A boy and a girl, the twins arrived on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at a United States of America hospital.

In a statement she signed on her Instagram page, the mother and babies are said to be in excellent health condition.

The statement reads further: “The “miracle” birth fulfilled the wishes of the late Odumakin towards the end of his sojourn on earth to have another baby to be named after him.

“The couple got married in 1997, had their first baby girl in 2000 and the second, a boy, in 2003. While the girl was named after Joe, the boy was named Abraham after the late Afenifere leader, Pa Abraham Adesanya.

“The twins are coming 18 years after the last childbirth.

“After he survived a three-day coma in 2020 and a few months before he succumbed to the illness that eventually but unexpectedly claimed his life, YO, as he is fondly called, developed a strong desire for him and his wife to have another baby.

“Thank God Joe did not dither or procrastinate as she took in just about the time YO took ill and never recovered.

“It was good news that Joe conceived but YO never got to hear the news of his wishes coming to pass as he did not make it out of the ventilator.

“He had, however, prophetically left words concerning what the baby or babies should be called if his wishes materialised.

“YO was so accurate in his predictions that they could be twins (and their sex) that he gave the names of the babies and told his wife how he would raise them.

“While many may interpret this to mean that YO had premonition about his death, it was only a strong desire expressed by him to have babies that he would dot over and who would possibly step into his “aluta” shoes.

“It’s a dream come true!”

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Issues affecting the Nigerian girl-child were discussed – their rights and challenges; the efforts of the government as well as its failures; the role of civil society organisations; and the duties of parents as well as the responsibilities of the girl-child herself. Representatives of state governments, diplomats, Labour leaders and civil society groups brainstormed on how to improve the quality of life of the Nigerian girl-child. The Ethiopians came with their own professionals who shared their own experience. As the rapporteur at the event, I worked closely with the Ethiopian specialist, Yehualashet Mekonen, who was a delight to work with. The girl-child was represented by a 16-year-old girl who drew tears from many eyes as she narrated her harrowing experience after her father jumped ship on the family.

We have heard from Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who said Ambode made a good governor but bad politician. We need to hear from Ambode.

To bring the national dialogue to a close, a communique was adopted. Titled “Towards a girl-friendly Nigeria: Urgent call for action”, the participants “recognize the efforts that the Federal and State Governments of Nigeria have made towards ensuring a girl-friendly Nigeria. Commendable as these efforts are, we, however, have come to the painful conclusion that these efforts are insufficient and incommensurate with what is required to make Nigeria a better place for girls.

“We note with a great concern that millions of girls in Nigeria are being robbed of their childhood and are thereby condemned to a lifetime of discrimination and inequality. We note with great concern that they are being denied education; are getting married too young; are sexually and emotionally abused at home, in school and communities; are being barred from owning and inheriting property; and are, usually, the last in the queue when it comes to State spending on health, education and social protection.

“We further note that girls in Nigeria have endured harmful cultural beliefs, patriarchal gender attitudes and discriminatory laws, policies and practices. Despite slow progress in some areas, girls across the country continue to wake up to the daily reality of gender – and age – based injustice.

“We realize that entire generations of girls and young women are being let down. We further realize that vulnerable girls of Nigeria bear the brunt of discrimination and marginalization. Girls in sub-optimal circumstances are the most discriminated against, marginalized and excluded. Girls with disabilities and those living in poverty, in conflict areas and disaster or humanitarian emergency situations bear the greatest burden of multi-layered, multi-faceted experiences of exclusion and marginalization.

“We note with great disappointment that Covid-19 pandemic is already clawing back on some of the gains made in girls’ rights and wellbeing. There are major concerns about the potential slowing down or even reversal of progress towards gender equality in Nigeria.

“We note that every dollar invested in a girl’s education or healthcare benefits society many times over, and is essential to achieve Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We equally note that failure to invest in girls, on the other hand, causes huge economic losses. Girls are key drivers of transformation and helping them can trigger a chain reaction that ultimately leads towards a peaceful and prosperous Africa.

“Girls attend school in unfriendly school environments where hygiene is a major concern. The poor condition of school facilities is so serious that girls feel embarrassed to have to learn in such facilities. Not only these poor facilities have made it difficult for girls to manage their menstrual hygiene, it also could predispose them to infections and other transmitted diseases.

“We fully share the call made in the African Report on Child Wellbeing 2020 that governments must act quickly to avoid significantly damaging the long-term economic and social development prospects of countries.

“We are convinced that investment in girls will lead to more sustainable development and societal prosperity and that breaking the cycle of gender-based discrimination and inequality will promote empowerment of girls and women.

“We note that countries must aspire to nothing less than a country where every girl develops to her full potential in an atmosphere of dignity and equality. To this effect, we make an urgent call for the Federal and State Governments to take action, particularly in the following areas: Ensure gender sensitivity in legal and policy frameworks for girls as well as pay greater attention to the implementation and enforcement of laws and policies relating to the girl child. Establishment of Special Courts for cases of child abuse such as rape, child trafficking, etc will go a long way in this direction; increased investment in girls’ education at all levels by ramping up spending to a minimum of 10 per cent of GDP. These investments need to be targeted to improve school facilities, particularly hygiene and access to clean water and toilet facilities. Budget allocation should be matched by budget performance; increased investment in girls’ health and nutrition by meeting the Abuja Declaration target of increasing health spending to 15 per cent of total government budget. Sexual and reproductive health and services need to be improved to enhance access to adolescent girls; commit to the International Labour Organization’s target of investing at least 6.4 per cent of GDP in social protection with particular focus on girls living in poor households and remote rural areas without access to essential services; eliminate all gender-based violence in both public and private settings against especially vulnerable girls such as those with disabilities, those living in poverty, in conflict areas and in disaster or humanitarian emergencies; Create safe space for girls at all levels of administration to enable them share their concerns and perspectives, play active role in the realization of their rights and have their voices heard so they can influence policies and programmes affecting them; and ensure full implementation of the Nigerian Child’s Rights Act 2003 all over the country.”

I will, however, advise that any time “fake news” pops up its ugly and dangerous head, quickly “shoot” it down! Do not ignore it because the medium that peddled it is little known, lest it becomes a banana peel or your silence is taken to mean consent…

It was in the middle of the event that my brother and professional colleague, Habib Aruna, Chief Press Secretary to ex-Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, called to say the online publication quoted in last week’s “Ambode: Guilty as charged?” was “fake news”. I promised him I would reflect that in this column today. I will, however, do more because other media gurus also called, among others, Mr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor, Dr. Reuben Abati; and one person that never stopped surprising me, Steve Ayorinde, Ambode’s Commissioner for Information and later Commissioner for Tourism. Steve did not meet me at The PUNCH where he, too, sat on the Editor’s chair “generations” after I had vacated it; he accords me so much respect and calls me “boss” all the same. I will never stop appreciating him. So, I send my best wishes to Ambode through Habib and Steve and wish the former governor the very best now and always. I have said it before and it bears repeating here that the unsavoury events of 2019 may simply have helped to postpone Ambode’s second term to a more opportune occasion in future as it happened to Ayo Fayose and Kayode Fayemi (both in Ekiti).

I will, however, advise that any time “fake news” pops up its ugly and dangerous head, quickly “shoot” it down! Do not ignore it because the medium that peddled it is little known, lest it becomes a banana peel or your silence is taken to mean consent, more so since bits and pieces of information the online publication in question sewed together into a whole piece have been in the public domain for quite some time. Pa Edwin Clarke has done very well with the “fake news” about the alleged award of a multi-billion Naira NDDC contract to his company. He promptly “shot down” the allegation and gave his own side of the story wide publicity. Secondly, the best antidote for “fake news” is “true” or “original” news. I have suggested to Abati to consider having Ambode on Arise Television to tell his own side of the story. We have heard from Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who said Ambode made a good governor but bad politician. We need to hear from Ambode. The time may not be auspicious now so as not to pile misery upon an ailing Tinubu – and I wish him quick recovery – but at the opportune time Ambode should speak up. Otherwise, he should forever keep his peace, fake news or no fake news

*Bolawole (turnpot@gmail.com 0807 552 5533)

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Sanwo-Olu gave the assurance on Thursday during a condolence visit to the family of the late Yinka Odumakin, former National Publicity Secretary of the pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere.

His words: “We will not leave you alone. We will ensure that even when the crowd disappears, we will be there for you.”

At the occasion, Sanwo-Olu urged Nigerians, especially members of the Civil Society Organisations to cherish, preserve and push forward the struggle for a better Nigeria and black race, which Odumakin fought and died for.

The governor said Odumakin, during his lifetime, did his best through several struggles and interventions to make Nigeria a better country and therefore urged people to stand firm and ensure that the legacy of the late Afenifere spokesman was built upon.

Odumakin, a renowned human rights activist, died on Friday April 2 at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, at the age of 54 years.

Sanwo-Olu described the late Afenifere spokesman as “one of the strongest, detribalised, action packed, full of life, true Nigerians of our time.”

He said: “I am here to pay my condolences on behalf of my government and the entire people of Lagos State for the painful loss of one of the strongest, detribalised, action packed, full of life, true Nigerians of our time, late Comrade Yinka Odumakin.

“Our friend and brother lived a good life. He lived a fighter; he died a fighter. The civil society stakeholders in Lagos and Nigeria have indeed lost a big member of that community and indeed the entire nation because of what he stood for and fought for. If we begin to take him as a Yoruba man, we will be reducing him and what he stood for in this country.

“Wherever Yinka is right now, his wish would be that we will make this country better than how he left it and that is a commitment we are going to leave with you that we will do it to ensure that what he stood for, the legacy he worked for does not go into waste.”

In her response, Dr. Okei-Odumakin appreciated the Lagos State Government for the condolence visit.

She said several tributes and comments about the deceased would energise her to do more in pursuing what Yinka Odumakin stood for, adding that the ideals of her husband would continue to live forever.

She said: “Yinka was selfless. Before he went to hospital, he still told me about four programmes that he would have. He told me how he would leave for Ilorin the next day and later to Ekiti, the third day he would be back to Ibadan for his programme. He said he would be at Ife on Friday, he would be at Ikenne and Sunday, he would return to Lagos. He was so selfless and he had faced all sorts of medical problems and still came out strong. One did not know that this would be goodnight.

“One consolation is that Yinka is not dead; he lives because he will continue to live in the consciousness of the people. And to live in the consciousness of the people is to live forever. What Yinka will want to see is for us to remain focused and committed. Some of the things he could not achieve like restructuring of Nigeria and a lot of things that he could not do, he will be happy if he sees us doing a lot better. Yinka lives on.”

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Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, his widow, made this known in the order of funeral rites made available on Monday in Lagos.

Her words:  “The rites will span three days, starting from Thursday, April 22, Friday 23 and Saturday, April, 24.

“There would be day of tributes and Service of Songs at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos, between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm while his body lies in state on Thursday, April, 22.

“On Friday 23, his body departs Lagos for Moro, his country home, in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun.

“There will be a Christian wake keep by 5:00 pm at the Origbo Anglican Grammar School, Moro, which will be followed by a candle light procession.”

Okei- Odumakin disclosed that there would be Lying in State at Origbo Anglican Grammar School, Moro by 8: 00 am on April 24.

That, she said, would be followed by a funeral service by 10:00 am, after which his remains would be committed to Mother Earth at a private interment,” she said.

Odumakin died on Friday, April 2, 2021  after battling with respiratory problems occasioned by COVID-19 complications.

Source: NAN

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