The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Michael Adedotun Gbadebo (Okukenu IV) has urged Nigerians to develop interest in the game of Polo, describing it as a noble sport that is open to people of all ages.

The royal father made the call on Sunday during the maiden Abeokuta Polo Festival held in Abeokuta, where he shared personal reflections on the enduring appeal of the sport.

A polo enthusiast and player himself, the Alake recalled his interaction with the former Emir of Zazzau, Emir Muhammadu Aminu in 1971. 

He said the Emir, upon seeing a dexterous Yoruba horse rider, remarked that such skill must have been inherited from previous generations.

According to the Alake, Polo is not a game of force alone but one that encourages patience, love, and perseverance.

“Play Polo. Start by riding. Fall down and get up. Polo is called the Game of Kings, and we are all kings. Polo is the game of love. No matter your age, you can play slowly. You don’t have to compete with those who are still strong,” he said.

The monarch also expressed delight at the location of the Abeokuta Polo Club, commending the pace of development at the site.

“I am happy this is situated in Abeokuta. Less than a year ago, they had the groundbreaking, and within a short time, we are already seeing immense development,” he noted.

Earlier, the President of the Abeokuta Polo Club, Dr Sheriff Adams Abdulrahman, said the Club, situated on a 100-acre expanse along the Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway, would contribute significantly to the state’s economy by creating hundreds of jobs.

He explained that the Abeokuta Polo Club would go beyond sports to include recreation, hospitality, wellness, and lifestyle facilities with construction work already ongoing at the site.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Abeokuta Polo Festival Organising Committee, Brigadier General Morakinyo Abiodun (rtd), said the Festival was organised to create awareness about the existence of the Abeokuta Polo Club and its benefits.

The Festival was attended by dignitaries including the former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof Saka Matemilola; former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola; the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo; Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Sesan Fagbayi; Commissioner for Sports Development, Wasiu Isiaka; Permanent Secretary, Culture and Tourism, Dr Qudus Yusuf; former Minister for Agriculture, Najeem Awodele; and the Olu of Siun, Oba Lawrence Adeyinka, among others

The Abeokuta Polo Club had its groundbreaking ceremony in May 2025 and is poised to reposition Abeokuta on the global sporting and recreation map. 

The Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Abeokuta (FUMMSA), has officially commenced full academic activities with the matriculation of its pioneer students, marking a historic milestone in the life of the newly established specialized medical institution.

Speaking at a press conference held in Abeokuta on Tuesday, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Fatiu Arogundade, said the matriculation ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, November 20, 2025.

The Vice Chancellor described the maiden matriculation as a defining moment for FUMMSA and for medical education in Nigeria.

The institution, established on February 23, 2023, after the signing of its bill into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari, admitted its first set of students following a successful resource verification exercise that approved a carrying capacity of 1,000 students. 

According to the Vice Chancellor, admissions were conducted strictly through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Prof Arogundade said the University’s take-off barely five months ago and its ability to matriculate its pioneer students reflect the commitment of stakeholders who envisioned FUMMSA as a centre of excellence in medical training, research, and innovation.

He reiterated the University’s mandate to advance learning without discrimination and to produce healthcare professionals equipped with intellect, empathy, and technological competence to respond to evolving national and global health challenges. 

The VC also acknowledged the critical support received from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), which served as the host for FUMMSA’s smooth take-off. 

He also disclosed existing collaborations with Chrisland University and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), USA, with additional partnerships involving the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, and the University of Virginia to be formalized soon.

He further expressed gratitude to Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for donating the Model School, Onijanganjangan, which currently serves as FUMMSA’s administrative take-off site. 

Prof. Arogundade also highlighted the Federal Government’s broader goal of tackling healthcare workforce shortages and curbing brain drain through the creation of specialized health universities like FUMMSA. 

The Vice-Chancellor expressed appreciation to royal fathers, government officials, principal officers, regulatory agencies, and members of the matriculation committee for their contributions toward the university’s smooth take-off.

FUMMSA’s maiden matriculation ceremony is expected to attract dignitaries, parents, and well-wishers as the University ushers in its first generation of medical scholars and formally opens a new chapter in its academic journey.

The Chairmen of Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South Local Governments, Hon. Lanre Oyegbola-Sodipo and Hon. Balogun Olaniyi Afeez have clarified misconceptions surrounding the newly introduced daily health insurance scheme for commercial motorcycle riders popularly known Okada riders.

They described the scheme as a life-saving initiative aimed at protecting the vulnerable in the informal sector.

Oyegbola-Sodipo and Balogun spoke at a joint press conference held at the NUJ Secretariat, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, adding that the initiative extends to passengers during emergencies.

Earlier the leadership of Riders and Owners of Motorcycle Organizations, ROMO, condemned the decision of Abeokuta North Local Government to suspend commercial motorcycle operations in the council area following protests against the introduction of a new revenue ticket.

ROMO Chairman, Alhaji Sotayo Olusola Rasak, popularly known as Sholebo, in a statement in Abeokuta on Tuesday condemned the suspension, describing it as “ill-advised and counterproductive” adding that it unfairly punishes hardworking riders who are already burdened by the harsh economic climate. 

Reacting to the release during the joint presser, Oyegbola-Sodipo said the scheme was in line with Governor Dapo Abiodun’s mission of delivering good governance to the grassroots through the local government.

He also added that the scheme is designed to tackle the safety and welfare challenges facing operators and commuters.

The ANLG Chairman dismissed allegations of exploitation, maintaining that the scheme allows okada riders to pay daily and still enjoy full cover for a year even if they had only contributed for a single day before an accident.

Oyegbola-Sodipo said he and his Abeokuta South counterpart, Balogun Olaniyi Afeez, are only keying into Governor Abiodun’s health insurance programme by onboarding Okada riders as the most critical group in terms of safety, stressing, that 45% of road crashes in Ogun State involve motorcycles.

His words “To address this, we saw health insurance as a good means to at least establish a profiling system to know exactly who is riding Okada. On top of that, we decided to bring more value to these informal sector operators. In the event of an accident, both the rider and the passenger will now be covered”

Oyegbola-Sodipo dismissed allegations of exploitation, stressing that the scheme allowed riders to pay daily and still enjoy full one-year cover, even if they had only contributed for a single day before an accident.

According to him “The next level is to focus on those in the informal sector who earn a certain level of income. Our first priority is to identify the most critical group, particularly in relation to safety, and that is the Okada riders.”

“As we speak today, there is no record of Okada riders in any part of Ogun State. If anything goes wrong, you cannot track anybody. That is why crime and criminality have found a platform through their operations.”

“To address this, we saw health insurance as a good means to at least establish a profiling system to know exactly who is riding Okada. On top of that, we decided to bring more value to these informal sector operators. This is what we began over a week ago, starting with Abeokuta North. By the grace of God, tomorrow in Abeokuta South, we are going to onboard Okada riders onto the health insurance scheme provided by the state.”

“For example, if someone is onboarded today and an incident happens tomorrow, they will get the full cover as though they have paid for a year, even if they have only paid for one day. That is what some people are now criticizing.”

“So the question is: who is being exploited? Who is actually doing the work? Are we doing the work, or are they? And for all the years they have been in operation, have they ever shown concern for the care of the people? I leave that for you to answer.”

”It is important to set the record straight. Abeokuta is a metropolis. There is nowhere in the world where you do not think about insurance, it is a critical safety net. Recently, the President directed that insurance cover should be provided for the poor.”

He also claimed that the scheme has enjoyed widespread acceptance from riders, disclosing that over 900 riders have registered and have gotten insurance cards granting them access to treatment. 

“In particular, on this matter, we are standing with the Okada riders and passengers, extending the same to market women, traders, and soon, artisans within the local government. The whole idea is that this becomes part of the dividends of democracy., Oyegbola-Sodipo concluded. 

The council boss buttressed that the informal health insurance programme of the Ogun State Government in existence for over two years, had already benefited more than 2,000 elderly and indigent residents in Abeokuta North and South, providing them with a full year’s cover at no cost. 

Meanwhile, Abeokuta South Local Government is set to begin onboarding Okada riders onto its own health insurance programme from Wednesday, 13th August, 2025.