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Monday 10 September 2012

 NCPC HOLDS 2012  PRE PILGRIMAGE RETREAT

Abiodun Dada

 Speakers at the  just concluded  National Christian pre pilgrimage retreat  held in Lagos  has urged Christians in the country especially those  participating in the year 2012 pilgrimage  to take the case of insecurity and  others  problem facing Nigeria to God in prayer during their sojourn  to the holy land
Among the speakers  who spoke at the retreat  entitled  Pilgrimage  as a tool for Moral transformation and Spiritual Rebirth were Lagos state governor Raji Fashola, Chairman  Nigeria Christian Pilgrimage  Commission  Most Rev Dr, Nicholas Oko, executive secretary of the commission  Mr. John  Kennedy Opara and  Right Reverend  Professor Dapo Asaju Bishop of Anglican Diocese  Badagry Lagos state.
 Governor Fashola who was represented by  his  commissioner for Home affairs Alhaji Mohammed Danmole   in his welcome address said  Nigerian should  see going to  pilgrimage  as an avenue to pray to  God   for intervention in the   insecurity and economic crisis facing Nigeria and  reiterate his  commitment to  support  people    embarking into the holy land  for spiritual  rebirth
 Also  the  Chairman of the commission  Rev Dr  Nicholas Okon,  Nigerians is a country where  leaders uprightness is  a scarce  commodity, which pave  ways for  indiscipline, disorder, corruption , injustice , robbery, rape  kidnapping  disunity among  the peoples of the nation. Adding that the inability of the leaders at various levels has culminated into the societal crisis which is affecting the nation today.
The Anglican Bishop also caution the religious leaders on immoralities and corruption in the church saying,” we clergy need to check ourselves to be sure that we are not guilty of what we accuse the politicians in government and charged them to be a good example.
 He however warned politician against fanning embers of division against the Unity of Nigeria, “most of the politicians concentrate on their enclave rather than harmonising together to   build a formidable centre,” fragmentation is not the problem but disunity an actually help to weigh it down” he stated.
The executive secretary of the commission Mr. John Kennedy Opara in his address   explained that the essence of   chosen the topic for the retreat is to sensitize participants on the need to see pilgrimage as a tools for moral and spiritual transformation. According to him “this is a moment that will define our course, our character, and our pilgrimage for decades to come, if we succeed in getting  our pilgrims to be morally and spiritually transformed, they will in turn transform  others and in no distant time our society will be morally  and spiritually transformed”.
 Mr Opara concluded by appealing to Nigerian to continue to pray for the peace of the nation  and  work together to enhance harmony and peaceful co existence.
Earlier in his sermon, Professor Dayo Asaju  of Anglican Diocese of Badagry  gave  ten reason why pilgrimage  is important for  Christians who can afford it and  urge the  NCPC to live up to expectation  by  ensuring that going for pilgrimage is not for jamboree  but for  a spiritual and moral rebirth.
 Others  at the  retreat   were, chairmen and secretaries of   the 36 state  pilgrimage board in Nigeria and the FCT  , Federal commissioner  representing  the geo political zone  and others stakeholders including travel agencies
NCPC BOSS TASK JOURNALISTS ON WAR AGAINST INCITIVE STATEMENMT FROM EMINENT NIGERIANS


 
Groupmphotograph with  the Executive Secretary of  the Nigeria Christian Pilgrimage Commission NCPC Mr John Kennedy Okpara and his team  with  Wale Ojo Lanre Led Guild of Tourism  Journalists after a one day semina  held last  thursday at Lagos Airport Hotel Ikeja
 
                


NCPC  BOSS TASK JOURNALISTS  ON WAR AGAINST INCITIVE STATEMENMT FROM EMINENT NIGERIANS

The Executive secretary of the  Nigerian Christian Pilgrimage  Commission  Mr John Kennedy Opara has tasks  media professsional  in the country  not to give room for any  incitive  staement that is capable of  aggravating the  current state of insceurity in the nation  from  eminent personality  in the country
 Mr Opara  said this while  delivering a lecture entitile  " Pilgrimage : A tool for  national peace  building"  at a one day seminar organised by the  Guild of Tourism Journalsist  held at Lagos Airport hotel Ikeja   last week
    According to him,"The need for free acess to unbiased  information is key to peace building, Free independent and pluralistic media provide platform for debate and opinnion, but media can be misused for propaganda purposes to incite hatred and spread rumours and  therefore artificially create tension"

He  however urged the media to partner with government and secuirty agencies to put an end to the ugly trend of rising insecurity." let us all join hands as partners  in progress, standing united against a  common enemy". he said
 while  explaining on the need for pilgrimage, Mr  Oapara  said  pilgrimage should be  used as a toot for moral transformation  and naitonal peace building  " Pilgrimge  no doubt can be used as a powerful weapon of aciveing peace  in Nigeria because  a spiiritually sound mind would not want to engage in vices of any type".
  The president of the guild of Tourism Journalists  Comrade  Wale Ojo Lanre in his welcome adress , commend the  NCPC  for the peace initiative and  urge the commsion  no to relent  in her effort in making the people  especially those going on pilgrimage to see the need to pray for Nigeria and  lead  by example  so as to transform other people.

He  also  expresses the readiness of the Association  to partner with any organization  including the NCPC in   ensuring that peace reignb in Nigeria." As a developmental profesional grop we are   willing to  work toghether with you and we are looking forward for your coperation is  ensuring  that peace reign in the country".

Wednesday 5 September 2012

NCPC boss tasks tour operators on excellent service

           

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Mr. John Kennedy Opara
   by Abiodub Dada
 
 The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Mr John Kennedy Opara, has charged tour operators in the pilgrimage sub-sector to always strive for excellence while handling Nigerian pilgrims. He gave this charge recently in Abuja while receiving in audience the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tailor Made Tours Limited of Israel, Mrs Josephine Zinder, in his office. In the words of the NCPC boss, “As long as the Lord gives you the strength to serve, you should put in your best.” He further charged her to always strive to meet with the standard of the motto of her company, which is “Excellency All the Way.” He therefore urged her to continue to strive for excellence.
The NCPC helmsman further encouraged her not to rest on her oars in the good handling of Nigerian pilgrims. His advice, “I want to encourage you to keep doing what you know best.” He urged her to inject the new spirit and dynamism which she has brought to bear in her years of operations in the handling of the pilgrims who value her services alot.
Opara commended Mrs Zinder for her efforts in taking Tailor Made Tours Limited to the height it has attained. He recalled that the company came into operation when the Commission was still undergoing “Pilgrimage tutelage.”
Mrs. Zinder whose 40th birthday anniversary was on August 24, 2012 was congratulated and prayed for by the NCPC boss on behalf of the commission.
Earlier, the President of Tailor Made Tours Limited, Mrs Zinder thanked the NCPC boss for the support and encouragement given to her company since inception. She explained that working with Mr. Opara was divinely arranged as “there is no coincidence, everything is pre-planned by God Almighty,” she said.
She averred that there was no better friend to Israel than Nigeria which explains why according to her, “We pray for Nigeria everyday.”
She further intimated the NCPC boss that she was in Nigeria on an appreciation visit to her stakeholders which include representatives from States Christian Pilgrim Welfare Boards.
The President of Tailor Made Tours Limited used the opportunity of the courtesy visit to present to the ES a certificate of the “Ambassador of Goodwill to the Holy Land of Israel.”
Tailor Made Tours Ltd is one of the major grounders of Nigerian pilgrims based in Israel.
The President was accompanied on the visit by her husband, Eran Zinder, the Director for Africa, Mr. Israel Goldslein and the Nigeria Director, Mrs. Ngozi Ben Nwaogwugwu, NCPC Media.
Meanwhile, The executive secretary of the NCPC, Mr Opara, would be the special guest of Honour/Speaker at a seminar being organised by the Guild of Tourism Journalist in Lagos to speak on Pilgrimage: A tool for peace building.
The guild considered Mr Opara the most qualified Chief Executive to speak on this important topic in view of his wealth of experience in pilgrimage matters.
According to the Secretary of the Guild of Tourism Journalists, Mr Tayo Adelaja, the event would hold on Thursday  September 6, 2012 Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos by 10.00am.

Tuesday 4 September 2012

Dr. Olusegun Mimiko’s Caring Heart for Transformation of Ondo State

  In this piece, Abiodun Dada of Alarinka Agbaye online  examines  how the Ondo State governor , Dr Olusegun Mimiko has been transforming the state through his caring  heart  agenda.
 
One of the major reasons for seeking political power and position of authority in any human setting should be majorly based on the need to alleviate the suffering of the people; make positive impact in the society and also create an indelible landmark which will be a point of reference to the generations to come. Africa as a whole has not been able to have much genuine leaders as most of her past leaders are either despotic dictators or thieves who see the opportunity given them to serve as an avenue for personal aggrandizement.

Nigeria has not been exceptional in this sphere as the country of over fifties years of independence still struggle to survive and move to a level where its counterpart in other part of the world are economically, technologically, politically and even socially. This in
turn has made the nation to lag behind in the provision of infrastructures, economic development and technological breakthrough. Unfortunately, the system in the country today is subjecting the people of Nigeria to third class citizens of the world.
Despite the ugly political and economic situation in the country some state governors still stand difference because of the human face they are given to all facet of life in their domain. They are difference in all things they do not because they were able to make
noise about what they are doing or yet to do but they are realist who believe in the notion that what is what doing at all is what doing well.
A cursory look at the level of development in the Sunshine State of Ondo put one at a cross road as to know whether the beautiful ones are now here. Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s empirical achievements in all sectors have put a question on a lot of people mouth wanting to know where he got the ideas from. How did he come about what he is doing and if allowed again wont he go the way of some governors who in their first term in office behaved humanly and later change their style, but the fact remain that there is need for stable development and the only factor that enhance that is continuity in office of the initiators of such transformational agenda.
There have been governors in Ondo state, the past governors up to the time of Dr Olusegun Agagu tried their best to give Ondo a facelift but it seemed that their best was not enough. When Dr Olusegun Mimiko came with the slogan “ISE TAKUN TAKUN”. And began to show to the people of Ondo state that though his predecessors have tried but he can do far better than them, and this he has demonstrated
through his indelible footprint in Ondo state today.
When about four years ago he was seeking the mandate of the people of Ondo state to serve them, he made a lot of promises which according to him was “what I have to showcase is based on the promise I made to the people of Ondo state. I promised than that I would work for them, that in all seasons I would work for them, that their everyday concern will be my concern” this are philosophical statements that
enveloped his campaign promises to the people and today the people of Ondo state can say that it has indeed been a good journey with Governor Mimiko since he came on board as the Executive Governor of the State.
It would have been difficult for his administration to successfully return smiles to the people of Ondo state with his caring heart project if he had not been a grassroot person who knew every nook and crannies of the state and had overtimes tried to see how he could tackle the problems without stressing the people of the Sunshine state which he was unable to achieve while serving under some administrations. But when the time came he quickly grabbed the opportunity and discharged the responsibility expected
of him by the people who gave him the mandate in the area of Education.
Ondo state is known to be a state of intellectuals but the glory of the past lost when the previous administration did not do anything meaningfully to uplift the standard of education in the state, though it is a general phenomenon in the country, but Mimiko
having promised to build a new Ondo state started rebuilding the falling standard of Education in the state. This reformation which was carried out through Quality Education Assurance Agency cut across the primary to the tertiary education in the State.
At the elementary level, he started with construction of Mega schools, across the state; the mega schools which are of international standard have ultra modern facilities and environment that is conducive enough for learning. Each school has a computer studio, libraries and other things that can be found in a standard school. Also the students enjoy
free transportation to the schools and get free uniform. The Head teacher of Caring Heart Mega School Oke-Ijebu, Akure in an interaction with journalists who visited the school recently said the idea of Mega School in the state is a unique in country.
"What we have here are not what you can see even in those private schools and this school is being attended by children of pepper seller, drivers and others. The
Governor has really transformed the educational sector in this state, all you are seeing you will find everywhere, he assured us that all the school in the state will be upgraded most of which has been done and the most important one that enhances the growth of the sector is the prompt payment of Salaries and allowances of
teachers.
He paid us as at when due and he is the first governor in the country to pay far above the N18, 000 Minimum wage; it is N22, 000 here. The governor’s effort is yielding results as our pupils are doing great in their studies. One of the students came out as the best overall student in the last WAEC. All these coupled together is having a tremendous impact in the sector at both primary and secondary level in the State. The State University and Polytechnic were not left out as a lot of funding were put into infrastructural development, while new policies that enhance the standard of tertiary education in the state was also put in place.
The creation of the State University of Science and Technology was also in line with the government policies of developing skilful professionals who will advance the course of the State technologically and economically through the entrepreneurial skills.
The urban renewal programme of the Olusegun Mimiko administration is
a physical manifestation of his compliance with the global trend. Apart from expansion and construction of road across the state, the governor in one of his interviews with pressmen disclosed that “ in urban renewal, we promised our people that Akure would be a modern City that we would embark on massive urban renewal programme starting
with Akure, the capital city.
It is a 30 years programme that we set up to renew our cities. We don’t just destroy shanties and send people to the street and deepen poverty, we have taken them off the street. We took them off commercially to a conducive world class environment. And one of such market is the Isikan Market, the shop owners who have no idea of what will happen to their old stores could not believe what they saw when the place was transformed into an ultra modern market of world standard paying less.
One of the markets women simply identified as Mrs Temenu disclosed that “the Governor is just too wonderful; we are enjoying many of the necessary infrastructures in this market. We pay less, we have police station for security, fire stations is also here, and we are enjoying more patronage than before”. The government also put in place a
maintenance committee headed by Chief Banji Fatukasi, Specia Adviser
to the Governor on Project Monitoring and the General Secretary, Comrade Abiodun Falohun said the market maintenance committee was set up to oversee the maintenance of the market.
The yet to be commissioned ultramodern markets at Arakale, popularly called NEPA market, is another testimony of the Mimiko’s administration commitment to turn Akure City into a bride of all cities in the world. Mr Gboye Adegbenro, the Commissioner for works in he State in a chart with the press informed that the present administration in the State has done a lot in infrastructural development in the state. In his word, “ this administration has completed over 200 kilometres road inherited from the past
administration and has within three years constructed more than 300 kilometres of road across the state., we have a done lot of project” he said.
Asides the quality road project, Mr Adegebenro also disclosed that there were road furniture’s and display of road signs while the roundabout are designed in such a way that it will contribute to the aesthetics nature of the road. The fountain dew spewing fountain at Fiwasaye Junction and the fountain at Nepa junction both in Akure
are superb, though the issue of maintenance is a matter of concern to many people but the Works Commissioner disclosed that the contractor will maintain it for five years and that some banks have initiated interest in maintaining the place. “We are not stopping at the state capital alone, it is going to be in other major cities and
towns in the State but we want to be through with Akure first.
The intensive health care delivery introduced by the administration is second to none in Africa. The Governor who believe that the best way to tackle poverty in the State is to take care of health of the people introduced a lot of health programme that are seriously affecting the lives of the people in Ondo state. Hospitals across the State have been expanded and equipped with world class medical equipment.
While new ones were built in many communities including the coastal areas. The introduction of mother and child and Abiye health project has gone a long way in drastically reducing the maternal and infant mortality and other related problems associated with birth and infant growth.
Dr Dayo Adeyanju, the Commissioner for Health in Ondo state maintained that this present administration is going to leave a legacy that never in Ondo state will a pregnant woman die.
“We are going to leave a legacy that our children will begin to live beyond the age of five, a legacy that our health workers and the people will not be subjected to trial and error to get diagnoses, a precise diagnostic through the Gani Fawehinmi Diagnostic Centre, a legacy such that when accident occurs on our highways, within 15 minutes help should come and lives be saved”.
In a bid to achieve this, the government does not only handle the issue of welfare of the medical workers with seriousness; ambulances and other facilities were made available for the use of the people.
Many speakers at the inauguration of one of the ultra modern motor park constructed by the Mimiko administration in Ondo road Akure, poured encomiums on Governor Mimiko for the innovations. The motor park which was described as first in Africa by Chief Olu Falae, former Presidential Candidate was quoted to have described it ‘car airport’ (airport awon Onimoto) and this was base on the facilities available at the motor park. The Governor did not stop at just repositioning the transport system through construction of roads and motor parks, he also gave out buses and car to members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers Union NURTW, and Road
Transport Employers Association of Nigeria RTEAN at a reasonable rate and regulate cost of transport to taxi N30 naira within the state capital.
As part of his urban renewal effort, the government also embarks on construction of Mechanic Village along Ondo road. The village is equipped with the necessary facilities such as office workshops, borehole and a car wash. The village also has about hundred shops for spare part dealers.
Mimiko’s administration in Ondo state through his caring heart projects has not only demonstrated confidence, belief and thrust reposed in him by the electorate but has done wonderfully well as he created youth empowerment and wealth creation. He has also proved to the world that government should be an avenue to rebuild dilapidated
infrastructural facilities; make people smile and leave behind a sustainable legacy that can make one to forever be relevant in the political history of the State, the nation and even Africa as a whole.

Alaafin holds court on Oranyan Festival •Commends Mike Adenuga, Chief Runsewe, Adebayo
   
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1.Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, 2•Mike Adenuga, 3•Adebayo Jimoh, 4•Chief Olusegun Runsewe
The preparation of making the First Oranyan Festival, scheduled for September 8 and 15 in Oyo – Aalafin to be the best of such festival ever held in Nigeria has stepped up as the Aalafin, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III held a court in the palace with the Organising Committee and the consultant recently.

According to a palace source, Kabiyesi in his usual penchant for perfection and thoroughness summoned the Organising Committee to the palace to brief him on the progress made so far as he would want the festival to be in tandem with the popular axiom in Yorubaland that “Aji se bi Oyo lari, Oyo ko se bi ti enikakan (that Oyo Aalafin sets the pace and others follow).
The chairman of the Committee, High Chief Yussuf Akinade, Layinka I, was said to have sequentially briefed Kabiyesi the strength, weakness, opportunities and threat of the programme pointing out that the ancestors have not been sleeping at ensuring that all Oranyan siblings home and in the Diaspora have a successful and resounding reunion, revitalisation of their culture and celebration of the values, culture, norms and mores that make the Yoruba the most unique race in the world.
Basorun informed Oba Adeyemi of the assurances of support being received daily from corporate organisations, institutions and individuals who sincerely love, Alaafin, cherish the Yoruba culture and its values.
The Bashorun was said to have informed that “Kabiyesi, we are happy that your aura, respect and the love which Nigerians have for you is inviting goodwill and support for this festival. We are also happy to inform you that we have been able to receive assurance of support from the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Chief Mike Adenuga whose company Glo Mobile network has agreed to be one of the major sponsors of the festival, the Group Managing Director of Odu’a Conglomerate, Alhaji Adebayo Jimoh and Chief Olusegun Runsewe, the Director – General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation and other corporate organisations and individuals have signified their willingness to add value to the success of the festival.”
He assured the Alaafin that “With the grace of God and support of the ancestors and the potent blessing of the Alaafin, Oba Adeyemi, the Oranyan Festival scheduled for September 8 and 15 will be a grand success.”
The Bashorun also informed Iku Baba Yeye that “We are not taking anything for granted as we know the taste and the grandeur at which anything relating to Alaafin, Oba Adeyemi must be couched. We are striving hard to perform above the benchmark of excellence as demanded by Kabiyesi and thus we have inaugurated various sub – committees set up in ensuring that the best of the first Oranyan Festival is hosted in Oyo.”
He pointed “Kabiyesi, one of the sub committee, Media and Publicity is headed by Prince Bayo Sanda, one of the best ace broadcasters that Nigeria ever had who is a Prince of this empire and a sound and proud living product of Alaafin Oranyan who has assembled other seasoned men of the pen profession like Mr. Banji Ojo and other young and active journalists for the glory of the festival. Kabiyesi by the grace of God we are not going to let you down.”
Oba Adeyemi commended the organising committee for its effort so far drumming it once again that the Oranyan Festival must be a point of reference to all.
Kabiyesi said that he was not expecting a committee where eminent and distinguished Oyo chiefs, princes and indigenes which include Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu not to perform to expectation, adding that he was available for consultation and advice at all times.
Oba Adeyemi described Chiefs Mike Adenuga, Olusegun Runsewe and Alhaji Adebayo Jimoh as worthy assets of inestimable value to Yorubaland and Nigeria. “I am not surprised at the disposition of these three eminent and purposeful Yoruba sons to the Oranyan Festival. This threesome is asset of inestimable value to the Yoruba land and Nigeria. They are live embers of hope in their various realms of operation. I am proud of them.”
He tasked the committee to spread its tentacles wide and far at making sure that those who are supposed to be involved in making a success of the festival are contacted adding that “Oranyan was a great Alaafin who sowed in far away lands, regions and territories. These people must be brought home
Usi Day 2012: We’ll use proceeds to develop the town - Agbetuyi
altIT was a celebration like never before at the 31st annual Usi day celebration last weekend as sons and daughter of the town and dignitaries from all walk of life gather together to celebrate God’s blessing and reunion of old friends
The programme, which was hosted by the Victory club of Usi started on Wednesday featured, Marathon race Children Carnival, beauty pageant, raffle draw and conferment of honorary chief of Oluomo and Yeye Oluomo to Mr and Mrs Tai Olusoccer an industrious son of the town.
The president of Usi Victory Club, Mr Remi Agbetuyi, in his address said responses from far and near has adjuded this year carnival as a step forward in the history of Usi Day celebration adding that the motive for this year is hinged on the notion of joy and reunion which is the characteristics of Usians far and near.
Mr. Agbetuyi said further that the club was able to modifies the existing events and also introduce new ones to align with modern day carnivals and in line with the aspirations on Uisans home and abroad toward generating funds for the community development.
The chairman of Egbe omo Usi, Mr J. B Omotosho in his welcome address said Usi Day celebration is an annual events where we celebrate community revival and development, social interaction where we have opportunity to thank God for another year.
He also revealed “that this year proceeds and donation will be used to complete the hall and the new ultra modern Palace we are proposing”
While commending the governor Fayemi for his effort so far in the area of community development and health programme, he also called on the state government to give the re-opening of the closed police post in the town a high priority. “we plead with the state government to please give the re-opening of our closed police post a high priority.
This is very important now that the security of life and property is threathened each day by the pervasive activities being witnessed nationwide security should be a front burner requirement In any community, its appartus should not be too far away in case of emergency.”
Speaking, the Olusi of Usi Ekiti, Oba Adedayo Akande expressed displeasure over the slow phase of ongoing road construction work at Irede Estate in Ido Osi local government area and called on the state government to expedite action on project.
According to him “for the third year running the road has featured in my address at Usi Day celebrations but my prayer is yet to be answered. What happened now is that the road has been made impassable by the contractors for some times now while water supply to several houses in the estate has been distrupted. We hope for a reprieve in due course” he said.
Olusi also expresses worries over the spate of armed robbery in the town. “The activities of armed robbers in the past one year were unprecedented.
Adding that “these worrisome development made olusi in council to constitute a local vigilante group which began operation few month ago
He however appealed to sons and daughers of Usi to support the innitiatives financially to ensure up keep of vigilante group and enthrone a crime free society.
The chairman of Ido Osi Local Govenrment , Honourbale Gbenga Agbeyo also congratulated Oba Akande and the people of Usi Ekiti on the 31st annual celebration of Usi Day and assured the people that his admnistration will continue to fufills it obligations to this community .in the provision of dividend of democracy.
He, however, commended Usi Victory Club for the organisation of the 31st annual Usi Day celebration.”
The winner of the beauty pageant Miss Gbemisola Omojola was awarded with a sum of N2,000.00 and a Laptop while the first runner up Awoyemi Miracle was presented with a sum of um One hundred thousand naira with refrigerator and the second runner up won a sum of N50,000.
Winners of the marathon race were also awarded with gifts ranging from Chinjeng motorcycle, electric oven and others while the Nigeria Tourism Development Commission (NTDC) also packaged some branded gift items for the dignitaries at the even
Usi Day 2012: We’ll use proceeds to develop the town - Agbetuyi
altIT was a celebration like never before at the 31st annual Usi day celebration last weekend as sons and daughter of the town and dignitaries from all walk of life gather together to celebrate God’s blessing and reunion of old friends
The programme, which was hosted by the Victory club of Usi started on Wednesday featured, Marathon race Children Carnival, beauty pageant, raffle draw and conferment of honorary chief of Oluomo and Yeye Oluomo to Mr and Mrs Tai Olusoccer an industrious son of the town.
The president of Usi Victory Club, Mr Remi Agbetuyi, in his address said responses from far and near has adjuded this year carnival as a step forward in the history of Usi Day celebration adding that the motive for this year is hinged on the notion of joy and reunion which is the characteristics of Usians far and near.
Mr. Agbetuyi said further that the club was able to modifies the existing events and also introduce new ones to align with modern day carnivals and in line with the aspirations on Uisans home and abroad toward generating funds for the community development.
The chairman of Egbe omo Usi, Mr J. B Omotosho in his welcome address said Usi Day celebration is an annual events where we celebrate community revival and development, social interaction where we have opportunity to thank God for another year.
He also revealed “that this year proceeds and donation will be used to complete the hall and the new ultra modern Palace we are proposing”
While commending the governor Fayemi for his effort so far in the area of community development and health programme, he also called on the state government to give the re-opening of the closed police post in the town a high priority. “we plead with the state government to please give the re-opening of our closed police post a high priority.
This is very important now that the security of life and property is threathened each day by the pervasive activities being witnessed nationwide security should be a front burner requirement In any community, its appartus should not be too far away in case of emergency.”
Speaking, the Olusi of Usi Ekiti, Oba Adedayo Akande expressed displeasure over the slow phase of ongoing road construction work at Irede Estate in Ido Osi local government area and called on the state government to expedite action on project.
According to him “for the third year running the road has featured in my address at Usi Day celebrations but my prayer is yet to be answered. What happened now is that the road has been made impassable by the contractors for some times now while water supply to several houses in the estate has been distrupted. We hope for a reprieve in due course” he said.
Olusi also expresses worries over the spate of armed robbery in the town. “The activities of armed robbers in the past one year were unprecedented.
Adding that “these worrisome development made olusi in council to constitute a local vigilante group which began operation few month ago
He however appealed to sons and daughers of Usi to support the innitiatives financially to ensure up keep of vigilante group and enthrone a crime free society.
The chairman of Ido Osi Local Govenrment , Honourbale Gbenga Agbeyo also congratulated Oba Akande and the people of Usi Ekiti on the 31st annual celebration of Usi Day and assured the people that his admnistration will continue to fufills it obligations to this community .in the provision of dividend of democracy.
He, however, commended Usi Victory Club for the organisation of the 31st annual Usi Day celebration.”
The winner of the beauty pageant Miss Gbemisola Omojola was awarded with a sum of N2,000.00 and a Laptop while the first runner up Awoyemi Miracle was presented with a sum of um One hundred thousand naira with refrigerator and the second runner up won a sum of N50,000.
Winners of the marathon race were also awarded with gifts ranging from Chinjeng motorcycle, electric oven and others while the Nigeria Tourism Development Commission (NTDC) also packaged some branded gift items for the dignitaries at the even