News
Fed. Lawmaker, Akande-Sadipe empowers Constituents with grants, business start-up funds
The lawmaker representing Oluyole Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, has empowered her constituents with cash-grants.
The Lawmaker distributed the grants and financial support to members of her constituency at Podo, Oluyole Local Government, Ibadan on Saturday, October, 22, 2022.
The Oluyole Lawmaker also witnessed the graduation ceremony of beneficiaries of three other entrepreneurship programs which commenced earlier in the week.
Akande-Sadipe earlier in the week, partnered with National Directorate of Employment (NDE) on entrepreneurship skills training programmes for women and youths in three different Agricultural entrepreneurship areas.
She said the skills acquired include Post Harvest Losses/Reductions of Staple Crops; Development of Seedlings for Ginger/Tumeric, Potatoes/Sweet Potatoes and Cocoyam/Yam, and Fingerlings Production and Hatchery Management.
The legislator, during the distribution of financial support to the trainees, said beneficiaries cut across all communities and ethnic groups living in Oluyole LGA.
She said: “We empowered a set of beneficiaries and concluded the training and empowerment of some other people in my constituency today. The empowerment programme commenced earlier this week, I pray the participants will benefit and improve their socio economic circumstances with this opportunity.”
“This is not our first empowerment programme in Oluyole. We have empowered so many people, through assistance from different agencies of Government”, she said.
“After the completion of the three programmes we empowered the participants with business startup and expansion funds to start or expand their businesses in the competency areas”, she said.
The Zonal Director, South-west office of Nigeria Directorate of Employment, Mr. Ayodele Lasisi commended Rep. Tolu Akande-Sadipe for her unrelenting assistance to her constituency.
The Zonal Director, who monitored the exercise, described it as the best way to reduce unemployment and be self-reliant.
“We must commend Rep. Tolu Akande-Sadipe for partnering with the NDE. Her zeal, including her checks and balances to ensure that the grants get directly to the actual beneficiaries is also commendable”, he said.
He therefore called on other lawmakers to emulate the Federal Lawmaker, Akande-Sadipe.
Also speaking, a former Caretaker Chairman, Oluyole Local Government, Hon. James Adeleke, said Akande-Sadipe has touched every community in Oluyole with her good representation.
He applauded her for practicing politics of development in Oluyole, with her numerous empowerment and infrastructure contributions.
A Community leader, Mr. Dauda Adebisi who enumerated the Oluyole Federal Representative’s achievements, said that he knows at least 6,150 beneficiaries who have benefitted from her empowerment programmes.
He added that the lawmaker has built 13 schools, including an ongoing construction of a primary school in Ajogbelede.
Appreciating Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, Mr. Dauda hinted that within 30 months, the Lawmaker has also facilitated installation of 23 transformers.
He appealed to residents of Oluyole to vote for the Representative in 2023, adding that she has also provided over 21 boreholes in Oluyole.
One of the beneficiaries, Mercy Uzor, a non-indigene, who resides in Oluyole, commended Akande-Sadipe for her magnanimity in affecting the lives of all residents of the constituency.
“I did not expect that I would benefit from this empowerment programme, considering my South Eastern Nigeria indigenship, but today, this woman has breathed a new life in me. Thank you, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe for remembering me”, she said.
Other beneficiaries appreciated Rep. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, admitting her impactful representation in Oluyole Federal Constituency.
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it has been vindicated by recent revelations from the state’s former Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke.
The Rivers APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, stated this in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists on Wednesday.
The former Head of Service, who recently resigned had alleged that the suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was directly responsible for the political crisis in the state and the bombing of the State House of Assembly.
In response, the Rivers State APC asserted that Nwaeke’s testimony aligns with the party’s long-held position, as frequently stated by Chief Okocha, that the suspended governor was the architect of the state’s political crisis, including masterminding the October 29, 2023, bombing of the State House of Assembly.
Chief Okocha further emphasized that Nwaeke’s account, given his high-ranking position in the state, cannot be dismissed as mere speculation.
He said attempts to discredit the former Head of Service will not deter him from exposing the alleged corruption and misconduct that the APC has repeatedly highlighted.
“What is most interesting to the APC in Rivers State as a responsible political party is that Dr. George Nwaeke’s revelations and testimonies of how suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his squad bombed the Rivers State House of Assembly is an eye witness account.
“Again , it has clearly vindicated the APC in Rivers State as the only visible and viable opposition political party in the State, and has cemented the love for the party in the heart of well meaning Rivers people as the voice of the voiceless, and the hope for a better Rivers State.
“The revelations made by the former Head of Service in Rivers State has further positioned her as a political party with high level of integrity, and the hope of Rivers people for a viable alternative to produce the Governor of Rivers State in 2027.
“The verbal attacks staged against the resigned Head of Service will not deter him from exposing the corruption within Sim Fubara’s administration, which we have consistently highlighted as the opposition party. On this matter, the APC shall function as watchdogs”, the party stated.
Chief Tony Okocha expressed confidence that security agencies would thoroughly investigate the matter.
“The APC in Rivers State strongly believes that the relevant security agencies will be professional enough to get to the root of the matter and make their findings public”, he said.
A coalition of civil rights organizations, the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness (CCLCA), has called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the allegations leveled against suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, by Dr. George Nwaeke, the former Head of Service of the state.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Dr. Gabriel Nwambu, Director General of the CCLCA, urged the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Department of State Services (DSS), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take swift action in probing the allegations. He emphasized that if proven true, these claims pose serious risks to governance and democracy.
The coalition, comprising 30 civil society organizations, stands in solidarity with Dr. Nwaeke, who has expressed willingness to provide evidence of alleged corruption and constitutional breaches involving Governor Fubara and his Chief of Staff, Mr. Edison.
“We collectively urge the relevant authorities to act swiftly and transparently. Addressing these allegations is critical to restoring public confidence in governance at both the state and national levels,” Dr. Nwambu stated.
He commended President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for his intervention in Rivers State, which led to the declaration of a state of emergency, a move he described as crucial for stabilizing the region.
Dr. Nwaeke’s accusations against Governor Fubara include:
Arson and Sabotage: Allegedly instructing his Chief of Staff to burn down the Rivers State House of Assembly to prevent impeachment proceedings, a violation of Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution.
Corruption and Financial Misconduct: Claims of large sums of money being used for personal and illegal activities, contravening Section 15(5) of the Constitution.
Threats to Public Safety: Alleged plans to sabotage state infrastructure, potentially inciting public disorder, which falls under Section 1 of the Terrorism Prevention Act (2011).
Collusion with Militant Groups: Alleged meetings between the governor, his Chief of Staff, and militant leaders, posing a threat to national security and violating Section 43 of the Constitution.
Suppression of Labour Rights: Alleged attempts to bribe labour leaders to silence dissent, contravening Section 40 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of assembly.
The coalition has urged law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough, transparent, and expedited investigation into these allegations.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has appointed Sam Ifeanyi Hart, Esq. as his new Chief of Staff (CoS).
Hart replaces Hon. Toby Okechukwu who was recently appointed Executive Director, Projects of the newly established South East Development Commission (SEDC).
Prior to his appointment, Hart served as Special Adviser to the Deputy Speaker on Public Affairs and has an extensive background in training and consultancy.
Hart also previously served as Director-General, Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency from 2019 to 2023 after occupying other appointive positions.
He was also a member of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru where he attended the Senior Executive Course 45, serving as Course Secretary-General.
He has also served on the Boards of several corporate and non-governmental entities.
Hart brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new role, with a distinguished career spanning law, leadership, and public service.
A lifelong learner, he holds multiple academic qualifications, including a Master’s Degree in Environmental Law (LLM) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) from Abia State University.
The new Chief of Staff is also currently pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Law.
A seasoned professional, Hart has attended prestigious institutions, including the GOTNI Leadership Centre, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), and the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG).
He is also a member of several professional bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria (M.IoD), Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (ACIArb), and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
As Chief of Staff, Hart will provide strategic guidance and support to the Deputy Speaker legislative activities, leveraging his expertise to drive policy initiatives and promote good governance.
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