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UK-Based Techpreneur, Popoola, Makes Case for Siting of Proposed Federal College of Education in Gbongan

Published

6 years ago

January 23, 2020

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

A native of Gbongan, Osun State, and prolific techpreneur, Mr. Joel Oyeyinka Popoola, has lent his voice to the call for the Federal Government to site one the six proposed Federal Colleges of Education in Gbongan community, Osun State.

Mr. Popoola, who is the Founder of Rate Your Leader app, a digital democracy project, said that considering the mouth watering incentives that Gbongan has to offer among other communities in Osun state, it would only be fair if the government considers it first among any other.

Popoola spoke in the light of the Federal Government’s decision to establish six new federal colleges of education in each of the six geo-political areas in the country to compliment the 22 already existing ones. This the government said is intended to increase the number of quality teachers in the country.

According to the public relations officer of National Commission for Colleges of Education, Mr Ameh Isaac, the newly approved institutions would be situated in Bauchi, Benue, Ebonyi, Osun, Sokoto, and Edo states, where there were no presence of Federal Colleges of Education.

The Rate Your Leader Founder, who lives in London, from where he has concluded to launch the wave making app in Nigeria later in February, echoed his traditional ruler’s stand on the need to site the institution in Gbongan.

During a press conference in Gbongan City Hall on January 15, 2020, the paramount ruler of Gbongan kingdom,

HRM Oba Dr. Adetoyese Oyeniyi (Ph.D), the Odugbemi I and Olufi of Gbonganland, craved the indulgence of both the federal government and Osun State government to consider the very peaceful, progressive, dynamic and cohesive attributes of the town as well as its population of politically-conscious, well organised, hospitable, accommodating, socially responsible, peace-loving, highly enlightened and educationally advanced citizens to grant the town the privilege to be a host community.

In his words, Oba Oyeniyi described Gbongan Community as blessed and the most strategically suitable location for the Federal Institution based on merit and due consideration for even development.

The paramount ruler itemised the literacy of its population, available land mass of 950-acres with perimeter survey, security and orderliness as well as tolerance among its people.

“Gbongan is a very peaceful, progressive, dynamic and cohesive town which is inhabited by politically-conscious, well organised, hospitable, accommodating, socially responsible, peace-loving, highly enlightened and educationally advanced citizens.

The citizens believe in honesty of purpose, selflessness, forthrightness, diligence, visionary leadership and progressive ideologies which are treasurable values and legacies inherited from our fore-fathers,” Oba Oyeniyi said.

He further noted that most communities clamouring to host the new institution already have more than enough in their localities, saying it could only be equity if Gbongan is given the mandate to host the institution.

Hear Him: “It is the belief of the community that education should be taken as one major industry that can liberate the community from the shackles of poverty, hence every family strives to invest in the education of its children and leaves no stone unturned towards achieving this laudable goal.

Education is considered as a major legacy that is worthy of being bequeathed to incoming generations. It remains the best asset of Gbongan community, as there is no family in Gbongan that cannot boast of being blessed with graduates and post graduate offsprings.

It is not a coincidence therefore that the incumbent Olufi of Gbonganland is an academic (an Agronomist), who is also married to an educationist- a Ph.D holder in Education, succeeding an Associate Professor in the Department of History of the University of Ibadan, the Late Oba Dr. Solomon Oyewole Babayemi.

The community prides itself with the hundreds of academics (Professors and Doctorate Degree holders) that God has been gracious to bless it with. These academic giants of repute currently serve in various Federal, State and Private Universities within and outside Nigeria.

The community is also blessed with consummate professionals like Pharmacists, Pharmacologists, Lawyers, Legal luminaries and Jurists, like the Hon. Justice Bolarinwa Babalakin JSC (Retd) MON, CON, Renowned Accountants, Reputable Estate Surveyors, Architects, Quantity Surveyors, Builders, Bankers, Financial Analysts, Astute Investors, Information Technologists, Computer gurus, Engineers, Medical Doctors and Para-medics, Teachers, Pilots, Military and Para-military subjects, Security experts, Seasoned Administrators, Educationists, Journalists, Actors, Business magnates, Career Civil Servants, School Proprietors, Clerics, Hoteliers, Saw-millers, Produce Merchants. The list is inexhaustive.

All these in their hundreds are creating waves across the globe, as they also contribute meaningfully to national development, while carving a niche for themselves in the temple of fame.

It is the fervent belief of Gbongan citizens that with the support and in collaboration with the resourceful politicians in our midst, national development can be propelled and government policies influenced positively towards a paradigm shift that focuses on the building of synergies and networking for the achievement of corporate goals, through the constructive engagement/prudent application of resources.

Apart from the vast land space available for developmental objectives, the town is blessed with a number of existing educational facilities (Secondary and Technical Schools) that are readily convertible on temporary basis, while the permanent site for a Federal College of Education is being developed subject to availability of resources.”

Oba Oyeniyi highlighted that Gbongan has suffered serious deprivations as a largely marginalized community despite its contributions to electoral victories in Osun State, adding that in the interest of fairness, equity and even development in Osun State those concerned should kindly consider the “current exigencies that best place Gbongan in Ayedaade Local Government in a vantage position for the location of the approved FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION in GBONGAN.”

Popoola’s Rate Your Leader app is a democracy incentive, which allows the elected and the elector to have a stress-free direct communication devoid of abusive languages.

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Tinubu Nominates Oyedele As Minister of State for Finance, Moves Anite-Uzoka to Budget Ministry

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, has announced that “President Bola Tinubu has nominated Taiwo Oyedele as the minister of state for finance, replacing Doris Anite-Uzoka.

“Mrs Anite-Uzoka will now move to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, as the Minister of State, her third portfolio in the administration.

“President Tinubu has today conveyed the nomination of Mr Oyedele to the Senate for confirmation in a letter to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

“Until President Tinubu nominated him as a minister, Mr Oyedele from Ikaram, Akoko, Ondo State, was the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, which overhauled Nigeria’s tax system.

“Mr Oyedele, 50, is an economist, accountant and public policy expert.

“He attended Yaba College of Technology, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in accountancy and finance. He attended Oxford Brookes University and earned a BSc in applied accounting.

“He also completed executive education programmes at the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School.

“Mr Oyedele spent 22 years of his working career at PwC, joining in 2001 and rising to become the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader.

“Mr Oyedele is also a professor at Babcock University in Ogun State and a visiting scholar at the Lagos Business School.”

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Defection: Atiku’s Son, Adamu, Resigns As Adamawa Commissioner

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Adamu Abubakar, the first son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has resigned as Adamawa State’s commissioner for works and energy development, days after Governor Ahmadu Fintiri defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

Abubakar’s resignation letter, dated 2 March 2026, was addressed to the governor through the Secretary to the State Government. He gave no reason for his departure.

The timing is pointed. Fintiri announced his defection to the APC in a statewide broadcast last Friday, saying his cabinet and the PDP’s state structure had moved with him. Within 24 hours, 22 commissioners and special advisers publicly announced they were following suit. Abubakar, whose father remains one of the PDP’s most prominent national figures, was not among them.

In a statement issued Monday night, Abubakar’s media aide Abdulaziz Jauro said the former commissioner thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve and pledged continued loyalty to the administration’s developmental agenda. He also expressed gratitude to his father “for granting him the moral support and blessing to serve the people of Adamawa State” — a line that, read in context, suggests Atiku was consulted on the decision.

Abubakar said his resignation was not a withdrawal from public life. “This does not mark the end of his commitment to public service,” the statement read, “but rather the beginning of new avenues for developmental collaboration.”

The resignation leaves unresolved the question of whether it reflects a political break with the governor over his defection or a personal decision unconnected to the broader party realignment now reshaping Adamawa’s political landscape.

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DSS Nabs Man over Assassination Attempt on Peter Obi

Published

2 days ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has detained a man in connection with the recent attack and alleged assassination threats targeting Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

According to AIT, the shooting incident took place on February 24, 2026, in Benin City, Edo State, during a political gathering attended by Obi and several figures from the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The meeting was hosted by former APC National Chairman, John Oyegun. Gunmen reportedly opened fire at the venue, causing panic and forcing attendees to disperse for safety.

According to security sources, shortly after the attack, an individual identified as Udeme Monday Stephen allegedly took to social media claiming responsibility and issuing additional threats against Obi, warning of further violence.

Intelligence officials reportedly initiated swift investigations, employing digital tracing and forensic tools that led to the arrest of the 26-year-old suspect in Rivers State. He is said to be a teacher at a private secondary school in the Eliozu area of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.

The suspect remains in DSS custody and is expected to face prosecution. The agency reiterated its commitment to responding to credible threats and safeguarding lives and national interests without bias.