The Youth Council has been lauded for being at the forefront of youth advocacy, empowerment, and development of the youth constituency of Ogun State. This was made known in the keynote address of the Commissioner for Sports Development, Alh. Wasiu Isiaka, at the 2024 Annual Congress of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ogun State Chapter, held at the Simeon Adebo Library, Kuto, Abeokuta on Monday, December 30, 2024.

The annual Congress, a constitutional assembly, enables youth stakeholders of Ogun State to present annual reports from the twenty Local Governments and youth organizations operating within Ogun State, gather and discuss youth matters and challenges, and review and ratify affiliation to the National Youth Council of Nigeria, among others.

In his opening remark, the State Chairman of the Youth Council, Olóyè Akolawole Shoremi, welcomed all stakeholders, congratulating them on the achievements of the year 2024. Shoremi, who lauded the composure of the youths despite the non-existence of a coordinating Ministry, reiterated the commitment of the State Government to address emerging concerns of the youth constituency. “Respected Leaders present here today, you will agree with me that this has been a challenging year for us,” he commenced.

“We’ve operated without a Ministry of Youth Development, even though our activities remain well-coordinated through our supervising Commissioner, it is unarguable that we would do better with the dedicated Ministry when put into existence as already conceptualized by our youth-loving Governor.

“As a way of assuring the commitments of Prince Dapo Abiodun to addressing our challenges, I am pleased to inform you that our youth Organizations will receive subventions, running into millions of naira, from the Government today. Other matters are equally receiving attention,” Shoremi assured.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Commissioner for Sports Development, the Director for Youth Development, Mr. Adetokunbo Salami, commended the youth leadership of Ogun State for the exemplary commitment to fostering the relationship among the youth, exhibiting unbridled creativity, and providing enabling platforms for the young people to voice their concerns on societal development. He charged the uniform Organizations to sustain the use and display of their insignias at public events.

The Congress witnessed the presentation of End-of-Year gifts to stakeholders and rewards for performing Local Government Coordinators, Heads of Organizations, and State Directors.

There were also goodwill messages from Leaders of the NYCN who were in attendance, including the National Capacity Development Adviser of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Com. Yinka Fashina AICMC JP; the former National Financial Secretary of NYCN, Ms. Yinka Odutayo; the 1st, 7th, 8th, and 9th State Chairmen of the NYCN — Pa Simeon Ogundipe, Com. Adeniyi Adenekan, Prince Adeleke Adebajo, and Com. Abdul-Jabar Ayelaagbe;

Other Leaders are the former State Deputy-Chairmen, Prince Kamorudeen Adebajo and Com. Olawale Senbadejo; former State Vice-Chairmen, Com. Adeyemi Badejo and Com. Tajudeen Adeleye; former State Secretary, Com. Olusola Olufemi; former State Financial Secretary, Com. Aderemi Ilori; former Local Government Coordinators, Mrs. Alaba Kusimo, Com. Kayode Dansu, Com. Timothy Akapo, and Com. Bolaji Sulaimon.

Police in Ogun state have rescued an abducted seven year old girl who operates a point of sale (POS) at Sango Ota.
The suspected kidnapper of the girl was also arrested by the police.
She was found by the police in Ayetoro in Ogun west.
The girl was abducted since Monday by her mother’s customer who was later demanding a huge ransom to free her.
Police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, said the girl was rescued by anti-kidnapping squad led by the state police commissioner, Olanrewaju Ogunlowo.
The rescue operation came, hours after some police officers were detained for allegedly demanding a N40,000 bribe to investigate the case of the kidnapped girl.

In compliance with the amended Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) and the Electricity Act 2023 (Amended), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (“NERC” or the “Commission”) has issued an order to transfer regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Ogun State from the Commission to the Ogun State Electricity Regulatory Commission (OGERC).

Recall that with the EA 2023, the Commission retains the role as a central regulator with regulatory oversight on the inter-state/international generation, transmission, supply, trading and system operations.

The EA also mandates any state that intends to establish and regulate intrastate electricity markets to deliver a formal notification of its processes and requests NERC to transfer regulatory authority over electricity operations in the State to the State Regulator.

Based on this, the Government of Ogun State complied with the conditions precedent in the laws, duly notified NERC and requested for the transfer of regulatory oversight of the intrastate electricity market in Ogun State.

The transfer Order by NERC has the following provisions:

• Direct Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDP), Ikeja Electric PLC (IE) and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to incorporate subsidiaries: EKEDP SubCo, IE SubCo and IBEDC SubCo respectively to assume responsibilities for intrastate supply and distribution of electricity in Ogun State from EKEDP, IE and IBEDC.
• EKEDP, IE and IBEDC shall complete the incorporation of EKEDP SubCo, IE SubCo and IBEDC SubCo within 60 days from 24th December 2024. The subcompanies shall apply for and obtain licences for the intrastate supply and distribution of electricity from OGERC, among other directives.

All transfers envisaged by this order shall be completed by 23rd June 2025.

To view the Order, visit the NERC website.