18082019 -Anxiety over " Next Level" Ministers

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PAGE 32– SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 18, 2019 I broke a jinx – Olowo-elect By Alex Kola Folorunso Less than two weeks to the installation of the new Olowo of Owo, Gbadegesin Ajibade Ogunoye, preparations are in top gear for the ceremony. Ogunoye, in this interview, gives an insight into his imminent kingship. Excerpts: HOW do we describe the Olowo-elect? First and foremost, I am a prince of Owo and a direct son of Oba Adekola Ogunoye II, who reigned between 1968 and 1993. I am 53 years old, having been born on July 6, 1966. I attended various schools, from primary school to the university level. I have first and second degrees in law. I obtained my first degree from then Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti and master’s from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko. I have been called to the bar. I was a civil servant. I joined Ondo State Civil Service in 2001 as an Administrative Officer and rose to become Permanent Secretary on Protocols, Governor’s Office. Prior to that, I taught briefly in a secondary school. Let’s talk about events that led to your emergence as Olowo–elect? The process started when the late Oba Olagbade Olateru Olagbegi III joined his ancestors. In line with Owo tradition, a new prince has to emerge as Olowo of Owo- elect. The process started three months after his demise. 15 of us vied for the throne and, through the grace of God, I emerged as Olowo - elect. There is only one ruling house in Owo Kingdom which we call Elewokun Ruling House. However, we have two subsets in the ruling house which are the Atanneyes and the Ogunoyes. The Atanneyes comprise the Olagbegis and Ajikes. Did you have any conviction during your growing up days that you would one day become an Oba? I will like to answer this question after my installation. But your mother in one of the national dailies recently was quoted as saying that your father had once predicted that one of his children would be crowned the Olowo one day and don’t you think that the day has come now? I will soon elaborate on that. What are the expectations of your people as you are crowned their king? Majorly and considering our past experience, it has always not been easy to choose an Oba for the Owo people. The competition is usually tense. But we thank God that this time around, it all went peacefully. In essence, I broke a jinx. For me, the most important thing is to ensure that there is peace in the kingdom and we have started experiencing it. Without peace, there will not be development. Again, you know that youths are the driving force for development. So my focus is to work more in the direction of youth development in Owo Kingdom. Meanwhile, I desire to promote our culture and tradition. Owo is a unique kingdom known for culture. I will work towards the preservation and promotion of our culture. We have a very popular festival called Igogo which we want to take to global acceptance, we will have a The governor did not interfere at all, in spite of the fact that he is a stakeholder in Owo Kingdom as an illustrious son of the ancient Kingdom date set aside for tourists to pay a visit to Owo Kingdom. Igogo festival used to be very interesting. I will promote the festival to global acceptance such that we will have a date set aside for tourists to pay a visit to Owo. The festival will be explored towards cultural tourism. People, through the means of the cultural tourism, will be empowered. Hoteliers, food vendors, carpenters, artisans will benefit. I equally want to have a Hall of Fame for those who have positively impacted on the kingdom. All these will be done to restore our values. Yoruba values are •Ajibade Ogunoye being eroded due to a lot of factors. During my reign as Olowo, I will restore Yoruba values in Owo Kingdom. Do you have plans to reconcile with those who lost while contesting with you. The Ogunoye ruling family, for instance? Those who contested with me are my brothers. We are together. There are no grievances. We are one big family. They all congratulated me at the venue where the election took place. Some of them have visited me .They have been coming to meet me and we have been discussing. Because we are all from the same Elewokun Ruling House, we have no problem at all. What roles did the Senior Omo Olowos play in your emergence as Olowo-elect? We have kingmakers and we have the Senior Omo Olowos. Everyone played his role according to the customs and traditions of Owo Kingdom. Those who were saddled with the responsibilities of selection of an Oba in Owo are the Senior Omo Olowos. They are princes in their own rights and they have been honoured with various chieftaincy titles over time. However, they cannot by themselves contest for the throne. They have chieftaincy titles already. They all supported me and conducted themselves properly in line with family tradition in order to protect the family against any rancor. By their own decision and reasoning, they thought I should be the one to fill the vacant stool of the Olowo. I thank them all for their decision. As a top civil servant serving in the administration of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, some people are of the opinion that the governor would have influenced your candidacy. That is not true. The only thing that the government of Ondo State did was to ensure that there was maximum peace during the selection process. They did this without any interference. The governor did not interfere at all, in spite of the fact that he is a stakeholder in Owo Kingdom as an illustrious s o n of the ancient Kingdom. The governor has shown that he is a true leader who wants the best for his kingdom by creating a peaceful and rancor-free environment during the selection process. The events that followed my announcement in the kingdom tell you that I am the popular choice. The mammoth crowd that followed me from the palace to my private home tells you about my popularity. Hardly can you change the minds of the Owo people once they decide on what they want to do. So, I am the people’s choice. As you join the league of the traditional rulers in Nigeria, how can the menace of insecurity, especially herdsmen attacks in the South- West region and Nigeria, be curbed? I will hold meetings with my fellow Obas to fashion out a way forward, particularly by advising government on what they should do. Mind you, it is only government that is empowered to curtail violence and ensure peace. That is one of the primary functions of government. They have the instrumentality of crime control. The best any traditional ruler can do is to advise government on such issue. I believe that, over time, God will help us to surmount the problem. As Oba-elect, how do you combine that with being a father and husband? Fortunately for me, I stayed with my father as a prince for almost 25 years when he was on the throne. I have learnt the rudiments and culture of our people. I am well equipped to play a fatherly and traditional role. As a public servant, I will surely retire from public service immediately I am crowned. As a family man, I will continue to play my role to my lovely children as their father and also a good husband to my wife. Your message to natives of Owo Kingdom and Nigerians as you prepare for your installation ceremony? My message to the world is that we are about to experience a new beginning in Owo Kingdom, a new beginning that is spiced with peace, prosperity and promotion of our cultural heritage. From August 23, 2019 when I will be installed, it will be an expression of our culture and tradition. Whoever is interested in witnessing how an Oba is installed in the area of cultural tourism is invited.
My friend’s story is gripping Iran into an old friend some times last week. He is the type of friend you only see, probably once in a decade. I have known him from way back in primary school. We were best of friends and sometimes, worst enemies. We argued, fought and laughed on basically everything. I guess you will say, this is what makes friendship sweet. As we grew older, we somewhat drifted apart from each other. This is understandable because we both had to face life’s challenges individually as we chased our destinies and over the years, we occasionally run into each other. With the little times we had together on these “run-ins” we always try to catch up on each other’s stories, as much as we could. My friend is one of the few from my kindergarten days that I still have strong connections with. Strangely, we bump into each other in odd places. Before last week’s unplanned meeting, the last time we saw was in 2007 at the Edinburgh Airport, and before this, I saw BOOK REVIEW Skill Acquisition: A timehonoured platform for combating the menace of general insecurity, pervasive poverty, burgeoning unemployment and destabilization of the international system. The Second Edition of the Handbook of Skill Acquisition Training and Empowerment Programmes was published barely a year after the publication of the 826-page First Edition on 13th April, 2017. The Second Edition was mooted due to the clamour and general interest shown by well-meaning stakeholders as to the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Refugees that have come to be associated with the insurgency in the North East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. This necessitated the inclusion of a whole Chapter (that is Chapter 11), titled “Skill Acquisition Training and Empowerment, Resettlement of IDPs, Refugees, Indigenes and Residents of Insurgency Devastated Territories and Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of their Communities.” Another key feature of the Second Edition is the inclusion of a Reader’s Guide; Key Points to Note and; Revision Questions at the end of each him last in Lagos in 1999. It was a chance meeting in front of Juli Pharmacy at Ikeja. With the advent of the Internet, we did try keeping up with each other via email messages and the trusty “Yahoo messenger”. But at a point, this means of communication dropped off the radar and became obsolete. I guessed we also both dropped off each other’s radar. Yahoo Messenger outlived its usefulness and became an invention from the last century. You wonder why we do not “meet” on social media. Well, my friend seems to have a big dislike for social media? I had searched online many times for him, with no luck. Neither Facebook nor any of these modern-day online community is his thing. Although I later found out that he is very much active on Twitter. He tried to justify this to me, without much success, though. You can, therefore, imagine our excitement when we ran into each other again at the Leeds Train Station. Bless my friend, he is a great talker. Growing up, our friendship chapter. It also covered the Spiritual Dimensions of Skill Acquisition. Handbook of Skill Acquisition Training and Empowerment Programmes (2nd Ed.) chronicles the author's well over 26 years’ involvement in the training and management of Non-Militant, Restive and Ex-Militant Youths and Persons. The book elucidates the following key elements of Skill Acquisition Training and Empowerment Programmes: •A holistic Skill Acquisition Training and Empowerment Programme should comprise of four components: Vocation Specific Training; Soft and Life Skill Training; Entrepreneurship Development Training and Post-Training Empowerment. • As much as natural traits or endowments can aid the skills acquired through training, some aspects of learning and skill acquisition are dependent on Psychological, Psychomotor and Spiritual strength of Trainees. • Proper exposition of Intellectual Capital that comprise Human Capital, Structural Capital and Relational Capital are needed in skill acquisition programmes. •Starter Packs for Graduands of Skill Acquisition Programmes should be given to them before they leave the Training and should comprise was always a means of amusement as we were classed opposite of each other. My friend can talk a dead man back to life. On the other hand, I am the type that believes in sitting back and see events unfold. I do offer one or two comments where necessary. But I always admire people who can talk without any “restraint”, whether they make sense or not. I guess I hung out with my friend most times in my early years just to make up for my shortfall in the “talking department.” However, one thing I learnt growing up is when you talk too much, you are most likely to say “things” out of context and regret later. Sometimes, you say inappropriate things for the moment. My friend is in this class. He had talked himself into and out of many troubles while growing up. His mouth has always been his greatest weapon as he most times talks himself into whatever position he thinks will benefit him. He might be a “bit” quiet with new people, but with me, he lets down his guard. He must tell me his stories. When we ran into each other, as usual, he could not hold back. He screamed and did a 100-metres dash in the opposite direction, made a u-turn, charged at me in full speed and got me off my feet. By stature, under normal circumstances, I should not be easily swept off my feet by my 5ft tall friend. But he did. It was a spectacle at the station as the folks passing by thought we were having an African wrestling match (Ijakadi). If not for the smiles on our faces, the policemen on standby at the station would have mistaken us for terrorists about to detonate bombs. one thing I learnt growing up is when you talk too much, you are most likely to say “things” out of context and regret later. Sometimes, you say inappropriate things for the moment ter speaking at a Centre for African Studies, University of Leeds-sponsored programme. I was at the station to pick up train tickets for a guest of mine. My friend had mistaken his departure time and came early to the station only to be told he has another fifty minutes to wait. And here I am to fill the "time" for him. I am available and as usual, earful for my friend to keep me updated on what he has Golwa of support and vocation specific components. They should also be trained on the use and application of each component of the Starter Pack •Vocational and Technical Education should be taught alongside and within conventional academic curricula so that Graduates can be equipped with Vocation Specific Trades they can eke out a living, after graduation. •All Departments in acacational potentials so that they can be involved in Vocation Specific Trades or MS- MEs that can help them eke out a living. • Operationalization and Reporting Templates are needed for effective and successful Training Programmes (over 100 Templates are provided in the book). • Critical Success Entities must consolidate their interventions from Skill Acquisi- SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 18, 2019, PAGE 33 My friend was in the Train Station en route to London afbeen up to in the past years. “Let's get somewhere comfy to sit and talk,” he said. When I hear this, my heart skipped a beat as I thought of the impending parking charge. I had left the car at the Short Stay Park, but I was sure this would turn into a Long Stay Park. We headed to the lobby of the nearby Queens Hotel. “Bobo (he calls me this, for no apparent reason) you have shed a lot of weight. The last time I saw you; you were bigger than this.” “Yes. I know. It's no longer fashionable to be fat. You are not doing badly, you still retain your stature at your age," I replied. “Bobo, I could not have put on any weight at all. I have been through a lot in recent times. If I start the story, I won't finish it till tomorrow. But I thank God I am still standing.” We finally found a space at the lobby, and it was in here he unloaded all. He told me how life has been very good to him, had been moving from one level to another in his career, travel all over the world on speaking assignments, have properties in some choice cities of the world. I can see his pride. But behind all these, I could also see there was a hurt that he was trying (albeit unprofessionally) to hide. “Good for you, my friend. You are not doing badly,” I said. By his look and story, I knew he was not doing badly. You know there are some people you see and just conclude they are doing fine in life. Sometimes we judge by their appearances, clothing, and all the superfluous things. We often forget that as human beings we know how to cover up. As a result, it is most times possible for a man or woman to be in real pain and disguise without sharing this with friends or family members. My friend was not going to cover up. No. I am not that type of friend, he will cover up for. “Bobo, you know while growing up, we always tease each other on the type of wife we will marry.” “Please don't get to that again. You know I sure remember,” I answered him, while I recollected how we “dreamt” as kids. He continued: “Bobo while growing up I have always had an idea of the type of woman I wanted. I fantasised every day about my type of woman. Back in the days in the classroom, while classes were going on, I was always “weighing” my female classmates against the criteria I had drawn up in my head for my future wife. I had a clear picture of the type of wife I wanted.” “But you are married now, so what are all these got to do with the present,” I asked him. He ignored me and continued. “Bobo, growing up I wanted a woman who can read and write. I usually say to myself in my those days that a Primary School graduate will be okay for me, as long as she knows how to cook good food.” TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK. Skill Acquisition: A time-honoured platform for combating insecurity Book Title: Handbook of Skill Acquisition Training and Empowerment Programmes (2nd Ed.) Author: Dr Benjamin Onoriode Irikefe Publisher: International Centre for Sustainable Development, Nigeria Year of Publication: 2018 Pagination: 1074 Reviewer: Professor Joseph OML 26 CDB empowers oil communities' indigenes By Ochuko Akuopha UCCOUR has come the Sway of 533 persons from 35 oil bearing communities in Isoko North, Isoko South, Ughelli North and Ndokwa East local government areas, Delta State, as the Community Development Board, CDB, of the Oil Mining Lease, 26 presented them with empowerment items and grants worth millions of naira in its third edition of the capacity building programme for youths and women in the oil bloc. Items presented to the beneficiaries who are indigenes of communities in clusters one, two, three and four in the oil bloc, included deep freezers, gas cookers, sewing machines, welding machines, hair dryers, grinding machines, generators, hand mixers, washing machines,ladders for electrical work, laptops, printers, barbing saloon equipment, among others. Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Ozoro, Chairman, OML 26 CDB, Prince Johnson Akpomalue, said the programme was sponsored by NPDC/FHN26 AMT, and "financed with all allocation from the OML 26 2017/2018 and first half of 2019 GMOU fund. Saying that the scheme was targeted at students in secondary and tertiary institutions, market women and artisans that had learnt various trades, he explained that 254 beneficiaries received starter packs, while 128 and 151 went home with grants and market money respectively. On his part, the Manager, Community Affairs, AMT, NPDC, Mr. Blessyn Okpowo, thanked members of the CDB for the programme, saying, "l am overwhelmed because I can see transparency, honesty and hard work in action." There is the need to properly institutionalize the resettlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction of insurgency devastated territories and persons demic institutions should develop Vocation Specific Trades or MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) out of the various Academic Curricula the students can get engaged in, after graduation. • Graduates Enskillment Programmes should be undertaken to help Graduates of Tertiary Institutions unlock their creative and vo- tion up to Post-Training Empowerment through institutional collaborations to lift MSMEs and Artisanal Training Outfits and Artisans. •Trainers should be proactive, accommodating and passionate when managing Trainees and also avoid the commoditization of Training Programmes. • Provision of Skill Acquisition Training is one of the time-honoured programmes that can be used to stem down the menace of global insecurity, pervasive poverty and destabilization of the international system. •Continuous provisions should be made to re-integrate and empower Ex-Militants, Civilian JTF (Joint Task Force) Members, De-radicalized Nigerian Repentant Ex- Boko Haram Operatives, IDPs and Nigerian Refugees to enable them lead self-reliant, productive and wholesome livelihoods. • There is the need to properly institutionalize the resettlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction of insurgency devastated territories and persons. •Sambisa Joint Development Territory (SJDT) should be developed using Public Private Partnership (PPP) Model to make the Sambisa Forest a security fort and economic powerhouse for Nigeria rather than leaving it to degenerate into a safe haven for terrorists and other criminal elements to ply their trades. Although the Second Edition of the book was unveiled at the highbrow Transcorp Hilton, Abuja on the 17th of July, 2019, the book was actually published on the 5th June, 2018. The formal unveiling was delayed due to the tight schedule of the author in several training and capacity building engagements. The agenda setting and revolutionary nature of the book has made both pundits and specialists alike, akin the author to the “Adam Smith of Nigeria.” It can be recalled that in 1776, a Scottish Economist and Moral Philosopher, Adam Smith published his book titled “An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations” generally referred to by its shortened title “The Wealth of Nations.” His work is the foundation of free market economy till date. On the whole, the Handbook of Skill Acquisition Training and Empowerment Programmes (2nd) has been adjudged by academics and subject matter specialists as a mentoring manual that can be used to foster peace, security and sustainable development in all climes. Chairman OML 26 CDB, Prince Johnson Akpomalue (right), Manager, Community Affairs, AMT, NPDC, Mr. Blessyn Okpowo (left) and others, during the presentation of empowerment items to indigenes of oil producing ethnic nationalities.
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