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National development: Ilaje nation holds inaugural summit

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Yemie ADEOYE

AKURE– IN an effort to bring about national development in Nigeria through strategic regional economic development, the Ilaje Development Summit Group, IDSG,  has concluded and announced plans to hold the first ever Ilaje Development Summit, in Akure, the Ondo state capital, southwest Nigeria on the 23rd of November 2019.

The summit, which promises to address critical regional economic development issues of Ilaje land, a major oil producing community in Nigeria, will have as its keynote speaker, the executive governor of Ondo state, Arakurin Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and the theme of this inaugural summit is “Driving sustainable development through participatory partnership.

Chairman Board of trustees of IDSG, Asiwaju Yomi Ogunyomi,

Speaking on preparations towards the summit via a signed statement, Executive Administrator of the Group, The Rev. Sola Adebawo stated that the summit promises to have in attendance every sons and daughters of Ilaje nation both at home and in diaspora, especially those who have made their mark in their chosen field of endeavor and have the capacity to effectively participate in a regional development agenda that will be a booster for Nigeria’s national development in no small measure, especially when other regions take a cue from this citizens participatory effort and replicate it in their domains across the country.

Rev. Adebawo, stated further that the summit is a “citizen-led initiative to address the various development challenges confronting Ilaje as a people, and to recommend well articulated strategic solutions and properly structured roadmap for the sustainable development of Ilaje land, in support of the efforts of government and in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders”.

Also speaking, the chairman of the IDSG Board of Trustee, Asiwaju Yemi Ogunyomi, a former Clerk of the National Assembly, stated “it’s time for Ilaje as a people to take the lead in driving our own development as we cannot use another man’s hands to scratch our backs”. He therefore calls on all well-meaning Ilaje sons and daughters from all spheres of life to bring their knowledge and resources into developing Ilaje land.

Executive Administrator IDSG, The Rev. Sola Adebawo

The high point of the summit is the presentation of the Ilaje Regional Development Plan, which will spell our a roadmap for developing the Ilaje communities in a strategic way.

The IDSG concept is a novel approach to community development based on participation and partnership.

Explaining the concept, Deputy Executive Administrator of IDSG, Rev. Ola Judah Akinyomi says “the most effective way for any community to develop is to ensure its citizens participate and take ownership of the process of development, while collaborating with every key stakeholder in the development process”.

The activities culminating in this global Ilaje Development Summit began twelve months ago, with the formation of 8 Strategic Committees (StratComs) focused on key development sectors, such as: planing and infrastructure, education, health, economy and investment, leadership and governance, women/youth and gender mainstreaming, religion/culture and social renaissance and stakeholder engagement.

The StratComs; made up of professionals, academics, development experts, industrialists, politicians, business men/women etc; had a terms of reference to determine current state in each sector, determine desired state and evolve roadmaps for moving from current to desired states in short, medium and long terms. The works were largely based on research using both primary and secondary data.

Rev. Adebawo says “at IDSG, we want to be part of the solution rather than sit back to criticize. We want to work with government at every level, development agencies and every other relevant stakeholders to help change the fortune of our people in the long term”. He added “This is generational thinking… we are thinking and planing for generations yet unborn. And we believe that as opposed to piecemeal interventions and knee-jerk reactions, this approach will ensure Ilaje becomes great again!

The event will also feature a gala/award dinner, where deserving persons will receive recognition for various contributions to the development of Ilaje land.

The summit is organized by Ilaje Development Summit Group (IDSG), made up of the intelligentsia of Ilaje race with membership spread across different countries of the world and from different walks of life.

 

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Music Icon Quincy Jones Passes Away At 91

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Quincy Jones, the legendary music producer, composer, and cultural icon whose career spanned over seven decades, has passed away at the age of 91.

Jones died peacefully on Sunday night at his Bel Air home, surrounded by family, according to his publicist, Arnold Robinson.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” his family said in a statement. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

Renowned for his unmatched versatility, Jones collaborated with some of the greatest musical talents of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, and Will Smith. He played an integral role in producing Jackson’s groundbreaking albums Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad, which catapulted the pop star to global superstardom and earned Jones worldwide acclaim.

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Born in Chicago in 1933, Jones’ journey into music began early. His childhood introduction came from a neighbor’s piano playing and his mother’s singing. After moving to Washington state following his parents’ divorce, he honed his skills in his high school band and began playing with a young Ray Charles in Seattle’s vibrant club scene.

Jones’ career took off in New York, where he played trumpet in Elvis Presley’s early TV performances and worked with bebop legends like Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. By 1958, he was working with Frank Sinatra, arranging for the singer’s band at the request of Princess Grace Kelly. Their partnership flourished, spanning several projects including Sinatra’s final album LA Is My Lady in 1984.

Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Jones’ talents extended into film and television scores, composing music for films such as The Italian Job, In the Heat of the Night, and the acclaimed The Color Purple, for which he earned three Oscar nominations. He also scored hit TV shows including The Bill Cosby Show and Roots.

In 1985, Jones produced and co-conducted the charity anthem “We Are the World” alongside Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, raising millions for Ethiopian famine relief. Despite personal and professional challenges—including surviving a near-fatal brain aneurysm in 1974—Jones’s career continued to thrive.

Jones’ influence wasn’t limited to music. In 1990, he founded Quincy Jones Entertainment, the company behind the popular sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which launched the career of Will Smith. His media ventures also included the creation of Qwest TV, an on-demand music streaming service, and the magazine Vibe, which celebrated Black music and culture.

Over his career, Jones earned 80 Grammy nominations, winning 28—making him one of the most decorated artists in the award’s history. Tributes poured in following news of his death. Actor Michael Caine, who shared Jones’ birthdate, called him “a wonderful and unique human being.” Music artists such as LL Cool J expressed gratitude, saying, “You were a father and example at a time when I truly needed one. Music would not be music without you.”

Jones is survived by his seven children, leaving behind an indelible legacy that will resonate through generations to come. His life’s work transformed music, television, and culture, proving that there truly was no limit to what Quincy Jones could accomplish.

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Prayers Won’t Build Roads, Fund Children’s Education – Jesse Jagz To Nigerians

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Singer and rapper Jesse Jagz has called on Nigerians to rethink their approach to religion.

Jagz suggested that African traditional religious gods have become ineffective, attributing this to the excessive alcohol given to them during rituals, which, according to him, has made them obese, diabetic, and unable to aid their worshipers.

Speaking on the ‘Big Talk’ podcast, the rapper also criticized followers of foreign religions for relying solely on prayer and expecting miracles without putting in the necessary effort. He stressed that prayers alone cannot provide essential social services or infrastructure.

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“When you go to a shrine and you see the priest pouring gin on the gods, Google how much a bottle of gin was in slavery. 40 slaves.

“Our gods are drunk on alcohol and meat. They are obese and diabetic.

“They can’t help us do anything. Prayers do not build roads or buy books for children. We have forgotten humanity,” he said.

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Presidents Invite Me To Dinner Wherever I Go – Davido Boasts

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Renowned Nigerian singer, David Adeleke, known by his stage name Davido, has stated that he receives special treatment globally due to his celebrity status.

The Afrobeats sensation mentioned that he is frequently invited to presidential dinners in nearly every country he visits, with the exception of the United States and the United Kingdom.

In a recent interview with Kiss Fresh London, Davido confidently shared that his fanbase includes influential figures such as the World Bank president, presidents of powerful nations, and other notable personalities.

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“Every country we go to, the President invites us for dinner except London [United Kingdom] and the United States of America.

“It’s beautiful to see. I mean, leaving my country, Nigeria, and people welcoming me like the president in other countries, shows how well Nigeria is doing around the world in terms of music and cultural impacts,” he said.

Davido has expressed that he feels most respected in Africa, which is why he cherishes his African tours more than those in Europe and America, even though the latter bring him greater financial rewards.

He shared that his Jamaican collaborator, YG Marley, was astonished by the immense admiration from fans when he visited Nigeria for the video shoot of their joint hit, ‘Awuke.’

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