Author: Optimal Times

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and founder of the Omituntun Benedict Foundation (OBF), Chief Benedict Akika popularly known as Akika has beem reportedly kidnapped. Akika who is known for his emancipation and support of the government of Governor Seyi Makinde was said to have been kidnapped at his resident at Idi Ape along Olorunda Abba, Lagelu local government area of Oyo state. According to unconfirmed report, one person was said to be killed by the assailant.

I make this contribution in view of the logjam between the Nigerian Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities. I have been privileged to serve in two Nigerian universities for an unbroken period of fifty years (1972- 2022), at Ibadan from July 1972 until retirement in 2010, and as a full-time Contract Professor from 2010 – 2022 at Umudike. In between, I spent sabbatical and research leaves at Maiduguri, Nsukka, Awka, and Umudike, as well as at Davis, California and Giessen, Germany. I went to Ibadan on a Federal scholarship in September 1964, became a university scholar in…

The Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC), the Ibadan Zonal Directorate, has secured the conviction and sentence of 39 Internet fraudsters from Justices O.S. Adeyemi, Bayo Taiwo and Ladiran Akintola, all of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan. They were prosecuted on a separate one-count charge each, bordering on impersonation, cheating, possession of fraudulent documents and obtaining by false pretence. The convicts are Fasanya Abdulqudus Gbolahan, Nkiri Oluchukwu Destiny, Fakoya Tobi Samuel, Owolabi Qudus Damilare, Isiaka Olajide Adebayo, Olawoyin Wasiu Olasunkanmi, Olawale Owolabi Abideen, Olayiwola Tunde Waheed, Kehinde Pelumi Abdulrauf, Okunlola Taoreed Abidoun, Okunlola Dolapo Mujeeb, Ademeso Raphael Olamide,…

 By Philip Osunsami The University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo City, Ondo State, will host her fifth inaugural lecture, on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 by 11.00 a.m. at TETFund Lecture Theatre, Laje campus of the institution. The inaugural lecture of the first specialised university would  be delivered by Prof.  Teslim Ayodele Onigbinde. It has the  title:  “Myriad of Pain and Disability: The Therapeutic Effects of the Fingers and the Needle-Free Injection”. Onigbinde is a specialist physiotherapist in Orthopedic Rehabilitation, and in the rare field of Rehabilitative Pharmaco-therapeutics.  He has specific interest in trans-dermal delivery of relevant drugs through the skin…

A non-governmental organisation dedicated to the realisation of a new Nigeria that is truly federal, The Rebirth Group (TRG), on Monday, lauded the Coalition of Indigenous Middle Belt Organisations (CIMBO), for its declaration of support for restructuring the country into regions for the purpose of ensuring “self-determination and promote national unity”. The commendation was contained in a press statement signed by Ambassador Yemi Farounbi, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Deacon Owolabi Oladejo, Convener of the Rebirth Group (TRG) and Col. C. B. D Waziri, the organization was reacting to the outcome of the two-day conference held in Kaduna on Friday,…

By Bukayo Agboluaje  Chinweizu Oham is a New York-based entertainer. Oham attended New York Film Academy in New York City, studying to get my BFA in Acting for Film. In this interview,  the America-based thespian said Nigeria’s content creation market is emerging and big. How did you get into the entertainment industry and can you give an insight into your background ?  I always knew a career in the entertainment industry was it for me. I was branded a “drama queen” from a young age, so it was only natural I would want to be an actor. My first taste of acting…

The Inspector  General of Police, Dr.  Olukayode  Egbetokun,  has said that it was an honour for him to be decorated as a UI@75 Ambassador Extraordinaire. Egbetokun   stated this at his investiture in Abuja . The ceremony was witnessed by the Force management team and other top ranking police officers. IGP said he has a lot of respect for the University of Ibadan,  it being the first university in the country. He assured that he would continue in those deeds for which the  University considered him worthy.The police chief  also promised that he would ensure that the Nigerian Police gives more…

Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has described the death of a former Secretary to the Oyo State Government and former National Chairman of the defunct Alliance for Democracy, Chief Michael Adeniyi Koleoso, as the end of an era. The governor said Oyo State and Nigeria have lost a great patriot and a political icon, who played outstanding roles in national development. Governor Makinde, in a statement on Tuesday, noted that Koleoso, who until his death was the Babalaje of Saki, was one of the last men standing from a generation of great men and women who gave their best to…

A former Secretary to the Government of Oyo State (SSG),  Chief Michael Koleosho is dead. Koleosho, popularly called Babalaje of Sakiland, died on Monday during a brief illness at a well advanced age of 86. Until his death, Chief Koleosho was an elder statesman from Oke-ogun geopolitical zone in Oyo state. Koleoso, who served as Secretary to the state Government under late Lam Adesina’s government, also served as the National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy  (AD). Born into the family of Emi-Abata of Saki on April 30, 1938, Koleoso had his primary education at Baptist Primary School, Ajegunle, Saki…

By Philips Osunsami All is set for the 2024 annual conference of Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo Town. The programme, which is billed to commence tomorrow, Monday, September 2, 2024,  will host participants for various tertiary institutions across the country. It will be declared open by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Olaniyan. According to a release signed by the university’s Media and Public Relations Officer, Wale Adeoye, the 2024 Alayande University annual conference with the theme, “Education, Employability and Sustainability: A Triple Helix For Development” will have the former Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Emeritus Professor Olufemi Bamiro as…