The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has disclosed that efforts are in top gear to affiliate the Oba Sikiru Adetona College of Governance with the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, for the training of high-ranking government officials.
Penpushing reports that Abiodun made this known at the 90th birthday and 64th coronation anniversary thanksgiving of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, held at the Cathedral Church of Our Saviour, Ita-Olowajoda-Ijasi, Ijebu-Ode on Sunday.
The Governor emphasized that the Permanent Secretaries from the state would be the first to enrol to enable them benefit from the college, which is the brain child of the Awujale, explaining that he sought and got the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to grant the College the full status of the campus of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).
‘I told Kabiyesi this morning that our Permanent Secretaries will be the first set of students at that Oba Sikiru Adetona College of Governance, and they will be the first set to benefit from the Awujale’s initiative’, he stated
‘I have further made a case to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow Baba’s school of Governance to become a campus of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru, a request that Mr President has graciously approved’, Abiodun added.
Penpushing further reports that the Governor described the monarch as a living legend and a phenomenon whose reign has been a monumental success and a pride to the entire Ijebuland and the state at large.
The Governor added that Awujale represents the beauty and the candour of the ancestral heritage of the Ijebu people, emphasizing that his passion for governance and accessible commitment to education led him to institute the Oba Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance in the Department of Political Science of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye.
‘This initiative has led and given birth to the establishment of the world class Oba Sikiru Adetona School of Governance, the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa. He championed the Ijebu Development Board on poverty eradication that has become a model in the entire country,” Abiodun submitted.
Penpushing also reports that Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Reverend Dr. Ephraim Adebola Ademowo in his sermon titled; “Serve the Lord with Gladness’, ‘said God’s purpose for man was to serve Him unconditionally, noting that no man serves God faithfully without rewards.
The cleric taking his text from Psalms 100 verse 2, regretted however that though God put people in places of authority to serve, most Nigerians do not see themselves as servants once they assume leadership positions, calling for a change of heart to move the nation forward.
Penpushing reports that Ademowo , however, called for national rebirth beginning from the family, stressing that this would reposition the country and bring back its lost glory, and equally described Adetona as a unifier, a monarchical colossus and a Solomon of our time, who used the palace to unite all Ijebu sons and daughters irrespective of their political or religious linage.
The Most Reverend emphasized that Awujale is a mentor, enabler, whose life is full of monumental achievements in his 64 years on the throne, saying he has touched many lives through endowment programmes.
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