News
Awujale: Nigeria’s undisputable king of entrepreneurship
The Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona is a remarkable monarch with sterling qualities.
As a matter of fact, he is several virtues rolled into one – a virtuous king, quintessential family man, thoroughbred professional, accomplished businessman, philanthropist and more importantly, a compassionate entrepreneur who has made and is still making thousands of entrepreneurs through various means. Available records reveal that the monarch recently gave over N40 million soft loans to 100 beneficiaries to buy commercial tricycle (Keke), with another batch of 200 beneficiaries waiting in the wings to also relish the package.
By his creed, actions, utterances and empowerment initiatives over the years, Oba Adetona has shown that when it comes to empowering entrepreneurs in Nigeria’s monarchical socio-economic milieu, no other traditional ruler comes close.
He is the undisputed king of entrepreneurship.
Apart from enjoying the rare divine grace of sitting on the much-exalted throne for close to six decades, the Ogbagba ll from the Anikilaiya ruling house, has established a reputation of being a king who puts the interest of his kingdom first in all matters, speaking truth as he deems appropriate to political powers that be, not minding whose ox is gored. His position on sundry issues, particularly as it concerns the interest of his people had pitched him against State executives in the past, while conversely keeping him at a level of heightened reverence, and making him a much-loved king by his subjects. His foray into business, where he recorded much success, has earned him greater respect among his subjects and many other Nigerians.
His acknowledged entrepreneurial prowess served as a bedrock that informed his foray into giving the entrepreneurial spirit of others within his kingdom a big boost. Such benevolence and other accompanying attributes already secure him a permanent high place on the list of outstanding kings in the annals of Ijebuland.
Background, career and enthronement
Born in 1934, Oba Sikiru Adetona was enthroned as the Awujale of Ijebu Kingdom in 1960, the year of Nigeria’s Independence, at the age of 26. Now 85 years old and 59 years on the throne, Oba Adetona’s place in history is secured as Nigeria’s longest reigning monarch. His parents were Prince Rufai Adetona and Alhaja Ajibabi Adetona (nee Onashile). As a young prince, he attended Baptist School, Ereko, Ijebu Ode; Ogbere United Primary School, Oke Agbo Ijebu; and Ansar-Ud-Deen School, Ijebu Ode between 1943 and 1950. His Secondary Education was at Olu-Iwa College (later merged with Ijebu-Ode Secondary Commercial School into Adeola Odutola College), Ijebu-Ode, from 1951 to 1956. Armed with his secondary school certificate, the young Adetona secured his first job at the Audit Department of the Western Region, Ibadan in 1957. But it was a short-lived experience, ending the following year, 1958, courtesy of his quest for further studies in accountancy in the United Kingdom. However, his sojourn abroad was truncated In January 1960, as his return home became inevitable, having been chosen in absentia as the new Awujale. And upon his return, the Head of the Ijebu-Ode Regency Council, Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola, formally presented the fresh monarch to all, marking the first step of the installation ceremony of the new Awujale who was formerly coronated later in April 1960. This was soon followed by an acknowledgement of his uniqueness and charisma through his nomination by other eminent monarchs for the post of the Presidency of the House of Chiefs, alongside an older and senior king, the then Ooni of Ife, Late Sir Adesoji Aderemi. Although Oba Aderemi eventually emerged the elected President, the young Awujale’s profile had received a significant boost, having been singled out as a worthy contestant by fellow kings.
The king as an entrepreneur
Oba Adetona ascended the throne at a point in Nigeria’s history which marked a departure from old traditions which ensured the welfare of traditional rulers were well taken care of by sundry material contributions by subjects within the kingdom and from vassal or tributary territories. With the new political dispensation came a new government template that placed the monarchs under the politicians in power who paid salaries to kings. Oba Adetona had no illusions about the consequences of relying on miserly monthly hand-outs by politicians.
He knew the lord that pays the piper would dictate the tune. And to keep his respectability intact, he sought streams of income, plunging into viable ventures that flourished and gave him financial security. Over decades, he diversified as appropriate, building on his initial successes.
The Awujale ventured into the logging business decades ago, having more than fifty lorries at a point as the business thrived. He also had about 50 trailers involved in haulage and transportation. He pumped the proceeds from these ventures into a string of successful distributorship businesses, distributing goods for many companies including Nigerian Breweries Limited and major cement companies. Apart from his shares in several companies, Oba Adetona did profitable business through alliances in enterprises involving foreigners of Chinese and Lebanese extraction.
As a monarch constantly striving to do his bit towards upping the economic status of his people, the Awujale currently encourages entrepreneurship through several initiatives. Within the expanse of his palace, he established a Microfinance outfit open to market women and traders, offering loans at low interest rates to boost their businesses. The Microfinance outfit also lends support to bee farming ventures through loans, while fish farmers have also been beneficiaries of the Microfinance scheme.
As earlier stated above, to further spread the reach of his empowerment scheme to capture a segment of the unemployed in his kingdom, Oba Adetona has expended over N40 million on the purchase of tricycles for commercial purposes on convenient and flexible hire purchase terms. The scheme has recorded a hundred beneficiaries, with about 200 others on the waiting list. The tricycles come at a far cheaper price compared to what private dealers offer. Apart from his personal entrepreneurial attainments, Oba Adetona’s commitment to raising the standards of his people’s livelihood through these entrepreneurship boosting, made it inevitable for the Editorial Team of makeitglobal.biz to adjudge the monarch as the August Entrepreneur of the month.
Quotes
“A traditional ruler must be stubborn and unwavering in his refusal to compromise the truth or the integrity of the Obaship institution, whatever the occasion.”
Honours and
Quotes
Oba Sikiru Adetona boasts of honorary degrees including the Doctor of Law (LL.D) from the University of Technology, Yola and Doctor of Civil Law (D.CL) from Ogun State University, now Olabisi Onabanjo University. He was Chairman of Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers and also served as Special Envoy to South Africa.
News
Supreme court nullifies enforcement of National Lottery Act in 36 states
The supreme court has nullified the enforcement of provisions of the National Lottery Act 2005 in the 36 states of the federation.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Friday, the seven-member panel held that the national assembly lacks the powers to legislate on issues pertaining to lottery and gaming.
In March 2005, former President Olusegun Obasanjo signed the national lottery bill into law.
The legislation provides the framework for the operation of the national lottery and the establishment of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission.
The commission is charged with regulating the business of lottery in Nigeria as well as establishing the national lottery trust fund.
In 2008, the Lagos state government filed a suit against the federal government on whether the control and regulation of gaming and lottery businesses in each state is under the exclusive list.
In October 2020, the Ekiti government joined Lagos as co-plaintiff in the suit.
In November 2022, the supreme court joined 33 state governments as co-defendants in the suit.
In the judgment, the apex court ruled that only state assemblies have the powers to legislate on lottery and gaming businesses.
The supreme court ruled that legislation cannot be enforced in all states, except the federal capital territory (FCT), since the national assembly is empowered to make laws for the country’s capital.
News
NASS amends NDLEA Act, okays life imprisonment for drug traffickers
The Senate has concurred with the recommendation of the House of Representatives to commute the death sentence penalty for persons found guilty of storing, moving or concealing hard drugs and other illicit substances to life imprisonment.
The alignment of the Senate with the House of Representatives yesterday was a sequel to the amendment effected on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act.
The amendment was considered at the plenary, presided over by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, APC! Kano North, after majority of senators supported the harmonisation of the conference committee of the two chambers of the National Assembly on Section 11 of the NDLEA Act.
Recall that recently, the House of Representatives passed an amendment to the NDLEA law to prescribe life imprisonment for drug traffickers but the Senate version of the amendment prescribed death penalty for the offenders.
In order to address the differences, both the Senate and the House of Representatives needed to hold a conference committee on the amendment where they will conclude on a final amendment to the section.
The then Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Tahir Monguno, had told his colleagues that the Senate would adopt the amendment of the House prescribing life imprisonment for drug traffickers.
Monguno, who is the chairman of the conference committee, explained that if the National Assembly adopted the death sentence, it meant over 900 accused persons behind bar on drug related cases would be executed.
He, therefore, urged his colleagues to support the resolution in order to reduce the effect of drug consumption and trading in the country.
After the presentation, the Deputy Senate President put the resolution to a vote and majority of the senators supported it.
Senator Barau, thereafter, approved the amendments to include life imprisonment for drug traffickers.
With the amendment, the section now reads: “Anybody who is unlawfully involved in the storage, custody, movement, carriage or concealment of dangerous drugs or controlled substances and who, while so involved is armed with any offensive weapon or is disguised in anyway, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act, and liable on conviction to be sentenced to life imprisonment.”
News
‘He was never our member’ — IPOB disowns Simon Ekpa
The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) says Simon Ekpa, the controversial Biafra agitator, was never a member of the group.
IPOB said Ekpa was not a registered member of the group’s chapter in Finland and cannot be the leader of the group.
On Thursday, Ekpa, a Finland-based secessionist, was arrested by law enforcement agents in the northern European nation.
He was subsequently sent to prison by the district court of Päijät-Häme for “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media”.
Ekpa was said to have committed the crime in 2021 in Lahti municipality.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also arrested four other men over alleged terrorist offences.
In a statement on Friday, Emma Powerful, IPOB’s spokesperson, said Ekpa was a “destructive agent” paid to “infiltrate and destroy” the “peaceful movement” of IPOB.
Powerful accused the Nigerian and Finnish governments of shielding Ekpa from arrest.
“Simon Ekpa was never and is not an IPOB member, let alone being a leader in IPOB. IPOB has some family units in Finland, and Simon Ekpa is not a registered member of any IPOB unit in Finland or any other IPOB unit globally,” the statement reads.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu established IPOB as a peaceful movement to seek Biafra Independence via a supervised UN referendum.
“IPOB is a peaceful global movement that has never taken to violence or arms struggle in two decades of our self-determination struggle.
“It was unfortunate that some innocent Biafrans, being passionate for the restoration of the stolen sovereignty of the Biafran Nation, thought that Simon Ekpa was genuinely sympathetic to the Biafra cause.
“Sadly, they had to learn the hard way that he was a destructive agent paid to infiltrate and destroy the IPOB peaceful movement for Biafra self-determination. He recruited violent criminals to destabilize the South East Region in 2021.
“The Simon Ekpa-led group has no alliance, affiliation or relationship with IPOB family worldwide. He recruited his criminal gangs who have been terrorising the Biafran territory since 2021.
“The Nigerian government and politicians that contracted Simon Ekpa have been making strenuous efforts to tag the violent crimes of their agent on IPOB just to blackmail and demonise the genuine and peaceful Biafra self-determination struggle of the Biafran people led by the IPOB.
“On the purported arrest of Simon Ekpa, all IPOB members, Biafrans and lovers of Biafra freedom should remain calm and focused on our core objective which is the restoration of the sovereign state of Biafra.”
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