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Thinking School Unlocks Business Initiatives To Tackle Unemployment

Daring the Odds. 2020 will go down as one year that shocked everyone. It didn’t matter what plans you had hatched prior to the year or the thoughts you have penned down in your diary; 2020 surprised everyone. It took a lot for many to come to terms and the year took flight and seemed like nothing will work.

Many would argue that the things we adopted during the peak of the pandemic weren’t new things, they only got prominence. Such is the story of business, innovation and principles.

As it has been widely acknowledged, principles are global and can be adopted/adapted, so is the fact that nothing is new in business – if you are toying with an idea in your head, and delaying execution, someone else will spring same idea even in better forms.
With the effects of the pandemic biting hard on lives of individuals and their businesses, Thinking School Nigeria stepped into the arena where the giants feared to walk.

The team designed programmes and products to help Nigerians mitigate the effects of covid19 on their businesses.

It wasn’t the first time Thinking School dared the odds.
In 2016, Thinking School took a risk on entrepreneurial virgins and incubated them, today they’re doing fine with quality service and unique customer care service in agriculture, confectioneries, fashion and agro allied industries. In the words of the founder, Michael Olaniyan, “Our knack for asking the right questions and ignoring sentiment is what pushes us to be better – and when we dare the odds, it is not for show off. We interrogate our situations analytically and tow the path with the highest possible return.”

When their free online classes took full force in March, it looked like it won’t go far but here we’re today. The class held every week for 7 months and counting, bringing to bare the team’s wealth of experience and technical ability to deliver time worthy and future proof steps to business and career development.

The Project manager, Abayomi Sarumi says, “We dare the odds and we question the status quo but we never lose sight of our realities. We are not bent on dishing contents and forgetting the core of our message.

This is what sets us apart – our message keys into the reality of Nigerians and it’s why we can easily help individuals and businesses.”

Press Statement

October 7, 2020

ERA/FoEN Trustees Disown Godwin Ojo

…No longer a member of organisation

The Board of Trustees and Governing Board of the Environmental Rights Development Foundation (ERDF)/Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria have learnt of a purported General Assembly called on October 7, 2020 by recently disengaged executive director of ERA/FoEN, Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo in Benin City.

The Board would not have considered the illegal convening worth being given any attention but for the stakeholders of ERA/FoEN who might be scandalized if the Board remains silent.

To put the records straight, Godwin Uyi Ojo was removed from the Trusteeship of the ERA/FoEN in 2015 following allegations of gross misconduct and actions inimical to peace and progress of the organisation.

Similarly, the Board had on October 3, 2020 held an Emergency meeting where the decision to relieve Godwin Ojo of his appointment as executive director was taken. The decision followed the report of an independent evaluation of the organisation commissioned by the Board. The evaluation concluded that: “The current ED who is by nature of the position ultimately responsible for the day to day functioning of the organization and staff management appears to be out of his depth, lacking both leadership and management sufficient to the task”.

Members of the Board who signed Ojo’s Ouster are Nnimmo Bassey, Dr. Ike Okonta, Dr. Joe-Okei Odumakin, Professor Margaret Okorodudu-Fubara, Akinbode Oluwafemi and Daphne Wysham.

Instead of abiding by the decision of the Board, Ojo has been involving himself in illegalities including the purported General Assembly Meeting where he brought together faceless civil society groups.

The Board uses this medium to restate that Ojo is no longer a member of ERA/FoEN and does not in any way represent the organisation in any capacity. The public should take note.

Dr Ike Okonta

Secretary, BOT

The attention of the State Executive Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Lagos State Chapter has been drawn to a statement purportedly issued by the Spokesperson of the party in the state Mr Taofik Gani.

The statement read in part that “the former Governor of Ekiti State Ayodele Fayose has been given seven days to apologise for the deliberate unwarranted vituperation on party elders in the state.”

The state Executive Committee hereby wishes to categorically say that Mr Taofik Gani was never authorised to issue any statement on behalf of the party in Lagos State.

We further state that Mr Gani did not seek the approval of the leaders of the party, before issuing the statement, neither did he consult with the State Working Committee of the party, before making such an unauthorized statement, which is in contravention of our party’s constitution.

The Lagos State Executive Committee of our dear party hereby apologizes to Former Governor Ayo Fayose and his entourage for this unruly act by a state officer and also distant itself from the purported statement which we see as illegal, biased, unethical, unauthorized and could be termed as an example of a “ Hate Speech “ which is not acceptable in PDP.

Permit us to state here that Governor Ayodele Fayose being a two-time Governor of Ekiti State, a former chairman of the PDP Governors forum, an individual who speaks his mind without bias, and most of all an important guest at our Lagos East Campaign Council Day Inauguration is always welcomed unhindered in Lagos state.

Signed:
State Executive Committee
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Lagos State Chapter

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Muhammad Abubakar Adamu, has this afternoon issued a ban on personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and other Tactical Squads of the Force including the Special Tactical Squad (STS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Anti-Cultism Squad and other Tactical Squads operating at the Federal, Zonal and Command levels, from carrying out routine patrols and other conventional low-risk duties – stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, etc – with immediate effect.

This was made available to newsmen through a statement by the Force Police Public Relations Officer (FPPRO, Frank Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police.

According to the statement, “no personnel of the Force is authorized to embark on patrols or tactical assignments in mufti, they must always appear in their police uniforms or approved tactical gear”.

Frank Mba further said that, “the IGP’s directives come against the backdrop of findings by the leadership of the Force that a few personnel of the Tactical Squads hide under these guise to perpetrate all forms of illegality, contrary to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement establishing the squads.

“Specifically, the IGP has warned the Tactical Squads against the invasion of the privacy of citizens particularly through indiscriminate and unauthorized search of mobile phones, laptops and other smart devices. They are to concentrate and respond only to cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes when the need arises.

“The IGP notes that the FSARS and other Police Tactical Squads remain a critical component of the Force in confronting prevailing and emerging violent crimes in the country, but however condemned every act of unprofessionalism, abuse of human rights and high-handedness by some personnel of the Squads.

He has therefore ordered the X-Squad and the Monitoring Unit to embark on immediate and massive nationwide monitoring of activities of Tactical Squads and other police officers on the road. They are to ensure prompt arrest, investigation and prosecution of all erring police officers who violate these directives and other extant regulations of the Force”.

The stated further that the IGP has also warned that henceforth, the Commissioner of Police in charge of FSARS, Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands and the FCT as well as their supervisory Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police, will be held liable for any misconduct within their Area of Responsibility (AOR).

“He therefore charged them to ensure effective supervision and mentoring of the personnel of the Tactical Squads under their jurisdiction,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, two operatives of the FSARS and their civilian accomplice operating in Lagos State, Inspectors Sale James and Monday Uchiola as well as Okechukwu Ogbonna, have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, for acts of professional misconduct including extortion and intimidation of innocent citizens. The operational vehicle of the men has also been impounded and disciplinary procedure has already commenced against the defaulters.

The IGP reaffirmed his commitment to bequeathing to Nigerians, a reformed Police Force that is accountable, responsible and ever ready to defend and uphold the rights of the citizens while discharging its duties of keeping the people safe and secure. He enjoins the citizens not to allow the misconduct by a few personnel of the Force to negatively impact on their belief, confidence and trust in the Police.

Why I preferred To Dance With Laycon To Dancing With Ozo — Nengi Breaks Silence.

Second runner-up of the Big Brother Reality Show season 5, Nengi Rebecca Hampson has opened up on why she refused to dance with Ozoemena, the young man she was romantically linked with in the house.

According to her, “I didn’t dance with Ozo same way I danced with Laycon because I didn’t want to lead him on”.Saying this during an interview with the crew of Beat FM during their media tour, Nengi said that realizing the feelings Ozo had for her, she had to respect herself and not lead him on with dancing same way she danced with Laycon.
 

I will never decamp from PDP urge the leaders for total support ~Hon. Alebiosu

Hon. Alebiosu Sikiru Ademola in a statement made yesterday during the inauguration of campaign council held at 10degree in preparation for upcoming bye-election late October this year, urged for the support of all the party leaders and supporters.

According to the candidate representing Kosofe constituency II for House of Assembly, he pleaded for the unity in the party as he can not do it alone, the bond of cooperation is needed.

He further assured the party leaders never to decamp from the party irrespective. Says I have been in PDP since 1999, all my life is PDP, no matter how the circumstances or pressure, if I emerge come Oct. 31st 2020, I will never decamp. All I needed at the crucial hour is your total support. This election is not going to be won by Alebiosu but, by PDP.

We have done it before in kosofe, we can do it again by having a synergy Working agreement.

Hon. Alebiosu Sikiru Ademola in a statement made yesterday during the inauguration of campaign council held at 10degree in preparation for upcoming bye-election late October this year, urged for the support of all the party leaders and supporters.

According to the candidate representing Kosofe constituency II for House of Assembly, he pleaded for the unity in the party as he can not do it alone, the bond of cooperation is needed.

He further assured the party leaders never to decamp from the party irrespective. Says I have been in PDP since 1999, all my life is PDP, no matter how the circumstances or pressure, if I merge come Oct. 31st 2020, I will never decamp. All I needed at the crucial hour is your total support. This election is not going to be won by Alebiosu but, by PDP.

We have done it before in kosofe, we can do it again by having a synergy Working agreement.

The preparation of Lagos East bye-election inauguration has taken a new twist and turn as the party inaugurated the campaign committee across Lagos senatorial district, with some leadership of PDP in South West today.

The meeting, which held at campaign Temporary Secretariat of PDP in Lagos 10,-Degree today was attended by the party’s big wigs and gladiators. The meeting started with the arrival of distinguished leaders of the party and some Southwest PDP elders.

Former governorship candidate of PDP in 2015, Jimi Agbaje, arrived the venue around 2pm with his Entourage and the meeting commenced with the PDP party chairman in Lagos, Engr. Adedeji Doherty, with introduction of some key party leaders. The venue went on rampage as soon as the chairman mentioned Jimi Agbaje as one party of PDP leader on seat.

Jimi Agbaje, who was two times Candidate of PDP In 2015 and 2019, was booed by some leaders of the party, pointing accusing finger at him and calling him a thief. The hall was thrown into palpable commotion and rampage before the party chairman canoed the atmosphere which later led to departure of Jimi Agbaje as soon as he sighted Fayose arriving the venue.

In Fayose speech with the leaders of the party, he urged the party leaders not to be exposing any rancour among the party but laid emphasis on giving the younger ones in the party opportunity to grow and allow them to be in key positions in the party.

According to the former Gov. Of Ekiti state, Mr Ayodele Fayose, “it is high time to tell Bode George to go and retire. Let him be a support stand for the younger ones in the party.
What is needed from him right now is his blessing and prayer for the people aspiring to become anything in the party rather than fighting for position in the party. As I am here, I am about 60 years of age, I have grown above fighting for minister that it will get to a point and someone will say he sacks me, I will never be such minister not to talk of contesting any post with younger ones in the party.

He stated further, if the party leader fails to retire some elders in the party who refused to pave way for the younger ones in the party, they will never give you chance to succeed.

Before PDP can win any election in this Lagos, you must first separate wheat from chaffs. If you fail to separate wheat from chaffs, you will be milk to marrow. At this level, if you see any elder contesting chairman with the younger ones, you must know that such fellow needs to be retired.

I Ayodele Fayose you can quote me anywhere, I said, you must retire Bode George if you want progress in the PDP in Lagos. You must stand firm and fight for your right.
As an elder, he is supposed to stay at home and be giving blessing to his children aspiring to grow not to be contending post with them.

In preparation towards the upcoming bye-election election in Lagos east and Kosofe constituency II, Hon. Alebiosu Sikiru Ademola has expressed his commitment to the race and to people of Kosofe constituency II during a meeting with the people of Kosofe during the week. , he assured to leave the light on for the people of the constituency.

According to the candidate of PDP in the House of Assembly come 31st of Oct. 2020, he appeals to all his loyalist to stand firm and ready to defend their vote as PDP is energetic and ready to battle APC and Chase them out of power in Lagos, to especially Kosofe constituency II.

He stated further, that, things are not working as expected in Lagos State as APC leading the helm of affairs in Lagos for over 21years does not use to make themselves available as soon as they get in the position of power. They rather make themselves incommunicado or change their phone number.

He promised to make himself available at all time as he is the son of the soil, “I live in kosofe, I was brought up in kosofe, I know every nook and cranny of Kosofe, I know where the problems of Kosofe lies, I know what people of Kosofe need and am ready to listen to the voice and yearning of my people by serving them in full capacity”.

It is high time the light of Kosofe constituency II begin to shine without anybody quenching or deeming the light. The light of Kosofe will shine for people to see and it will be recorded that Kosofe started the tsunami that will take APC out of government in Lagos.

Mere doing this, it will be a landmark for people of Kosofe and Kosofe constituency II will be reckoned with in the history of PDP that we stand to battle the APC who thinks they have all the power to subdue, oppress and subject people to hardship. It is high time to work hard and take what belongs to PDP.

It was a great humiliation last week Saturday in just concluded Edo Governorship election, PDP candidate Gov. Godwin Obaseki outrun his closed opponent Ize-Iyamu with wide margin. Since the defeat, the Leader of APC in Edo Ex-Gov of Edo comrade Adams Oshiomole has remained silent

In the video he made in his gym house, comrade Adams Oshiomole summons courage to voice out and appreciate all Edo people.

He says further “in live, there is super airy work hard and leave God for the outcome you do your best and trust God to bless your effort. I feel good, I feel healthy, I thank God I feel strong I thank God. In life, you win some you lose some but life goes on.

I want to thank everyone, a lot of people thought comrade is down, am not down. when God says you are not going to down you won’t down, am not down. I thank Edo people for all what they did over the past three four weeks people under the rain, under the sun. Young ladies carrying baby on their back, I saw elderly women trying to see my small face and on an election day, I was moved to tears when I saw elderly of 70, 75 years of Age sitting on the floor when the card readers malfunctioning they are not frustrated, they stared me that at their age they don’t give up, why should I give up?

And I ask our people to have faith in our country, we are not going to have another country I have only one passport and am not ready to get any other country passport this is our country we must make it great, we must strengthen our democracy we must improve on it no matter how the outcome of an election or the process, have faith in this country and have faith in God. God bless you”