Ademole Adeleke

OSOGBO – Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun has called for the establishment of engineering endowment funds to drive critical national development.Adeleke made the call on Thursday at the N150 million MicCom Memorial Endowment for Engineering Development held at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.Reports that the endowment fund was instituted in memory of late Mr and Mrs Michael Ponnle, pioneers in Nigeria’s industrial and engineering landscape.The deceased were founders of MicCom Cables, Nigeria’s first indigenous cable manufacturing company and MicCom Golf Resort Centre, Ada in Osun.The governor said engineering endowments promote academic excellence by supporting bright and deserving students.He added that such initiative strengthen research and innovation, noting that no nation can develop beyond the depth of its knowledge systems.“They bridge the gap between theory and practice, encouraging stronger alignment between academia and industry.“They also instil leadership and ethical responsibility, ensuring that engineers are not only skilled but also guided by integrity and a sense of national duty,” he said.Adeleke commended the Ponnle family for initiating the endowment for engineering students in the university.“I particularly commend the Ponnle family for this thoughtful and visionary initiative.“This endowment reflects not only love and remembrance but also responsibility and foresight.“By choosing to invest in education and future generations, you have ensured that the legacy of your parents will not be confined to history but will remain a living force,” he said.In her remarks, Mrs Bukola Adubi, daughter of the deceased, said the endowment was designed to serve several important purposes.Adubi said it seeks to encourage academic excellence and innovation among engineering students.“By providing resources to support outstanding students, the endowment will nurture talented individuals with the potential to contribute meaningfully to technological advancement in Nigeria.“It also aims to promote research and intellectual inquiry within the engineering disciplines,” she said.She added that the initiative seeks to immortalise the remarkable legacy of her late parents and create a lasting platform for developing future generations of engineers.The Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Simeon Bamire, said the memorial endowment fund represents a visionary investment in the core drivers of sustainable development – engineering education and innovation.“This fund will empower us to foster academic excellence through cutting-edge research, provide vital scholarships to deserving students, upgrade facilities and nurture the next generation of engineers,” he said. (NAN)

Osun State’s political landscape shifted on Tuesday as Governor Ademola Adeleke formally severed ties with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), deepening the turmoil already gripping the party at the national level.

In a resignation letter dated November 4, 2025, and delivered to PDP leaders in Sagba Abogunde, Ward 2 of Ede North Local Government, Adeleke cited the escalating “crisis within the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party at the national level” as the immediate trigger for his departure.

I officially conveyed my resignation letter as a member to the leadership of the party in Sagba Abogunde, Ward 2, Ede North local government,” the letter noted. He expressed appreciation to the party and its supporters for the political platform that propelled him to national prominence. “I thanked the party and its numerous members and supporters for the opportunities given to me to use the platform for my elections as first a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and now as Governor of Osun State.”

The letter, addressed to the Ward 2 PDP Chairman in Sagba Abogunde, was signed by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson to the governor.

Adeleke’s exit adds to a cascade of defections that has shaken the PDP in recent months. Governors Peter Mbah (Enugu), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Douye Diri (Bayelsa) have all reportedly shifted their loyalties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), intensifying concerns over the PDP’s shrinking influence ahead of the 2027 elections.

NATIONAL ACCORD reports that as of Tuesday, December 2, 2025, only seven governors remain in the opposition fold. They are: Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers).

OSOGBO- Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun has pardoned 36 convicts at Ilesa and Ile-Ife correctional centres to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary.

This is contained in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Malam Olawale Rasheed, on Wednesday in Osogbo.

The gesture, exercised under Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), followed recommendations from the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.

The beneficiaries, comprising men and women convicted mainly of minor offences like stealing and conspiracy, had already served significant portions of their prison terms.

Twenty-nine inmates were released from Ilesa correctional centre, while seven were freed from the Ile-Ife facility.

Adeleke said the move reflects the spirit of compassion, justice, and renewal which Nigeria’s Independence Day embodies.

“As a government of the people, we remain committed to justice while extending mercy to deserving citizens,” the governor stated.

He stressed that the amnesty signifies not only freedom but also a call for rehabilitation, reintegration, and a fresh start for the affected individuals. (NAN)