News
Soludo Receives new Governing Council Members of Federal Poly, Oko, Harps on Revamping Higher Institutions in Nigeria

**By Christian ABURIME
Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, today, Friday, 19th July, 2024, received the new Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic Oko.

The Council members led by its Chairman, Senator Barnabas Gemade were received at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.
Senator Gemade who was the former National Chairman of People’s Democratic Party, described Governor Soludo as the most famous former Central Bank Governor in the history of the nation.

He explained that their visit was to officially inform him that they had assumed duty in the institution as members of the governing councils members”As Governor of the CBN, you brought tremendous innovation and we have seen that in your style of governance.
“Part of our work in the institution is to ensure that we collaborate with your government.

“This council will ensure that the institution is close to your government in programmes of technological development.
I am delighted to be here eith my members”; he concluded.Responding, Governor Soludo congratulated them on their well-deserved appointment, illustrating his emotional attachment to the institution.

“I knew it when it was Oko arts of science. It later changed to Anambra State and finally, Federal Polytechnic, Oko.
“It has grown in number and size, but you have a humongous task ahead of you.
“I look at the institution with mixed feelings of hope and opportunities but also of despair.
“We know where the dream was, but whether we are heading to the position, I don’t know.
“This is not peculiar to Federal Polytechnic, Oko. Most of our institutions are turning into glorified secondary school.

“We need to start asking the pivotal question of what our various individual institutions are known for.
What comes to mind when our institutions are mentioned?”Sadly, many of our institutions have gone down.
We need to go back to the fundamental ideas of our forefathers.
“I’m still looking at the glass as half full,” the governor stated.
He revealed that the new composition of the Council is an opportunity for something unique to be done in the institution, rather than being a place where people are given paper certificates without something to do when they graduate.
“In our own Polytechnic here in Mgbakwu, I have a team reviewing their status.
They will soon submit their report on whether the institution is fit for purpose.
“It is a general problem of our education, particularly tertiary education.
“I call them the “villagization” of our institutions, but I see Nigeria in terms of composition of members of the board.
“There is huge work to be done, to be able to rescue our education sector.
“I’ve seen university when it was universal, not minding where one came from but the value being added.
“Here in Anambra, we recruited 8115 teachers from 18 states of the country because the interest of the Anambra child is to be taught by the best teacher.
We are already practising what we preach.”Re-invent Federal Polytechnic, Oko.
It has been villagized to a glorified high school.
“I’ve seen how it works elsewhere and it pains me to see what is going on here.
“We have a job to rebuild because education remains the ladder of opportunities.”In terms of strategic partnership with you, there is a whole lot we can do to assist you, though yours is a Federal Institution in Anambra State.
Let’s do it together”; Governor Soludo added.Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Mr. Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne, The Acting Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Dr. Uche Onyegbu, among others, attended the event.
News
One dead, many injured as bus collides with truck in Ikorodu (Photos)

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has confirmed that one person died while two others sustained injuries in a road accident along Ikorodu Road, Lagos.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by LASTMA spokesperson, Taofiq Adebayo, the incident occurred at the Idi-Iroko inward Ogolonto axis when a fully loaded commercial Mazda bus collided with a speeding articulated truck.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the Mazda bus, with registration number LND 490 SD, was recklessly competing for right of way when it crashed into the truck, registered as EKY 121 YJ.

“One passenger, who was seated at the doorway of the bus, was flung out of the vehicle and unfortunately crushed under the rear tyres of the truck,” Adebayo disclosed.
He added that two other passengers, a man and a woman, sustained serious injuries and were rushed by ambulance to Ikorodu General Hospital for urgent medical attention.
Police officers on the scene handed over the deceased’s remains to the victim’s family, while the damaged vehicles were promptly removed to restore free traffic flow.
Adebayo expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and advised motorists to avoid reckless driving on Lagos roads.
“This sad incident could have been avoided if traffic rules were obeyed. LASTMA will continue to educate, caution, and where necessary, sanction reckless drivers. We urge all road users to put safety first,” he said.
Crime
60-year-old man arrested for raping Lagos lady

The Lagos State Police Command, Gender Unit, has arrested a 60-year-old man, Ajayi Femi, for allegedly raping a 24-year-old lady.
The command disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
The spokesperson for the command, Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that the investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly spiked the survivor’s drink, rendering her unconscious, before having unlawful sexual intercourse with her.
The incident took place on August 22, 2025, and was reported by the victim’s sister to the police at the Meiran Police Station before being transferred to the Gender Unit of the command for further investigation.
“Medical examinations conducted by the Gender Unit corroborated the survivor’s account, while the suspect reportedly confessed to the crime during interrogation,” the statement read.
The command revealed that the suspect confessed to the crime during interrogation and has since been remanded in prison custody until the next adjourned date.
It added, “The command remains committed to ensuring justice for survivors of sexual offences.”
This case comes weeks after operatives of the command arrested a 45-year-old man in Ikotun for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl.
The incident, which attracted widespread outrage, reignited calls from rights activists for stiffer penalties against sex offenders.
Crime
Seven Cult Suspects Arrested in Akwa Ibom with Human Skull

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested seven individuals suspected of cult-related activities in Ikot Osura, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area.
According to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, the suspects—allegedly members of the banned “Ku Klux Klan” confraternity—were apprehended on August 28, 2025.
The arrest followed a report by a student of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, who was attacked on August 25 after renouncing his membership in the group. The victim was left unconscious, and his phone and ₦41,000 were stolen during the assault.
Acting on the report, police operatives launched a targeted operation that led to the arrest of the suspects: Douglas Ambe Esikhene, Stephen Asukwo Effiong, Saviour Dany Akpan, Emmanuel Friday Umoh, Augustine Uduak Okon, Mary Ating Asukwo, and Itohowo Christopher Uko.
A search of their hideout led to the recovery of a locally made short gun, seven live cartridges, a fresh human skull, a bottle containing a black substance suspected to be ritual oil, and another bottle believed to contain Guyanese oil used for rituals.
DSP John confirmed that investigations are ongoing, with efforts underway to apprehend more members of the group and recover additional evidence.
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