Police Confirm Death of 19-Year-Old in IjebuJesa Shooting, Probe Suspected Cult Attack Concerns Over Poor
State
Of Wole Soyinka Government School Despite Payment Of Maintenance Fee
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2026
Exposed: APC Offers
Adeleke’s Appointees
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2026
Exposed: APC Offers Adeleke’s Appointees N2.5m To Decamp
THE All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun State Chapter is alleged to be offering the sum of N2.5 million to poli cal appointees of Governor Ademola Adeleke for them to join the opposi on party ahead of the August 15 gubernatorial elec on in the state, OSUN DEFENDER reliably gathered.
Findings by the medium revealed that the APC has been reaching out to Adeleke’s appointees through Hon. Moyoade Lukman, a former Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Market Affairs. He dumped the Accord Party a few weeks ago.
One of Adeleke’s Senior Special Assistants confirmed the development to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday.
He said: “The Osun APC has begun to target the appointees of the Governor. They are offering the sum of N2.5 million to anyone who is ready to decamp. I was contacted too but I declined the offer. Some of our people who they called also confirmed the report to me.”
OSUN DEFENDER
reports that some of Adeleke’s appointees who have decamped to the APC include; Hon. Moyoade Lukman, Former SSA on Market Affairs, Hon Oladimeji Maruf Olaniran, SA on poli cal ma ers, Hon Sadiat Baruwa , SSA to the Governor, Hon Agbaje Bashiru Oladi , SA to the Governor, Azeez Kazeem olatunde, former SA to the Governor and Afolabi Samson Oloke , SSA to Governor on Internal Security.
The medium gathered that there’s an alleged subterranean plot by the APC to woo more members of Adeleke’s cabinet to the APC before the elec on day.
Mining: Adeleke Unveils Community Intelligence Network to Combat Banditry In Osun Mining Sector
OSUN State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has unveiled a new security strategy aimed at tackling rising insecurity in Osun State’s mining communies.
This is even as the Governor announced the establishment of a Mining Community Intelligence Architecture to curb the ac vi es of suspected
bandits and other criminal elements.
The Governor disclosed this during a stakeholders’ conference on mining security, which brought together security chiefs, tradi onal rulers, mining companies, environmental advocates, and community representa ves.
He was represented by his Special Adviser on Security, Mr. Samuel Ojo.
Adeleke said the conference became necessary due to growing security concerns in the Ife-Ijesa mining axis, warning that the influx of individuals into mining communi es from states including Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi poses a serious threat if le unchecked.
While stressing that the state does not discriminate against Nige-
rians seeking lawful employment, the governor said intelligence reports indicate that some arrivals are introducing criminal networks similar to those responsible for insecurity in parts of the North-West.
He alleged that some suspects are establishing armed camps, engaging in illegal taxa on, recrui ng youths, and a emp ng to create parallel authority
Police Confirm Death Of 19-Year-Old in Ijebu-Jesa Shooting, Probe Suspected Cult Attack
Oladele Israel
THE Osun State Police Command has confirmed the death of a 19-year-old resident, Timileyin Oni, following a late-night shoo ng in Ijebu-Jesa, Oriade Local Government Area of the state.
The incident, which occurred on Monday night, also le three other persons injured and receiving medical treatment, while police authori es have launched an inves ga on to idenfy and apprehend those responsible.
Speaking on the development, the Police Public Rela ons Officer, SP Abiodun Ojelabi, said preliminary findings indicate that the a ack may be linked to cult-related ac vi es rather than poli cal violence, as widely speculated in some quarters.
According to him, the command received a distress call at about 11:00 p.m. repor ng gunshots around the T&K Juncon area of Ijebu-Jesa,
promp ng the immediate deployment of police opera ves to the scene.
He explained that officers found the lifeless body of Timileyin Oni, who was immediately taken to a nearby hospital where medical personnel confirmed him dead.
Police officers observed what appeared to be a gunshot wound on the vic m’s head before transferring his remains to the mortuary and nofying his family.
Ojelabi disclosed that the deceased’s father later informed inves gators that his son was returning home from a church service when the a ack occurred.
He added that three other vic ms sustained varying degrees of injuries during the incident and are currently receiving treatment.
While inves ga ons con nue, the police spokesperson cau oned members of the public against drawing conclusions based on unverified reports circula ng on so-
cial media.
He recalled that the command had earlier issued a security advisory warning against ac vi es associated with the annual “7/7” cult celebraon, no ng that available intelligence suggests the a ack may have been connected to cult rivalry.
“The An -Cul sm Unit has been deployed to the area to intensify invesga ons. At the moment, no arrest has been made, but efforts are ongoing to iden fy and apprehend those behind the a ack,” Ojelabi stated.
Meanwhile, the incident has generated poli cal reac ons, with the Accord Party and the All Progressives Congress (APC) exchanging accusa ons over the circumstances surrounding the shoo ng.
The spokesperson of the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, alleged in a social media post that armed poli cal thugs were responsible for the a ack, claiming that innocent
residents came under gunfire and accusing the APC of violence.
He condemned the killing, describing it as a tragic assault on democracy and urging those responsible to remember that acts of violence would ul mately have consequences.
However, the Chairman of Oriade Local Government Area, Olubunmi Obeisun, dismissed the allega on, insis ng that there was no evidence linking the APC to the incident.
In a statement issued through his media aide, Olayinka Awoyemi, Obeisun cited the account of one of the survivors, Oginni Olamide Oluwole, who reportedly narrated that he and others were on their way to church when two uniden fied men riding motorcycles allegedly opened fire on them.
According to the survivor’s account, the vic ms ran into a nearby shop for safety, but one of the a ackers reportedly pur-
sued them into the building and con nued shooting.
The a ack claimed the life of Timileyin Oni, while Olamide sustained a gunshot injury to his hand.
Obeisun further maintained that the survivor, who iden fied himself as a commi ed APC member, stated that the attackers were not members of the party, urging residents to avoid policising the tragic incident while inves ga ons are ongoing.
The shoo ng comes amid heightened polical ac vi es ahead of the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship elecon, with security agencies con nuing efforts to maintain peace across the state.
Police have assured residents that those responsible for the a ack will be tracked down and prosecuted, while appealing to members of the public to remain calm and provide useful informaon that could assist the ongoing inves ga on.
structures within mining communi es.
The governor also expressed concern over reports that some foreign na onals are infiltra ng mining se lements using fake iden es and posing as Nigerians.
He urged tradi onal rulers and community leaders to properly idenfy and profile residents, emphasizing that only individuals whose iden es can be verified should be allowed to se le in their communi es.
As part of the new security framework, Adeleke directed every major mining community in the Ife-Ijesa axis to establish a seven-member Community Security Commi ee within 14 days. The commi ees will work closely with tradi onal ins tuons, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), and the State Security Council to improve intelligence gathering and rapid response.
He further called on mining operators and community stakeholders to cooperate fully with security agencies, including the Police, Military, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Amotekun Corps, by gran ng access for patrols and promptly sharing security informaon.
“Osun State will not be a hiding place for bandits. Our gold will not be used to fund terrorism. Let us build this intelligence architecture together and secure our communi es,” the governor said.
Aremu Bisola Blessing and Ibrahim Abdullahi Ishola, who served with distinction as NYSC Corp members at Osun Defender newspaper received their discharged certificates. The company is proud of these bugging professionals and wishes them great decades of achievements ahead
Yusuf Oketola
Ibrahim Abdullahi
THE encounter between former United States President, Bill Clinton and former Bri sh Prime Minister Tony Blair is worth recalling.
In a conversa on a er they had both le office, Clinton reportedly remarked that history would remember him as a leader who knew how to win elec ons. Blair responded differently. While acknowledging the importance of electoral victories, he said he would rather be remembered as a leader who got things done.
That brief exchange captures one of the enduring dilemmas of democra c poli cs. Elec ons are indispensable to democracy, but they are not its ul mate purpose. The true measure of leadership is not how many elec ons are won but how effec vely the mandate of the people is translated into be er governance, stronger ins tu ons and improved living standards.
That conversa on, though held decades ago, is remarkably relevant to present-day Nigeria. The country has once again entered an elec on season, and public discourse has become almost enrely dominated by poli cal calcula ons, alliances, defec ons and campaign strategies.
Against the backdrop of persistent insecurity, rising infla on, unemployment, poverty and declining public confidence in government ins tu ons, the only game in town appears to be the next elec on. Governance has, in many respects, been pushed to the margins.
This obsession with elec ons reflects a deeper problem in Nigeria’s democra c culture. Polical compe on has increasingly become an end in itself rather than a means to achieving good governance. Winning office has become more important than the purpose for which public office exists. Consequently, policy debates are replaced by personality contests, while governance suffers from neglect.
The forthcoming governorship elec on in Osun State should therefore be seen as more than a rou ne poli cal exercise. It is a significant democra c test whose outcome and conduct will resonate far beyond the state’s borders. It
“It will be secured by strong institutions, vigilant citizens and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law. As Osun prepares to vote, the nation must remember that the greatest victory is not simply winning an election. It is strengthening democracy itself”
Institutions, Not Individuals
presents another opportunity for Nigeria to demonstrate that democra c consolida on depends not merely on holding elec ons but on conduc ng them in a manner that is credible, peaceful, transparent and acceptable to all stakeholders.
Unfortunately, the signs are not en rely reassuring. The growing erosion of public confidence in critical democra c ins tu ons should concern every ci zen. At the heart of every successful democracy lies the principle of ins tu onal independence. Elec ons are credible only when the agencies responsible for conduc ng and securing them are seen to be impar al and insulated from poli cal pressure.
Increasingly, however, Nigeria’s cons tu onal doctrine of separaon of powers appears vulnerable to poli cal interference. Ins tu ons that ought to stand above par san interests are frequently perceived as being drawn into poli cal contests. Whether those percep ons are accurate or not, they diminish public trust, and public trust remains the lifeblood of democracy.
Nigeria could learn valuable lessons from other cons tu onal democracies. The Cons tu on of the Republic of South Africa, for instance, expressly recognises several bodies as ins tu ons established to strengthen cons tu onal democracy. These ins tu ons are afforded special cons tu onal protec on precisely because they must remain independent of the execu ve and par san poli cal interests. They include the judiciary, the electoral commission, the public protector, the auditor-general
and other oversight bodies whose primary responsibility is to protect democra c accountability.
Such cons tu onal thinking deserves serious considera on in Nigeria. While the country’s constu on already establishes several independent ins tu ons, greater cons tu onal safeguards, ins tuonal reforms and poli cal commitment are required to ensure that these bodies operate without fear, favour or external influence. Democracy survives not because leaders are benevolent but because ins tu ons are sufficiently strong to restrain abuse of power.
The recent public disagreement between the Inspector General of Police and the Governor of Osun State illustrates the dangers posed by weak ins tu onal confidence. Whatever the legal or poli cal merits of the dispute, the exchange unfortunately failed to reassure many Nigerians that the police remain en rely insulated from poli cal influence. In any democracy, percep on ma ers almost as much as reality. Law enforcement agencies must not only be impar al; they must also consistently be seen to be impar al.
The same principle applies to electoral management. The credibility of any elec on depends not simply on the declara on of results but on the confidence that poli cal par es, observers and ci zens place in every stage of the process—from voter registra on and campaigns to vo ng, colla on and the resolu on of disputes. Public confidence cannot be man-
ufactured a er elec ons; it must be earned before, during and a er the polls.
Poli cal actors also have significant responsibili es. Democracy cannot flourish where campaigns are dominated by hate speech, misinforma on, vote-buying, violence and in mida on. Elec ons should provide opportuni es for meaningful debates about educaon, healthcare, economic development, infrastructure, agriculture, youth employment, security and social welfare. The electorate deserves to hear compe ng visions for the future rather than endless exchanges of insults and accusaons.
Ci zens, too, have an indispensable role. Democracy is strongest when voters par cipate ac vely, demand accountability and reject a empts to manipulate the electoral process through violence or inducement. Every lawful vote cast peacefully strengthens democra c legi macy, while every act of electoral misconduct weakens it.
The Osun governorship elec on is therefore of immense importance, not only to the people of the state but also to the future of Nigerian democracy. It offers an opportunity to demonstrate that elecons can be compe ve without being violent, fiercely contested without undermining ins tu ons, and decisive without crea ng lasting divisions.
As the elec on approaches, the challenge before all stakeholders is clear. The police must perform their cons tu onal du es with professionalism, neutrality and restraint. The electoral commission must remain transparent, independent and faithful to the law. Poli cal par es must place issues above in mida on and respect the democra c rules of engagement.
Civil society and the media must con nue to scru nise the process with fairness and courage. Above all, the people of Osun must exercise their democra c rights peacefully and responsibly.
OSUN DEFENDER
History ul mately remembers socie es not merely for the elecons they conducted but for the ins tuons they built and protected. Nigeria’s democra c future will not be secured by poli cians alone. It will be secured by strong ins tu ons, vigilant ci zens and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law. As Osun prepares to vote, the na on must remember that the greatest victory is not simply winning an elec on. It is strengthening democracy itself.
•IGP Tunji Disu and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke represent the conflicts of Institutions in Nigeria’s lopsided quasifederalism
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2026
Concerns Over Poor State Of Wole Soyinka Government School Despite Payment Of Maintenance Fee News
ARENTS of stu-
Pdents at Wole Soyinka Government High School, Ejigbo, Osun State, have decried the deplorable condi on of the school buildings, describing it as a disaster wai ng to happen.
The parents called on Governor Ademola Adeleke to rehabilitate the school and provide furniture for both pupils and teachers.
The situa on of the school has however also gained widespread a en on from residents of the state and beyond.
The school, built during the administra on of former governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was commissioned with great pride in the presence of eminent Nigerians, including Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka.
At the me, it stood as a symbol of hope, excellence, and the government’s commitment to providing quality educa on for the children of Osun State. Sadly, today, that same symbol
of hope is crying for help.
OSUN DEFENDER visited the school on Wednesday and observed that the school hall has become a death trap and a shadow of itself.
The medium noted that a large por on of the roof has been completely blown away, leaving the hall exposed to rain and harsh weather.
Also inside, pools of water have taken over the floor, making the hall unsafe and unfit for use. The main classroom building is also in a very disturbing condi on.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that about four or five years ago, a rainstorm damaged part of the roof. But since then, no meaningful repair has been carried out. With every rainfall, the damage worsens, the medium gathered.
Meanwhile, despite payment of maintenance fee by students across the 11 mega schools in the state, many of the schools are currently in a deplorable condi on as the state government had refused to use the money for its purpose.
OSUN DEFENDER reliably gathered that students in the mega schools pay sum of N5000 per term as maintenance fee.
Recall that as part of its new educaonal policy regarding the running of the model high schools, the Aregbesola’s administra on floated the Omoluabi Educaon Services Limited (OESL) to manage and supervise the eleven (11) Model High Schools in the state.
The Mission of OESL is to coordinate the running of worldclass high schools to produce students that can match and be better off than their counterparts at the na onal and interna onal levels. it was also put
in place to engage Facility Managers who are expected to handle the maintenance of the buildings.
But the contract of the Facility Management Companies was prematurely terminated by the administra on of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola who served under Aregbesola as Chief of Staff It was learnt that each mega school had
a Facility Management Company saddled with the responsibili es of maintaining the infrastructure and giving periodic reports to the Ministry of Educa on/ OESL. They are to carry out daily electrical maintenance, cleaning, infrastructure maintenance, gardening and hor culture, plumbing, and the total facility management of the mega school.
Check by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that the current government of Governor Adeleke has not iniated the maintenance system back to the schools four years into his administra on.
A key stakeholder of the community who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER under the condi on of anonymity said: “If urgent acon is not taken, parts of the building may eventually collapse, pu ng the lives of students, teachers, and other staff at serious risk.
“The painful queson is: Must we wait un l tragedy strikes before we act? Must innocent children and hardworking teachers become vic ms before this school receives the a en on it desperately needs?
“Educa on is the bedrock of every prosperous society. A school is not merely a collec on of buildings—it is where dreams are nurtured, des nies are shaped, and the leaders of tomorrow are prepared.
“Allowing such an important ins tu on to deteriorate is a disservice to our children and to future genera ons.
“I therefore make a hear elt appeal to the Execu ve Governor of Osun State, to kindly direct the appropriate authori es to urgently inspect and rehabilitate this school before a preventable tragedy occurs.
“I also appeal to the Ministry of Educaon, the school’s Old Students’ Associa on, the Parents-Teachers Associa on, community leaders, corporate organisa ons, philanthropists, and every well-meaning son and daughter of Ejigbo and Osun State to join hands in rescuing this great ins tu on.
“This is not about poli cs. It is about the safety of our children. It is about protec ng a legacy built with public funds. It is about ensuring that future generaons inherit a school they can be proud of.
“Let us act today, so that tomorrow we will not be forced to mourn what could have been prevented. The future of our children cannot wait.”
Yusuf Oketola
Aregbesola’s Achievements Underreported In Osun
- Akindoyin
THE founder, Ipadabo Oranmiyan Group, David Akindoyin, has expressed concerns over what he termed the underrepor ng of the laudable achievements of former governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administra on in Osun State.
He stated that the former governor, in eight years in office, performed tremendously compared to some other governors in the state.
Akindoyin highlighted numerous significant strides made by Aregbesola’s government, including advancements in road infrastructure, mega schools/O’school, pension & workers welfare, job crea on and social investment.
He stated this in IleIfe recently during a free medical outreach in support of the governorship candidate of the African Democra c Congress ahead of the August 15,
2026 governorship elecon, Dr. Najeem Salaam and to strengthen grassroots mobiliza on for the party.
He said: “Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administraon ran on a “Six-Point Integral Ac on Plan” focused on Infrastructure, Educa on, Welfare, Health, Security, and Agriculture.
“Massive road construc on and rehabilitaon across the state
Key projects include the Osogbo Township and the Gbongan-Akoda Road.
“Construc on and renova on of model secondary schools with large capaci es, libraries, laboratories, and hostels.
“Osun under Aregbesola was the highest employer of tailors in West Africa. His achievements are underreported.”
Akindoyin lauded Aregbesola’s record on security, no ng that 125 patrol vans, armoured
•Aregbesola•Akindoyin
personnel carriers and helicopters to support security agencies were procured to safeguard
the state. He solicited support for the ADC governorship candidate to ensure
victory for the party in the upcoming elec on.
In his address, the Chairman of ADC in
Governor Adeleke Enrols Osun Monarchs In Health Insurance Scheme, Commissions Oshia Hall
OIbrahim Abdullahi The governor said the free health insurance enrolment for tradi onal rulers and their spouses would ensure they receive quality medical care without financial burden, noting that the programme aligns with his administra on’s people-oriented healthcare policy.
SUN State Governor, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, has commissioned the newly completed Osun Health Insurance Agency (OSHIA) Mul purpose Hall and flagged off the enrolment of tradi onal rulers and their queens into the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS).
Speaking during the ceremony on Tuesday in Osogbo, Governor Adeleke described the ini a ve as part of his administra on’s commitment to expanding access to affordable and quality healthcare for all residents of the state.
Adeleke also highlighted achievements recorded by his administra on across key sectors, including infrastructure, healthcare, educa on, agriculture and workers’ welfare. According to him, the government has constructed over 300 kilometres of roads, rehabilitated more than 200 primary healthcare centres
and over 150 schools, while also se ling salary and pension obliga ons, suppor ng farmers and coopera ves, and advancing the construc on of a five-star stadium.
He expressed confidence that the administra on’s performance jus fies a second term in office.
Earlier, the Execu ve Secretary of the Osun Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Rasaq Akindele, said the enrolment of tradi onal rulers into the scheme was a strategic move aimed at strengthening grassroots advocacy for health insurance.
He explained that beyond providing healthcare coverage
for the royal fathers and their queens, the ini a ve would posi on them as ambassadors for the state’s social health insurance programme within their respec ve communi es.
Akindele also described the newly commissioned OSHIA Mul purpose Hall as a strategic ins tu onal investment executed in line with the agency’s enabling law and guided by transparency, accountability and prudent management of public resources.
The event also witnessed endorsements for Governor Adeleke’s second-term bid from prominent tradi onal rulers.
The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, Larooye II, praised the governor’s performance, saying he would con nue to commend Adeleke for what he described as outstanding achievements across the state.
Similarly, the Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, Laminisa I, lauded the governor for execu ng development projects across different communi es in Osun State.
The ceremony concluded with the symbolic presenta on of health insurance iden ty cards to the enrolled tradi onal rulers and their queens.
Osun, Alhaji Isa Adesiji appreciated Akindoyin for the free medical outreach and support for the party.
Adesiji urged members of the party to con nue mobilising for Dr. Salaam ahead of the August 15 elec on, adding that all Aregbesola’s legacies will be reintroduced under Salaam’s administra on.
Osun-Osogbo: Worries Over Continued Pollution Of Osun River
Anon-governmental organiza on, Urban Alert has expressed concerns over the connued contamina on of the Osun River as the 2026 Osun-Osogbo Fes val approaches.
According to the NGO, the persistent contamina on of the Osun river with the presence of heavy metals in it is caused by ac vi es of illegal gold miners.
Urban Alert blamed the situa on on the irresponsibility of both the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and Osun State Government.
“In about a month, millions of worshippers will converge at the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove for the Osun Osogbo Fes val and have direct and indirect contact with the Osun River for cultural reasons.
“This new report by DW News has revealed the persistent presence of heavy metals in the Osun River, caused by illegal gold miners.
“The silence of the @Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Osun State Government in monitoring the ac vies of miners and thoroughly enforcing the Mining Act, has further encouraged miners to con nue commi ng environmental violaons.
“The authori es should not look away while the lives and safety of the people are at stake,” Urban Alert wrote on its official Facebook page.
Yusuf Oketola
Yusuf Oketola
•L-R, Bamidele Festus, Chairman, Fajuyi Hall of residence, Opeyemi Awoniyi, Waheed Saka one of the honorees and Adeyanju Emannuel at the 6O years remembrance of Col. Adekunle Fajuyi organised by Fajuyi Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2026
NANS Alleges Organised Crime In Osun Poly
THE Na onal Asso-
cia on of Nigerian Students (NANS), has condemned the alleged extor on of students at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree by the management of the ins tu on.
NANS Na onal President, Comrade Babatunde Akinteye in a video sighted by OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday, accused the school management of undermining quality of ter ary educa on in Ni-
geria.
Some of the allegaons raised by NANS facing the ins tu on include, poor governance, inadequate academic delivery, financial mismanagement and administra ve inefficiency.
Akinteye in video also alleged that students at the Polytechnic had endured prolonged academic disrup ons, claiming that some lecturers had failed to deliver lectures consistent-
ly while students were allegedly subjected to mul ple payments for handouts and administra ve receipts.
He further claims that the ins tu on’s recent Computer-Based Test (CBT) examina on exposed serious technological shortcomings.
He said the management allegedly required students to sit for digital examina ons without providing sufficient computer facilies or reliable internet
infrastructure, forcing many candidates to rely on personal mobile devices. According to him, “What is going on in Iree Poly is an organised crime by the Rector and some members of the management. We have our details and we have done a lot of inves gaon about what is going on in Iree Poly and that’s why we made that statement and we have given the management seven days to correct
THE Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies, Iragbiji (FUADSI) has taken a major step to strengthen its research culture with the successful hos ng of its maiden Capacity-Building Workshop on Academic Research Wri ng.
The workshop, organised by the University’s Publica ons Commi ee, drew par cipants from both academic and nonacademic staff cadres. It was designed to sharpen skills in scholarly wri ng, research ethics, cita on prac ces, and the effec ve management of academic literature.
Declaring the workshop open, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mufutau Olaoye Atayese said connuous capacity development remains central to improving the quality and global visibility of the University’s research output. He noted that inves ng in staff competence is cri cal if FUADSI is to compete favorably in the global academic space.
Shola Aderinto Michael Bamigbola
Earlier, the Chairman of the Publica ons Commi ee and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charles Oluwaseun Adetunji, described the workshop as a strategic interven on. He said the goal is to equip staff with prac cal tools for producing high-quality research while maintaining strict adherence to academic integrity.
The one-day workshop featured three technical sessions led by seasoned resource persons. Dr. Enock Oladimeji Oluwole handled the first session on Cita on, Plagiarism and Referencing, breaking down common pi alls and best prac ces for scholars.
Mr. Saliu Abdulfatai led the second session with a hands-on demonstra on of reference
management tools. Parcipants were trained on EndNote, Zotero, and Turni n, with emphasis on streamlining cita ons and detec ng similarity in manuscripts.
The final session was delivered by Dr. Olabisi Fawehinmi, who spoke on Organisa on and Management of Scholarly Literature. She provided strategies for sourcing, storing, and synthesizing research materials efficiently.
Sessions were interac ve, giving par cipants room to raise concerns on challenges they face in academic wri ng and publica on. Praccal demonstra ons allowed staff to apply concepts in real me, which many described as the highlight of the workshop.
According to the Publica ons Committee, this maiden edi on
marks the start of a series of capacity-building programmes. The Commi ee confirmed that another workshop has already been scheduled for next week as part of efforts to sustain momentum.
In his vote of thanks, Professor Atayese com-
mended the Publicaons Commi ee, facilitators, and par cipants for their dedica on to advancing research excellence. He urged staff to put the knowledge gained into prac ce to improve the University’s scholarly output.
The workshop end-
all those abnormali es and we are wai ng for the necessary response from them.
FUADSI Launches Research Writing Workshop Series To Boost Scholarly Output
ed on a high note, with par cipants expressing renewed enthusiasm for research and publica on. FUADSI management reiterated its resolve to build a vibrant research culture anchored on con nuous professional development.
56 Students Benefit From ODF Scholarship In Osun
THE Osun Development Forum (ODF), a Dallas, Texas-based non-profit organisa on, has awarded scholarships to 56 students of Osun State origin, with Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, producing 18 students as beneficiaries.
The annual scholarship and endowment ceremony was held at OAU.
The event celebrated students who have maintained a Grade Point Average (GPA) above 4.0.
Since 2016, the group has funded over 600 scholarships and academic endowments across Osun State.
The Dean, Student Affairs, Prof. Odedire, who represented the university management alongside the Deputy Dean of Student
Affairs and Dr T.O. Jimoh of the Registrar’s Office, praised the consistency of the ini a ve Six students received the award for the third consecu ve me, demonstrating that sustained excellence is achievable.
Among those honoured were Ogunsakin Tobiloba of the Faculty of Law, Husani Aishat of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Oluwole Heritage of the Faculty of Arts, and Adebayo Ruth of the Faculty of Educa on, all of whom recorded perfect 5.0 CGPAs.
Others included Adewuyi Precious of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Odediran Samuel of the Faculty of Technology, and Fatoye Gbolahan of the Faculty of Den stry.
The President of the forum, Kazeem Adetunji, who a ended the event with his
family, reaffirmed the organisa on’s commitment to educa on as a tool for societal development.
“Today, we are celebra ng 56 excep onal students across Osun State, and OAU has the largest number of beneficiaries. However, to con nue enjoying this support, beneficiaries must maintain a
GPA above 4.0,” he said. The university also encouraged alumni, well wishers, and members of the wider community to support the ins tuon through scholarships, endowments, and donaons, ensuring that more students benefit from similar opportuni es in the future
“Therefore, if they refused to answer us within that me frame, we know the next line of ac on because there are a lot of abnormalies in that school.
“As a speak to you, students are charged N10,000 for CBT in that school and on exam day, students are to use their phones to write exam even some of the students could not write exam.
“Lectures will just sell handout for students at high prices and won’t come to class to teach the students. They will ask them to go and read the handouts.
“Therefore, there’s no proper coordina on between the management and the students. As I speak, TETFUND in 2024/2025 approved a interven on project for free internet for students, the school collected the money and in two months, the project is not working again.
“As I speak to you, they are running around to bribe some TETFUND staff so they won’t come around to inves gate that project. Many things are going wrong in Iree Poly and we cannot keep quiet because we don’t want the school to die.
“Iree Poly as you see used to be one of the best Polytechnic in Nigeria but now, the glory day of that ins tu on has gone. So we have to talk and many of these things, we have our facts we have gathered them are wai ng for the ul matum to lapse.
“The management reached out to us and we tell them to go and do everything we have asked them to do to make sure the students are happy because the reason the management are on the campus is for the students.
“Everything that is going there is extoron. The management brought a consultant to collect school fees. What they do is just to collect money and spend it with the management.”
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2026
Fifa World Cup: Which Quarterfinal Team Has Best Chance To Win The Trophy?
Ibrahim Abdullahi
FORM guide on the final eight teams as they ba le it out for the FIFA World Cup 2026 trophy in the United States.
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 16 - Argen na v EgyptAtlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. - July 7, 2026 Argen na’s Lionel Messi reacts a er missing a chance to score REUTERS/Paul Childs
Lionel Messi s ll needs to win three more matches to defend Argen na’s World Cup tle [Paul Childs/Reuters] 9 Jul 2026
Ninety-six games played, just eight more to come. FIFA World Cup 2026 has lived up to its billing as the biggest of all me, and may yet end up in the conversa on as the best tournament too.
We’re down to the final eight na ons with hopes of winning the trophy – four of them for the first me – while the other four are aiming to write a new glorious chapter in their football history.
Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4World Cup Golden Boot: Messi leads Mbappe, Haaland before quarterfinals list 2 of 4FIFA World Cup: Biggest takeaways from the round of 16 list 3 of 4Key talking points before the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals list 4 of 4Morocco dealt huge blow as injured Saibari out of World Cup quarterfinal end of list
But now the last 16 and the first rest day of the compe on are out of the way, who has the best chance of being crowned champions in New York/New Jersey on July 19?
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 24: Johan Manzambi #9 of Switzerland celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match between Switzerland and Canada at BC Place Vancouver on June 24, 2026 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Alex Grimm/ Ge y Images/AFP (Photo by ALEX GRIMM / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Ge y Images via AFP) Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi has been one of the breakout stars of World Cup 2026 [Alex Grimm/Ge y Images via AFP] 8. Switzerland
It feels like a place in the last eight for the first me in 72 years is already a win for the Swiss, and few expect them to make further history. Murat Yakin’s men benefi ed from a kind draw which pi ed them against the cohosts Canada, Bosnia and Qatar, and they only managed to ensure top of that group by withstanding late pressure from the Ma-
ple Leafs a er being held to a 1-1 draw by Qatar in their opening match.
They overcame Algeria without too much alarm in the last 32 but needed penal es to eliminate an offform Colombia in the last round, with the Swiss failing to register a shot on target a er the 32nd minute of normal me.
The poten al loss of speedy 20-year-old Johan Manzambi, one of the tournament’s breakout stars, to a knee injury in training will diminish their hopes against Argen na. Even if they did manage to shock the world and send Messi and co home early, the chances are they would struggle in a semifinal against either England or Norway, let alone a final against France or Spain.
Brahim Diaz reacts.
Star Morocco midfielder Brahim Diaz (#10) will clash with Real Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappe of France in the quarterfinal [Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP] 7. Morocco
When Morocco flew out of the blocks in the opening 45 minutes of their Group C game with Brazil, the world thought this was a new and improved version of the Atlas Lions which had made a shock run to the last-four in Qatar, however they failed to put that game to bed, despite their dominance.
A 1-0 win over Scotland followed in their second match, before twice having to come from behind to see-off Hai in the final group match.
They then played the Netherlands in the last 32, and although they recovered from falling behind in the final 20 minutes to force extra- me with a goal in stoppage- me, they needed penal es to progress from another game they might well have won.
In the last 16, they played their best match of the tournament against Canada. The North Africans were clinical, scoring three second-half goals to set up a France quarterfinal meeting.
They will need all that and more to avoid a onesided defeat against France, who knocked them out in the last four in 2022.
While only a handful of the XI beaten four years ago are likely to feature, the loss of leading scorer Ismael Saibari will also not help their cause against a na on where six of their squad were born. Indeed teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi captained the French under-21 side in a European Championship qualifier just 101 days before he is set to face Les Bleus in Boston, but switched allegiance on the eve of the tournament. If Morocco are able to
rediscover their form and spring an almighty surprise to see-off their old foes then all bets are off. They already know what it takes to beat Spain or Belgium, they did so in Qatar, while a poten al final would not only make history as the first African and Arab country to take part in the showpiece, it might provide the wave of momentum which takes them all the way to the trophy itself.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 01: Youri Tielemans #8 of Belgium celebrates a er the team’s 3-2 victory in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Belgium and Senegal at Sea le Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Sea le, Washington. Alex Grimm/Ge y Images/AFP (Photo by ALEX GRIMM / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Ge y Images via AFP) Youri Tielemans and Belgium have been one of the surprise teams of the tournament but will face a huge test against unbeaten Spain in the quarterfinal [Alex Grimm/Ge y Images via AFP]
6. Belgium
Belgium would have been the No 8 ranking a few days ago, but they had a reshuffle against the US and looked far be er than they did in any of the group stage games or the first 75minutes or so against Senegal in the Round of 32.
Inspired by the a acking play of Leandro Trossard, coach Rudi Garcia might have stumbled across a formula which works, leaving Kevin De Bruyne on the sidelines for the first me in 38 Belgium games and having Jeremy Doku and Romelo Lukaku as other poten al game-changers off the bench.
The Red Devils certainly began slowly and only a 5-1 thumping of New Zealand in their final group game saw them through as group winners on goals scored, a er failing to beat Egypt or Iran.
They made even harder work against Senegal, who should have been out of sight long before the comeback, when Lukaku and Youri Tielemans capitalised on some slack defending to score in the final four minutes of normal me before the la er dispatched a penalty five minutes from the end of extra- me to complete the unlikely turnaround.
Fuelled by a sense of injus ce at the reversal of the ban for USA player Folarin Balogun, they were far be er against the host naon, but again benefi ed from some poor defending, something which they cannot expect against Spain’s miserly defence. It feels like the end of
the road, and an era, for Belgium’s ageing golden genera on, and if they did somehow get past Spain, then France would surely represent an insurmountable hurdle in the last four anyway.
Norway’s forward #09 Erling Braut Haaland (R) celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate midfielder #21 Andreas Schjelderup during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Brazil and Norway at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 5, 2026.
Norway’s star forward Erling Haaland is equalsecond in the Golden Boot race heading into the quarterfinal e against England [AFP]
5. Norway
We’re officially in uncharted territory for these dark horses. They came into the tournament never having won a knockout match at the World Cup –now they are eyeing three in a row.
Ruthlessly efficient is one way to describe Norway’s passage to the last eight. They arrived at their first World Cup in 28 years with a plan and they have they stuck to it.
A er an opening group game victory against Iraq, the pivotal match of their summer was always likely to be the second group game against Senegal. They won it 3-2. It ensured their passage to the knockout stages as runners-up and allowed Stale Solbakken to rest 10 players for the group finale against France.
Much was made of the decision not to try and match Les Bleus for a poten al top-spot in Group I, but despite the 4-1 defeat, it s ll looks like a great call.
Norway le it late before seeing-off Ivory Coast in the Round of 32. Against Brazil in the last 16, they also le it late but finished strong with two goals in the final 11 minutes from Erling Haaland.
The 25-year-old has scored seven goals from just 18 shots across four
games in this tournament, though the game management of midfielder Marn Odegaard, par cularly against Brazil, has gone under the radar. The Arsenal player has three assists already, the same as lesided super-sub Andreas Schjelderup, while cornertaker Patrick Berg has two more.
Quarterfinal opponents England will have to figure out a way to deal with crosses into the middle better than they have done in their previous games and their management of Odegaard, as well as their own fitness levels, could be key to determining which European na on goes through to the semifinals to face, in all likelihood, Argen na.
However, for all their attacking efficiency, Norway have kept just one clean sheet in their past dozen matches and, were it not for the heroics of keeper Orjan Nyland, they might already be on their way home.
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham will fancy their chances against defenders Kristoffer Ajer and Torbjorn Heggem and we could be in for another ding-dong ba le with goals galore in sapping condi ons, rather than any cagey defensive ba les.
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 16 - Argen na v EgyptAtlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. - July 7, 2026 Argen na’s Lionel Messi reacts a er missing a penalty saved by Egypt’s Mostafa Shoubir REUTERS/Paul Childs TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Lionel Messi and Argenna needed to rally to defeat Egypt in the Round of 16 [Paul Childs/Reuters] 4. Argen na Algeria, Austria, Jordan, Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland. It’s not a bad run for a defending champion, is it?
However it has been far from plain sailing for the Albiceleste, who have had to lean heavily on the 39-year-old legs and ageless football brain of Lionel Messi just to make it to the quarterfinals.
Messi leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals – though it should be double figures already with two penalty misses to his name.
Staring at the end of his World Cup career and trailing Egypt 2-0 with 11 minutes remaining, Messi put the na on on his back and registered his first assist of the tournament as Cris an Romero halved the deficit, before thumping the equaliser himself four minutes later before the turnaround was completed in controversial fashion in stoppageme. The outpouring of emoon from Messi at full- me showed just how close the two- me winners came to being eliminated. Expect them to try and learn their lesson against Switzerland, who possess less of the countera acking threat than either of the African teams, especially if Johan Manzambi is ruled-out by the knee injury sustained in training.
Expect a poten al semifinal with England to be a massive occasion – it’s a rivalry which runs deep, on and off the pitch. While this Argen na side boast extraordinary experience and clearly demonstrated their hunger, their star ng XI against Egypt was the second oldest they have ever fielded in a World Cup, and they con nue to look suspect at the back, something that Harry Kane, or even poten ally Haaland –should Norway get through – would be sure to test.
If it is to be a rematch against France in the final – as many predicted before and during the compe on – then we can look forward to another extraordinary climax, with Les Bleus set on revenge for their penalty shootout heartache in Qatar a er a pulsa ng 3-3 draw.
Who knows what mastery Messi is capable of summoning on any given day, but this France team is older, wiser and extramo vated to land their •Read full article on www.osundefender.com
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2026 VOL. 21 NO 53 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com
THE tle of this write-up was not supposed to be what it is above. It was meant to be what you read next: EXIT OF THE GUARDIANS OF THE GAME.
I had planned to focus on that tle just to emphasize the point that the African Con nent was both ready and set to dominate the on-going World Cup Finals, even into the knock-out stages. Fresh from their various group encounters, nine out of the ten African teams that qualified for the 2026 World Cup Finals, had booked places into the newly introduced Group 32 format in the tournament. Only one African team, Tunisia failed to make it to the knock-out stage.
When Morocco led the onslaught in reducing the size of the teams from 32 to 16, some of the football powers of the world, started to crumble so fast.
The Netherlands was the first to be driven out by Morocco. Germany was the next to be sent out in the Group 32 clashes. Paraguay sent them back to Berlin.
The confidence in me to write about the early exit of the giants was further strengthened by the fact that I had thought Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal Egypt and Ghana would rise to the occasion and make the con nent proud.
But then, Cote d’Ivoire fell 1-2 to Norway and the worse of it all, Senegal squandered a 2-0 lead it had in its match against Belgium. The African Champions had kept a 2-0 lead it had un l five minutes to the end of regula on me when Belgium levelled up. We can say they allowed Belgium to equalize 2-2 in less than three minutes. The game went into extra me of 30 minutes of play only for Senegal to concede a penalty some two minutes to the end of 120 minutes of play. It was just too sad a happening to consider.
Similarly, Democra c Republic of Congo also led England 1-0 for 75 minutes of play before the dreaded Harry Kane came up with two quick goals to win the match for England.
In all the three matches, momentary lack of concentra on cost the African teams to lose those games they needed not to have lost.Maybe Cote d’Ivoire underes mated Norway. But then it was to their own peril they did that. Any team that has an Earling Haaland knocking at its defence line repeatedly, must know there is a poten al danger sooner than later.
So out of nine, only two namely, Morocco, Egypt were those that managed to be able to move into the Round of 16. Now, with the football matches expected to hold among the Group of 32 all having been played and the 16
“At the on-going 23rd World Cup, 19th of July when the tournament ends is still a long way to go. Two weeks spans the now and the then, when New York will close the tournament”
As Africa Peters Out At Mundial PERSPECTIVE BY SMOLETTE ADETOYESE SHITTU-ALAMU
teams contes ng there now known, the 5-weeks long football fiesta is now at the quarter-finals stage. By this Sunday 5th of July, the shape of things to come at the Quarter-finals had started to emerge. Morocco and France were the two teams to qualify for that stage of the tournament.
Incidentally the two will be the first to meet at that stage where only eight out of the total 48 teams that began the compe on on the 11th of June may s ll remain as survivors.
In the new format of the world cup finals the quarter-finals stage, comes as the 4th level of the football compe on. Un l the expansion in the number of teams that moved the World Cup Finals from a 32 team structure to 48, all what a team needed to do to li the trophy was to be prepared to play seven matches. Collect the points that are a must at the preliminary stage to qualify for the then 2nd Round and then move into the quarter-finals. If a er 7 matches and it is s ll victorious, then that team becomes the Winner of the Compeon. It is crowned FIFA’S World Football Champions.
The expansion in the tournament’s structure that moved qualifying teams from 32 to 48, has also moved the preliminary groups teams play in, from 8 to 12 (ie Groups A to L) instead of (A to H) that the old format laid down.
This has introduced the new Group of 32 stage which is held for the first me in the 96 years history of a compe on which started in 1930 and has taken place 23 different mes, the on-going one inclusive. With the expansion in the number of teams, has come an increase in the matches the winner will have to play. Instead of such a team playing seven matches as it was in the past, it is now expected to play eight matches within five weeks. Five of these matches would be played in the knock-out stages beginning with that of Group 32, Round 16, Quarter Finals, Semi-finals and the Final or the Finale. This is what makes the new format a li le more difficult to cope with for players.
The desire to win the trophy at stake implies a willingness by a team to be ready to play eight crucial world cup finals games.
As the quarter-finals get in full swing, we have seen three out of the eight matches already.Brazil took on Norway. As l write this piece the match is half way through with no goals yet, of course Brazil had earlier failed to convert a penalty kick.
In the wee hours of Monday 6th July, Mexico, one of the three host country teams, will take on England. If the old song the world “cup is coming home” would be relevant for English football fans to sing again, Monday morning’s encounter between Mexico and England would determine that.
High al tude and a vociferous home support from Mexican fans will or may stand against the Three Lions of England in the clash between the two teams. The five more Round 16 matches out of the eight to expect are Spain versus Portugal, United States versus Belgium, Colombia versus Switzerland, and Argen na versus Egypt. This is the stage for the boys to be separated from the men.
From 48, the surviving teams would soon be reduced to 8 and sooner than later the Semi-finals teams of four would emerge. If there should be a near accurate predic on to make it is at the quarter-finals stage. If Cabo Verde had succeeded in humbling Argen na out of the World Cup at the Group of 32 as they almost did, they would have become one of the teams vying for a place into the quarter-finals by now.
In fact, they would have met fellow African team, Egypt from the North of
the Con nent. That would have been great and perhaps much easier for them to handle, isn’t it?
Now that teams for the quarterfinals are being decided match a er match, which four teams would likely get first to the quarter-finals and to the semi-finals in the end? This is very difficult to determine. I do not hesitate to think France, Argen na, Morocco, Brazil and Spain are more likely to.
But then France and Morocco are to meet next in Round 16. Which means that one of the two would not get into the quarter nor semi-final stage. A winner must come out of the encounter between the two teams this week by all means.
Canada is out. So is Paraguay. The likely six teams to go home with those two, all things being equal, are Norway, Switzerland, Belgium, Portugal, Egypt and England. This means that the World Cup is not likely to “come home” even 60 years a er it first did so in July 1966, when Bobby Moore as England ‘s captain received it and later handed it over to Sir Alf Ramsey who was England’s Manager at the me. He was an Englishman. Today a German by name Thomas Tuchel is in charge as England’s Manager or Head Coach.
Since Sir Alf Ramsey’s effort 60 years ago, two non-English Coaches have managed the Three Lions. The first was the now late Swedish football taccian, Sven Goran Eriksson.The second is the great and highly respected Italian, Fabio Capello. Tuchel is the third. He comes from the Bavarian region of Germany.
Now what happens if an England’s exit comes before the quarter or semifinals stage in the on-going World Cup? Contract or no contract, the English press is likely to put pressure on the English Football Associa on to force the German to leave.
He has been there for two years. May be the European Championships that comes up in 2028 may save him. But one can never tell. For sure it is going to be a herculean task for Harry Kane to lead his team out of the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City in the early hours of Monday morning with a quarter-final cket in their hands. But football is always a dicy game to predict. You can’t get it right all the me.
Just as France with all they have in their arsenal, may not be able to cope with Hakimi’s Moroccan Atlas Lions. France is the stronger team on paper and in form. But Morocco can not and will not be a push over. Of course Africa s ll needs a representa ve at the tournament to go far.
Ronaldo’s Portugal is likely to return to Lisbon a er their Round 16 clash against Spain this week. The end of an era would have finally arrived a er six word cup finals ou ngs.
At the on-going 23rd World Cup, 19th of July when the tournament ends is s ll a long way to go. Two weeks spans the now and the then, when New York will close the tournament. Therefore, there is s ll two weeks of top class football to watch and to be excited with.
Who goes home? Who wins in the end? The next two weeks will decide that.
•Smolette Adetoyese Shittu-Alamu wrote this price from Osogbo
OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Behind Oranmiyan Building, Gbodofon, Off Gbongan Road, Osogbo, Osun State. All correspondence to the Deputy Editor, MICHAEL BAMIGBOLA, Telephone: 0809-301-9152. ISSN: 0794-8050. Website: www.osundefender.com Email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, osundefenderhq@gmail.com