Author: Optimal Times

The Senator representing Oyo South in the National Assembly,  Sharafadeen Alli, on Monday, extended heartfelt felicitation to children across the nation in celebration of Children’s day, urging them to uphold virtues of good behaviour and discipline. This is contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Akeem Abas, and made available to journalists in Ibadan. Alli expressed his best wishes to them,  emphasising the importance of childhood and the role of children in the future of the nation. “Let’s embrace their dreams; so pure and bold, with love and kindness, let their dreams unfold. Nurture their talents…

The National Publicity Secretary of the organization,  Jare Ajayi, on Sunday, said  the frontline leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organization, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, is not dead contrary to the rumour making the rounds. Ajayi, in a statement issued at Ibadan, Oyo State capital, said the clarification became necessary following the round doing round that Adebanjo was dead. It would be recalled that late on Saturday evening, an unfounded rumour surfaced on the social media announcing the purported passing away of one of the most committed Awoists and a veritable  patriot, Chief Ayo Adebanjo. By Sunday morning, the…

I join many others to mourn the glorious exit of Professor emeritus Ladipo Ayodeji Banjo,  the longest serving Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (1984 to 1991). Although there were provisions in the relevant legislation, no other Vice Chancellor ever had the rare opportunity of serving a second term before the latest University Miscellaneous Act made the tenure just a single five-year term and no more. My first encounter with Professor Ayo Banjo in my student days was in 1985. Before then, his family history had been relayed to me by my mother who knew his other senior brother,…

The duo of Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano State, and the Nigerian presidency stand the risk of plunging Kano back into the year 1893. Their weapon would be politics and votes of the over 2 million people of Kano. In the year 1893, in the words of highly rated scholar on Northern emirate administration, C. N. Ubah, a bitterly disputed succession battle plunged the Kano emirate into anarchy and civil war. Indeed, the Kano royal family had overtime been a hotbed of divisions and acrimony. Beginning from the first civil war fought in Kano in 1565, the royal house of…

Ajayi Crowther varsity expels students involved in fight that led to death Ajayi Crowther University management, Oyo Town, has expelled some students of the institution who were involved in a fight that led to the death of a fellow student. Contrary to what is trending, the University affirms that there is no cultism in the institution, just as the University has zero tolerance for any sort of anti societal vices and misconduct. It is important to stress that the expelled students do not belong to any cult group. What actually happened is that the deceased was alleged to have stolen…

A former Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan,  Prof. Ayo Banjo, is dead. Banjo, who just marked 90th year, was the sixth VC of the premier university,  having served from 1984 to 1991. As gathered,  the Emeritus Professor died on Friday. Meanwhile,  a former VC of the University,  Prof Idowu Olayinka, has mourned the passage of his former boss. In a statement made available  in Ibadan, Olayinka, who is the 12th VC of the university, said: “Adieu Professor Ayo Banjo, 1934 to 2024. “I  have just learned of the transition of Professor Emeritus Ladipo Ayo Banjo, the longest serving Vice-Chancellor of the University…

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) has urged  Nigerian workers to brace up for  the threats of Artificial Intelligence [AI], robotics, and automation. CIPM  therefore warned the workers to retool themselves in order not to be shoved aside due to the changing nature and the future of work. The Oyo State Chairman of CIPM, Mrs Omolara Onipede, made the call while speaking, over the weekend, at the inaugural seminar organized by the Employment relation and Human Resources Management Students Association, department of sociology, University of Ibadan on the title “The Challenges of Employment Relations in a rapidly Changing World of…

The Director-General of Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research NISER, Prof. Anthonia Taiye Simbine has assured the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of her unwavering support in the fight against economic and financial crimes. Simbine gave the assurance on Tuesday,  when she paid a courtesy visit to the Ibadan Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of EFCC,  ACE I Hauwa Garba Ringim. While congratulating Ringim on her recent appointment as the new head of Ibadan office of the EFCC, the DG stated that, “NISER has been supportive of the EFCC’s mandate and I can assure the…

By Wuraola Oyedokun President Joe Biden of the United States of America {USA} is set to confer  the country’s Lifetime Achievement Award on Amb. Dr Jonathan Ojadah. Dr. Ojadah is the Global President of the United Nations International  Peace and Governance Council {UNIPGC} and International Royal Diplomatic Club of the United Nations, Vilnius, Lithuania (IRDCUN) – European Union Permanent Representative to the United Nations. The message for the conferment of the award was conveyed to the diplomat in a letter personally signed by President Biden. The American President said Amb. Ojadah’s contributions to American society were legendary. Biden pointed out that by…

Microfinance Banks play a critical role in providing financial services to individuals and small-scale business. They provide these services to those who are often not serviced rapidly and adequately by traditional banking systems. Some of them are underserved business owners and traders ignored by the traditional banking systems. Traditional banking systems sometimes ignore or do not allow loan facilitations. Microfinance Banks are the only effective plug in addressing such issues. A popular saying goes: “Everything rises and falls on leadership”. At the heart of these institutions, there is a need for effective leadership so that innovating sustainable growth through cultural drive will…