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The Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) and the Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC) have charted a new course for strategic partnership aimed at deepening public enlightenment, promoting sustainable development and attracting global attention to the environmental challenges confronting coastal communities in Ondo State . The renewed commitment was unveiled on Wednesday when the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of OSRC, Mr Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson, led the corporation’s management team on a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of OSOPADEC, Prince Olabiyi Olaleye Poroye, at the Commission’s headquarters in Akure. Speaking during the meeting, Prince Poroye described the media as a vital stakeholder in governance and development, stressing that transparency, accountability and effective communication remain indispensable tools for delivering meaningful impact to the people. He commended OSRC for its professionalism and remarkable growth, ...

Professor Alaba Akingbesote, a distinguished expert in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and e-market services, is set to deliver the 66th Inaugural Lecture at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) on Tuesday, 16 June 2026.  The lecture, titled “From Traditional Markets to Bidirectional AI-Cloud E-Marketplaces: Emergence, Challenges and Expectations,” will examine the profound global shift from conventional physical trading environments to sophisticated, AI-driven digital economies. According to a statement released by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) and Chairman of the Ceremonies Committee, Professor Adebisi Daramola, the event will take place at the University Multipurpose Hall at 2:00 pm. The Vice Chancellor, Prof.  Olugbenga Ige, will chair the historic occasion. Prof. Akingbesote boasts an illustrious academic career spanning over three decades. He began his journey in higher education at Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Sci...

Adebamijo Adebiyi is a Nigerian entrepreneur, product strategist, and technology builder with over 10 years of experience developing digital products, enterprise solutions, fintech platforms, and emerging technology businesses . He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Medikia Finance, an AI-powered financial infrastructure company focused on serving healthcare providers across Africa. Adebamijo Adebiyi: Building Africa’s Future of Healthcare Finance Through Innovation Prior to founding Medikia Finance, Adebiyi founded Hetom Innovations Limited, a technology company through which he has led the development of software products, fintech solutions, e-commerce platforms, payment systems, enterprise applications, and digital transformation initiatives for businesses and organisations. Throughout his career, he has worked across product management, financial technology, software development, blockchain innovation, digital commerce, and business strategy. His experience includes laun...

Medikia Finance, a Nigerian health-fintech startup building AI-powered financial infrastructure for healthcare providers, has officially launched the beta version of its platform, marking a significant step toward solving healthcare financing and banking challenges across Nigeria's healthcare ecosystem. The platform was publicly unveiled during a Pharmalliance healthcare stakeholders meeting in Ibadan, where pharmacists, healthcare business owners, and industry stakeholders were introduced to Medikia's suite of financial products designed specifically for healthcare providers. Founded by Adebamijo Adebiyi, Medikia Finance was created to address a challenge commonly experienced by healthcare businesses across Nigeria: access to financial services that understand healthcare cashflow cycles. Many pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and healthcare distributors face difficulties accessing working capital, managing supplier payments, processing collections, and obtaining fi...

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan   The Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo, has urged Nigerians to confront national challenges with faith, goodwill and active goodness . Badejo, who stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ibadan, said that these virtues could “crowd out evil” in the society. He acknowledged the weight of hardship many citizens currently bore. “In moments when life feels overwhelming, challenges seem endless, and we find ourselves asking, ‘How long, O Lord?’, this prayer reminds us to turn our hearts to God. “Even in our deepest struggles, He hears the cries of His people and remains our refuge, strength, and hope,” he said. The bishop anchored his message on Psalm 130:1: “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice.” He, therefore, urged Nigerians not to lose faith in God’s timing, mercy, and power. Badejo stressed that prayer alone was not enough without corresponding action. “Good works...

The Edo State Government has ordered the temporary closure of three public secondary schools in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area following intelligence reports of a potential kidnapping threat targeting students . The affected schools are Ososo Grammar School, Ososo Comprehensive High School and Makeke Secondary School. The decision, announced by the state Ministry of Education, followed security advisories warning of possible attacks on educational institutions within the area. A circular signed by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Enodolomwanyi Otamere, stated that the closure was a precautionary measure aimed at safeguarding students, teachers and surrounding communities pending further security assessments. Sources familiar with the development disclosed that intelligence gathered by security agencies, including the Department of State Services, pointed to plans by suspected criminal elements to target schools in Edo North Senatorial District. According to the sources, the s...

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan  A 45-year-old man, Nathaniel Olaniyan, on Tuesday appeared before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for  alleged N10 million land fraud. Olaniyan, whose address was not provided, is facing a two-count charge of obtaining money under false pretences and stealing. He, however,  pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor, Insp Adeshina Folaranmi, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between Dec.2025 and January, 2026, at Ijaye area of Ibadan. Folaranmi alleged that the defendant collected N10 million from the complainant, Mr Adesoji Adeyemi, for eight acres of land, but failed to provide the land. He said the defendant  converted the money to his personal use and all efforts made by the complainant to get back his money or the land proved abortive. Folaranmi said that the offences contravened Sections 390(9) and 419 of the Criminal Law of Oyo State, 2000. The Magistrate, Mrs Oluwabusayo Osho, granted the defendant bail in the sum of thr...

The society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) Ondo state chapter of caretaker committee has again joined other associations in the state to give commendation to the ministry of Culture and Tourism for its efforts aimed at moving tourism to an enviable standard .     The chairman of the professional body mr kehinde Oluwatosin gave the commendation during their courtesy visit to the honourable commissioner for culture and tourism hon.Afolabi Adesoji in his office. Mr Oluwatosin who led the delegation of the body including the secretary Dr Ajayi expressed satisfaction with the professional standards in the ministry of culture and tourism lauding the directors of finance and administration, tourism and Arts.   In his response the commissioner honourable Afolabi Adesoji thanked the body for the visit and expressed his readiness to support the members to achieve success. Newsline NG gathered that the The society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) is the premier professional body for visual arti...

Nigerian heritage fashion brand, BINTA Fashion, has received a major boost in its growing international profile following its presentation to the Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, during the Super Eagles' visit to Warsaw ahead of their international friendly match against Poland. The presentation took place during a courtesy visit to the Super Eagles' hotel in Warsaw and was attended by officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Poland, representatives of DiasporaEvents, and executives of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Poland (NIDOP).  The delegation presented a specially curated BINTA Fashion gift box to the NFF Chairman on behalf of the Nigerian community in Poland The gift package featured a handcrafted adire jersey and a reversible ankara-adire tote bag, showcasing the richness of Nigeria's indigenous textile heritage and the creativity of Nigerian designers operating on the global stage. Receiving the gift, Alhaji Gusau comm...

The society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) Ondo state chapter of caretaker committee has again joined other associations in the state to give commendation to the ministry of Culture and Tourism for its efforts aimed at moving tourism to an enviable standard .     The chairman of the professional body mr kehinde Oluwatosin gave the commendation during their courtesy visit to the honourable commissioner for culture and tourism hon.Afolabi Adesoji in his office. Mr Oluwatosin who led the delegation of the body including the secretary Dr Ajayi expressed satisfaction with the professional standards in the ministry of culture and tourism lauding the directors of finance and administration, tourism and Arts.    In his response the commissioner honourable Afolabi Adesoji thanked the body for the visit and expressed his readiness to support the members to achieve success. Newsline NG gathered that the The society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) is the premier professional body for visual artists which rep...

    By Dayo Afolabi, Akure   A walk through Ayedun community in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State paints a picture that is different from what its name, ‘Ayedun’, connotes. Ayedun, in the local Yoruba language, means ‘life is sweet’. A poignant smell of stale urine and faeces pervades the area .  Drawn by the stench of faecal matter, large green flies gathered in the area, perching on everything in sight, including food items. When this reporter visited Ayedun, one of the first things he noticed was a young man crunched and defecating in what is meant to be a public space.     Abeni Omorilewa, a businesswoman in the area who spoke in Yoruba, said that open defecation is a health concern to traders in the nearby Oja Oba market.   ‘It is affecting us seriously; may God not allow us to incur bad sickness. As shop owners here, we have protested that they should not be openly defecating here, all to no avail’ she said.       Another trader, Bukola Mathew, said she was concerne...

The Executive Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Prince Biyi Poroye has called on the international community, development partners, environmental organizations, and relevant stakeholders to support ongoing efforts to address the devastating impact of sea incursion and climate change affecting coastal communities in Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas of Ondo State. Prince Poroye made the appeal during the commemoration of the 2026 World Environment Day held in Aiyetoro, one of the worst-hit riverine communities in Ondo state, Nigeria. The OSOPADEC Chairman, accompanied by members of the Commission's management team, top government officials, and stakeholders, embarked on an inspection tour of Aiyetoro before the event. The delegation traveled through Ugbo-Nla to Aiyetoro by boat, where they assessed firsthand the extensive damage caused by persistent sea surges and coastal erosion. The team visited several affected areas to evalu...

‎ ‎The Ondo State Government has announced its support for the nationwide #UniteAgainstTerror campaign, calling on all Nigerians to rise above political, ethnic, and religious differences in a collective effort to combat terrorism and other forms of violent crimes threatening the nation's peace and stability. ‎ ‎2. The campaign mobilization comes in the wake of the recent conviction and sentencing of individuals linked to the horrific Owo church massacre of June 2022, a tragedy that claimed innocent lives and left lasting scars on families, communities, and the nation. While welcoming the judicial outcome as a significant step toward justice, the Government emphasized that the fight against terrorism requires sustained vigilance and the active participation of all citizens. ‎ ‎3. Speaking on Channels Television's Politics Today, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa stated that this is a defining moment for Nigerians to come together with one voice against terrorism, stressing tha...

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko Globally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 600 million annual cases of foodborne illness cause 420,000 deaths. This burden extremely affects vulnerable populations, with children under five suffering 40 per cent of the disease burden, leading to preventable deaths and severe economic strain from lost productivity and medical costs. To stimulate global action and awareness regarding these risks, the United Nations General Assembly established World Food Safety Day in 2018, to be marked annually on June 7. Co-led by the WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the annual event mobilises governments, industries, and communities to prioritise strict hygiene and regulatory standards. The 2026 campaign is particularly milestone-driven as WHO releases comprehensive new estimates on the public health burdens of foodborne diseases, perfectly aligning with this year’s global theme: “From Burden to Solutions – safe food everywhere.” Mirrorin...

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have successfully rescued Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, following a late-night operation conducted on Saturday, June 6, 2026. The rescue operation, which took place at about 7:30 p.m., also resulted in the death of two suspected kidnappers during a fierce gun battle with police operatives. Security personnel recovered two firearms from the suspects. Mrs. John-Paul, who is the younger sister of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and her twin sons were abducted on June 3, 2026, while travelling to drop the children off at school. The incident had sparked widespread concern, with family members and well-wishers appealing for public support and the safe return of the victims. According to police sources, sustained intelligence gathering, strategic surveillance, and coordinated tactical operations mounted pressure on the kidnappers, forcing them into a confrontation with security...

By Kehinde Ogunkorode  The Ondo State Correspondent of THISDAY Newspaper, Mr. Fidelis David, has challenged aspiring journalists to embrace investigative reporting and ethical opinion writing as critical tools for promoting accountability, combating misinformation and strengthening democratic governance. David gave the charge while delivering a lecture at a training organised by the Nigerian Union of Campus Journalists (NUCJ), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko Chapter, on the theme, "The Nitty-Gritty of Journalism: Skills, Ethics and Community Impact." Speaking on "Investigative and Opinion Writing: Digging Beyond the Surface," the journalist warned that the rise of social media, artificial intelligence and unverified online content has made credible journalism more important than ever. "We live in an era where information travels faster than ever before. News breaks on social media before traditional media can verify it, while rumours and misinformatio...

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a woman, identified as Abigael Bright, for allegedly making a false kidnapping allegation that led to the assault of a commercial motorcyclist in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state . According to the police, the incident occurred on Wednesday when Bright reportedly accused a motorcyclist, Rasheed Awojobi, of attempting to kidnap her while conveying her from Ogo Oluwa Street to Idi Mango area in Ore. The allegation quickly spread across the community, attracting residents and passers-by who descended on the motorcyclist before police officers intervened. Awojobi reportedly sustained injuries to his face and other parts of his body during the mob attack. He was later rescued by police operatives and taken to a medical facility for treatment. However, preliminary investigations by the police revealed that the kidnapping claim was false. The command further disclosed that the suspect allegedly circulated the allegation on her Wha...

‎The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ondo State Council has applauded the State Governor, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for the choice of Chief Segun Odusanya as Head of Civil Service of Ondo State, to succeed Mr Bayo Phillip who retired recently . In a Congratulatory letter jointly signed by the State Chairman of NUJ, Prince Leke Adegbite and the Secretary, Com. Olaoluwa Meshack, the union commended Governor Lucky  Aiyedatiwa for always maintaining the culture of seniority and picking better among the best as the HoS. ‎ ‎NUJ described Mr Segun Odusanya as a thorough-bred bureaucrat and seasoned administrator, and expressed the hope that he would bring his vast experience to bear on the public service of Ondo through positive significant innovations. ‎ While appealing to Governor Aiyedatiwa to correct continued marginalisation of our qualified senior members by appointing qualified Directors at the Ministry of Information and the OSRC/Orange FM Media Group as Permanent Secretar(ies)....

By Dayo Afolabi, Akure   Today marks four years since the tragic terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, where dozens of worshippers were brutally killed during a Sunday service on June 5, 2022. Although four years have passed since the incident, the painful memories remain fresh in the hearts of the victims' families, residents of Owo, and Nigerians across the country.  The attack continues to serve as a grim reminder of the devastating impact of insecurity on communities. As victims and concerned stakeholders continue to seek justice, a recent judgment by a Federal High Court, which sentenced four men to death by hanging for their roles in the attack, has been viewed as a significant step toward accountability, as the ruling underscores the government's commitment to combating crime, ensuring justice for victims, and deterring future acts of terrorism. In this report, Crest FM's Dayo Afolabi examines the significance of the court's judgment for the victi...