Latest news with #Oyebanji
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Faith, family propel OCA's top 2
May 13—The valedictorian and salutatorian at Odessa Collegiate Academy leaned on faith and family as they strove toward the top of their class. Valedictorian Alyssa Casarez and salutatorian Daniel Oyebanji, both 18, are heading into the medical field. Casarez, who will attend University of Texas at Austin, plans to become a pediatric specialist, and Oyebanji plans to attend University of Texas Permian Basin to study biology and biomedical sciences to become a doctor. He is looking at oncology or orthopedics. The two are graduating with an associate degree in biology from Odessa College. Principal James Ramage said he has enjoyed this class of seniors for the last four years. "They've grown into really impressive young adults. They'll definitely be missed," Ramage said. Students are heading to universities both in Texas and outside of Texas. "We're excited to see what their future holds for them. We're just so proud of the class of 2025," Ramage said. With graduation coming up at 6 p.m. May 16 at the Odessa College Sports Center, Casarez said she is excited about the next chapter of her life. "But I'm also kind of ... remembering everything from the past four years, just because this school is so small that everyone feels like family, so it's like you're leaving a piece of your family behind," Casarez said. She added that there was competition between all top 10 students this year because they were all so close. If she were to advise a younger student about getting into the top 10 or top 2, she would say don't let rank define you. "Just because you're number one or number two doesn't mean anything. But if it's a goal you want to achieve, honestly, just do the best you can every day. Although there will be hard days and there will be times where you feel like you can't, just push through and know that you can," Casarez said. She got the idea to try for the top 10 when she went to her cousin's graduation from Permian. At the time she thought she would go to Permian for high school but wound up at OCA and loved it. "I just worked for top 10, and I still had the same idea that my mom would be one of the top 10 parents. It just came as a joke, but ended up being something I didn't expect," Casarez said. She added that she would credit a lot of her accomplishments to God because without Him, she wouldn't have come as far as she has. She also gives credit to her parents and family who have supported her and pushed her to do the best she could. Along with her academics, Casarez was part of the National Honor Society from sophomore to senior year. She recently joined Phi Theta Kappa through Odessa College, was in Student Council her junior year and is part of her praise and worship team at Odessa Christian Faith Center. Oyebanji, 18, said graduating feels surreal. "It's kind of like a full circle moment. Just yesterday, I was a freshman during Summer Bridge and now I'm about to walk the stage for OC graduation tomorrow (May 10). It's crazy," Oyebanji said. He added that he was always aiming for the No. 1 spot. "I didn't know who had it, but so as long as they had it, there was competition," Oyebanji said. He added that he had the top spot his sophomore year, but Casarez beat him. Both Oyebanji and Casarez said the program at OCA is beneficial. Casarez said it puts them ahead of the game in college. "I enjoyed it a lot. It really challenged me," Oyebanji said. "It pushed my limits to time management, how well I can balance my outside world with my academics. And also, I made a lot of connections, not just with my colleagues, but with my professors as well," he added. The professors at OC didn't just teach biology, they taught students about life. Like Casarez, Oyebanji said his success came from the support of his family, his pastor and church, the Prevailing, Word of God Ministries. Oyebanji said he was in National Honor Society, Student Council up to his junior year, academic decathlon his junior and senior year, part of a student panel his junior year. He was one of a couple of students asked to speak about OCA during recruitment in front of OC staff and other administrators. Oyebanji chose UTPB because it was closer to home. "I wanted to establish a good foundation ... closer to home, before moving out into the real world," he added. UTPB was familiar territory for Oyebanji, who is from Lagos, Nigeria. He studied for academic decathlon in the library there and the regional academic decathlon meet was held there. "I guess it was a little bit of foreshadowing of what was soon to come," he added. Casarez is one of four siblings and Oyebanji is one of five. "They're a lot brighter than me. So if I didn't do this, I would have most definitely been outshined by them. I did the best I could to set the pace so that they could believe in themselves, too," Oyebanji said.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Faith, family propel OCA's top 2
May 13—The valedictorian and salutatorian at Odessa Collegiate Academy leaned on faith and family as they strove toward the top of their class. Valedictorian Alyssa Casarez and salutatorian Daniel Oyebanji, both 18, are heading into the medical field. Casarez, who will attend University of Texas at Austin, plans to become a pediatric specialist, and Oyebanji plans to attend University of Texas Permian Basin to study biology and biomedical sciences to become a doctor. He is looking at oncology or orthopedics. The two are graduating with an associate degree in biology from Odessa College. Principal James Ramage said he has enjoyed this class of seniors for the last four years. "They've grown into really impressive young adults. They'll definitely be missed," Ramage said. Students are heading to universities both in Texas and outside of Texas. "We're excited to see what their future holds for them. We're just so proud of the class of 2025," Ramage said. With graduation coming up at 6 p.m. May 16 at the Odessa College Sports Center, Casarez said she is excited about the next chapter of her life. "But I'm also kind of ... remembering everything from the past four years, just because this school is so small that everyone feels like family, so it's like you're leaving a piece of your family behind," Casarez said. She added that there was competition between all top 10 students this year because they were all so close. If she were to advise a younger student about getting into the top 10 or top 2, she would say don't let rank define you. "Just because you're number one or number two doesn't mean anything. But if it's a goal you want to achieve, honestly, just do the best you can every day. Although there will be hard days and there will be times where you feel like you can't, just push through and know that you can," Casarez said. She got the idea to try for the top 10 when she went to her cousin's graduation from Permian. At the time she thought she would go to Permian for high school but wound up at OCA and loved it. "I just worked for top 10, and I still had the same idea that my mom would be one of the top 10 parents. It just came as a joke, but ended up being something I didn't expect," Casarez said. She added that she would credit a lot of her accomplishments to God because without Him, she wouldn't have come as far as she has. She also gives credit to her parents and family who have supported her and pushed her to do the best she could. Along with her academics, Casarez was part of the National Honor Society from sophomore to senior year. She recently joined Phi Theta Kappa through Odessa College, was in Student Council her junior year and is part of her praise and worship team at Odessa Christian Faith Center. Oyebanji, 18, said graduating feels surreal. "It's kind of like a full circle moment. Just yesterday, I was a freshman during Summer Bridge and now I'm about to walk the stage for OC graduation tomorrow (May 10). It's crazy," Oyebanji said. He added that he was always aiming for the No. 1 spot. "I didn't know who had it, but so as long as they had it, there was competition," Oyebanji said. He added that he had the top spot his sophomore year, but Casarez beat him. Both Oyebanji and Casarez said the program at OCA is beneficial. Casarez said it puts them ahead of the game in college. "I enjoyed it a lot. It really challenged me," Oyebanji said. "It pushed my limits to time management, how well I can balance my outside world with my academics. And also, I made a lot of connections, not just with my colleagues, but with my professors as well," he added. The professors at OC didn't just teach biology, they taught students about life. Like Casarez, Oyebanji said his success came from the support of his family, his pastor and church, the Prevailing, Word of God Ministries. Oyebanji said he was in National Honor Society, Student Council up to his junior year, academic decathlon his junior and senior year, part of a student panel his junior year. He was one of a couple of students asked to speak about OCA during recruitment in front of OC staff and other administrators. Oyebanji chose UTPB because it was closer to home. "I wanted to establish a good foundation ... closer to home, before moving out into the real world," he added. UTPB was familiar territory for Oyebanji, who is from Lagos, Nigeria. He studied for academic decathlon in the library there and the regional academic decathlon meet was held there. "I guess it was a little bit of foreshadowing of what was soon to come," he added. Casarez is one of four siblings and Oyebanji is one of five. "They're a lot brighter than me. So if I didn't do this, I would have most definitely been outshined by them. I did the best I could to set the pace so that they could believe in themselves, too," Oyebanji said.
Zawya
11-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Reclaiming NNPC: A necessary reset to rescue Nigeria's oil industry
THE recent overhaul of the NNPC Limited board and management by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not merely an administrative reshuffle—it is a decisive intervention in the national interest, aimed at rescuing the country's most strategic public enterprise from systemic rot and institutional capture. The necessity of these appointments stems from the deeply troubling legacy of the previous management, under which NNPC allegedly degenerated into a citadel of opacity and operational inefficiency, despite the transformative intent of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. Previously, NNPC Limited failed to meet even the most basic standards of corporate governance and transparency expected of a commercially oriented national oil company. Year after year, billions of dollars in crude oil revenues were either unremitted, underreported, or misapplied under various opaque arrangements. The so-called fuel subsidy regime, for which NNPC served as the primary disbursing agency, became a fiscal sinkhole—characterised by gross overstatements, nonexistent verification mechanisms, and allegations of fictitious volumes and round-tripping. Meanwhile, critical investment decisions stalled, upstream output declined, and the country was left unable to take full advantage of high oil prices due to mismanagement and leakages. The transition of NNPC into a limited liability company was supposed to signal a new era of commercial discipline and accountability. Instead, the nation saw the entrenchment of old habits under a new corporate guise. The company evaded scrutiny by withholding audited statements, failing to engage meaningfully with shareholders—the Nigerian people—and resisting structural reforms under the guise of national security or market sensitivity. Related AfCFTA and Nigeria's port infrastructure An age of modern legends Silverbird Man of the Year Award as affirmation of Oyebanji's exemplary leadership This undermined investor confidence, constrained capital inflow into the sector, and left Nigeria's oil and gas value chain in a state of arrested development. At this critical juncture where Nigeria must stabilize its fiscal base, accelerate gas commercialisation, attract investment, and align with global energy transition trends, NNPC cannot continue to be a drain on the treasury or a bastion of unaccountability. The new board and management, appointed with careful consideration of technical competence, ethical standing, and regional representation, bring with them a renewed mandate: to clean house, rebuild trust, and reposition NNPC as a truly performance-driven national oil company. This moment marks the beginning of a long-overdue shift—from rent-seeking to value creation, from secrecy to transparency, and from institutional stagnation to strategic renewal. It is a necessary turning point for NNPC, and by extension, for Nigeria's economic future. Mohammed is a finance and public affairs analyst
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ekiti State Governor urges ICAN to maintain certification standards
The Governor of Ekiti State has emphasised the importance of maintaining the certification standards set by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). During a recent address, he highlighted the institute's role in upholding the 'credibility' and 'high reputation' of the accountancy profession in Nigeria. Governor Biodun Oyebanji commended ICAN-certified accountants for their contribution to transparency and accountability within his administration. He noted that their expertise has helped in managing the state's resources effectively. ICAN president Chief Davison Chizuoke Alaribe affirmed that the Governor's approach aligns with ICAN's values and has set a benchmark for other states to follow. Despite concerns about the challenging nature of ICAN's examinations, Oyebanji stressed that the difficulty is essential for maintaining the institute's respected position in the professional community. Oyebanji said: 'You will also agree with me that your colleagues in government are doing so well and this has led to good ratings in respect to accountability and transparency. We have very small resources, on FAAC ladder, we are either second or third to the last every month. 'So, the little we have, we have to apply it in a way and manner that will give happiness to the greatest number of people in the state, and this required a lot of financial engineering from their side and since we got into office we have been rated high in transparency and accountability in the country.' ICAN, which was established by an Act of Parliament in 1965, has a council comprising 30 members, with 24 elected by its members and six nominated by the government. This structure ensures representation from across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones. In January 2025, ICAN expanded its professional development efforts by inaugurating the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) Chapter. The event, held at the Insurers House in Lagos, marked a step towards fostering collaboration and continuous learning among accounting professionals in the country. "Ekiti State Governor urges ICAN to maintain certification standards " was originally created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
