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Gender Violence: EIGE Appoints UNIOSUN Professor As Expert

A Professor of Law of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Prof. Olaide Abass Gbadamosi has been appointed as an expert on gender violence of the European Institute of Gender Equality (EIGE).

The appointment which is in accordance with EIGE’s procedures and criteria for the establishment of the list of external experts is in keeping to the promise of making equality between women and men a reality for all Europeans and beyond.

EIGE which is an autonomous body of the European Union selected and approved the appointment of Professor Gbadamosi as an external expert on gender violence based on his expert profile and wealth of experience.

It also noted that Professor Gbadamosi will be using his wealth of experience in public law to assist EIGE in providing high-quality research and data to support better informed and evidence-based decision-making by policymakers and other key stakeholders working to achieve gender equality

Also, his appointment will assist in managing all knowledge produced by EIGE to enable timely and innovative communication that meets the targeted needs of key stakeholders; assist in meeting the highest administrative and financial standards while supporting the needs of EIGE's personnel.

The Osun State University Don is also expected to work with the rest of the external experts from different countries in the world to assist EIGE with specific activities in the execution of the Institute’s work programme and its key strategic objectives.

EIGE was established to contribute to strengthen the promotion of gender equality, including gender mainstreaming in all EU policies, resulting to national policies, and the fight against discrimination based on sex, as well as to raise EU citizens’ awareness of gender equality.

"I’ll name my prince Adesoji Aderemi”, Ooni Ogunwusi vows as family celebrates 49th Ooni

The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II has vowed to name his prince after the late Sir Adesoji Tadenikawo Aderemi, who was the 49th Ooni of Ife during his lifetime as a mark of appreciation to Aderemi for his good works.

Ooni Ogunwusi made the promise on Friday, while speaking at the 40 years remembrance programme organized by the late Aderemi’s princes, princesses and grandchildren to remember the Ooni who reigned between 1930 to 1980.

At the event which held at his Ile Oduduwa palace, Ooni Ogunwusi described his predecessor as a great icon who will forever be remembered for his immeasurable contributions to the independence, stabilization and growth of Nigeria.

“I wish to implore our politicians across the country to look deep into the life, time and accomplishments of Sir Aderemi and learn great lessons of servant leadership. He was selflessly committed to the development of the country.

“Among several tangible virtues to be emulated from the good life of Sir Aderemi is the good name he left behind which still speaks volume till date. Houses, cars and other material gains of life will surely fade away while one’s name remains in the book of history forever.

“Today, the ancient city of Ile-Ife and indeed the entire human race is proud to have had Sir Adesoji Aderemi whom we shall continue to celebrate. Plans are underway to immortalize him and I have discussed it with members of the family.” Ooni Adeyeye said.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Prince Owoade Aderemi thanked Ooni Ogunwusi for the warm reception and acknowledgement of their father’s giant strides during his lifetime.

“I am sure that our father would be so happy in the world beyond to realize how great and united his family is after four decades. As princes and princesses, we have done a lot to develop Ile-Ife and I wish to state that we shall continue to be active in the growth of our beloved city.” Prince Owoade noted.

In the same vein, Mr. Segun Omoworare who spoke on behalf of the late Aderemi’s grandchildren, described the late monarch as an epitome of both traditional and political leadership.

“While on the respected throne of Oduduwa, Baba served Nigeria in several political capacities including being among the first set of the country’s Ministers and Governor of the then Western region. He was among the nationalists who fought a great fight for the nation’s independence and we are so proud to be his descendants.” Omoworare stated.

In his speech on behalf of the Ife traditional council, the Obalufe of Ife, Oba Idowu Adediwura extolled the late Aderemi particularly for opening Ile-Ife and its environs to immeasurable economic and social benefits.

“Because of Ooni Aderemi, Ile-Ife is known and respected as the genuine source of human race. Baba lived a life of love which I want us all to emulate because we have not only come here to celebrate but also to learn lessons from a life well spent.

“Having said that, I am delighted to tell you that Ooni Ogunwusi is currently working round the clock to take the development of Ile-Ife to the next level with countless good projects and programmes. If you look around since he ascended the throne, you would agree with me, all we just have to do is to wish him a healthy long life for us to enjoy what he has in stock for Ife.” Obalufe explained.

Earlier, Ooni Ogunwusi led members of the Aderemi family to lay wreath on the tomb of his predecessor as a mark of respect after which he led top dignitaries to inspect the White House built by Sir Aderemi in 1937 which he (Ooni Ogunwusi) has remodified.

COVID-19: Osun SSG tests positive as State records 10 new cases – Commissioner for Health

…Says Community transmission likely in Ilesa axis

The Government of the State of Osun on Tuesday confirmed that its Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prince Wole Oyebamiji, has tested positive for Coronavirus.

The State’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, who made this known through a press statement in Osogbo on Tuesday, also confirmed the discovery of 10 additional cases in the State.

Dr Isamotu was however quick to add that one patient had equally been discharged after testing negative for the virus.

The Commissioner noted that one of the reasons for the sudden rise in the Covid-19 cases in State was largely due to the nonchalant attitude of citizens and residents of the State to laid-down precautionary measures against the spread of the virus.

Isamotu also hinted that there are strong reasons to believe the State now has community transmission around Ilesa axis of the State, warning that unless citizens and residents change their ways, government might be forced to impose another lockdown on the State.

While noting that the 11 new cases were from the contact tracing of previous cases in the State, the Health Commissioner also revealed that with the latest development, the number of confirmed cases in the State has risen to 127 with 74 active cases.

“If you observe, our cases have been on the rise consistently in the last two weeks or so. The reason is simple. Our people are beginning to be too casual about the spread of the virus. The lack of strict adherence to safety protocols and guidelines is one of the main reasons for the rise. As a matter of fact, we are beginning to suspect that we have community transmission around Ilesa axis.

“Government is reviewing the cases. Soon, we shall announce other stricter measures to contain the spread of the virus in that axis.

“Today, we intensified our enforcement drive. All those arrested were made to go through a compulsory course on Covid-19 preventive protocols. We will go a step further by setting up a mobile court to try and sentence violators of safety protocols and guidelines. We must collectively join hands with the government to contain the spread of the virus.

“Also, I want to confirm to you that our SSG and some of the staff around him have tested positive to the virus. But they are all in stable condition and are receiving adequate medical care.

“With the latest development, the number of our active cases as at today, Tuesday, June 30, is 74. We have 127 confirmed cases, out of which the State has successfully treated and discharged 48 patients while five deaths have been recorded,” Dr. Isamotu added.

We Will Still Complete The 2019/2020 Academic Session In Osun – SA Education

… change of school policy till next academic session

The Osun State Government may decide that the third term of the 2019/2020 academic session will be abridged in which classroom interventions will be carried out so as to complement the virtual classes that has been run in the past 12 weeks that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced school closure in the state.

This formed part of the views of Mr. Jamiu Babatunde Olawumi, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education during an interview programme Tuesday morning in Osogbo.

The Special Adviser who noted that the 2019/2020 academic session was still on stated that since examination was very important, the students will be required to write them before proceeding for the third term.

In his word, “The schools were already 3 weeks to the end of the second term before they were forced to close down due to COVID-19.

“We will not jump the session so that the mileage will not be jeopardised due to the pandemic.

“Calling the finalists back to school is also a way of test running the system because they are of manageable size before the doors will be opened for all students to come back to school.”

He maintained that despite the fact that most schools have been teaching their students and pupils virtually in the last 12 weeks there was need for direct intervention by way of learning within the four walls of the classroom adding that it was necessary before proceeding for the next session.

Olawumi added that an emergency meeting of the stakeholders which will involve private school owners, the Osun State Ministries of Health and Education will be convened before the end of the week to work out modalities in ensuring that when schools reopened in the state the fears of COVID-19 will be allayed.

The Special Adviser who assured that government will play its part in observing and enforcing the COVID-19 protocols by using the existing structures that was put in place from the 2014 Ebola disease outbreak also revealed that face masks will be made compulsory for both public and private schools before they are reopened.

While reacting to the planned change in the education policy of the past administration, Mr. Olawumi revealed that the State was still within the old order.

“We are still in the old order of schools policies. All efforts are on to change the policy and activate it during the next academic session.

“The state executive council will come out with a white paper before then on the policy implementation strategy and when actually we will activate the review.

“There is nothing like jumping into it, the new order will start in the next academic session”, he concluded.

Match Gone Wrong As Footballer Dies From Voodoo Ring In Osun

A football player named Shuaib Isola has died after he was allegedly killed over an argument which ensued during a football match by a voodoo ring by his friend in Iwo town.

It was gathered that immediately the deceased came in contact with the voodoo ring with which he was hit by his friend Lateef Ahmed during the dispute at St. Mary’s Grammar School football pitch, he collapsed.

When he was rushed to the General Hospital in Iwo, Shuaib was confirmed dead after all attempts to revive him proved abortive.

Also, his parents insisted on immediately burying him and declined any suggestion for autopsy to be carried out on the body.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Yemisi Opalola lamented that the parents of the deceased did not allow an autopsy to be carried out on the body before it was evacuated to the family house.

She added that the command would investigate the matter and bring the suspect to justice.

Covid-19: Redeemer’s University Not At Risk - Management

The management of Redeemer’s University has frowned at reports of an outbreak of Covid-19 on its campus as reported by some media houses.

It revealed that the reports have the potential of undermining its efforts at safeguarding the health of the nation through free medical services being provided by the Redeemer’s University African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases.

According to a press release by the University Corporate Affairs Head, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, “the university as part of its routine check discovered through its clinical testing that one of its clients living outside the campus has been exposed to COVID -19 and immediately activated all the mechanisms put in place to safeguard its spread and subjected all those people who might have had any contact with him directly or indirectly to necessary testing in order to ensure the safety of our environment.

“He said that the university as a front-liner in the fight against COVID -19 had put in place all the safety measures at various locations on campus as highlighted in the COVID -19 protocol by National Centre for Diseases Control, NCDC and Presidential Task Force, PTF which makes our premises safe and secure for medical services we are rendering not only to Nigerian government but to our international health agencies in the fight against COVID -19 pandemic.

“Our team of scientists at the Redeemer’s University African Centre of Excellence of Genomics of Infectious Diseases which is headed by Professor Christian Happi, a professor of Molecular Biology and Genomics of Infectious Diseases are working with all our stakeholders to ensure that there is no breach of protocol in the detection, containment and elimination of COVID -19 pandemic.

“The management wishes to inform the general public that there is no cause for alarm as being speculated in some quarters of the safety of our environment”.

Pandemonium As Man Snatches Away Corpse At Osun Hospital

The serene environment of Ede Muslim Hospital, Ede, Osun State was shattered on Friday night 26th of June, 2020, when a man identified as Ayo Olawuyi forcefully carried away the corpse of his brother Mutiu Olawuyi without clearance from the hospital.

The reason for his actions the hospital management revealed was because they followed protocol and demanded that the corpse be taken to Osogbo or the Redeemers University African Centre for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Ede for testing to determine if the cause of death was due to COVID-19 or not.

An eyewitness disclosed that the deceased was rushed to the emergency unit of the hospital around 9:19 PM on Friday night but efforts made by the doctors and nurses could not resuscitate the deceased as he succumbed to death within 10 minutes of admission despite being placed on Oxygen.

After his death the witness further disclosed, his brother Ayo supported by a friend identified as Kamoru unleashed mayhem and terrorised both staff and patients on admission.

As the mayhem was being perpetrated, the management of Ede Muslim Hospital had contacted the police B Division, Ede which dispatched officers to the hospital.

On arrival, they could not effect any arrest but instead pleaded with both Ayo and his friend to discontinue with their action of terrorising the staff of the hospital and patients on admission.

Dr. Moshood Akanbi, the Medical Director of the hospital stated that they had insisted the corpse of Mutiu Olawuyi be taken to Osogbo or the Redeemers University African Centre for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Ede for COVID-19 test to be carried out on it.

In his words, “The brother became more aggressive when the hospital insisted that the corpse must be taken to Oshogbo or Redeemers University for medical examination, to know if it was a case of COVID-19 or not.

“He forcefully took the body out in the presence of the Divisional Police Officer and the Chairman of Ede South Local Government Council.

“They could not do anything but to plead with him to stop his action. Added to the story, is the fact that the assailant is still walking freely in the Ede, claiming that no police man can arrest him after nearly killing the Medical Director and disturbing the serene atmosphere and peace in hospital.

“The peace of the hospital was disturbed and patients were all running for their dear lives”, he added.

Efforts to get across the police to comment on the incident were not successful as at the time of going to press.

COVID-19 Update: Govt cautions against false information as Osun records 10 new cases

The Government of Osun State on Sunday cautioned residents and citizens against spreading false information pertaining to COVID-19 noting that contrary to the rumour making the rounds, there were no fresh cases of infections in any of the hospitals in the state.

This is even as the government confirmed 10 new COVID-19 cases in the State.

The new cases are from contact tracing of previous cases in Osogbo and Ilesa.

The state's Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, made these known through a press statement in Osogbo on Sunday.

He revealed that with the latest development, the number of confirmed cases in the state has risen to 116, while the State now has 64 active cases.

On the rumour, the Commissioner said: "When our Health workers contracted the virus, we reported it. We treated them and they are now back to their beats. To the best of my knowledge, we do not have any fresh case or cases in any of our hospitals.

“All confirmed cases are being treated in the state isolation centres. The only case we had in one of our hospitals was that of a patient who later died even before his result came out.

"Immediately after the incident, we decontaminated the hospital and the hospital management continued with their operations thereafter. So, I don't know where the false information about two new cases emanated from. But wherever it came from, I say emphatically that it is false.

"We must collectively join hands with the government to contain the spread of the virus. Spreading false information will not aid our fight against the spread of the virus.

"With the latest development, the number of our active cases as at today, Sunday , June 28, is 64. We have 116 confirmed cases, out of which the State has successfully treated and discharged 47 patients while five deaths have been recorded," Dr. Isamotu added.

COVID-19: Nigeria’s Test

Back in the days, when I was a student of Mass Communication, one of my lecturers favorite line was, “I will cripple you o”.

Now, Malam Sani Bello didn’t mean it as an insult or a threat but a means to create fun and make us see that we needed to work hard in order for us to pass his examination.

So also, has COVID-19 come to Nigeria to test our system or to cripple it if needs be?

World over, the cry from the epicenter of COVID-19 in Wuhan in China to Oshogbo in Nigeria is Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it has infected more than a million people and claimed more lives that are in the six digit form and still counting. How it has disrupted economies and social lives of the inhabitants of planet Earth.

The case is not different in Nigeria, where the rate of infection of COVID-19 is steadily progressing even as the rate of patients recovering and fatalities too is increasing.

In the graphical representation, one can deduce that the three variables are increasing though at different rates.

Rate of infection is increasing geometrically compared to that of patients being discharged and fatalities recorded.

Some may think, this is good news. Well that is topic for another feature as I am not statistically inclined to analyze such.

Before COVID-19 came calling through the index case, those concerned and different stakeholders have been crying perpetually as regards the nation’s health care sector and how abandonment is slowly chewing at an institution which in time past was a yard stick in measuring healthcare internationally.

At the slightest headache, the country’s elite and political class would board private jets or pay at government’s expense to get the best medical treatments at the best medical facilities abroad, even though some end up being brought back in caskets while the masses are left at the mercy of what President Muhammadu Buhari while a Major General in the Nigerian Army once referred to as “mere consulting clinics”.

A reason why he and his beret wearing general colleagues sacked the democratically elected administration of Shehu Shagari on the 31st of December, 1983.

COVID-19 landed in Nigeria howbeit, after several warnings by concerned Nigerians for the Federal Government to shut down the country’s borders fell on deaf ears trapping the rich and poor, the governed and the government, the political class, the elite and the ordinary Nigerians in its viral grip.

Countries where our nation’s top guns usually visit are the worst hit and we were all forced to lockdown and observe safety protocols in order for us not be infected by the monster called COVID-19.

Did COVID-19 come to cripple our health sector the more or to provide a solution for a revamp? We never can say until the battle to defeat this virus from Nigeria is won.

Until then, will we know if truly we have learnt a lesson or two from this episode or if its going to be business as usual.

When the wife of Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister and Mr. Boris Johnson, the United Kingdom Prime Minister announced that they tested positive to COVID-19, there was strong out pouring of emotions and the whole world prayed for the both.

Daily, international media inundated and updated us with news of their progress but the case was quite different at home. From the time Malam Abba Kyari, the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari tested positive to the time he passed on, I saw Nigerians reacting with vengeance.

The outpouring of venom and hate was just too much. Compared to those who wished him recovery, those who wished him otherwise were tipping the scale.

On many occasions, bewilderment popped up on why the followership so detest the followed in this land flowing with milk and honey. The scenario followed when the Kaduna State governor and his Bauchi counterpart and other top government functionaries all tested positive to COVID-19.

The only governor who to my reckoning escaped such backlash was Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who is well loved by all even across the board within his enclave.

Everything about Abba Kyari’s journey to the land of no return was shrouded in secrecy. I guess probably because we are still a society steeped in superstitions. Probably it was believed that revealing such would work against him. Therefore, there was a veil put about his health status.

For the first time, the media machinery of the Presidency went blank and many were left guessing as to the fate of the ‘all powerful’ Chief Of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari. Surprisingly, many Nigerians did not wish him well. Except for a few Nigerians who came out to describe the late Kyari as a very benevolent man who was a check even on his principal.

Many Nigerians didn’t wish the well to do, elites and the political class well because they still believed that they are the ones responsible for the problems confronting Nigeria 59 years after political independence.

Ordinarily, one would have thought that the fatalities and rate of positive cases would have been in the five figure sum since COVID-19 made landfall in Nigeria but surprisingly , it’s not the case though we cannot deny the fact that the rate of testing being carried out is abysmal compared to what is supposed to be.

Now that COVID-19 testing has assumed a different level, the above theory has been defeated as the recent tests shows that cases has risen to 23,298, with 8,253 treated and discharged while 554 died.

In the era, when some states decided to take the bull by the horn, shut down their land boundaries and declared lockdown, some states especially in the North denied the existence of COVID-19 and continued to live in denial until reality dawned on them.

The United States of America, United Kingdom, Italy and Spain should serve as good case studies of how ignorance and arrogance are a bad mixture for a cocktail. They don’t even have space to bury their dead again.

COVID-19 has been described in many quarters as a leveler. In its path both the rich and poor share the same fate. In the isolation wards and quarantine centres, there is no room for the rich or poor. They still receive the same treatment but one cannot say same on how the government is treating this pandemic.

They have tried much to rise up to the occasion but the Federal Government should know that at the end of the whole matter, the victory rests squarely on the dedication of the health workers some of whom have and will pay the supreme sacrifice, state governors and the resolute and determined stand of the average Nigerian to bear whatever is thrown at them just for this victory to be achieved.

Time and time again, it has been proven that Nigerians are resilient and very elastic. They have been indoors for more than 90 days. Though the lockdown has been lifted, many have died as a result of hunger and brutality from law enforcement agencies deployed to enforce the lockdown order and in some cases, many loosing their means of livelihood but still they carry on with life as if nothing is happening.

From the beginning of the last lockdown, to minimise transmission of COVID-19, there were many faults on the part of government. Virtually every promise it made and every directive it gave have been broken. Who is the culprit? Government!

Our government talked of palliative. Which palliative? They talked of food distribution to the poor. Where was the food? What were the criteria for the distribution? Who are the poor in Nigeria and where are the statistics to prove this?

Rather, the Headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Finance went up in flames, same with the corporate headquarters of the Corporate Affairs Commission. The Central Bank of Nigeria building in Jos, Plateau state too did not escape being gutted by fire. What really happened? Only time will tell!

News also had it that Governor Ikpeazu of Abia State tested positive to COVID-19 though he denied it. Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello says there is no COVID-19 in his state, yet the index case was confirmed dead by verified news sources.

Despite the series of lock down measures put in place in Osun, the virus is being imported and the cases are steadily rising though still controlled until recently when the state government threatened that it may be forced to impose another lockdown because within one week 45 new cases were discovered. What an alarm!

Churches, mosques, businesses, markets and even banks have opened but when will our schools open? The academic calendar as it is has been disrupted. Much concern on the part of academics, parents and students affected is what will happen to students that have entrance and certificate examination to seat for?

To make matters worse, the National Association of Resident Doctors gave the Federal Government a 14 day ultimatum after which an industrial action would be embarked on. The matter has been settled but not without threats being issued by some state governments.

Recently, 19 legislators in the Imo State House of Assembly tested positive to COVID-19 and the family of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has gone into isolation because his daughter tested positive to the virus.

Celebrities too are not spared from the agony of having to declare that they have tested positive to the virus. Chioma Davido tested positive to it. Peter of the famed P-Square too has come out to say he is positive. Chief Raymond Dokpesi of Daar communications and his family all went into quarantine due to covid-19 and many others.

The biggest news in the month of June is the death of the former governor of Oyo State, Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi who also died from COVID-19. The show surrounding his demise is also worthy of mention because after the sack of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as the All progressives Congress (APC) Chairman by the Appellate court, the late former governor by the party's constitution was appointed as acting chairman.

He could not take up the mantle because he was incapacitated. It was around this time that his death was rumoured. Some sources even said he had died before it was officially made public but the truth was kept sealed because of the political implication it will have for his party the APC.

In conclusion, some states including Lagos have declared that another lockdown maybe inevitable due to the spike in COVID-19 infections. Citizens have started to react against it citing that the measure is fast going out of fashion.

They advised government to rather strengthen the closure of land borders and encourage more of precautionary steps and obeying safety protocols by the people.

Francis Ezediuno is a Nigerian journalist writing from Osun.