NEWS
State of Ogun Schools: Your panic response political gimmick, Adebutu tells Abiodun
…Says more students still sit on the floor to write exams
By Paul Eso
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Ogun State, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, has described the Dapo Abiodun’s led government’s response to supply new sets of benches and chairs to St. Kizito High School, Iwopin in Ogunwaterside Local Government Area as fake and mere political gimmick.
A statement by his campaign’s media director, Afolabi Orekoya, said that Abiodun’s panic response came as a result of the outcome of the Osun gubernatorial election in which the incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola, was defeated by the candidate of the PDP, Sen. Ademola Adeleke.
According to the statement, “Governor Dapo Abiodun has seen the handwriting on the wall that his second term bid is not certain in Ogun going by the outcome of the Osun gubernatorial election”.
Recall that Nigerians were on Monday, outraged by the viral videos and photos where students of St. Kizito Senior Secondary School in Iwopin, began their third term promotion examination on bare floor of their classrooms.
Apparently embarrassed by the reports, the state government on Tuesday, swiftly provided the students with new sets of furniture.
Orekoya said if not that the Abiodun-led government lacked human feeling and compassion, it wouldn’t have waited till the picture of students writing exams on the floor went viral before supplying them with benches under 24 hours.
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He noted that there were many other schools across the state facing same challenge and other numerous infrastructural problems, giving as an example, the Imotu Community Academy at Ifonyintedo in Ipokia Local Government, whose students also sit on bare floor for learning and writing of exams as at Tuesday, 19th July, 2022.
The statement read: “We are sure that tomorrow, under same pretense and fake response, they will deliver benches at Ifonyintedo. For how long will this government continue to be a push and work government?
“What is pathetic about this school in Ifonyintedo is that the community and the Old students’ Association approached the state government on this situation many times before now and in particular, the old students’ representatives met with the Ministry of Education about seven months ago on this issue, yet nothing was done.
“It is sad to see that the benches delivered at Iwopin imprinted with ‘2020/2021 intervention’, yet they were not distributed to schools for use until July 2022. Apparently, the government is planning to use them for political campaign, what should ordinarily be the responsibilities of the government as part of their service to the people which the governor sworn to.
“There are many schools without teachers not to talk of infrastructure. For example, Community High School, Moriwi has only one principal and just one teacher for a school of 500 students, same with Community High School, Iwoye/Ketu which has one principal and two teachers with about 800 students both in Imeko Afon LGA. The only thing we can see are the yellow painted roofs on buildings that were poorly constructed with no furniture.”
The statement added that quality education has always been of great concern to the PDP’s candidate, who has assured the people at every opportunity that he would give much attention to uplift the educational standard and situation of schools in the state if given the opportunity come 2023.
“Adebutu will encourage Private Public Partnership in providing major infrastructure and capital projects, while the state resources will be much adequate to cater for and enhance provision of quality education and healthcare delivery”, Orekoya said.
The Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has assured corps members deployed to the state of their safety, despite rising security concerns across the region.
Speaking on Friday through the Commissioner for Youth, Sports Development and Creativity, Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange, Governor Alia said his administration is working closely with security agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of all National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members throughout their service year.
“Sadly, our nation is currently bedevilled with security challenges, and Benue State is not exempt,” the governor stated.
“However, let me quickly allay your fears and assure you that, as a government, we are committed to ensuring that your safety is guaranteed throughout your stay in the state.”
He noted that comprehensive protective measures have been implemented across corps lodges and other areas occupied by corps members in the state.
Governor Alia also encouraged the new corps members to take full advantage of the NYSC’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, describing it as a “gateway to great opportunities.”
He further urged them to use their God-given talents to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s development.
In her remarks, the State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs. Veronica Garba, thanked the governor and the people of Benue for their continued support of the scheme.
She charged the new inductees to actively participate in the four cardinal components of the orientation course: physical training, motivational lectures, sporting activities, and SAED.
The orientation exercise welcomed a total of 1,600 corps members, officially inducted into the programme by Justice Peter Ukande, who represented the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambeae.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has approved the appointment of a new Acting Director of Administration for the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH), Uburu.
This was contained in a statement in Uburu on Thursday by the DUFUTH’s Public Relations Officer, Agwu N. O.
According to Agwu, the new appointee is Edith Anih, an indigene of Enugu State with relevant working experience, having worked at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, where she was Deputy Director of Administration.
It was gathered that the approval was conveyed in a letter dated April 23, 2025, addressed to the Chief Medical Director.
Prior to her appointment, Anih held the position of Deputy Director of Administration at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu.
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He wrote, “Mrs. Anih Edith Ndidi is a seasoned administrator born on May 22, 1973. She is married and hails from Enugu State, specifically Enugu South Local Government Area.
“She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration and a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management. She is also an associate member of the Institute of Health Service Administrators of Nigeria (IHSAN).
“The Management of DUFUTH extends a warm welcome to the new DA and looks forward to collaborating with her as she brings a fresh perspective to the hospital’s administrative leadership.”
The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to launch a forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), in a major move aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, at the ongoing Nigerian Investor Forum, held on the sidelines of the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC.
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Edun explained that the upcoming audit, along with recent changes in NNPCL management, is part of a broader effort to reform the state-owned oil company and rebuild trust in Nigeria’s economic institutions.
Addressing top global investors, including representatives from financial giant J.P. Morgan, Edun outlined a series of bold economic reforms introduced by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
He said the measures are already yielding positive results and have laid a strong foundation for future growth.
“Our goal is not just to maintain this momentum, but to accelerate it,” Edun said. “We are targeting seven per cent annual growth, and we believe the policies we have implemented have laid the groundwork to achieve this.”
According to Edun, Nigeria’s economy grew by 3.84% in the fourth quarter of 2024, with an overall annual growth rate of 3.4%.
He described the government’s economic strategy as “unprecedented,” adding that key indicators such as the budget deficit, trade balance, and exchange rate have all shown signs of improvement.
“We said we would do it, and now we have done it. This time, we’re staying the course,” he emphasized.
The minister also highlighted the government’s focus on agriculture as a critical driver of economic growth, saying efforts are underway to close the food supply gap by empowering local producers.
“We aim to close the food supply gap, not by importing more, but by enabling domestic producers to scale and innovate,” he said.
In the area of infrastructure, Edun announced that 90,000km of fibre optic cable has been rolled out to boost internet connectivity, especially for young Nigerians and the tech ecosystem.
Additionally, 4,000km of roads have been earmarked for private sector participation, with the first 1,000km already approved for construction.
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