Barely 17 months after he assumed office, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has finally nominated the duo of the former Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) President, Waheed Odusile, and the Vice Chancellor, Tai Solarin University of Education, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, Commissioners of Information and Education Ministry respectively.
The nominations contained in a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Kunle Somorin, stated that the names of two nominees have been forwarded to the state House of Assembly for confirmation as Commissioners.
Somorin further quoted a letter sent to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Olakunle Oluomo, Friday as saying, “Governor Abiodun urged the House to screen Arigbabu for Education, Science and Technology portfolio while he named Odusile as the Commissioner-designate-for Information and Strategy.”
The earlier appointed Commissioner for Education-designate, Prof Sidi Osho, was enmeshed in certificate scandal and was later eased, but the governor has failed to appoint a Commissioner for Information and Strategy.
The failure to appoint commissioners into the two ministries have prompted several protests from both information handlers and the students bodies.
Recently, the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) threatened to embark on street protest, while giving the governor a 21-day ultimatum to either appoint a substantive commissioner for the Education Ministry or face the students’ wrath.
Arigbabu, a Professor of Mathematics Education, holds a PhD from the prestigious University of South Africa, Pretoria in Mathematics, Science and Technology with specialisation in Mathematics Education.
Odusile, the Information and Strategy Commissioner designate, on the other hand is a former President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). Until recently, he served as President of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ).
Mr. Odusile, has considerable experience across the broadcast and print genres of journalism, spanning three and a half decades.
He has held various newsroom management positions, including being the pioneer Editor of National Life Newspaper and Managing Editor of The Nation.
He was also at different times on the staff of National Concord and ThisDay Newspapers.
The statement also announced the appointment of two new General Managers: Fola Onifade for the State Signage and Advertising Agency and Sesan Asenuga for Parks and Garages Development Board.
Tolu Bankole was named Senior Special Assistant to the Governor and Ifekayode Akinbode will serve as a Consultant (Media).
