In the early hours of Sunday 5th January, a devastating fire ravaged the well known Akesan market in Oyo, leaving in its wake the destruction of property and goods worth hundreds of millions, perhaps billions. The tragedy was effectively broadcasted live on social media, as helpless citizens watch the market burn, unable to do anything.
Over the last decade African countries have experienced significant boost in digital innovations, driven in large parts by the ubiquity of smart phones and relatively cheap 3G networks. Africa’s digital revolution has led to the birth of new technology enterprises, with significant positive impacts on job creation, income generation and overall national productivity. With the vast
Few months ago, we launched the inaugural Caroline Odunola Fellowship Scheme. Applications were then invited from doctoral researchers currently registered for PhD programmes in a Nigerian university into a training and mentoring scheme aimed at supporting the career aspirations of PhD researchers in various disciplines. The scheme also includes a modest funding support of N20,000 for
In the early hours of this morning, agents of the Oyo state government under Governor Ajimobi stormed the premises of Fresh FM owned by Yinka Ayefele. According to reports, the demolition has been a subject of a restraining court order. The government went ahead with the demolition anyway. Amidst the furore this action generated, it
I have been thinking about the Naija project. In the light of the recent debates concerning the Nigerian government response to the IPOB issue, i must admit that evolution kind of made a full stop in Africa. I don’t have time for a sermon today. Prof Pius Adesanmi has done a brilliant piece on TRANSCENDENTALISM
In a move that has generated widespread controversy, Governor Ajimobi of Oyo State, aka The Constituted Authority, recently embarked on a “judicial review” of the 1957 “Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration”. In this new arrangement, 11 high chiefs of the Olubadan-in-Council, along with 21 others previously known as Baales, have now been vested with the so-called
Fresh from his return from a 103-day stay in London, President Buhari waxed lyrical about national unity in his televised address to the nation. Nigeria’s unity, he said, “is settled and non-negotiable”. He apparently agreed on this with the late Ojukwu, and he thinks “majority of Nigerians” share this view. He has very strong
The creation of states was, as far as I can tell, a “joker” deployed by the then Federal government to diminish regional identity and regional aspirations. Remember this was in the wake of the pogrom and the civil war. We must therefore view the current idea to proliferate (non viable) states with curious eyes and
I have observed with interest and then consternation how the African literary landscape has been dominated with fiction in the past two decades or so. Fiction is now the in thing, and there are not a few awards available, including awards from western patrons. Yet, while Africans, especially youngsters on social media, entertain themselves with
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I am very delighted to be here with you today on this occasion of the annual parliamentary lecture organised by the National Association of Oyo Students[1]. I thank the organisers for inviting me. It is encouraging to see this assembly of vibrant youth coming together with patriotic zeal and passionate