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Hon. Shina Peller, His Father’s Son @ 45 —- Oluwaseun Oloketuyi

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Tall, lithe, smart, entertainment stakeholder cum politician are the words that come to mind when most people think of Honourable Shina Abiola Peller, House of Representatives member for Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency in Oyo State.
In reality, though, he is a master magician, who with what seems like sleight of hand makes every industry he steps into his oyster.
Today, at 45, one cannot but look back and attest to his trail of successes with the knowledge that like a magician’s box that is never truly empty and full of surprises, he has more than a few tricks up his sleeve.
Shina started his journey into relevance by first conquering the entertainment industry, which is a no-mean-feat, judging by the number of failed acts that fall into the pit of irrelevance daily.
At a time, his Aquilla Records was the go-to point for budding entertainers and even investors in the industry were in a constant bid for his attention.
Like a locomotive, after the opening of his Club, Quilox, which is still sitting pretty on prime property on Ozumba Mbadiwe, V/I, Lagos, Nigeria, Africa was taken on a ride of what it means to have a truly thriving nightlife.
Quilox, today, is so successful that many Nigerians and foreigners have the club listed on the bucket list of the places to visit while in Lagos. Like the popular saying, ‘See Paris and die,’ a visit to Club Quilox is termed the ultimate African clubbing experience because it has become the most prestigious in Africa and everybody, who is indeed anybody has a visit to Quilox on their bucket list.
The Aquila Group boss is one too restless to relax after any success. He furthered his business empire with the excellence and precision of a master magician, and today, Aquilla Oil, Aquilla Properties are just some of the many arrows in his quiver of success.
For those who know him, Shina was never shy about the fact that he developed his entertainment entrepreneurship from his father, Professor Moshood Abiola Peller.
At any given opportunity, he states that his father, touted as Africa’s greatest magician, taught him how to put structure in business, and that has helped him be able to achieve a lot of things at the same time.
Unbeknownst to many, his father was also his biggest political influence, seeing as Professor Peller was the first to bring Chief Obafemi Awolowo to Oke-Ogun in Oyo State, back in the early 80s.
Over the years, even with his many responsibilities, he remained committed to the people at the grassroots, constantly looking out for and making life easier for them.
Peller ventured unabashedly into philanthropic activities, from installing borehole systems in communities hitherto without water to give out scholarships to indigent students even in Lagos, a city outside his purview.
Of course, these were mere palliatives as his community leaders realized that only quality representation at the federal level could stem the tide of problems that were set to drown the federal constituency and render it a backward community.
When 2019 began to beckon, leaders in his home city, Iseyin, studied the times and saw that the leader that was needed was one who could channel life excellence into politics.
These long-sighted community spokesmen approached him to extend his mantle and take the Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency in Oyo State under his wing, and like the reverent, selfless son of the soil he is, he bowed to the wisdom of the masters and took a new step onto the ladder of political leadership.
Like everything he touches that becomes gold, Shina unequivocally conquered at the polls. To further confirm that he is indeed a set apart from the everyday crop of politicians that besiege, Hon. Shina has been an exemplary ambassador since he got into the federal legislature.
In the last three years, while fulfilling his duties to his people, he has been a solution to this generation of youths. Apart from the fact that he started the Lead Generation Initiative (LGI), a citizen and youth-driven nonpolitical, non-profit, and non-governmental organization that is committed to creating opportunities for young people to channel their creativity, energy, and aspirations to adding value to their communities and country, he has been on an enlightenment drive, going around the country in an effort to get young people involved and interested in politics.
The LGI, which achieves its aims through programmes like the ‘Get Involved Leadership Training (GILT), get involved regional leadership summit, emerging leaders conference, women leadership development programme, creative open crafts, national entrepreneurial enterprise competition, among others, trains representatives from each of the local governments, in all the 36 states of Nigeria and the federal capital territory on civic responsibility, nation-building, community security, communication, and development skills.
A ‘train-the-trainer programme where the local government supervisors will go back to their respective local governments to train the ward representatives from each of the wards in their local government, the initiative has successfully held the GILT in the five states of Oyo, Osun, Bauchi, Gombe, and Niger, respectively.
As a House of Representatives member, he has been an epitome of quality representation in terms of conduct and by sponsoring strategic motions designed towards building a better Nigerian. In addition, his empowerment programmes to his constituency are second to none and he has proven himself a leader with a difference.
At 45, worried by the myriad of security challenges facing Nigeria, he is gathering national leaders for a Lead Generation Initiative National Security and Peace Symposium to mark his birthday, as opposed to a mundane celebration.
The art of a magician is to create wonder, something so beautiful and amazing that no one can deny. Shina Peller, a scion of magical excellence, is not a mere magician; he is the magic that exists in a political society that was almost bleak without the excellence he brought to bear in the last decade.
Oluwaseun Moyosore Oloketuyi
Executive Producer, BON Awards

BIG STORY

After Spending Over 14 Yrs In Prison, Governor Adeleke To Pardon Man Sentenced To Death For ‘Stealing Chicken’

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Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun, is seeking to pardon Segun Olowookere, who was sentenced to death by hanging for allegedly stealing a fowl and eggs in 2010.

In an interview with Biola Adebayo, a Nigerian actress, the parents of the victim claimed that police officers from the Osun command arrested Olowookere for an offence he did not commit.

Olowookere Olanrewaju, the man’s father, said a divisional police officer (DPO) asked him to pay N30,000 for his son’s release, but N20,000 was all he could raise at the time.

“We are here to beg Nigerians to help us. In 2010, I was at the shop where I was renting out cassettes, and at about 11am, some police officers came around,” he said.

“We later found out some students from Segun’s school were in their vehicle and they said they were arrested because of the theft of a chicken and eggs.

“Truth be told, Segun does not eat chicken. Because I trained broilers. He refused to run away, telling us that he didn’t know anything about the theft of the chicken.

“They came back around 9pm in the night and he was eventually arrested. It was when I visited the station that I knew who owned the chicken and eggs. He was just like a brother to me.

“I was told by the DPO in charge to bring N30,000 so my son could be released but after running around, all I could raise was N20,000 which he refused to collect.”

Folashade Olowookere, mother of the victim, said her son, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, has now spent over 14 years in prison since he was sentenced.

In a statement on Wednesday, Adeleke directed the attorney-general and commissioner for justice in Osun to commence a full probe into the matter.

“I have received the report of a case of a young man reportedly sentenced to death by hanging in Osun State for stealing a fowl,” the statement reads.

“Consequently, I have directed the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Osun State to commence full investigation into the matter and initiate processes to grant the prerogative of mercy to the young man.

“Osun is a land of justice and equity and must ensure fairness and protection of the sanctity of lives.

“I assure members of the public that this matter is receiving my direct attention with every sense of urgency also attached to our response to the matter.”

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BIG STORY

Two LAUTECH Students Win N20m In NOA Campus Debate Competition

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  • Extra N1million from NELFund

 

Two students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Adekunle Ayomide and Oladeji Oluwashina, have won the 2024 National Orientation Agency (NOA) campus debate competition.

The competition, organized by the NOA, featured two university representatives from each of the six geopolitical zones, debating the topic “Criticising and dissenting peacefully while maintaining love for one’s country.”

The LAUTECH representatives emerged victorious in the debate, receiving a prize of N20 million.

The students were also awarded an additional N1 million from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund).

Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria and the University of Ilorin were the first and second runner-ups, winning N750,000 and N500,000, respectively.

Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Port Harcourt, Gombe State Polytechnic in Bajoga, and the Institute of Management and Technology in Enugu secured the fourth, fifth, and sixth positions, respectively.

Speaking during the event on Tuesday, Lanre Issa-Onilu, the NOA director-general, stated that the debate aims to engage the youth in governance matters.

Issa-Onilu emphasized that while criticism is essential for nation-building and democracy, it must be constructive to ensure peace and development.

He congratulated the participants for their thoughtful strategies in engaging with the government constructively.

“Constructive criticism is not rebellion; it is a cornerstone of democracy and a vital tool for nation-building,” Issa-Onilu said.

“Patriotism is not silence. Loving your country does not mean turning a blind eye to its shortcomings. It means recognizing those shortcomings, speaking up against them constructively, and working together to find solutions.”

Akintunde Sawyerr, managing director of NELFund, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring that Nigerian students have access to quality tertiary education through its education loans.

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BIG STORY

2025: LCCI Warns Businesses, Says Prepare For More Stress Next Year

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The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) says Nigerian businesses may likely face greater challenges in the new year, urging them to prepare for “more stress.”

In a statement on Monday, Chinyere Almona, LCCI’s director-general, said businesses are likely to face higher interest rates when the next Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting holds.

“The persistent rise in the inflation rate, reaching a 28-year record high of 34.60 in November, continues to fuel a tense business environment as elevated prices constrain various business operations,” Almona said.

“The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is particularly concerned because, with the persistent and unabated rise in inflation, businesses should prepare for more stress from the burden of higher interest rates as we enter the new year.”

“With the raging inflation rate, the unsuccessful attempt of the Central Bank to reduce the currency in circulation, and approaching a high-spending festive period, we are set to contend with even higher interest rates as the expected outcome from the next decisions by the CBN Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).”

Almona explained that a high inflation rate has significant implications, including reduced consumer spending.

She said it negatively impacts the economy by reducing disposable income, increasing business costs, and discouraging investments, ultimately threatening economic growth.

‘FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN NIGERIA DROPPED TO $103.82M IN Q3 2024’

According to the statement, foreign direct investments (FDIs) in Nigeria dropped to $103.82 million in Q3 2024, making the country less attractive to investors.

Almona said interest rates have had limited success in curbing inflation, but reforms aimed at boosting production have shown some promise.

She expressed hope that the reforms would eventually have a stronger impact on key indicators such as inflation, interest rates, and exchange rates.

The director-general said a coordinated effort is required to drive oil production to earn more forex, which is needed to defend the naira in the short term.

“The new investments recently entering the oil fields can be well supported with a sound regulatory environment to sustain and attract more,” she said.

“A disappointing negative record of our capital importation at $1.25bn during the third quarter of 2024 compared with $2.60bn recorded in the preceding second quarter of the year points to an unattractive environment for investors.”

“Foreign Direct Investment, the most critical investment that shows long-term investor confidence, accounted for only $103.82m, or 8.29 percent.”

Almona added that the fight against terrorism and crime must be sustained to ensure the safety of farmlands.

She noted that the rising costs of food, energy, housing, transportation, and services are driving inflation, worsening economic conditions, and reducing both purchasing power and business profitability.

However, Almona stated that the LCCI believes ongoing reforms have the potential to deliver significant benefits, enabling the economy to return to a growth path and achieve positive outcomes for critical economic indicators, provided they are sustained.

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