Author: Optimal Times

By Odunayo Agboluaje, Ibadan The former Military Administrator in Old Oyo State, General Oladayo Popoola {retd}; a former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, and  the Director-General of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, Mr. Seye Oyeleye, on Tuesday, urged Nigerian universities to provide effective research that will address the plethora of challenges plaguing the nation. They made the call at the University of Ibadan Research and Development Fair, UI-Town Connect 2023, as part of the activities commemorating the institution’s 75th anniversary. The event, which was organized by UI in conjunction…

By Bukayo Agboluaje, Ibadan A Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria {SAN},Adeniyi Olatunbosun,has called on the Federal Government to amend Student Loan {Access to Higher Education Act} 2023 to accommodate private universities in the country. Prof. Olatunbosun, who is the Vice Chancellor,  KolaDaisi University (KDU), Ibadan, argued that both private and public universities are producing graduates for the transformation of the country. The VC said it is imperative to consider the critical roles of private universities in the country, maintaining that education should be for all, saying products of these institutions together transform the society. Olatunbosun made…

EFCC arraigns 11 undergraduate ‘yahoo’ suspects The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, November   6, 2023 arraigned eleven students of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU,  before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State for their alleged involvement in internet fraud. The defendants were arraigned on different count charges,  ranging from one to six  charges as preferred  against them by the EFCC. They are:  Perekebena Olombeni Micah, Nnekwelugo Nnaemeka, Moyosore Favour Oluwasakin, Aghwaritoma Wisdom Obaro, Daniel Olashile Maiye, Gbolahan Khalid Adesina, Yinka Temitope Jayeola, Olumuyiwa Emmanuel Adeleye, Abiola Emmanuel Oluwadare, Busari…

The Oluodo of Odo-Ijesha, Oba Olufemi Olayinka,  on Monday,  rejoiced with a prominent elder of the town, Baba Dosu Akinbolagbe on the occasion of his birthday. In a congratulatory message signed on his behalf by Rotimi Agboluaje,  Oba Olayinka described Baba Akinbolagbe as a benevolent and kind elder whose love for humanity and Odo-Ijesha is legendary. The royal father prayed for a long life and sound health for Baba Akinbolagbe. The message reads: “It is delightful to celebrate a prominent elder of our town.  An elder whose forte is love for humanity; an elder whose impacts and footprints are in…

The palace of Oluodo of Odo-Ijesha in Atakunmosa East Local Government of Osun State, on Monday,  announced the final burial plan for Madam Elizabeth Olayinka, the mother of the Oluodo of Odo-Ijesha,  Oba Olufemi Olayinka The matriarch of the royal family died in Ilesa,Osun State,  on October 28,2023, at the ripe age  of 100. According to the  plans released by the royal family,  the ceremonies would hold between November 24 and 25, 2023, at Ilesa and Odo-Ijesha respectively. There will be a wake keep at her residence, GEF 27 Araromi Street, Irojo, Ilesa on November 24. Funeral service will be…

By Bukayo Agboluaje, Ibadan  The Career Fair 2023, organised by the University of Ibadan (UI), has confirmed the leadership of the premier university in the comity of other universities. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GIS Konsult Limited, David Tolu Afolayan, stated this while speaking with journalists at the venue of the fair, International Conference Centre, Ibadan. The premier university and First Bank of Nigeria Limited on Friday held the fair for graduates of the university as part of activities marking the 2023 convocation and 75th Foundation Day ceremonies of the premier university The career fair had the theme:…

By  Bukayo Agboluaje, Ibadan The Akire of Ikire-Ile, Osun State, Oba Abdulazeez Olatubosun, has returned to the teaching profession to address the shortage of teachers in schools in Osun State. Oba Olatubosun, who was a Mathematics lecturer at the Osun State College, Ila-Orangun, taught  the Senior School Two {SS2}and SS3 students of The Wings Schools, Iwo, Osun State, Mathematics, on Sunday. The royal father taught the students Solutions to Aptitude Test, the Real Number System and Quadratic Equations while the students requested the monarch to teach them topics like Surd,Sequences and Series, probability and others in subsequent classes. The monarch…

      …Payment takes effect  from Oct 2023     By Bukayo Agboluaje, Ibadan    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Monday, agreed to commence the payment of workers’ wage award of N25,000  and N15,000 each for both workers and pensioners in the state.   Makinde noted that the amount announced as wage award for both workers and pensioners would add additional N2.2 billion  on the state government’s wage bill for each month, amounting to N13.2 billion in six months.     The governor also assured workers and pensioners that they would start receiving payment alerts from…

APOLOGIES: Though the most trending issue at present is the yacht yaks, my offering today will not dwell on it. Nor will I want to talk about the army of deliberately befuddling narratives on the yacht from the Nigerian authority. Today’s is also not about the familial invasion of the hallowed chambers of state last week, nor the previous presidential speech from Iya L’oja, the First Daughter, with the Nigerian flag flying, warts and all. Nor is it even about the automobile palliatives for the First Family. Like the Georg Wilhelm Hegel dialectics, I believe all these are theses and…

…To begin PG programmes, Allied Medical Courses  By Bukayo Agboluaje, Ibadan   Precious Cornerstone University (PCU),Ibadan has kickstarted activities marking its second convocation ceremony. The week-long 2nd convocation ceremony with theme: “The Envisioned Royalties”. The Vice Chancellor of the faith-based university, Prof Julius Oloke while addressing a press conference, disclosed that about 100 graduating students who are worthy both in learning and character will be receiving awards of degrees and prizes. Out of the 100 graduating students,the university produced 10 First-class honour with Salami Mojoolaoluwa Oluwatimileyin of department of Economics emerged as the best graduating student for year 2023 with a…