Oriontimes

  The Osun Online Publishers Association, OOPA, has congratulated Bright Olorungbotem, Chief Executive Office of Voice Air Media, VAM, on the occasion of his birthday. Bright, who is the Publicity Secretary of the association according to OOPA in a statement, on Thursday signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Jare Tiamiyu and Hammed Tajudeen was described as dedicated media personalty. The statement reads in part " Osun Online Publishers Association, celebrate one of his dedicated officer , Bright Olorungbotemi on his birthday occasion. "It is our prayer that you continue to progress in your endeavors. "Your many years and unconditional service to OOPA is cherished, may God uplift you and bless you endlessly" the statement added. Bright was , however, charged not to relent in his efforts in contributing to the development of Nigeria through media and upholding the ethical practice of journalism.

  In a new interview with the popular music podcast "Drinking Champs", Akon shared stories about his early life in America, getting into and becoming a music star. During the interview, Akon talked about Africa, and during the conversation, he called Nigerians the smartest people on the continent. According to Akon, Nigeria is similar to New York City and Nigerians are the smartest people on the planet. "This may be debatable but Nigerians are the smartest people on the planet...There's nobody smarter than the Nigerian," Akon said.  Being a Nigerian makes  you intelligent and smart. 

  The Committee for the Defense Of Human Rights (CDHR), Osun State Chapter yesterday elected new executive members that will pilot the affairs of the organization for the next two years. The new executives emerged unopposed at the 2023 Osun State CDHR convention held at the Ola Oni House, Osogbo over the weekend. The former Secretary of the human right group, Comrade Olowu Emmanuel emerged as the State Chairman while Comr. Gbedebo became his  Vice. Other members of exco are  Comr. Bamitale Olufadeju, State Secretary, Comr. Bashit Uthman, Assitance Secretary, Comrade Isaac Olapetan Treasurer, Comrade Kolapo Azeez Public Relations Officer, and Comrade Emily Ajibade, Assistances Public Relation Officer. The elected officers were sworn in shortly after the election by the representative of the National Executive, Comrade Kolawole Sola, the current National treasurer. Administering oath of office to the newly elected executives,  Comrade Sola charged them on the need...

  Over 50 leaders from the European Union, Latin America, and the Caribbean will meet on Monday for the first time in eight years in Brussels for a two-day EU-CELAC meeting, In an effort to find new political and economic allies. At the summit, both sides are anticipated to be eager to create economic alliances, but sensitive topics like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Europe’s complicity in the slave trade could complicate the talks. Regardless of the outcome, officials say the meeting itself marks a step towards stronger ties. The EU has stated its desire for a joint declaration denouncing Russia, but recognises that this will be difficult to achieve. While the majority of CELAC countries supported a UN resolution in February urging an early evacuation of Russian troops, Nicaragua voted against it, while Bolivia, Cuba, and El Salvador abstained. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has positioned himself as a prospective peace mediator and neutral. The European Union ha...

  The United Nations top humanitarian official urged on Saturday, said that warring factions in Sudan must respect international law, protect civilians, and stop targeting relief and aid workers, as the conflict reached its three-month mark. “For three months now, the people of Sudan have endured unspeakable suffering amid violence that is tearing their country apart,” Martin Griffiths, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said in a statement. “As the conflict enters its fourth month, the battle lines are hardening, making it ever more difficult to reach the millions of people who need urgent humanitarian assistance,” he added. More than 3 million people have been displaced due to the conflict both within Sudan and across its borders; the fighting, which broke out in mid-April has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 1,100 people and injured over 12,000, according to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)....

    United Nations said more than 3 million people have now abandoned their homes in Sudan due to the nearly three-month-old conflict between rival armed forces. Figures from the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicated that more than 2.4 million people were now displaced within Sudan, while nearly 724,000 have escaped across the country’s borders. The fighting in Sudan broke out on April 15. The army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has been battling the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, after the two fell out in a power struggle. In a statement by the International Organization for Migration spokeswoman Safa Msehli told AFP, “We've surpassed the 3 million figure of people displaced due to the conflict in Sudan,”  “This is more than a figure, however: these are people who have been uprooted, fleeing for their lives; families that have been separated, and children that won’t be able to go to school. ...

United Nations Security Council has sent a delegation of its Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (SCWG-CAAC) to interface with strategic government ministries and agencies. The move is will garner the team opportunity to witness, first hand, efforts by the Nigerian government towards combating the problem of children caught up in armed conflict, especially in the northeast. Receiving the delegation in Abuja, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr. Nasir Gwarzo, said while armed conflict has affected a good number of children, government has also stepped in to assist them. He said: “This is the time for us to unite. We need your support and shared experiences because more than 90 per cent of these children are parentless. We have done a lot. We have ratified a lot of globally accepted policies. We are implementing them but a lot needs to be done better. There are some of them (children) that are increa...

  The Osun Online Publishers Association (OOPAN), has felicitated with his Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr) Hammed Adekunle Makama Oyelude (Tegbosun III) on his birthday, July 14th.  OOPAN, in a statement issued in Osogbo by his Publicity Secretary, Bright Gbotemi, described the Olowu of Kuta as an embodiment of royalty, very objective, and astute, full of wisdom and a custodian of the traditional institution in the state.  According to OOPAN, “As you celebrate, we are very sure your heart is filled with joy for what God has helped you to achieve all this years and looking forward, we hope that all your dreams and wishes for the people of Kuta kingdom and Osun State, and Nigeria will come true. “Your Royal Majesty, it is our sincere prayer that your ancestors and God Almighty will continually protect and bless you in good health, sound mind and longevity”. “Our great Oba, congratulations on your historic celebration today”.

  The food security and nutrition situation remained grim in 2022. Report by the United Nations revealed that approximately 29.6 per cent of the global population, equivalent to 2.4 billion people, did not have constant access to food, as measured by the prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity.   It was learnt that nearly 900 million individuals faced severe food insecurity. Meanwhile, the capacity of people to access healthy diets has deteriorated across the world: more than 3.1 billion people in the world – or 42 percent – were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2021. This represents an overall increase of 134 million people compared to 2019.  Millions of children under five continue to suffer from malnutrition: in 2022, 148 million children under five years of age (22.3 percent) were stunted, 45 million (6.8 percent) were wasted, and 37 million (5.6 percent) were overweight.  Progress has been seen in exclusive breastfeeding with 48 percent of infants und...

  The African Union appealed for nearly $90 million Wednesday for its peacekeeping force in Somalia, which is providing support to its military forces battling al-Shabab extremists. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, disclosed that nearly 19,600-strong AU force won’t be able to function properly and help the Somalis unless that funding gap is filled. A year agone, the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a new African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, known as ATMIS, to support the Somalis until their forces take full responsibility for the country’s security at the end of 2024. If the AU force does n’t have the funds to operate effectively in 2years to come before the handover, Adeoye said, “it may mean that al-Shabab will eventually take over the responsibilities of a state in Somalia.” “The implications are huge,” he said. “And we do not want the international community to lose focus or have diverted attention away ...

  United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has frowned against the air strike in the Sudanese city of Omdurman. According to reports, the air strike, which occurred on Saturday, killed no fewer than 22 people. Mr Guterres, in a statement by his deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq, offered condolences to the families of the victims and expressed hopes for a speedy recovery of the dozens who were injured. The Sudanese army and rival military group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have been battling since mid-April. Hundreds of people have been killed and nearly three million have been displaced, including to neighbouring countries. Mr Haq said the secretary-general was appalled by reports of large-scale violence and casualties across Darfur. “Guterres is also concerned about reports of renewed fighting in North Kordofan, South Kordofan and Blue Nile States. “There is an utter disregard for humanitarian and human rights law; that is dangerous and disturbing,” he said. According ...

   By Awoyemi Adebisi Oluwaseun Report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)  revealed that the Total capital importation into Nigeria in Q1 2023 stood at US$1,132.65 million, lower than US$1,573.14 million recorded in Q1 2022, indicating a decrease of 28.00%  When compared to the preceding quarter, capital importation rose by 6.78% from US$1,060.73 million in Q4 2022. According to the report, the largest capital importation during the period was received from Portfolio Investment, which accounted for 57.32% (US$649.28 million) of total capital imported in Q1 2023. This was followed by Other Investment with 38.31% (US$435.76 million) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) with 4.20% (US$47.60 million). Disaggregated by Sectors, capital importation into the banking sector recorded the highest inflow of US$304.56 million, representing 26.89% of total capital imported in Q1 2023. This was followed by capital imported into the production sector, valued at US$256.12 mil...

 Governor Ademola Adeleke has nominated 25 persons as Commissioners under his administration. Adeleke’s nominees were contained in a letter written the House of Assembly which was read by the Speaker, Adewale Egbedun on the floor of the House on Friday. The nominees were drawn from the nine federal Constituencies of the State. They are; Oladosu Babatunde Bayo Ogungbangbe Sesan OYEDELE Kolapo Alimi Soji Adeigbe Moshood Olagunju George Alabi Sunday Oroniyi Abiodun Bankole Ojo Others are Bashiru Salami, Moruf Ayofe, Sola Ogungbile, Bunmi Jenyo, Mrs Ayo Awolowo, Wole Jimi Bada, Dipo Oluwole, Rasheed Aderibigbe. Also nominated were Prof. Marof Ademola Adeleke, Mr Adeyemo Festus Ademola, Olabiyi Odunlade, Jola Akintola, Mayowa Adejorin, Mrs Adenike Adeleke, Tola Faseeru and Gani Olaoluwa. Egbedun also directed all nominees to send 35 copies of their curriculum vitae to the House latest Tuesday, while the screening will commence on Wednesday. The speaker also announced the adhoc committee...

   A whiff of fresh air blew on the concourse of Online Media Publishers in the nation’s media hub as Osun Online Publishers Association (OOPAN), rolled out the drums of Joy to celebrate Mr Adesoji Omosebi "Baale Oniroyin", the one-time Chairman of the association and Publisher of SOJ Worldwide on the occasion of his birthday, today July 7th.  The association, in a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary, Comrade Bright Olorungbotemi, commended the upbeat Omosebi, for his positive efforts and fatherly roles for the association and progressive impact in the media space.  "We salute the cooperation and support you have always given to the association in the state. "Baale Oniroyin" (Chief Information Officer in the online media space), a title conferred on your person by Olowu of Kuta, HRM Oba Dr. Adekunle Makama Oyelude Tegbosun III, on December 2022, attest to you commitment for the Osun online media space.  "As you celebrate your birthday, We pray the ...

  A yet-to-identified Sienna car driver has reportedly bitten the ear of a Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) identified as Papu Prosper. The incident occurred during a heated argument between the officer and the driver along Eagle Roundabout by Federal Government College, Warri, Delta State. The victim who confirmed the development to Vanguard on Monday, said the incident happened on Friday.  According to him, the driver was earlier apprehended during an operation over expired car particulars. “I am a Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO). We went for a patrol in Warri, Delta State, where we apprehended a driver whose car particulars have expired.  “In the process, my boss told me to follow him to our office in Warri to confirm whether his particulars are up to date or not. “While following the man, he said he will kill me, that the VIO has done a lot. So he brought out a dagger and was trying to butcher me into pieces. I struggled to get out of the vehicle as it was on speed. ...

      More than 600 people died last month when a migrant boat, the Adriana, sank in the Mediterranean. A Times investigation drawing on satellite imagery, radio signals, sealed court documents and more than 20 interviews with survivors and officials found that hundreds of those deaths could have been prevented. Survivors said that passengers had called for help and that some had tried to jump aboard a tanker that had stopped to give out drinking water. These accounts are at odds with assertions by the Greek authorities, who have said that the migrants did not want to be rescued. As passengers panicked and the ship sank, the Greek government treated the situation like a law enforcement operation, not a rescue. The Greek authorities have repeatedly said that the Adriana was sailing to Italy — contradicting the evidence that shows definitively that the vessel was drifting in a loop for its last six and a half hours. The passengers collectively paid as much as $3.5 million t...