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Bashorun Dele Momodu @63

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By Segun Adeyeye

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men – Proverbs 22:29

On the 16th of May 2023, Chief Dele Momodu, an accomplished Journalist, Publisher, global media entrepreneur, pro-democracy activist, presidential aspirant and mentor to many clocked 63 years on earth.

The story of this great and iconic son of Africa affectionately called ‘BOB DEE’ by his friends and teeming admirers is the stuff of legends.
Born to barely literate parents, Dele Momodu studied Yoruba language as an undergraduate and did his post graduate studies in Literature in English, both at the prestigious University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University).

His unique mastery of the English language saw him secure early jobs as private secretary to the late Deputy Governor of the old Ondo State, Chief Akin Omoboriowo and public relations officer to the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade at different times.

When the allure of Lagos came calling, as a young up coming Journalist, Dele took abode in the relatively sleepy Adigboluja in the Ojodu Abiodun area of Lagos, a community in which this writer also lived briefly as a teenager.

His prodigious talent quickly saw him engaged as an editor of the then wave making Weekend Concord; one of the titles on the staple of Concord Newspaper Group owned by the late Chief MKO Abiola. It was from this platform that Dele Momodu metaphorically took lifestyle journalism by storm.

He brought so much panache to that genre of print journalism and gravitas to the office of editor that other higher responsibilities soon came calling.

There is a saying among the Yorubas that a child that knows how to thoroughly wash his hands will soon start dining with the elders; Such was the story of the then young and budding journalist that he soon came into the attention of Chief MKO Abiola the Newspaper’s proprietor. The story of the Father-Son relationship that Chief Abiola and Dele Momodu went on to build has been well documented; to the extent that on the day of his wedding in 1992, his new bride, Mrs Mobolaji Momodu was handed over to Chief Abiola as Dele’s Father. He also once ran Chief Abiola’s wonderloaf Bakery amidst other engagements usually reserved for trusted lieutenants.

When Chief Abiola went into politics and contested the June 12 1993 presidential election, naturally his much beloved son Dele became one of his political footsoldiers. The unfortunate annulment of that historic election and the ensuing battle to reclaim the mandate freely given to Chief Abiola by Nigerians brought out the activist in Dele Momodu. Soon enough, his uncompromising stance would make him a prime target for the military junta who hounded him everywhere until he had to take refuge in exile, from where he alongside other pro-democracy activists like Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Gen Alani Akinrinade,(Rtd) Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (Rtd)Senator Bola Tinubu late Chief Anthony Enahoro and others waged a ferocious battle against the military that culminated in the birth of the democratic rule being enjoyed by Nigerians today in 1999.

As the saying goes; when life throws you a lemon, you should endeavour to make a lemonade out of it. Such was the case with Dele Momodu who with his wife and young family bore the brunt and hardships of life in exile in the early days of their marriage.

While in exile in the UK, the idea of a global celebrity magazine to truly celebrate great accomplishments by Africans from all spheres of endeavors began to take root his ever fecund mind; enter Ovation Magazine International. The little acorn that was Ovation Magazine has now become a giant oak tree with other spin off businesses and tentacles all over the world.

Despite his hyper busy schedule manning his chains of business interests, the writer in Dele Momodu still finds time to write what should rank as one of the longest running columns in any Nigerian Newspaper; the PENdulum on ThisDay Newspaper on Saturdays.

One enduring quality that has greatly endeared the celebrant to this writer is his fidelity to friendship and ever readiness to acknowledge everyone who has played one positive role or another in his journey to the top no matter how seemingly negligible. When he clocked 60 in the year 2020, for weeks his back page column in ThisDay and his The Boss online Newspaper were yielded to acknowledging and celebrating this long list of ‘who is who’ in his still evolving great story.

This writer was also deeply touched on one occasion watching Chief Momodu not being able to hold back his tears on a live television interview once the subject veered in the direction of Chief MKO Abiola and the harrowing experience he went through in military detention while trying to claim his mandate culminating in his unfortunate death. Such has been his loyalty to his mentor and his legacy even in death.

Chief Momodu’s recent forays into Nigeria’s presidential politics may not have met with the expected success, but let no one be left in doubt that he is still poised to play a major role in the evolution and development of his great country.

In his book; How Countries Compete: Strategy, Structure and Government in the Global Economy, Richard H.K..Victor alluded to the stiff competition going on in an increasingly globalized world and how imperative it is for countries to develop strategies to compete for the markets, technologies and skills that will raise their standards of living.

Notably, for Nigeria to survive in this cauldron of competition, the role of global branding and strategic positioning experts like Dele Momodu simply cannot be overemphasized.

So for this great Nigerian, in the annals of our political, economic leadership and development as a nation, his day in the sun is still looming large ahead.

Suffice now to join his beloved wife of over three decades, four Sons, extended family members and well wishers all over the world to say;

HAPPY 63RD BIRTHDAY BOB DEE

As your days, so shall your strength be in Jesus Name (Amen).

Adeyeye is a Lagos based Corporate Lawyer and Content Developer (segunadeyeyeceo@yahoo.com)

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Oyo Tops List of Out-of-School Girls in SouthWest – NGO

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A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Black Girls’ Dream Initiative (BGDI), has revealed that one in five girls of school age in Oyo State is not in school, making the State the highest with out-of-school children in South-western Nigeria.

The BGDI, in association with some education stakeholders in the State, made this known in Ibadan on Wednesday during a sensitisation workshop organised by the NGO, in partnership with Global Schools Forum and the IDF Foundation, and themed ‘Girls’ education in Oyo State: Our shared goal’.

The founder of BGDI, Karimot Odebode, described the number of out-of-school children in Oyo State as alarming and as a crisis that has to be urgently curbed by the government, schools, parents, traditional rulers, and other vital stakeholders in the state.

Odebode noted that though the government and other stakeholders are trying their best to send and keep children, especially the girl-child, in school, barriers such as poverty, early marriage, family responsibilities, and cultural expectations are marring their efforts.

Given this, she added that NGOs, such as BGDI, are working to reverse this trend by spotlighting the problem, engaging decision-makers, and opening doors for re-entry into the classroom because every girl deserves a second chance at learning.

She stated that BGDI, in its quest to ensure that more girls get quality education and remain in school, is aligning local education data with the challenges; collaborating with stakeholders to identify, engage, and reintegrate out-of-school girls; encouraging trackable reduction in dropout rates; and increasing enrolment, especially in underserved local governments in the State.

Odebode urged the government, schools, and parents to empower girls as future leaders. She explained how her organisation is doing this through their debate, mentorship programmes, sensitisation initiatives, and stakeholders’ workshops.

“We should make sure children are not just returning to school, but are returning with confidence, agency, and a sense of purpose; and also make sure we initiate and sustain long-term developmental impact that builds self-driven, educated citizens,” she said.

She further said: “We are the enablers of change. We need to move from conversation to action. Change happens when stakeholders act together. What we do today shapes the data tomorrow.”

The stakeholders, in the course of the workshop, identified and offered solutions to the main problems facing the girl-child’s education in Oyo State.

The Baale Sinko of Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State, Adeleke Waheed Mobolaji, and the Mogaji of Ogundele Compound, Labiran, Ibadan, Chief Ogunsina Oluseyi Oladebo emphasised that the government cannot train the girl-child alone and that the bulk of the training and education girls starts from the home, stressing that to encourage girls to go to school, their mothers needs to be properly empowered.

The two Ibadan-based traditional rulers, Adeleke and Oladabo, also urged society to support less-privileged students, especially girls, in their education, to ensure that no child of school age will be on the street hawking, idling, or committing crime, instead of being in school.

Some of the teachers and parents at the event, M. C. Ebike, Janet Adio, Fausat Boladale, Rejoice Adegoke, O. O. Ogundare, Peace Akinola, Dorcas Oyinloye, stressed that the security of female students in schools is important, and special attention should be given to them to encourage them to attend and remain in school.

They urged schools and teachers to be kind and proactive while dealing with female students, which will encourage them to learn. Furthermore, they advised the government to recruit trained and passionate teachers and empower them with the best resources to ensure students are inspired to return to school.

Opeyemi Lawal of Project Wabi Sabi, Adetokunbo Ikumoluyi of Hosec Foundation, and Opeyemi Adebisi of Teach for Nigeria stated that NGOs and governments have a lot to do to keep students in school, adding that the out-of-school challenge facing Oyo State could be addressed through sustainable partnership, investment in education, parents’ and guardians’ sensitisation, and students’ empowerment.

The convener of the event, Karimot Odebode, stated that the feedback and recommendations from the stakeholders regarding the theme and outcome of the sensitisation workshop will be submitted to the appropriate government authorities for policy formulation and implementation.

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Again, Gunmen Attack Plateau Communities, Kill 13, Raze Houses

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No fewer than 13 persons – mostly children and the elderly – have again been reported killed and houses burnt in Juwan and Manja communities of Bokkos and Mangu local government areas of Plateau State.

They were alleged to have been killed by armed herders.

The deadly attack on Juwan in the Tangur District of Bokkos Local Government Area occurred on Thursday night, with 10 persons killed and some others sustaining serious injuries.

In Manja, Chafem Chiefdom of Mangu Local Government Area, three persons were reportedly killed on Thursday evening.

They were on the farm tilling the grounds and tending their farmland when the attackers caught them unaware and killed them. Others escaped with injuries after the intervention of security operatives following a distress call from those who escaped the onslaught.

Chairman of Bokkos Local Government Council, Amalau Samuel, confirmed the tragic incident, describing it as barbaric and inhuman.

“The attackers came late at night and started killing innocent people. They were going from house to house, and where they could not gain entrance, they broke through the ceiling,” the LG boss said.

“Those affected mostly are the aged and children who could not run, while those agile fled for safety.”

The terrorists in the other attack in Manja, Chafem Kingdom of Mangu, killed three persons on the farm with over twenty houses burnt before the intervention of security operatives.

A member representing Mangu South in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mathew Kwarpo, said the terrorists invaded the community and killed three persons before they were repelled by security men in conjunction with the youths.

According to the parliamentarian, the marauders later launched another attack that day, during which they burned down over twenty houses.

Kwarpo said that due to the attackers’ large number, the people of the community had to flee for safety, though no casualty was recorded.

“In the second attack, there was no casualty, but the people are already displaced.  So, we are appealing to both the state and Federal governments to come to our aid.

“The attacks in recent times on our communities are just too much. Anytime they issued notice of an attack, they would fulfill it.

“The security men are no doubt trying their best, but they are being overpowered. This is a calculated attempt to seize our land from us and to occupy our land illegally. So we are calling on President Tinubu to intervene,” he said.

Some communities in Bokkos, Bassa, and Mangu local government areas of Plateau State have been under increased attacks from suspected herdsmen in recent times.

This has resulted in the loss of lives and property.

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Tinubu Throws Shade at El-Rufai, Says Kaduna No Longer Toxic Under Uba Sani

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President Bola Tinubu has publicly criticised a former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, describing his administration as toxic.

Tinubu said this during the unveiling of the Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development in Rigachikun and a 300-bed hospital in Millennium City, on Thursday.

“Uba Sani has performed wonders and changed the environment from a previous toxic, uncontrollable environment to a state of life, progress, and development. I say thank you, my comrade,” Tinubu declared to applause.

It marks the first time the president has directly responded to the growing tension between him and El-Rufai, who recently dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) following months of political friction.

El-Rufai, once seen as a Tinubu ally, fell out with the president after the Senate refused to confirm his ministerial nomination.

In a series of public outbursts, El-Rufai accused Tinubu of betrayal, and even linked the president to several allegations.

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