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Fadirepo urge continuous support for private school operators by govt
The Federal and state governments have been urged to continue to support school operators in its commitment to the reduction in the population of out of school children.
The United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) had conservatively put the population of out of school children in Nigeria at over 10 million.
Speaking at the 13th graduation and Prize Giving Ceremony of Diamonds Mine Nursery and Primary School, Ifako-Ijaiye, on Tuesday, a businessman Mr Olasoji Isaac Fadirepo, said the government needs to make the sector attractive to investors.
Fadirepo who was Chairman at the event said the federal government needs to continue to support private schools investors who are helping to bridge the gap and ensure more pupils are taken away from the streets and trained to become responsible citizens.
Fadirepo who commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to increase investment to the education sector by 50 percent, said government must continue to provide an enabling environment to the private investors in the sector for the nation to succeed in the quest to make education available to all.
Addressing the graduands, Fadirepo said the graduands should continue to be a good ambassador of the school wherever they found themselves.
He praised the parents for investing their time and resources on their children, urging them to continue to do more as the secondary level of education to which the pupils aspire is more intensive and would demand more from both parents and pupils.
He commended the school for the quality of academic excellence imparted on the pupils, adding that as a parent himself, he can attest to the quality of sound training and teaching by the school.
“I can say authoritatively that any discerning parent who desires the best for their children needs to come to Diamonds Mine School. Within the short time that I have brought my children here, I have seen the difference in their academic lives. The school is trying and the children are proof of what they are doing in the school.”
Earlier in her speech, the school Proprietress, Mrs Romoke Aderibigbe, said she is proud that all the graduating pupils can hold their own and compete favourably with their peers anywhere in the world.
She said just like their predecessors who from the reports from various schools where they continue to win accolades and top their classes, this set, who have been seasoned by the quality teachers, would continue to make the school proud.
She said during the session, the school competed in Mathematics competition as well as the Lagos State Spelling Bee competition where they were rated 13 overall best school in the state.
This is apart from the various extra curricular activities to which they belonged among them are the Indomitable Club by Indomie, the Little Champions Club by Milo drink and several others, adding that the school had been picked as a centre of excellence by Milo for teens champions club.
Mrs Aderibigbe commended all the parents whose commitment to their children in the payment of school fees and appropriate textbooks have continued to make the difference in the lives of their wards. She urged them not to relent in investing in their children in spite of the trying times as nothing invested in the children is wasted..
“I can only urge you to continue to be a good parent to these kids. Continue to show them you care. Continue to show them that you are interested in their future. Continue to put their needs above yours and continue to find a way of paying their school fees.”
Addressing the graduands, the Proprietress urged them to continue to be good ambassadors of the school. “I want you to know that as you have graduated from here, you have become a member of the alumni of this school. You should know that it is not time to relax in your academics as secondary school requires more and would tax you more. Continue to read your books because readers are leaders.
“Don’t join bad gangs. Don’t allow peer pressure to derail your glorious future. Continue to be good and dutiful children. Show more understanding to your parents. Be good, studious pupils and let us continue to hear good reports from.you and your school.”
Parents were entertained to various presentations by the graduating and other pupils ranging from Bata dance, South African Dance, Ape Dance from Ijebu and a dance drama titled Courage in tough times.
There were other presentations like radio news broadcast, kindergarten presentations and farewell presentations.
Highlights of the event were Prize Giving to selected pupils from kindergarten school and primary schools, as well as cash awards to the overall staff and two runners up.
Serial winner Mrs Temitope Amos, who again emerged winner went home with a commendation letter and N10,000 cash, while the first and second runners up, Mr Akeem Adetunji, (school driver) and Mrs Blessing Alaafia (cleaner), won N5,000 and N3,000 respectively..
(L-R): Founder of Tinubu Support Group, James Faleke; APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu; and other APC officials during the presentation of nomination and expression of interest forms to Faleke for President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Tuesday.
The lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke, has picked up the All Progressives Congress Expression of Interest and Nomination forms on behalf of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, on Tuesday in Abuja, declared the process open and presented the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to Faleke, who also serves as the founder of the Tinubu Support Groups.
Faleke’s collection and payment for the forms, valued at N100 million on behalf of the President, formally signal the commencement of Tinubu’s bid for re-election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
The commission also announced that party primaries, including the resolution of related disputes, will run from April 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026.
INEC further stated that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while those for governorship and state assembly elections will commence on September 9, 2026
The Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has assured Lagos State Deputy Governor, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, of his support in securing the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 election.
Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, gave the assurance on Sunday, describing Hamzat as competent and well-suited to lead Lagos State.
He stated that the state would be in safe hands under Hamzat’s leadership.
Hamzat had visited Gbajabiamila at his Surulere residence in Lagos as part of consultations with party stakeholders over his governorship ambition.
Responding, Gbajabiamila commended Hamzat’s capacity and approach, expressing confidence in his ability to govern the state effectively.
“Dr Hamzat, you are a man of honour, and it shows in your approach to consultations. But I say this publicly—you can take my support for granted because I have full confidence in your ability and capacity. My constituency, Surulere, is for you, and Lagos is for you,” he said.
In his remarks, Musiliu Obanikoro, a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), briefed the host on the extent of consultations carried out so far.
“I can confidently inform the Chief of Staff that the level of endorsement has been overwhelming,” he said.
Other members of the delegation included the Secretary of the GAC, Alhaji Muti Are, Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, Hon. Bode Oyedele, Engineer Adekunle Olayinka, Dr. Hakeem Shittu, Hon. Saheed Kekereekun, Dr. Jebe, and Hon. Rasaq Ajala, among others.
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KOGI STATE STRENGTHENS CHINA PARTNERSHIP FOR AGRO-INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND SAPZ IMPLEMENTATION
Kogi State has taken a significant step in advancing its international partnerships aimed at accelerating the implementation of its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme.
The SAPZ initiative is a strategic agro-industrial platform designed to boost food production, enhance processing capacity, create employment opportunities, attract private sector investment, and position Kogi State as a leading agricultural and industrial hub in Nigeria.
Central to the engagement is the development of a modern agricultural science and technology industrial park in Kogi State. The project aligns with the broader SAPZ framework and is expected to drive agro-processing, facilitate agricultural technology transfer, support equipment deployment, promote enterprise incubation, strengthen logistics and cold chain systems, enhance export infrastructure, and provide sustainable power solutions.
The Kogi SAPZ structure comprises the Ajaokuta Agro-Industrial Hub, alongside Agricultural Transformation Centres in Anyigba, Alape, and Osara, as well as the Zariagi Agro-Air Hub. The programme is designed to integrate existing farmer clusters with an additional 150,000 hectares of farmland per zone, creating opportunities for large-scale, tenant-driven agricultural production.
Priority value chains under the SAPZ include rice, maize, cassava, livestock and poultry, sesame, cashew, oil palm, and greenhouse farming. The programme also incorporates critical support systems such as warehousing, cold chain logistics, power solutions, compressed natural gas (CNG), agricultural technology, equipment deployment, and agro-export infrastructure.
As part of this effort, Kogi State entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Hezheng Holdings Group and Hezheng Digital Technology (Hezheng Innovation Valley) Co., Ltd. The agreement marks a transition from conceptual planning to implementation and reflects the State’s deliberate strategy to attract credible technical partners, industrial park operators, investors, and global business platforms into the SAPZ ecosystem.
The Kogi State delegation was led by Alhaji Yakubu Okala, FCA, Auditor General of Kogi State and Project Investment Adviser, who represented His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kogi State. Other members of the delegation included the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Ojomah Timothy; Technical Adviser to the Governor’s Office, Dr. Abdullahi Ozomata; Chief Economic Adviser to the State, Alhaji Aliyu Inda Salami; and Project Consultant/Managing Director of Pulse Engineering and Consulting Limited, Mr. David Lekan Obatolu.
During the visit, the delegation toured key Hezheng facilities, including its investment promotion centre, agricultural industry exhibition hall, global launch hall, and live-streaming incubation base. The tour provided valuable insights into Hezheng’s industrial park management model, enterprise support systems, agricultural technology integration, and cross-border market development strategies.
Deliberations between both parties focused on actionable implementation areas such as industrial park development, technology transfer, processing infrastructure, enterprise incubation, park management systems, investment mobilisation, and equipment deployment. Discussions also explored frameworks for establishing a structured and sustainable China–Kogi industrial cooperation platform.
Both sides expressed strong alignment on the project vision and implementation roadmap. In the coming months, technical and commercial workstreams will be advanced towards full project mobilisation, including preparatory activities for groundbreaking and the establishment of coordination offices in China, Kogi State, and Abuja.
This engagement underscores the commitment of the Kogi State Government to transitioning the SAPZ programme from planning to execution, while positioning the State as a competitive destination for agro-industrial investment.
Kogi State remains resolute in its vision to build a bankable and investment-ready agro-industrial ecosystem that will enhance food security, promote value addition, create jobs, strengthen farmer-market linkages, support export growth, and unlock new economic opportunities for its people.
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