Ashafa commiserates with the family of late UNILAG VC – Prof. Sofoluwe With deep sorrow, I commiserate the sudden death of a model and senior at the famous and CMS Grammar School, Lagos, who until his passage to Eternal Glory was the Vice- Chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG, Feb 2010 to May 2012) – Prof. Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe (DGMA). I recall with nostalgia his investiture as a Distinguished Grammarian Merit Awardee of many years ago and that of his brother Brig. Gen. Soyemi Sofoluwe (rtd) in Nov 2011 when I was acknowledged a Grammarian-of-Honour by our alma mater. Prof. A.B. Sofoluwe was in style and character exemplary, an erudite scholar, amiable administrator, kind hearted and un-assuming. May the Almighty God in His infinite mercy grant his soul eternal rest, guide, protect his wife, children, and all those he had no opportunity to share his last moments with if he knew! AMEN. Signed
SENATOR ‘GBENGA B. ASHAFA
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
SENATOR OLUGBENGA BAREEHU ASHAFA
c/o NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, ABUJA
May 12, 2012 PRESS RELEASE
With deep sorrow, I mourn the sudden death of a model and senior at the famous and Oldest Secondary School in Nigeria CMS Grammar School, Lagos, who until his passage to Eternal Glory was the Vice- Chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG, Feb 2010 to May 2012) – Prof. Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe (dgma).
I recall with nostalgia his investiture as a Distinguished Grammarian Merit Awardee many years ago and that of his brother Brig. Gen. Soyemi Sofoluwe (rtd) in Nov 2011 when I was acknowledged a Grammarian-of-Honour by our alma mater.
Prof. A.B. Sofoluwe was in style and character exemplary, an erudite scholar, amiable administrator, kind hearted and un-assuming.
I am particularly and deeply pained by the un-accomplished status as Vice-Chancellor of his institution while he only just addressed a press conference on the 50th Anniversary of UNILAG. Sad indeed that he did not have the Grace to complete what he started.
Prof. Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe is certainly an enigma and has left his foot prints on the sand of time that “it is not how long but how well at 62”
May the Almighty God in His infinite mercy grant his soul eternal rest, guide, protect his wife, children, and all those he had no opportunity to share his last moments with if he knew! AMEN.
Signed
OLUGBENGA B. ASHAFA
SENATOR, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
SPEECH DELIVERED BY SENATOR ‘GBENGA B. ASHAFA ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY OF THE LAGOS YOUTH ENERGY CAREER PROGRAM AT SIEMENS POWER ACADEMY, OSHODI-APAPA EXPRESSWAY, ISOLO, LAGOS ON WEDNESDAY 4TH OF APRIL, 2012.
- The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Mineral Resources, Lagos State, Mr. Taofiq Tijani,
- The Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Limited Nigeria, Mr. Alain de Cat, ably represented by Mr. Nasir Giwa,
- The General Manager, Lagos State Electricity Board, Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi,
- The Manager, Siemens Power Academy, Mr. Aboude Jr. Jean Materne
- Our Students, The Energy Experts to be,
- Gentlemen of the Press,
- Distinguished Guests,
- Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is a known fact that one of the major challenges facing our country in its journey towards sustainable development and meaningful growth, is inadequate power supply. This challenge has become a hydra-headed monster drawing us many steps backward on every attempt to make a step forward.
We have, for a long time be indecisive on this issue that other nations almost consider us unserious as a people. Should we then continue to fold our arms and look-on while events in the global village run by? I think not!
Critical among factors often pointed to, as the bane of efficiency in our electricity generation phase is the dearth of expertise. With this, the “local content policy” of the Federal Government has not been allowed to take its full fledge in the power sector.
In recognition of this all important factor, The Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and its implementation agency- Lagos State Electricity Board, in Partnership with my humble self and Siemens Power Academy; have developed the Lagos Youth Energy Career Program (LYECP).
The Lagos Youth Energy Career Program is a carefully designed program aimed at developing well trained energy/power development operatives for employment in the Nigerian energy/power development market.
This Pilot Program commences today, 4th of April 2012, with 15 engineering graduates who are to be trained at the Siemens Power Academy in the following knowledge/competency areas:
· General Electrical and Engineering Principles.
· Protection of Electrical Networks (especially Distribution networks).
· The SMART Grid: Energy Data gathering, control and measuring principles.
· Energy Auditing and Database Management.
· Power Distribution Economics and the Financial Grid.
· Managing Power Projects.
The Lagos Youth Energy Career Program (LYECP) is also a viable means of empowering graduates through Job creation and practical training as the successful applicants will- as a core part of the Program, gain first hand work experience at Lagos State Electricity Board (LSEB) as Energy Officers; all through the duration of the Program. The Program has been scheduled to run for a period of Six (6) Months.
Our dear students, the young ENERGY EXPERTS to be, I want to implore you to pay attention during the training exercise. You will all recall that over a thousand young men and women submitted applications for this exercise. Quote me, it was not out of luck, nor was it a coincidence, nor political party influence or personal affiliation, that you all emerged as finalists today. It was after various rationalizations and arduous interviews that you all have proven your selves worthy to be seated here today. Please don’t take this unique opportunity for granted.
To start this way, training young Nigerians to solve one of the most contending problems of our national development, is to me, energy rightly dissipated. In the long run, we all will be beneficiaries.
Thank you all and God bless.
Eko o ni baje o
Senator ‘Gbenga B. Ashafa
Federal Republic of Nigeria
SPEECH DELIVERED BY SENATOR ‘GBENGA B. ASHAFA AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY OF HIS FREE MONTHLY ICT PROGRAM ON FRIDAY 16TH OF MARCH, 2012
Invited Guest, Our Graduands of Today, Gentlemen of the Press, Distinguish Ladies and Gentlemen.
One of the most ravaging adventures in human history is the invention of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). The web of diverse cultures, people and knowledge in the modern time are results of this continuous human expedition. To opt out of this web in the current age is tantamount to living in the stone-age. This is because extant global events are shaped and controlled, not just by ICT alone but also, by those who have the knowledge of its workings. The strategic and important roles plays by ICT both in the national development and global competitiveness, especially in the creation of much needed jobs for both the older and younger generations cannot be underestimated. It is in this nexus that we resolved that equipping our people with the knowledge of Information Communication Technology (ICT) would be energies rightly dissipated.
Today’s convocation is unique both in the degree of numbers of batches involved and the re-unionism it has brought –among the students of the three batches and between you all and your Senator. I am indeed very happy to be in your midst this moment for this celebration.
It is not in our character to jam-pack a number of batches together for convocation, but as you must have all noticed, the tasks of legislators in terms of the enormity of national assignments in the present-day Nigeria requires more time, more efforts and more attentions. I, therefore, tender my apology for delaying the convocation till today –especially for the November and December 2011Batches.
Invited guests, today’s graduands, gentlemen of the press, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. It is my pleasure to inform you that by the end of today’s ceremony, Senator ‘Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa’ s Free Monthly ICT Training would have graduated six (6) batches, one hundred and thirty-five (135)students in all, with new skills and knowledge in Computer Programs such as Microsoft Words, Excel and PowerPoint as well as Printing operations and Internet Browsing. It is also worthy of note that a total number of eighteen (18) students would have benefited, on merit, from our free computers by the end of today. Those that won in November batch have received their set of computers, with printers, while December and February winners will receive theirs today.
For December Batch, we have Saka Toirat (1st Position) from Agboyi-Ketu L.C.D.A.; Amusan Iyabo (2nd Position) from Ikorodu-West L.C.D.A.; and Alimi Fatimah (3rd Position) from Ibeju-Lekki L.G.
February winners are: Oyinloye Christopher (1st Position) from Ikosi-Isheri L.C.D.A.; Bonojo Jamiu (2nd Position) from Ijede L.C.D.A.; and Aberegidi Samson (3rd Position) from Ikosi-Ejirin
Responses from the past students confirmed to us that the training has further enhanced their academic performance, income generation, skills development and credentials’ added advantage. It is our ardent hope that those of you graduating today will also make the best use of the training in your various endeavours. However, I urge you all to visit my official website: www.senatorgbengaashafa.com to fill a Volunteer Form on the site, for further collaborative initiatives and future benefits.
We should all remember that the reward of a thing well done is to have done it; any recognition is just an icing on the cake, not to be expected but definitely to be enjoyed! Once again, I congratulate all of you, our graduands, and I salute you all here present on this great occasion.
Thank you very much and God bless you all.
Lagos East Senatorial District
ASHAFA TO RE-PRESENT INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE BILL
The Senate on Tuesday, 14th February, 2012 deliberated on the Lead Debate on the 2nd reading of the bill to establish the National Agency for the promotion and preservation of Local Languages in Nigeria which was brilliantly delivered by Senator ‘Gbenga B. Ashafa.
However, it was stood down based on an order raised on the floor of the Senate by Senator Abaribe Harcourt representing Abia South Senatorial District who informed the Legislators that there is an existing institute (National Institute for Nigerian Languages) located at Aba and established by Decree No. 117 of 1993. The institute is said to be affiliated to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
But, Senator ‘Gbenga B. Ashafa who sponsored the Bill explained that intention of the Bill is to ensure that the Agency cut across 774 Local Governments in the Country adding that the Bill if passed into law has the capacity to promote indigenous languages across the Federation.
Ashafa said: “The central aim of this bill is not to replace English as our lingua franca but to preserve our collective heritage and not to be accused of indirectly assassinating our cultural inheritance. It is simply a bill that seeks to establish an agency for the preservation and promotion of our indigenous languages in order to implement and harmonise the overall educational and cultural policies of the Nigerian state.”
He explained that if the bill is enacted, it will encourage the speaking of indigenous languages, stimulate publication of books, production of films, documentaries and educational materials in those languages and put in the front burner the need to respect our cultural heritage.
In his words, “Our indigenous languages are part of our culture and if we do not do something about their preservation with the massive push for universal basic education which has English as its pivot, we stand a danger of losing some of these languages.
“To compound things, we all know that some of our children do not speak any language other than English or pidgin these days, not even three major languages are spoken these days in an average Nigerian Home.”
The bill is to be reviewed by Senator ‘Gbenga B. Ashafa for re-presentation before the Senate after thorough revision/amendment of the existing law establishing the institute to enhance its efficiency in promotion and preservation of Nigerian Indigenous Languages.