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Tributes As Ace Artist Onobrakpeya Turns 90, Celebrates 60 Years Of Creative Genius

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Tributes As Ace Artist Onobrakpeya Turns 90, Celebrates 60 Years Of Creative Genius

For Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya, the towering number of years he has spent in life marks him out. This huge milestone is matched by a great number of achievements he has recorded in his long life.

The seemingly inexhaustible list of Prof. Onobrakpeya’s sterling records include: he is the oldest living artist in not only in Nigeria but the whole of Africa. He is older than Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka of Nigeria. He is also older than Ngugi Wa Thiongo of Kenya.

Prominent personalities from diverse walks of life gathered on Friday to celebrate this icon as he clocked 90 years. The dignitaries who included former Minister of Information Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, former Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Guardian Prof. G.G. Darah, foremost banker and President of Michael and Cecilia University Mrs Cecelia Ibru, former President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange Goodie Ibru and monarchs were agreed on one thing : the greatness of Prof. Onobrakpeya which has made him not only the pride of Urhobo and Nigeria but that of the entire black race.

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Apart from his huge professional output, Prof. Onobrakpeya is equally productive in mentoring the next generation of artists that would take over from him. This was attested to by those he has mentored and those he is still mentoring who came to celebrate him at his country home at Agbara- Otor in Delta State that also houses the Onobrak’s Arts Centre.

At the celebration that spanned two days from Friday to Saturday, there were many cultural displays of the Urhobo people. And from the intellectual side, many academic papers were presented on Urhobo culture, folklore, myths and legends; architecture, design, inventions and technology; the “Zaria Rebels” and 60 years after; painting and printmaking, among others.

Keynote addresses were given by eminent scholars like Emeritus Professor Dele Jegede of Miami University, the United States; Professor Perkins Wilson Foss , formerly of Penn State University; Prof. Osa Egonwa, Delta State University, Abraka; Prof. Frank Ugiomoh, University of Port Harcourt; and Prof.Ese Odokuma-Aboderin.

Some of the honours Prof. Onobrakpeya has received in recognition of his creative genius are: the award of Member of the Order of the Republic of Nigeria; presented to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari; Pope Paul VI Gold Medal for Painting Life of St.Paul; Fulbright-Hays Award by America CIES ( Council for International Exchange of Scholars); and Urhobo Historical Society Lifetime Achievement Award.

Prof. Onobrakpeya’s works can be seen in galleries, museums and public places such as the British Museum; the Barrack Obama Collection, White House, Washington DC; King Mohammed VI Collection, Morocco; Minneapolis Institute of Arts; Metropolitan Museum; Victoria and Albert Museum, London; Leader of Victory Museum, Baghdad, Iraq; Murtala Mohammed International Airport,Ikeja, Lagos; University of Lagos Library, Akoka, Lagos; Catholic Chapel , University of Ife, Ile-Ife; Vatican Museum, Rome; National Museum of African Arts, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC; University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta , Canada; EDA Lord Damarest Memorial African Art Collection, University of Redlands; Museum of African and African-American Art and Antiquities, Buffalo, New York; National Gallery of Modern Art, National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos; and St.Paul the Evangelist Church, Shogunle, Ikeja; and St.Paul’s Church, Ebute-Metta, Lagos.

 

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Abiodun Signs N1.054 Trillion Appropriation Bill Into Law

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L-R: The Deputy Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Latifat Bolanle: Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Musefiu Lamidi; the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Oludaisi Elemide; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; his Deputy, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele and the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Olaolu Olabimtan, during the signing of the Year 2025 Appropriation Bill at the Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on  Monday.

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has signed the N1.054 trillion 2025 State Appropriation Bill into law.

The signing, which took place at the Governor’s Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Monday was witnessed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, principal officers of the House, the Deputy Governor, and members of the State Executive Council.

After receiving the clean copies of the Bill, Governor Abiodun announced that his administration would, in the coming month, sign the partnership agreement with potential partners for the development of the Olokola Sea Port.

He said the government would also focus on the provision of more basic infrastructure with the signing of more Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with private corporate bodies in renewable energy, agriculture, and other sectors that would boost the State’s economy.

He said: “It is my pleasure to announce to you that in the coming month, we will be signing the partnership agreement with potential partners in our port development. The Olokola Port is back on track.

“In the coming year, you will see us signing more Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with private players in the areas of renewable energy, energy transition, and agriculture, particularly animal husbandry. We intend to join the league of those producing beef and pork, not just for domestic consumption, but for export.

“We will continue to provide more infrastructure, particularly roads, in every local government in the State. We will continue in our stride to provide the right infrastructure and the right situation to ensure that students in Ogun State learn in a conducive environment. We will continue to pursue our healthcare program in primary health care, secondary, and tertiary, and of course, our policy on ‘grow what you eat and eat what you grow.’ We are going to be more aggressive in the area of agriculture.”

While noting that his administration would be relentless in the pursuit of infrastructure that would engender more socio-economic development, Governor Abiodun revealed that emphasis on arterial roads like the Ijebu-Ode-Epe, Sagamu-Abeokuta, Atan-Lusada-Agbara, Ota-Abeokuta, and Ilaro-Owode roads had played important roles as they had helped to improve the State’s Internally Generated Revenue through the influx of more people and industries.

He acknowledged the difficulties people are going through due to the bold policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to pull the country out of the woods but maintained that his administration had risen to the occasion by providing needed palliatives to cushion the effects and help the people navigate the period.

“I want to assure you that we can only hope for more wins in the future. It has been a very difficult year for us all, not just as a state but as a country. Our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, started his tenure with very bold reforms that have resulted in some unintended consequences that we must all endure so that we can have a country that is solvent,” he added

He appreciated members of the Assembly for the speedy passage of the Bill after due diligence and commended their high level of commitment to their constituents and the state, noting that their collaboration with the executive arm had led to the state growing in leaps and bounds.

Earlier, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, noted that the speedy passage of the Bill was in keeping with the promise made to the governor when he presented the Bill to the assembly on the 4th of December this year, adding that no budget bill had been passed before Christmas in the past.

While appreciating the governor for the facelift given to the Assembly Complex, Rt. Hon. Elemide said his colleagues worked tirelessly to ensure that the budget was passed on time so as to keep the wheels of the state’s progress moving.

He assured the  governor that the Assembly would continue collaborating with the other arms of government to ensure that the people enjoy the dividends of democracy.

 

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Abiodun Appoints Oluwatoyin Taiwo As Chief Of Staff

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Dr Oluwatoyin Taiwo

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has appointed Dr. Oluwatoyin Taiwo as his Chief of Staff.

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Taiwo was the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS) to the governor.

The Chief of Staff’s letter of appointment was handed over to him by Governor Abiodun on Wednesday, according to a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the governor, Hon. Kayode Akinmade.

The appointment, according to the letter, took effect from 18th December 2024.

The Governor, while congratulating the new Chief of Staff, described the appointment as well-deserved, the statement added.

Dr. Taiwo served as Commissioner for Culture and Tourism during the first term of Governor Abiodun and was subsequently elevated to the position of Deputy Chief of Staff before his new role.

He is an alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where he obtained a B.Sc. in Statistics before pursuing further degrees up to Ph.D.

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Labour Appreciates Abiodun For Approving Christmas Bonus For Ogun Workers

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My Dad Asked Me To Prioritise Civil Servants, Pensioners, Teachers - Abiodun

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint Negotiation Committee (JNC) in Ogun State have described Governor Dapo Abiodun as a compassionate leader who has the interest of workers at heart.

In separate letters of gratitude to the governor for approving the Christmas bonus for the state workforce, the two unions said the gesture was a further demonstration of Prince Abiodun’s commitment to the welfare of their members.

TUC, in a letter signed by the Chairman of the Ogun State Council, Comrade Akeem Lasisi, described the bonus payment as a gesture that would help workers overcome the present economic challenges.

“This development was not unexpected, as we are well aware of the compassionate leadership that His Excellency embodies.

“The Christmas bonus package further reinforces the current administration’s reputation for delivering positive changes. This gesture will significantly help alleviate the daily economic hardships that our workforce and their families face. We assure you that this unexpected display of care from His Excellency will encourage our colleagues to strive for even more outstanding achievements for our beloved state.

“We sincerely appreciate the government’s efforts to maintain stability in our industrial relations.

“Please accept our heartfelt gratitude, unwavering loyalty, and support for your administration,” TUC said.

In its own letter of appreciation, JNC Chairman Comrade Olude Isa said the bonus would empower the state workers to have successful celebrations.

He said: “Beyond rhetoric, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, has done it once more, putting smiles on our faces in this season of celebrating Jesus Christ. The bonus has brought to the state workforce two factors: economic empowerment and the faithful heart of inclusiveness.

“We all received the payment; confidently and joyfully, we went shopping. Also, we felt that, indeed, we are included in the overall schemes of relevant stakeholders in our dear state. Honestly, we are very grateful for the timely gesture.

“May the good tidings of Christmas be with His Excellency always. And to his amiable cabinet, the strength to bring our state to our desired greater heights will surely be bestowed on each and every one of them.

“To you, Sir, our truest, passionate leader, the rewarding spirit of His Holiness will ever remain with you and yours.”

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