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ACCRA, GHANAIANS BUBBLING FOR EVELYN JOSHUA SCOAN’S REVIVAL

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ACCRA, GHANAIANS BUBBLING FOR EVELYN JOSHUA SCOAN'S REVIVAL

 

ACCRA, GHANAIANS BUBBLING FOR EVELYN JOSHUA SCOAN’S REVIVAL

 

 

The commingling of the present soothing and suavely atmospheric conditions with the effervescent mood in Accra is just too robust, palpable and exhilarating
just as Ghanaians are bubbling in excitement and high expectations ahead of February 9, 2024 SCOAN Revival with Pastor Evelyn Joshua. The revival promises to be another big statement in evangelism and charity works that have become synonymous with The Synagogue, Church of All Nations.

 

 

 

ACCRA, GHANAIANS BUBBLING FOR EVELYN JOSHUA SCOAN'S REVIVAL

Residents and people from neighbouring countries are besieging the city in full optimism and passion for the miracles they are anticipating as can be seen in their excitement whenever vehicles carrying the crusade banners pass through the streets.
“Regardless of what anti-christ people and spiritual ignoramuses may say, we that had known and benefited from God’s raw power and love in TBJoshua know him to be a great man of God and that grace has continued to flourish in Pastor EVELYN Joshua” said by an eminent personality inside his exotic car in the traffic.
The atmosphere is getting more electrifying, reminiscence of the colonial days when people were full of eagerness to see the arrival of imperial rulers

This writer’s visit to The SCOAN Ghana branch revealed many things: church workers were in their hundreds, working and putting in place logistics for the event. One conspicuous thing about them was the passion and zeal with which they were working. Also, sick people and those in search of spiritual succor have thronged the church to be registered for the Prayer line.
A member of the ministry who is on ground in Accra, Mr Segun Olanipekun, said, “The atmosphere is fully charged. The expectations are high and People are in high spirit. People are prepared to receive the touch of God because the turnout of people at last Sunday’s service in Ghana was overwhelming with uncountable number of cars parked on both sides of the road leading to the church. This shows that people are now hungrier to have an encounter with God.”

Speaking on the forthcoming revival during her closing remarks at The SCOAN Sunday service on February 4, 2024, Pastor Evelyn Joshua said The SCOAN would continue to evangelize as long as satan himself is not relenting on his mission of stealing, killing and destruction.
“We shall continue to evangelize with our mission of changing lives, changing nations and changing the world. The Ghana revival is another opportunity for us to experience God’s touch on humanity,” she said.
The Ghana revival with Pastor Evelyn Joshua on Friday February 9, 2024 will be followed by the Partners’ Meeting on Saturday February 10 while Monday February 12 will be for charity program.

Since the demise of the founder of the ministry, Prophet TB Joshua, the new leadership led by Pastor Evelyn Joshua, has vowed to sustain his legacy of winning souls to the Kingdom and bringing hope to the hopeless in a world full of troubles.

Honourable David Apasera, a former member of the ECOWAS Parliament and also the leader of the People’s National Convention in Ghana has this to say: “This is a great occasion and this year is an election year for Ghana. We need the intervention of the Lord and we know that with the coming of our mother, we are expecting a lot of deliverance and also healing for our land so that there would be peace. This is why we are singing in expectation.”

Honourable Samuel Jabanyite, a former parliamentarian, Chereponi and CEO SATCO Limited speaks with enthusiasm: “I am particularly very happy with the arrival of our mother. The Lord has used her and we have seen how the church has grown from strength to strength both in Ghana here, in Nigeria and all over the world. Her coming here is going to be an opportunity for God to use her to break down bondages and free people from all their spiritual attacks and then bring them closer to God. We expect her to pray for our country, especially because this is a year of elections.”

Another public servant, Hon Dominic Azumah, a former parliamentarian and Minister of State was not left behind: “I am here to welcome mama to Ghana. I have followed closely her performances since she took over the mantle of leadership of the church. It is our prayer that the good Lord will touch her heart to revolutionize the church. It is my prayer that the good Lord will use her mightily to bless our country Ghana. We pray that she would add us into her prayer so that we can have a smooth transition into the next government. We pray for a fruitful visit. As a country we have faced a myriad of problems. First and foremost is the issue of peace. If there is peace in this country, other things will follow. Economic benefits will come. When there is no peace these benefits will not come.”
Clearly Ghanaians are set for a great revival while the mission and vision of changing lives, changing nations and changing the world as anchored by TBJOSHUA is moving in grace and unswervingly.

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Brace Foundation Gives Attention to Children with Special Needs

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Brace Foundation Gives Attention to Children with Special Needs

The Brace Foundation on Friday in Lagos organised a workshop to deepen the knowledge of those caring for children with special needs in one way or the other. The workshop was aimed at improving the lives of children with special needs.

 

At the event held at Lekki, the Chairman of Brace Foundation, Dr Gabriel Ogbechie, said that the workshop had become necessary to increase the level of awareness as regards care for children with special needs.
The workshop had in attendance no fewer than 1,200 participants drawn from public and private sectors attended the workshop. They include parents, guardians, educators, caregivers, health workers, therapists, legal experts, clergymen and members of the Red Cross Society.

Ogbechie said there was need to educate the society more about the peculiarities of people with special needs.
“They are still human beings who the society needs to accept for who they are.” “Growing up, I saw children with special needs. We didn’t understand what special needs were, and they were maltreated by the society. Education has made us to understand that what the children actually had were special needs and nothing else,” he said.

He regretted that children with special needs struggled with learning and many other things.“We have seen children with special needs struggle in school and the larger society, and we felt that it is a space we can bring in resources through this workshop. This will help these children to live a better life, integrate better into the society and live a fulfilled life,” he added.

The workshop discussed speech therapy, art of communication, special needs, and navigating behavioural challenge, among others issues.

Earlier, the Executive Director of Brace Foundation, Dr Soibi Hephzibah, said that the foundation focused on education of children with special needs. She noted that it involved behavioural and occupational education.
In her remarks, the Vice Chairperson of the foundation, Mrs Godrey Ogbechie, said that all children had needs but some required special needs due to one challenge or the other.

“We want to make it easier for them to have supportive mechanisms that will help them to strive. Even the ones we term normal have needs but they are just different,” she said.

The Head of Lagos Preparatory School, Ikoyi, Lagos, Mrs Dipa Horsfall, who was a participant at the workshop, advised parents of children with special needs to give them more attention.

Horsfall urged the federal and state governments to do more to improve healthcare services for children with special needs to discourage taking them abroad for healthcare

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Professor Fidelis Oditah is Wrong about the EFCC By Dele Oyewale

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Professor Fidelis Oditah is Wrong about the EFCC

By Dele Oyewale

Professor Fidelis Oditah’s recent interactive discussion on a wide range of issues on Arise News, are quite engaging. As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN and an international legal mind, his views on national issues cannot be disregarded. Benjamin Disraeli, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom once said, “with words we govern men”. Thus, Oditah’ s words are important and cannot be dismissed as empty effusion lacking weight or impact.

However, the learned Professor’s submission on what he called the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC’s three fundamental problems are, to say the least, prejudicial, unfounded and misleading. First, Oditah stated that “The EFCC is often being used for settling many scores. Some are political scores, some are social scores. So, you could run away from your girlfriend and the girlfriend goes to the EFCC and the EFCC could ask you questions(sic). What has that got to do with economic crimes? That is blatant abuse of power”(sic).

How on earth will this kind of a scenario painted by the learned silk hold water? The simplest argument against this kind of effusion is to challenge Oditah to provide proofs of such banality. We all know that this just an idle talk because the EFCC is a serious- minded law enforcement agency. The only worrisome aspect of such a talk is that it betrays an embarrassing lack of grasp of what the EFCC’s focus is.

This issue of appropriate and proper focusing of the mandate of the EFCC has been a central pivot of the three- pronged agenda of the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede. In the full glare of the entire world, while addressing members of the National Assembly in October 2023, Olukoyede stated that the focus of every fight against corruption was to stimulate growth in the economy. For more than a year now, the EFCC’s boss has been consistently following this route. The review of the arrest and bail procedures of the EFCC is in line with this. Professor Oditah is probably busy with his works as a King’s Counsel in the United Kingdom and have no time to be abreast of development in the EFCC. Olukoyede is a lawyer of high pedigree and would not allow what the learned counsel called “ blatant abuse of power”.

The second “ fundamental problem of the EFCC”, according to Oditah is that “The EFCC has abandoned its mandate and reduce itself to a debt- collection agency, notwithstanding the numerous court decisions saying the EFCC must stay within the narrow confines of financial and economic crimes. The EFCC has gone out for debt recovery”. This submission, again, is hollow and vacuous. The EFCC’s Establishment Act does not empower the Commission to collect debt on behalf of anyone. The recovery the EFCC does is taking back proceeds of crime from fraudsters. Asset recovery, all over the world, is a fundamental law enforcement and anti- corruption initiative. As a matter of fact, it is the ground norm of every anti- corruption fight. To this end, Olukoyede in just one year, recovered  N248,750,049,365.52 (Two Hundred and Forty-Eight Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty Million, Forty-Nine Thousand, Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Naira, Fifty-Two Kobo).

In foreign currencies,  recoveries of the Commission in the one year of Olukoyede’s leadership are: $105,423,190.39 (One Hundred and Five Million, Four Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand, One Hundred and Ninety Dollars, Thirty-Nine Cents); £ 53,133.64 (Fifty-Three Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty-Three Pounds, Sixty-Four Pence; €172,547.10 (One Hundred and Seventy-Two Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty-Seven Euros, Ten Cents) and many others.

Going by the quantum of these recoveries, not to talk of real estate recovered all over the country, including shares acquired with proceeds of crime in blue- chip companies, it is simply preposterous to reduce and ridicule asset recoveries to debt recovery. Professor Oditah owes the EFCC and the entire nation unconditional apology in this regard. Just two days ago, a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos granted final forfeitures of over $2million and seven princely properties in choice areas of Lagos to the Federal Government. The assets are proceeds of crime traced to a former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Do such recoveries fall into the category of debt recovery insinuation of Oditah? President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently directed that N100billion be channeled to the funding of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation, CreditCorp, respectively from the monetary recoveries of the EFCC. Is the Professor aware of all these? It is evident that bringing down the issue of asset recovery to the ridiculous corridor of debt recovery is deliberate caricature of an important anti- corruption framework of the government. This is an initiative which local, regional and international agencies are commending Olukoyede and the EFCC about. It is to be noted also that the Director of FBI and the DG of National Crime Agency in the UK where he resides have paid cortesty visits to Olukoyede commending him on the feat he has attained in the fight against corruption and financial crimes and to seek more collaboration with the agency in their shared mandate of fighting corruption and financial crimes

The third issue Odikah raised against the EFCC, like the earlier issues, again, lacks any firm ground of substance. Hear him:
“The EFCC itself, a number of officers are more corrupt than those they are chasing. So, you remember what happened to Mr Bawa, Mr Matawalle, when Mr Matawalle finished his tenure as governor of Zamfara state and he said he was invited by Mr Bawa to bring $2million so as not to be investigated. The EFCC itself has become a corrupt organisation which needs to be completely disbanded and a new body set up . The EFCC has the resources. It does not have the ethics. The EFCC majors on minor issues, catching students and showing them as cyber criminals and so it says, it procured 1000 convictions and when you look at them they are people who have defrauded people of 20 or 22 dollars. That’s not the mandate. That’s the periphery. The central mandate is to ensure that the resources which are put in the hands of states are used by the states and that’s where the EFCC”

Going through all these trumped- up claims, it is obvious that Oditah has elected to totally launch unwarranted verbal war against the Commission and its officers. How many officers of the EFCC have been tainted with corruption allegations? Is it acceptable to use the “ sins” of very few elements in a community to paint and taint it as a community of sinners? It should be noted that there is no law enforcement agency in the world that is not vulnerable to corrupt officers. What is important is what the agency is doing to such elements. Olukoyede is known for his no- nonsense approach to ethical issues in the Commission. As a matter of fact, upon assumption of duties, he directed every officer of the Commission to declare their assets and ensure that verification of assets so declared is established. He went ahead to name the Department of Internal Affairs as Department of Ethics and Integrity. Beyond all these, some erring officers of the Commission have either been shown the way out or facing trial. In recent times, the Commission has had cause to dismiss some officers on allegations of corruption and gross misconduct. The EFCC is self- cleansing and the Commission deserves commendation for this.

It is worrisome that a Professor of the reputation and exposure of Oditah could dismiss the Commission’s onslaught against internet fraudsters as an unserious engagement. The damages this genre of fraudsters are causing the nation is untold. A crime that has a projection of $10.6trillion loss to the whole world in 2025 and Nigeria lost more than $500million in 2022 alone, is what Oditah derisively lampooned the EFCC about. We have cause to be worried that those who ought to know better are either playing the Ostrich or advertising their ignorance of a major malaise confronting the nation. Owing to the threat of cybercrimes to the development of our country, the EFCC has held two national dialogues on it. The recent one held few days ago at the Presidential Villa. The Professor should know that the EFCC mandate is to investigate all financial and economic crimes and no financial crime is small or big to be investigated in order to save the soul of the nation. It should be recalled that in recent times, the EFCC had had cause to prosecute and file charges against four ex- governors and some former ministers who were found culpable by EFCC’s investigation for looting state treasuries. This is just to confirm that the Commission is not scared of taking up large- scale fraud’s investigations and prosecution which we shall continue to do

There is no denying the fact that the respected professor goofed in all his comments about the EFCC and his views are not reflective of the realities on ground concerning the anti- corruption fight of the government.

On a final note, we enjoin professor Oditah to get himself familiar with the works of the Commission and lend his expertise and rich experience to the nation for a more robust and fully- integrated war against corruption. We also want to advise the fourth estate of the realm not to allow their platforms to be used to cast unfounded aspersions on the good works of the EFCC. The Commission is not averse to meaningful contributions and advise from well- meaning and reform- minded Nigerians to strengthen our processes and procedures as we continue this crusade,

*** Dele Oyewale is Head, Media & Publicity of the EFCC.

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Ijebu Man of The Year Awards: Prince Segun Kaka Set to be Honored for Outstanding Legislative Contributions*

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**Ijebu Man of The Year Awards: Prince Segun Kaka Set to be Honored for Outstanding Legislative Contributions*

 

In a grand celebration of excellence and leadership, the Ijebu Man of The Year Awards is poised to recognize exemplary individuals who have made significant contributions to the socio-political landscape of the Ijebu community. Among the distinguished awardees this year is Prince Segun Kaka, who will receive the prestigious award for his outstanding achievements in legislation.

The ceremony, organized by the National Globe, is scheduled to take place on November 10, 2024. This annual event has become a hallmark of recognition for individuals whose efforts have positively impacted the Ijebu community and beyond. This year, the awards ceremony promises to be a star-studded affair, showcasing the achievements of notable personalities who have dedicated their lives to public service.

Prince Segun Kaka, a prominent figure in local governance, has been recognized for his unwavering commitment to legislative excellence. His contributions have been instrumental in shaping policies that address the needs and aspirations of the Ijebu people. With a reputation for integrity and dedication, Kaka has worked tirelessly to advocate for the rights of his constituents, ensuring that their voices are heard in the corridors of power.

Joining Prince Kaka in this year’s celebration are other eminent personalities, including Chief Dr. Olatokunbo Olukoua, Hon. Amos Oyebannjo Olusegun, Prince Dr. Adesegun Adelaja Adeniyi Adenuga, and Otunba Olajide Adenuga. Together, these distinguished individuals embody the spirit of leadership and service, making significant strides in various fields including education, healthcare, and community development.

The National Globe has emphasized that the awards aim not only to honor individual achievements but also to inspire the younger generation to engage in public service. “We believe that recognizing these outstanding individuals will encourage others to follow in their footsteps and make a difference in their communities,” stated a spokesperson for the organization.

As anticipation builds for the event, the local community is excited to celebrate the accomplishments of these remarkable individuals. The Ijebu Man of The Year Awards not only serve as a platform for recognition but also foster a sense of unity and pride among the people of Ijebu.

Tickets for the event are expected to sell quickly, as many wish to witness this celebration of excellence firsthand. With an impressive lineup of awardees and a commitment to highlighting the importance of community service, the Ijebu Man of The Year Awards is set to be an unforgettable occasion.

As the date approaches, the spotlight will undoubtedly shine brightly on Prince Segun Kaka and his fellow awardees, celebrating their invaluable contributions to the Ijebu community and inspiring future generations to strive for greatness in public service.

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