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First Nigerian female professor of psychiatry and Provost in UI honored for landmark achievements

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In a grand celebration, Professor Olayinka Omigbodun, the first Nigerian female professor of psychiatry and first female Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (CoMUI), was honored for her remarkable achievements.

The event, held at the Olubadan Hall of Academy Suites and Resources Hotel, Ibadan, brought together medical luminaries, alumni, and dignitaries to pay tribute to Omigbodun’s pioneering contributions.

The get-together was organised by Abib Olamitoye Foundation founded by a former President of the Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association (ICOMAA) World, Dr. Abib Olamitoye, who is also the founder, Ibadan Central Hospital (ICH) and proprietor of Academy Suites and Resources Hotels in Ibadan and Abeokuta in Ogun State.

Eminent personalities in attendance on the occasion included husband of the honouree, Prof Akinyinka Omigbodun, who had also served as a Provost of the College; new Provost of the College, Prof Temidayo Ogundiran, and his wife, Prof (Mrs) Mary Ogundiran; Dr. Abib Olamitoye, and his wife, Olubunmi; and the current President of ICOMAA, Prof Emmanuel Otolorin.

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The honouree, Omigbodun, told newsmen on the sidelines of the programme: “I feel very relieved. It was a very tough four years as the Provost of College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. I started on the 1st August 2020 in the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were all wearing face masks. Not only that; it was a time when there was a problem in the system, which was strike.

“In fact, there was a time that for 18 months, the university was on strike. Then in-between the18 months, for eight months, no salary. I did not receive salary for eight months. So, trying to navigate an administration in the heart of a pandemic and strike and strife, was extremely tasking.

“But I must say that I had an excellent team of people, particularly I must commend the Deputy Provost, Prof Fatai Adeniyi, a professor of physiotherapy. He is one you’ll call an implementer. I had a lot of ideas running from my mind and he was working with me solidly to implement them. I think that helped us.

“Another aspect that I must say was very helpful was the fact that we have an excellent group, the Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association. In fact, Dr. Abib Olamitoye is a past president ICOMAA. Prof Dipo Emmanuel Otolorin is the current President of ICOMAA.

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“Our members are all over the world. We had 100 per cent support from our alumni. We have chapters in North America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, and of course, in Nigeria.

“I think that the way to go when you have a problem of funding in any institution is to get the alumni on board…

“I feel relieved because I think we tried our best. We have a lot of landmark achievements that God gave us. Of course, I have handed over the baton to somebody else. As a Provost of the College, I feel very fulfilled that I dd my best. I treated the college passionately, with perseverance.

Olamitoye, in his address noted that the “University of Ibadan, the University College Hospital Ibadan, and the College of Medicine of UI. These three organisations are my origin. They represent my alma mater.

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“I did my first degree in Medicine and my second degree in Business Administration from University of Ibadan. I have been the past President of Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association (ICOMAA) Worldwide. Our love, our vision, our hope, and our prayer stand as harmony for the various institutions.

“We also used the get-together to celebrate those who are upgrading our University, our college and our hospital. So, we have the Provost that is outgoing. She has done a lot for the College., and invariably for the university.

“So, we want to use this occasion to really let her know that we love her. We appreciate her, and we treasure the achievements she has been able to make during her tenure.

“This gathering is to celebrate the progress that was made in the last four years by the Management Team of the College of Medicine of the University of Ibadan, which team was headed by my good friend and former classmate in the famous Class of “85, Professor Olayinka Omigbodun.

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“Aside from being good friends, I have had the privilege of also working with her in two different capacities, first as members of the local organising committee for the 30th anniversary of our class graduation from the College of Medicine in 2015.

“I was the chairman of that committee while she was the Secretary. Like I have testified over and over, Prof. Omigbodun was the most pleasant and organised person I had ever worked with.”

The President of ICOMAA worldwide, Prof Emmanuel Otolorin, described the get-together as “a joyous occasion. It’s always a pleasure to be recognised for service, and I think that it’s been a good thing by the Olamitoyes to get us all together to look back and recognise the service of the first female Provost of the College of Medicine.

“She’s done very well, and she needs to be applauded so as to encourage other people.coming to the office, particularly women. It is always said that what a man can do, a woman can do better. She came into the office with her own style and with a passion, and with a lot of skills to which we are all grateful.

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“She has left the Provost Office of the College of Medicine better than she met it. The foundation she has laid would be worked upon by those who are succeeding her, so that at the end of the day, all of the legacy projects that she started will be actualised.”

The new Provost of the College, Prof Temidayo Ogundiran, Prof Temidayo Ogundiran, congratulated Prof Omigbodun for the great legacies she left behind. He assured stakeholders that the college would continue to wax stronger during his tenure of office.

He stated that he came with ‘S7 Programme’ to build on the achievements of the past administrations in the college saying: “Well, each administration has its own agenda and programmes. So, I have my own programmes for the College of Medicine, which, during the political campaign, was tagged ‘S7′. It includes paying attention to students’ affairs, staff development and welfare structural development, strategic partnership, service, oriented programmes, and sustainability.

“All these points are encapsulated in what is referred to as ‘S7 Projects ” Looking at the S7 Projects, it encompasses everything that affects the in-and-out of the life of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.”

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Dr. Abib Olamitoye, organizer of the event and former President of ICOMAA, praised Omigbodun’s dedication and achievements, saying, “We want to let her know that we love her, appreciate her, and treasure the progress she made during her tenure.”

The President of ICOMAA, Prof Emmanuel Otolorin, described the occasion as “a joyous celebration of service” and commended Omigbodun for leaving the Provost Office better than she met it.

The new Provost, Prof Temidayo Ogundiran, congratulated Omigbodun and assured stakeholders that the college would continue to build on her legacy.

This story highlights Omigbodun’s trailblazing achievements and dedication to medical education, inspiring future generations of medical professionals.

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Change Negative Narrative About EFCC Being Used For Settling Political Scores- Reps

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………Ask Anti Graft Agency To Fight Financial Crimes Within Established Laws

.
……My Staff Are Poorly Paid, EFCC

…., States Why Fight Against Yahoo Boys Fierce

 

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The House of Representatives has tasked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to purge itself from the negative impression that its being used to settle political scores and concentrate fighting financial and economic crimes within established laws.

The House handed the advise on Tuesday through the Chairman House Committee on Financial Crimes Honorable Ginger Onwusibe who led members of the committee on the 2024 oversight exercise on the commission.

The oversight covered extensive facility tour of departments and critical operational units of the antigraft agency.

In his terse remarks, Hon. Onwusibe challenged the agency to improve its operational activities in combating economic and financial crimes by complying with its 2004 Establishment Act and other relevant applicable laws like the Money Laundering ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022: Terrorism ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022: The Proceeds of Crime Act. 2022, as well as other statutes, that compels it to carry out these roles transparently with accountability and show that the negative maxim being peddled in some quarters that the agency is often being used for settling political scores is incorrect .

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The committee assured that it will collaborate with the commission to actualize its mandate by enacting new laws or amending old ones and as well providing budgetary interventions, if it must strive tirelessly to be on top of its challenges

The House urged the agency to collaborate with sister agencies and desist from keeping suspects as- awaiting ‘trial in correctional centres nationwide

“At this point let me add that a recent visit to the Maximun and Minimun Correctional centres in Kirikiri Lagos State, numerous suspects have been awaiting trial for over one year and yet we are all acquainted with the saying that justice delayed is justice denied”

” It is on this note that we call on the EFCC, Attorney General of the Federation and the Judiciary to improve and ensure the administration of justice works and is efficiently delivered to the victims”

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The House warned the agency to purge itself of rotten eggs in order to fight economic and financial crimes frontally, thereby stimulating the Nigerian economy

It also urged EFCC to focus properly on its mandate.

” The issue of appropriate and proper focusing on the mandate of the EFCC must relentlessly be on the front burner:

“Orders from competent courts , arrest and debt recovery must be pursued religiously” the House cautioned

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But on its side, the antigraft agency said it has not deviated from its focus but rather working hard and fighting financial and economic crimes as enunciated in its mandate.

Chairman of the agency , Ola Olukeyede told his guest in his remarks during the oversight visit that the commission was doing much to fight financial and economic crimes and stimulate the Nigerian economy

He said so far that the agency has recovered over N250bn cash, tens of million of Dollars and other foreign currencies, with over 3000 convictions: 17000 petitions while also investigating over 20000,with about 4000 fresh cases , all being handled by a misery number of staff strenght

He noted that its priority is to improve the country’s image and stimulate its economy, such that there could be improvement in foregin direct investments and stimulation of the local economy.
Olukeyede however, argued that the agency needed more staff strenght, funding , better renumeration for staff because they were poorly paid. He also emphasised on modern day technology to fight the ever dynamic cyber criminals

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According to the EFCC boss, it was important to give more salary to EFCC staff and deploy modern technology to fight emerging cyber crime dynamism . He expalined that the agency has increased efforts to fight Yahoo, yahhoo, boys because of their ability to crumble any economy within a twinkle of an eye

According to him, the agency was expanding its drag net to focus on ministries, departments and agencies infrastructural projects. ” “Go to MDAs and see their budget implementstion. It is not up to 20%”

“We want to ensure 50% infrastructural development” the anti graft boss announced, insisting that it would henceforth encourage monitoring of project implementation which was an aspect of preventing financial crimes

He said the agency has dismissed lots of erring staff, and will continue to dismiss and even prosecute them going forward.

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Olukeyede disclosed that it had designed a template on staff integrity, using the Gift- Policy model

.” It is not every thankful gift we should collect” the EFCC boss warned

” I am advocating for more welfare improvement, better welfare, he said.

“We will do more recoveries, more convictions, but we need more resources to do our work, maintaining that, that was his stand on ethics and integrity .

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Olokeyede’s demand for more salary wage for staff of the commission, is seen as an incentive to boost welfare and morale to fight financial crimes to standstill.

He stated that there was the utmost need to increase salaries of staff of the commission

The EFCC boss who spoke on his stewardship in the last one year, further added that it increased the war against Yahoo- Yahoo boys because of the consequences of their nefarious acts which could crumble a nation’s economy in a jiffy.

He argued that more technology was required to fight financial crimes.

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For instance he explained that it was a common scenario then for thieves and armed robbers to attack and break into banks with guns and Dynamites

” But it is the same common and more easier scenario and task now to have Yahoo-Yahoo boys and bank thieves attack banks with technology in the comfort of their homes or hideouts”

“So we need technology and we also need to increase our fight against these Yahoo boys who can dismantle any economy within a twinkle of an eye

He called on the national Assembly to improve and increase its finances because fighting Financial crimes was a herculean task that requires adequate funding

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Olokeyede who apparently was responding to criticisms of the commission’s over concentration on Cyber crimes/ thieves, perpetrated by Yahoo boys, said he has made tremendous impact in enforcement, investigation and conviction with an outstanding record convictions between October 2023 when he was appointed till date

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Trouble looming for Obaseki as Gov Okpebholo orders probe of his admin

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has ordered the setting up of a committee to probe the immediate-past administration of Godwin Obaseki for its failure to inaugurate 14 Edo Assembly lawmakers-elect into the 7th Assembly.

Okpebholo disclosed this while giving his inaugural speech as the new governor of the state.

Governor Okpebholo also ordered the State Chief Judge to immediately investigate the initial delay of former Governor Obaseki to inaugurate duly-cleared judges by the National Judicial Council (NJC) last year

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Naira may depreciate to N1,993 against dollar – Report

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Nigeria’s naira has been projected to depreciate further to N1,993 per dollar in the coming days.

This is according to BMI, a Fitch Solutions subsidiary report title, ‘Weak Naira and Structural Challenges to Constrain Nigeria’s Medical Devices Market Growth’.

The report said the forecasted depreciation will be predicated on the 95 percent dependence on imports for pharmaceuticals in Nigeria.

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According to the report, the development would erode both the health system and patient purchasing power.

“We expect that the naira will end 2028 at N1,993/$ from N306/$ in 2018.

“As the naira weakens, the cost of importing medical devices will continually increase, eroding both the health system and patient purchasing power, especially to invest in essential medical technologies given the underfunding of the public health sector,” the report stated.

This comes as Naira fell to N1681.42 and N1735 at the official and parallel foreign exchange markets on Monday.

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This comes as FMDQ FX transaction turnover dropped significantly from $1.4 billion on Friday to $471.5 million on Monday.

Last Thursday, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, said the country’s external reserves rose to $40 billion.

Despite Central Bank of Nigeria’s interventions and external reserves rise in the last months, the naira has continued to experience fluctuations in the FX market.

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