The former governor of Oyo State and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja and other 10 High chiefs are expected to receive beaded crowns as kings today, 7th July, at Mapo Hall Ibadan.

Ladoja had in an interview with the newsmen recently turned down the offer, insisting that he would only accept the crown as Olubadan of Ibadanland not as a glorified Oba.

He said other High Chiefs could accept the offer but not him.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Dr. Lekan Balogun had in a letter written to Governor Seyi Makinde requested for the 11 High Chiefs of Ibadanland to receive beaded crowns as Obas.

This is in line with the State Chieftaincy law as amended.

Meanwhile, the President, Association of Ibadan Mogajis, Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori has thanked Governor Seyi Makinde for granting the request of Olubadan.

Ariori had in a press statement made available to the newsmen said Makinde has carved a niche for himself with the bold step taken in restructuring age-long Ibadan chieftaincy tradition system.

According to Ariori, many people did not know that the Governor is also a titled Chief in Ibadanland.

He said Makinde is the Otun Balogun Ajia, Ajia in Ona Ara Local government area of the State, adding that, “our Governor is a future Baale (monarch) in his country home of Ajia as the Alajia of Ajia traditional status as Baale would also be changed to crown-wearing monarch in the new reform.

“Governor Makinde has not disappointed us in Ibadanland. He is showing and displaying the quality of our forefathers as a warrior and true son of Ibadanland. Against all odds, he stuck his neck out for President Bola Tinubu during the Campaign and delivered Ibadan and Oyo State votes to him.

“Our President must patronize our Governor and the great people of Ibadanland who were in the forefront of his aspiration as President. Our sons gave Mr President all the support he needed to win, not only the State but the entire Yorubaland because several Southwest rallies were held at Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort for Mr President’s aspiration.

“Our Governor also enjoyed the favours of these great Ibadan sons to win his own election with an unprecedented electoral victory in the State. Our traditional chieftaincy system is getting better under his watch as people’s Governor. May God bless His Excellency.

“The majority of Mogajis, Baales and the High Chiefs themselves are very happy with His Excellency over this traditional system development. The Governor is a great leader and deserves the prayers and cooperation of all of us who desire quality governance and wonderful reforms in our traditional system.

“We are united and very happy with the Governor because a people united can never be defeated. The Governor has displayed gallantry and courage as a full blooded Ibadanman.

“Let me use this opportunity to sound a note of warning to those guys around the Governor who have constituted themselves as cliques around the corridor of power, usurping power of our Governor to constitute themselves as nuisance and clog in the wheel of progress.

“This Governor is not one to be taken for granted as he can bark and bite anyone with unruly behaviours no matter how closely related the person is. Anyone that is against our Governor, whether chiefs or kings from any quarter including these people around him, would have us to contend with because this Governor deserves the respect and support of all of us,” Mogaji Ariori added.

It is celebration galore on, July 7, 2023, at the studios of Eagle7 Sports Radio.

The specialised broadcast station is one year old!

It has been an incredible journey in patience, perseverance, hardwork and belief in the reward of integrity by the Creator of the Universe.

Despite all the challenges of a start up, and the burden of waiting for 18 years to secure a license, the Eagle with the number 7, has continued to soar and rise above all challenges, obstacles and hurdles.

I thank alĺ those that have supported and being a part of this project on a mission to take global listeners (and viewers),with the use of technology, new media and ingeniously creative and entertaining content, to places in broadcasting they have never been before.

I thank all our shareholders for their endless patience and unrelenting confidence and support.

I thank all my young and creative staff that have been a part of the Eagle7 Sports Radio machine.

I welcome all our new and old clients to new experiences as we embark on the route to our second year! This is the multi-media platform to advertise and reach the world.

Join us now and share in the feast of celebrations. Just Click now or at any time of the day, all day today.

Facebook: @eagle7fm
Instagram: @eagle7fm
Twitter: @Eagle7fm1037
YouTube: Eagle7fm

Just Click on https://eagle7fm.com, and eagle7fm.com and be connected to the hottest sports radio station in town.

It was described as a catastrophic implosion — the tragedy of the Titan voyage to the depths of the ocean to find the wreckage of Titanic ship that sank 111 years ago. On June 21, five men comprising the pilot and four passengers embarked upon a 10-day sail from Newfoundland. Each passenger paid $250,000 to journey down the ocean floor. There had been successful trial expeditions in 2021 and 2022 by dive experts, scientists and filmmakers in rehearsal for the great plunge of two weeks ago. OceanGate, the owners of Titan submersible, were confident that with the air pressure inside the Titan remaining “constant and equal to what we experience at sea level, eliminating the need for decompression during the ascent”, nothing could go wrong. According to their tourist brochure seen by foxweather.com “With the click of a button, Mission Specialists can select a camera, monitor the sonar, or view preloaded images of deep-sea species, and the Titanic as they experience an entirely foreign world that only a handful of people have had the privilege to experience.” Even then there were safety concerns and repeated warnings and that the “world of deep sea exploration is not well regulated.” Titan, it was also revealed was “not registered as a US vessel or with international agencies that regulate safety. And it wasn’t classified by a maritime industry group that sets standards on matters such as hull construction.”

Many questions have arisen since the disaster occurred. Was the voyage a suicide mission? Was it in aid of furtherance of science and technological development? As I reported last week with reference to a BBC online, warnings over safety of the Titan submersible repeatedly sent to OceanGate were ignored by the chief executive officer of the company. A leading deep sea exploration specialist, Rob McCallum showed evidence to BBC of his warnings through emails, but the chief executive officer of OceanGate, Stockton Rush, got irritated and would like to be left alone. His response was that “he was tired of industry players who try to use a safety argument to stop innovation.” In one of the emails, McCallum had warned him that he was potentially putting his clients at risk and urged him to stop using the sub until it had been certified by an independent agency. He urged the company to seek certification before using it for commercial tours. “The vessel was never certified or classed. Until a sub is classed, tested and proven it should not be used for commercial deep dive operations. I implore you to take every care in your testing and sea trials and to be very conservative. As much as I appreciate entrepreneurship and innovation, you are potentially putting an entire industry at risk.” However, the entreaties fell on deaf ears. “OceanGate engineering focused, innovative approach …flies in the face of the submersible orthodoxy, but that is the nature of innovation”, was the response from Mr. Rush. Mr. McCallum made the last effort at dissuading him and he wrote to him: “It will be sea trials that determine whether the vehicle can handle what you intend to do with it, so again, take care and keep safe. There is more riding this than Titan and the Titanic.”

Mr. Rush would have none of the warnings; he took the plunge and it ended in disaster in which all on the voyage died — Mr. Rush and the four tourists enthusiastic to sail to the ocean bed to see the wreckage of the Titanic that broke into two and went down. The Titan itself like the Titanic a century before it curiously broke into two also.

As I was saying, predictably, views on the catastrophic expedition will necessarily differ. A great many would see nothing wrong in men’s spirit of adventure despite uneasy feelings which no doubt each of them must have had and ignored or suppressed. Mr. McCallum’s pronouncements were prophetic warnings. Many saw the expedition as the path to discovery: Nothing ventured, nothing gained; He who dares wins. Where there are no pains, there is no gain. Life is all about risk taking. There is the argument that the advancement of mankind has always come with risks. A young public figure friend of mine as I said last week argues that life’s paths to development and progress are strewn with risks. He is among those who see the Titan voyage as an attempt at innovation. It was through such daringness that the world has developed, he had said in his note to me.

He wrote: “They are the men in the Arena. They tried and failed. Sadly they do not have a second chance. I am certain others will learn from their mistakes, improve and succeed. That is the story of mankind. Seemingly a senseless and daring mission upon which mankind’s course was altered for good.” He went on: “Don’t cry for them. When the University of Bologna the first and surviving university in the world started in 1088 AD, it was not certified by anyone. Certification is for established systems. I went to Jamestown with my family and saw the replica of the Susa Constant, the first ship that came from England in 1607. No ship registry will flag the vessel today for human transport. The imploded Titan submersible is a forerunner to our effort to conquer the seas, mountains, and space…Every year, the success rate of reaching Mount Everest peak keeps improving. Between 1990 and 20005 the success rate was around 34 per cent but from 2006 to 2019 the success rate doubled to around 66 per cent.

“The descent to the ocean beds will become normal in the near future and we may yet learn more about the wonderful cosmos around us or just enjoy what those who climb Everest feel when they reach the peak despite the dangers. We try, we fail, we succeed, learn, evolve and improve. That is the story of mankind.”

I have reproduced his note to serve as background for the basis of my point of view. Another interesting view was forwarded to me after reading this column last week in which it is stated that, indeed, risks taking began from the cradle. It comes with childbearing processes. If it were not so, there would have been no concern over maternal death rate, especially where science has not sufficiently developed to mitigate it. Women, the argument goes, brave all the risks and pains attendant to child bearing and today our world is filled with human beings such that in some countries the talk is about overpopulation. The risk is today taken for granted and all families court it. When the risk succeeds, there is outpouring of love, there are shouts of congratulations; there is dancing and rejoicing. The risks are not over nor are the pains eliminated even though appreciable progress has been made in this sphere with advancement in health care knowledge and practice.

The foregoing points of view are no doubt persuasive, and interesting, no doubt, and the arguments adduced seemingly unassailable. The issues as noted last week are, however, much deeper than that. Who was Mr. Rush and was there any possible connection between him and the disaster of Titanic that sank in 1912, for example? Why was Mr. Rush rushing to put the vessel on the sea to comb its depths to see the unsinkable Titanic that ironically sank 111 years ago? What else could have shown how limited we human beings are? What forces were goading Mr. Rush to be obstinate and pushing him despite warnings and signals about concerns over the viability of his vessel? Was there anything he carried deep within him that connected him with the catastrophic mission of the Titanic, using Titan as the vessel? Mr. McCallum had said…”There is a lot more riding this than Titan and the Titanic.”

What’s in a name? This column has treated the issue of name about twice in which it was stated that there are no accidents in a name. Each person comes to this earth with his name. He is the name he bears. His talents and abilities and destiny are enshrined in the name which is why everyone is at alert that his name is protected; it must be without stain. No alteration or modification is tolerated. He is what he says his name is. Lawan will complain if you call him Lawani. Muhammadu will not answer you if you call him Mohammed or Muhammad. Ishaya will sharply correct you if you call him Isaiah. The tones emitted by the groupings of the consonants and vowels are not without effects as they resound in the bearer; they make all the difference and the bearer is ready to defend his name with all he can muster. So is it that no matter how long it takes and the attendant preparation a family may make to get the name right, at Christening, the child will be given his name, what he comes with. The name is whispered to the prospective mother by the baby itself while in the womb. If the mother is inattentive, it will be received by the father, grandmother or a woman of influence around the family or even a relation from afar. The whispering by the child is normally through connecting radiations between it and the mother.

For the fulfillment of what he carried within him and what is contained in his name, Mr. Rush got himself driven to rush the catastrophic mission. He was the owner of OceanGate which he founded in 2009 and in which he was the chief executive officer. Titan is not much different from Titanic in sound and the tone sent out; every letter radiates, every word sends emits rays which constitute the material for the weaving of the tapestry of life by the Nature Beings. In the case of Titan, the waves of the volition that accompanies it coupled with the rays the letters and sound emit cannot but be without effects. They cannot be ruled out that Titanic is targeted in the volition. There is, therefore, no doubt that there were connection threads between Titan and Titanic. Was Rush in the Titanic? Could he have been the owner of Titanic or the chief captain on its tragic mission? We may not know because of the veil over his inner eyes, but most likely. We can sense that the links are active. What error of judgment could he have committed that he had unquenchable longing to visit the Titanic down the depths of the ocean? He sensed something strongly about Titanic the voyage of which, from his inner stirring, and pull he was undoubtedly connected? Since this expedition ended in disaster, he must come again in a repeated earthlife until there is recognition of his possible guilt that may have led to the unmitigated tragedy and there is atonement and his slate is wiped clean.

From the enlightenment of these times, we are permitted knowledge of events and recognition of possibilities both here on earth and in the Beyond. There are millions of disincarnate souls roaming about in the ethereal world, among them would count victims of the Titanic tragedy of 1912. Many of them who carry deep wounds in their souls may be embittered over the premature termination of their lives on earth through the Titanic voyage. A great number amongst them may have been seeking opportunities to avenge their unsavoury experiences on Mr. Rush out of immaturity instead of moving on to make progress who may be seeking opportunities to avenge their experiences instead of learning from them and moving on. The bitterness and the vengefulness are capable of releasing dark forces to trigger a ship capsizing once they could find anchorage. Such vengefulness compounds woes hindering their progress in the Beyond.

Mr. McCallum must have been standing at his post and may have carried out his tasks through his unrelenting warnings and admonitions to OceanGate to sever his own connection with the tragic mission of the Titanic and connection with Mr. Rush. The Creator does not place disaster on man’s way in order for mankind to make progress. Man is surrounded with help, starting from his intuitive perception and helper in the Beyond. The Lord has placed in Creation His Divine Laws to govern Creation. Was there no time when mankind forged links with the Light Region and heavenly melodies filled the earth? That was in the very beginning of human sojourn on earth. There was swinging as it was meant to be and there was joy and rejoicing on this same earth. We are told in the great Work, “A Gate Opens” by Herbert Vollmann, (Heavenly Melody): “The time came when these delicate flames had blossomed forth in purity into human spirits, and in the blossoming there mingled a faint note from faraway lands, which touched the strings of their hearts like gentle hands, awakening that tone which had sounded so beautiful to them as they departed, and they had quietly received into their innermost being. For they were seized by a vehement urge: for they knew the sweet sound of home, and soon their strings resounded more fully, and their song grew into a melody filled with longing.”

The Creator sent Prophets and Teachers of Mankind to teach and lead us human beings from one step of development to the other. At nowhere are we told that they as exemplars for man took risks or taught same. They received guidance for their activities from the Light Region to which they were connected. Indeed, we learn in higher knowledge that God gives to His own in their sleep. There are no inventions, there are only discoveries. All mankind needs are lovingly brought to the earth from a plane called Medium Gross Matter by the servants of the Lord for the use of mankind at the appropriate time consistent with the measure of their maturity. Despite all we have been blessed with, all the technological wonders that daze us, we are told, our best are yet to come! It is not for nothing we are given the faculty to weigh and examine and be guided to choose what furthers our development and progress.

It may be asked: Of what benefit to mankind or Creation is paying a handsome fee of $250,000 US Dollars for a jolly but risky ride of eight hours just to go and see the remains of a ship that got wrecked 111 years ago? Even if it was a journey of scientific investigation, which incidentally, it was not, it is still outrageous. We learn from higher knowledge beaming In the Light of Truth and spreading on earth today: Motion — A Law of Creation, “Man does not gain anything by being the fastest runner, a skillful boxer, a bold driver, or if he knows whether the horse appeared on earth before or after the fly!”

Certainly our sympathy goes to the five occupants of the Titan submersible, and to their loved ones over the tragedy. At the same time we cannot but feel immense pity that they chose to fritter away their precious lives in pursuit of absolutely nothing, for with knowledge we can work on ourselves and alter the course of our journey away from fateful entrapment we are wont to call destiny! The question remains for everyone to ask and it is where to start: “Who am I? Why am I here on earth?”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says his government being a responsible government is conscious of the security situation in Nigeria and ready to address all the concerns of Nigerians on the issue.

Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said this during the closing ceremony of the 2023 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) and 160th Anniversary of Nigerian Army on Thursday in Ibadan.

He assured Nigerians of his government’s resolve to address all threats and take care of national security challenges confronting the country within the shortest possible time.

The president said his administration would continue to do all it could and as permitted by the Constitution to ensure the safety of law-abiding citizens and the nation’s unity.

“I assure the Nigerian Army and the entire Armed Forces of my commitment to their welfare, and I will address the issue of equipment, insufficient funding and other factors constraining their efficient operation,” he said.

Tinubu added that his administration has put in place a mechanism that would comprehensively address all the challenges facing the Armed Forces for them to effectively carry out their operations.

While calling on all Nigerians to unite and shun all acts capable of dividing the nation, the President commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.

Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, had said the Nigerian Army was living up to its constitutional role.

(NAN).

The National Society of High School Scholars, Atlanta, United States, has selected a 15-year-old Nigerian, Oyinkansola Ewedemi, as a member.

A statement made available on Monday by co-founder and President, NSHSS, James Lewis, said Ewedemi consistently had high-Grade Point Average throughout her high school.

She is a Freshman in the STEM programme of James Martin High School in Arlington, Texas, United States.

Lewis noted that NSHSS recognised top scholars who had demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship, and community commitment.

He said, “On behalf of NSHSS and our co-founder, Claes Nobel, a member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes, I am honoured to recognise the hard work, passion, and commitment that Oyinkansola has demonstrated to achieve this exceptional level of academic excellence.

“Oyinkansola is now a member of a unique community of scholars, a community that represents our very best hope for the future.

“We are proud to provide lifetime membership to young scholars to support their growth and development.

“We help students like Oyinkansola build on their academic success by connecting them with learning experiences and resources to help prepare them for college and meaningful careers.”

Lewis added that NSHSS members automatically become lifetime member at the time of their initial membership.

“Each step along the way, from high school to college career – NSHSS connects outstanding young scholars with the resources they need to develop their strengths and pursue their passions,” he stated.

Ewedemi plays violin in the Orchestra and her team represented her school in Robotics competitions across various cities in Texas.

She wants to be an Engineering Major to study Aerospace Engineering.

Victor Osimhen has demanded a salary of €7m annually to extend his current deal with Napoli, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Napoli, who have already opened talks to extend Osimhen’s contract, are keen on inserting a hefty €200m release clause in the new deal, Get Italy football news stated.

The Nigeria international helped the Partenopei win their first Serie A title in 33 years, and emerged the leading scorer in Italy’s topflight with 26 goals in 32 games in 2022/23.

His impressive form has seen him linked with moves to PSG, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Bayern Munich.

“A solution for the issue could be that Napoli will go close to meeting the wage demand of about €7m and will add a release clause of around €200m in his (Osimhen’s) deal,” the report stated.

“Shared image rights could also bring the parties close. Work is already going on in the right direction for this, with both parties trying to close a deal as quickly as possible.”

Sky Italia reports that a second meeting regarding Osimhen’s renewal has taken place between the club and the Nigerian’s representative, Roberto Calenda.

Calenda revealed Osimhen’s desire to renew his deal at Napoli, with both parties now keen on making sure that the 24-year-old stays for at least another season.

“There is still a lot of gap between the club’s offer and what the player demands, but Napoli know that they can’t lose more assets after the exits of Cristiano Guintoli, Luciano Spalletti and Kim Min-Jae,” Calenda said.

Meanwhile, Osimhen is Paris Saint-Germain’s main target if Kylian Mbappe leaves the club this summer, Football-Italia reports.

The 24-year-old Frenchman was set for a switch to Real Madrid last year, only to snub Carlo Ancelotti’s side and agree a new two-year deal at the Parc des Princes with the option of an additional 12 months.

The French champions have been left aghast after receiving a letter from Mbappe confirming that he would not take up the option to extend his contract until 2025, meaning that he could walk out of the door for nothing this time next year.

Despite his refusal to trigger the clause, Mbappe has insisted that he wants to stay put in Paris for the 2023/24 season, and he plans to make a decision on his future next summer.

On the other hand, PSG are reportedly working to sell the France international this summer, and a “shocked” and “disappointed” Al-Khelaifi has ruled out the possibility of Mbappe departing for nothing in 2024.

Osimhen joined Napoli from Lille in 2020 in a deal worth €75m. He has scored 50 goals in 83 Serie A matches adding seven in 11 Champions League appearances.

His current contract at the Stadio Maradona expires in June 2025.

Members of Coalition of Civil Society Organisations and Political Parties for Good Governance (CCSOPPGG) have besieged the European Union office in protest against its report on the 2023 presidential election.

The coalition which mobilised some other Nigerians in their hundreds warned the European Union against instigating another war in Nigeria through what it described as the international body’s “biased” report on the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In its report which was tendered before the presidential petitions court in Abuja, the EU faulted the 2023 general election, premising its report on alleged violence, killings and vote buying.

The protesters who carried placards with different inscriptions staged a peaceful walk through the Central Area to the head office of the European Union in Abuja.

Addressing officials of the EU who were on ground to receive the protesters, leader of the coalition, Dr Lillian Ene Ogbole, accused the EU of deliberately attempting to malign the Nigerian government and its leaders.

Noting that every election comes with peculiar problems and Nigeria is not an inception, Ogbole wondered how possible less than fifty people from the European Union would come to Nigeria and observe an election of over 17,6000 polling units and then arrive at a conclusion with just 1,000 polling units of election centres in its report.

She stated: “As you can see, we are here with thousands of patriotic Nigerians who have come specifically to raise concern about the presentation and the reports of the European Union concerning the just concluded elections.

“We have come to register unequivocally that we are not satisfied with the report of the European Union as a matter of fact, we are of the opinion that the report is not just ridiculous but a deliberate act to slides the Nigerian entity and of course by implications our leaders and the government of Nigeria. We are all Nigerians here. We were all here during the just concluded election.

“I would like to say to you very clearly that there is nowhere election in the world that is devoid of crisis and hitches. Every election in the world both in the United States of America, in the Great Britain both in Ireland and even the European Union countries.

“Yes, we are aware that the world is a global village. Therefore, people from different parts of the world converge in various countries during elections to monitor, observe and make presentations like the EU has done but what we found unnecessary, what we found not worthy is the manner in which the report was made.

“The election that just concluded in Nigeria that produced one of the man alive today in the person of his excellency, distinguished Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu was one of the most transparent election in the history of Nigeria. We were taking back When the report came, the media was wash with the report of the European Union carefully and specifically saying that the election was fraudulent; that the election felt short of requirements of every credible election in the world.

“I don’t know where that is coming from. If it is the election that we were all part of, that we all fought vigorously with our lives and everything we have as Patriots and well-meaning Nigerians to ensure that the election held.”

The coalition noted that if it is the same election that the EU report is referring to, then something is fishy somewhere, even as it queried why the EU had to take its reports to the election petitions tribunal.

The CSOs continued: “You would also agree with me that the report of the European Union is enough to trigger a national problem, is enough to trigger a national chaos, our security is at stake, our sovereignty is at stake, our unity is at stake.

“Nigeria is a great country in Africa, the most populated country in west Africa and the pride of the African countries. If the European Union is beginning to address our election and of course whatever is daring the way they have presented this report then we are scared. We are scared not just going to affect Nigeria as a country but is going to affect the whole of the African countries in the country.

“We understand the role they played but again there comes a time where we have to stop. They should know where to stop and they should know where to continue. Why on earth should they take the report of this election to the tribunal. Is there a report should be recieved?

“There are procedures and they have procedures in their counties, when they come to Nigeria, they act out of protocol. They must begin to have protocols, they must begin to respect our rule of law, they must begin to respect our Nigerian People.”

The coalition told the EU officials that Nigerians were not forced to vote Tinubu but were convinced with his track records and capacity.

Ogbole continued: “We are saying enough is enough. We have a president who is doing very well, we have a president that have started on a right footing, we have a president that is doing what several presidents in Nigeria have not been able to do. All that we need at this point is to support him. He is our Son, and we are his children, he is our leader and we willingly voted for him.

“No man, no woman, no country compelled us to vote for him. It is our right to vote for him. It is our right to vote for the candidate of our choice and that was what exactly what we exhibited in the last election. Our election we all witness was free to an extent which was almost 100 percent free.

“It was an election that was devoid of so many things we used to witness in the past. Our democracy is growing in an accelerated rate and we must warn the international community to take cognisance of that. We want to let them know that never again! Never again!! Never!!!”

The Prince’s Trust International, a non-profit organisation established by King Charles III of England, has been launched in Nigeria to address the urgent issue of youth unemployment on a global scale.

The launch, which took place at a reception in Lagos on Wednesday, was attended by high-profile functionaries, including the Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ben Llewellyn-Jones.

Speaking at the launch, Llewellyn-Jones said the PTI’s launch in Nigeria would bridge the existing skills gap, giving more young people would have access to quality training that would make them more employable.

He said, “This is the launch of the Prince’s Trust International initiative in Nigeria to help train young people and get them ready for work to bridge the gap that we have with respect to youth unemployment and youth underemployment here in Nigeria.

“So, it is a really positive initiative. His Royal Highness is the President of the Prince’s Trust. The initiative is trying to reach more countries, Nigeria being the latest. The PTI is a charity. It is in line with the UK government’s ambition in Nigeria to help young people get jobs, get the proper training and the proper skills.

“It is about training. It depends on the kinds of roles young people want to take up. It is about providing them with modern workplace skills, modern workplace etiquette and the ways in which they can approach things, helping them with some of the softer skills and some of the harder skills as well.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Prince’s Trust International, Will Straw, said the initiative was billed to commence in the aftermath of King Charles’ visit to Nigeria in 2018 but was delayed due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to him, in the last 18 months, the trust has been helping young people gain the skills they need for the world of work.

Straw said, “Prince’s Trust is nearly half a century old. It was founded by King Charles when he was the Prince of Wales in the UK in 1976. It has grown to be the largest charity in the UK, supporting a million people. In 2015, the King founded Prince’s Trust International with a mission to work with local partners around the world to tackle the youth unemployment crisis.

“In 2018, he visited Nigeria, and as we heard this evening, he asked government officials, he asked business leaders whether his trust could support employment efforts here in Nigeria and in Ghana. The answer was yes. The expertise that we have could help with local efforts. So, we began with the support of our Africa advisory board, which includes great business figures in Nigeria like Atedo Peterside and Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede to explore how we can set this programme up.”

On her part, PTI’s trustee and former Vice President of the World Bank, Arunma Oteh, said that 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population is youth; hence, any investment in young people was worthwhile and sustainable for development.

Oteh, who was also a former Director-General of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission, expressed excitement at the possibility the programme portends for young Nigerians, employers and the country.

According to her, Nigerian youths are hardworking, creative, and resilient.

She added that the launch of the PTI in Nigeria would catalyse more changes and development in the country.

Also, the Director-General of Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, Mr Oyerinde Adewale-Smatt, said unemployment was a great challenge in the country and was projected to grow to 40 per cent in 2023.

Former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, has asked the incumbent Governor, Dapo Abiodun to stop the monthly pension being paid to him by the State government.

Daniel, in a letter titled, ‘Request To Suspend My Monthly Pension and Allowances’, Daniel asked that the N676,376.95 pension/allowances he is entitled to as a former governor be suspended.

According to him, the suspension of the pension was in compliance with his conscience, moral principle and ethical code against double emoluments that a serving Senator, who hitherto was a former State governor, shall not be entitled to the payment of pension and allowances from such a state.

Daniel, who is the new Senator representing Ogun East, was inaugurated alongside other Senators on June 13 at the National Assembly.

The Senator noted that he had not benefitted from any welfare packages, be it medical, furniture, transportation and others since he left office in 2011.

The letter addressed to Gov Abiodun read: “I write to request for the suspension of my monthly pension/allowances of 676,376.95 (gross) (Six Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand, Three Hundred Seventy-Six Naira, Ninety-Five Kobo) being paid as a former Executive Governor of Ogun State.

“This request is in compliance with my conscience, moral principle and ethical code against double emoluments that a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who hitherto was a former State Governor, shall not be entitled to the payment of pension and allowances from such state.

“It would be recalled that on Tuesday 13th June 2023, I was, with other elected Senators and Members of the House of Representatives, inaugurated as members of the 10th National Assembly.

“It is pertinent to also have it on record that since I left the office in 2011, I have not benefitted from any welfare packages be it Medical, Furniture, transportation etc. Thanks in anticipation.”

One David Oshoffa, a pastor, has been remanded at the Kirikiri Correction Centre over the death of two siblings who were seeking spiritual deliverance.

A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos State, remanded the cleric for allegedly poisoning two siblings, Michael and Mahoklo Agbah, to death around the Seme Border, in the Badagry area of the state.

Oshoffa is a cleric of the Celestial Church of Christ, Alpha and Omega, Ashipa Parish. Magistrate Patrick Nwaka ordered his remand on Wednesday.

He was arraigned on three counts bordering on murder.

The siblings were taken to the cleric’s parish for spiritual deliverance when he alongside two fleeing accomplices allegedly poisoned them.

According to the prosecutor, Thomas Nurudeen, the defendant prepare the concoction using deadly chemicals which he knew were harmful to the children and gave them to drink in the name of dispossessing them of an evil spirit.

Nurudeen told the court that Oshoffa committed the offence on June 18, 2023, at his church’s premises, adding that the offence contravened Section 222 and was punishable under Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The charge read in part, “That you, David Oshoffa, and two others at large, on June 18, 2023, at Celestial Church of Christ, Alpha and Omega, Ashipa Parish 4, Seme Border, Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Michael Agba, 12, Mahoklo Agbah, 8, by poisoning them with a concoction containing black soap and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 222 and punishable under Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”

Meanwhile, the defendant’s plea was not taken in court.

The prosecutor asked the court to remand the defendant pending the outcome of the legal advice from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

Granting the prosecutor’s request, Nwaka ordered the remand of the defendant to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till August 4, 2023