that site clearance would warrant demolition of some properties on the Right of Way, adding that, efforts were made through design adjustments to reduce the number of houses to go down.

Stakeholders at the event including Mr Uneku Okpanachi, a lawyer, took turns to raise concerns which were addressed.

However, Mr Dayo Joshua, who earlier appealed for inclusion of CCTVs in the project, also called for rehabilitation of inner estate roads that were destroyed as a result of traffic diverted on them for take-off of the main project.

Alhaji Razak Olokooba, a civil society representative from Eti-Osa, applauded the government, saying it was not right to give commendation for good deeds and not to always give negative commentaries.

“We are interested in the good things you are doing for the people so that we can balance it,” he said.

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle