Public Figure: Let’s Meet “Oyo APC Guber Candidate”, Sen Teslim Kolawole Folarin

Public Figure: Let’s Meet “Oyo APC Guber Standardbearer”, Sen Teslim Kolawole Folarin

Africano Trumpeters media,“Ilé Isé Ìwé Ìròyìn Afonrere Ti Ilè Adúláwò” , says happy weekend to all our readers and let’s go there .

Our this week public figure and African hero of people is Asaaju Olubadan of Ibadan Land and Gubernatorial Standardbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Oyo-State, come 2023, Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin(TKF). He is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content and Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District in National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria .

Teslim Folarin is a political philosopher, trained by University of Ibadan(UI), and he is a developmental politician who has immensely made countless people, both in public and private sectors.

Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin

Early life and education:

The young Teslim was born on October in 1963 to Alhaji and Alhaja Hamzat Folarin. He stemmed from Baale House in Oja Igbo area of Ibadan North-East Local Government Area of Oyo State. Folarin is the Head (Mogaji) of his family House and an high-ranked traditional Chief in Ibadanland. He is the Laguna Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Folarin attended primary school in Lagos; his secondary education was completed at Nigeria’s premier secondary school, Methodist Boys High School. Folarin holds a B.Sc (Hons) degree in Political Science from the University of Ibadan and a diploma degree from Harvard University, USA. He spent some years gathering valuable civil service experience in the UK, including management roles at the Department of Trade in London before returning to Nigeria in 2002. Folarin performed his obligatory NYSC tenure in Kaduna and joined politics thereafter.

Political career:
Folarin contested and won the senatorial seat to represent Oyo Central in 2003 at the age of 39 years on the platform of the PDP and was re-elected for a second term in 2007 on the platform of the same PDP. He is now serving as third term Senator. At the Senate then, he was appointed Leader of the Senate. Folarin also served on the Senate Committee on Business & Rules, Marines and Transport although his particular interests were in education, power supply and water resources. Folarin was involved in the Power probe in 2008. As the Leader of the Senate, he led debates on all Executives Bills and sponsored several private Bills himself. These included the Insurance Act, Armed Forces Pension Act and several others.

Folarin won the gubernatorial ticket of his then party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014. He lost the election to the then Governor, Late Senator Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressive Congress(APC).
Folarin defected to the party, All Progressive Congress in December 2017. Folarin was elected as the All Progressive Congress(APC) Oyo Central senatorial candidate on September, 2018.

Folarin won the senatorial position in the 2019 Oyo Central Senatorial District election defeating the then incumbent senator, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu and other candidates. He is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content in the 9th Senate. He also sits on several other committees including National Intelligence, INEC, Interparliamentary, Constitutional Review, Finance, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and Airforce.

Personal life:
Folarin is married with children to Barr. Angela Folarin(RIP).

SENATOR FOLARIN’S ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR IN THE 9TH SENATE
The Return to the Nigerian Senate
Senator Teslim Kolawole officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday, 16th of December 2017. The former senate leader was received by the national leader of the party, and now, its presidential flagbearer, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the then National Chairman of the party, His Excellency Chief John Odigie Oyegun; late former Oyo State Governor- His Excellency Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi; former Governor of Osun State and now Federal Minister of Interior – His Excellency Ogbeni Abdulrauf Aregbesola; Ondo State Governor – His Excellency Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu; former Ogun State Governor – Senator Ibikunle Amosun; and other political heavyweights. The historic defection took place at the ancient Mapo Hall in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, Oloye Teslim Folarin picked the senatorial nomination form of the APC for Oyo Central Senatorial District, and was elected as the party’s candidate in September 2018.
The National Assembly elections that was held on February 23, 2019, produced Oloye Folarin as the winner. The INEC returning officer, Professor Idowu Peter Farai, declared 91,080 votes in favour of Oloye Folarin.

He received his certificate of return as a senator-elect from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on 14 March 2019 and assumed office on 11th June 2019 following the inauguration of the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He was subsequently appointed as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content and he is also a member of the following Senate Committees: National Security and Intelligence, Finance, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), Inter-parliamentary, Constitutional Amendment, Airforce and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

SCORECARD (June 11th, 2019 – Jan. 22nd 2021)
Here is the account of stewardship of Distinguished Senator Folarin between June 11th, 2019 – Jan. 22nd 2021. This is to review performance and analyse his strengths with a view to charting a new course going forward.

SPONSORED BILLS
SB 363: Federal University (Special) Oyo Town, Oyo State (Est.etc) Bill, 2020
Status: Second Reading
SB 417: Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (Amendment) Bill, 2020
Status: Public Hearing
SB 418: Nigerian Local Content Development Regulation Bill, 2020
Status: Public Hearing.

MOTIONS MOVED

1. Urgent need to reduce accidents involving trucks and articulated lorries on our Highways – Sponsor
2. Upgrade of Ibadan Airport to international airport with modern facilities – Co-sponsor
3. Need to Review the Act establishing the NYSC to make graduates more resourceful- Sponsor
4. Urgent call for FG support for devastated areas in Obia Nkor communities in Anambra State and other communities.- Co-sponsor.
5. Need to make developmental Aids more effective to work for Nigerians- Co-Sponsor.

1. COMPLETED FACILITATED PROJECTSSCHOOLS:

1. Construction of a block of six classrooms at Methodist Primary School Gangansi, Ona-Ara LGA
2. Construction of a block of Nine classrooms at Aiyepe community school, Egbeda LGA
3. A block of six classrooms at Methodist Primary School, Ogbangan, Ward 2, Akinyele LG
4. Construction of a block of six classrooms at L.A School Bola I, II and III, Oyo West LGA
5. Construction of 2 Blocks of Twelve Classrooms at Ifelajulo Community Basic Primary School, Mosifala, Ward4, Oluyole LG.
6. A Block of Six Classrooms with two (2) VIP toilets at St. John’s Primary School, Olubode Village, Ward 5, Ona-Ara LG.

1. ICT CENTRES
   1) Methodist Grammar School, Toll-gate, ward 5, Oluyole LG
   2) Bioku Aladun Community High School, Aladun, Ward 5, Ona-ara LG
   3) Oyesina Model Grammar School, Monatan, Lagelu LG
   4) Ladigbolu Grammar School, Oyo West LG
   5) Baptist Grammar School, Ilora, Afijio LG
   6) Community Grammar School, Gbede, Surulere LG
   7) MacArthur ICT and Communications Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan

1. BOREHOLES AND SOLAR POWER
   (1) 2 Completed Solar Powered Boreholes with Solar Power Lights at Market 2 and Orisunmibare Supo Zone, Olomi Market, Olomi, Oluyole LG.
   (2) Five (5) solar stands at Olode village in Surulere Local Government Area
   (3) Two (2) Solar stands at Alagba Village at Surulere Local Government Area
   (4) Three (3) Solar stands at Monijuku at Surulere Local Government Area
   (5) Two (2) Solar stands at Elewuro in Surulere Local Government Area
   (6) Seven (7) Solar stands at Ayede village at Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area.

1. ONGOING FACILITATED PROJECTS:
   1) ICT Vocational Training Centre, U.I, Ajibode, Akinyele LG (Under construction)
   2) 100 Beds Specialist Hospital, Abonde, Ona-ara LG (Under construction)
   3) 22 Solar Powered Boreholes in all LGs across Oyo Central Senatorial District (Under construction).

1. Locations:
   Olomi Market – Oluyole
   Amuloko – Ona Ara
   Idi Osan – Ona Ara
   Dab Zaria – Oyo West
   Oke Apo – Oyo East
   Sabo Market – Atiba
   Irepodun Market – Afijio
   Alabebe – Egbeda
   Ajawa – Ogo Oluwa
   Ojo Baale Akobo – Lagelu
   Iresaapa – Surulere
   Ojo – Akinyele
   Idi Opele – Surulere
   Alara/Arolu – Surulere
   Orisumbare/Bamigbegbin – Oluyole
   Olodan Village – Egbeda
   Adekola Village – Akinrele
   Kajola Community Oko Oba Phase 11- Oyo
   Temidire Ayegun – Ogo Oluwa
   Aba Otun/Olosa Oko – Ona Ara
   Ibadan Central Mosque
   Badeku – Ona Ara
   Apata Area – Ibadan Southwest LGA.

1. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FACILITATED
   Distinguished Senator Teslim has facilitated hundreds of employment opportunities for unemployed youths of Oyo Central Senatorial District in the following MDAs:
   *National Assembly
   *National Assembly Service Commission
   *Nigerian Police Force
   *Federal Capital Territory Authority
   *National Space Research Agency
   *National Agency Quarantine Services
   *Nigerian Institute of Social & Economic Research (NISER)
   *Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS)
   *Npower Recruitment Programme
   *Nigeria Airforce
   *Nigeria Navy Recruitment
   *Nigeria Immigration Service
   *Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps

• The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
  *Special public works programme portal.

• EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMES

1. Training and supply of grain grinding machines for women and youths in selected LGAs of Oyo Central, organized by Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Lagos.
2. Training and supply of farm inputs, seeds and agro-chemicals for rural farmers in selected LGAs of Oyo Central, organized by Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR)
3. Training and supply of farm implements and seedlings for rural farmers in selected LGAs of Oyo Central, organized by Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR)
4. Provision of grants for selected rural farmers in selected LGAs of Oyo Central, organized by Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR)
5. 2-day Youth Training in Modern Agricultural Techniques (Phase 1)
6. 2-day Youth Training in Modern Agricultural Techniques (Phase 2)
   COVID-19 INTERVENTIONS
7. Facilitated N25M COVID-19 Loans for 20 beneficiaries.
8. Senator Folarin distributed N5million cash and N25million worth of food items to his constituents so as to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown.
9. Additional giveaway cash via a phone-in radio programmes
   *Fresh FM Ibadan: Let’s Talk About It co-anchored by Yinka Ayefele and Enitan Bamidele; Gbarada co-anchored by Aare Olalomi Amole and Chief Komolafe Olaiya; Eku iyanju by Enitan Bamidele; and Oyin Ado co-anchored by Aare Olalomi Amole and Chief Komolafe Olaiya
   *Lagelu FM Ibadan: Erebente Extra anchored by Temitayo Oyeladun; Leyin Iroyin co-anchored by Titilayo Akinsola and Kola Oladapo (Mr. Nice Guy); and Balelayo anchored by Otunba Kola Ladoke
10. Relief Packages for Vulnerable Women and less privileged on Lagelu FM Ibadan, Atelewo Eni co-anchored by Adeosun Kayode and Abolore Salami
11. Continuous sensitization of the constituents in the eleven LGAs of the district on the dangers of the novel coronavirus
12. Continuous distributions of sanitizers across the Senatorial district and beyond.

1. MEGA EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME.

1. MISCELLANEOUS INTERVENTIONS
   1) N400,000 cash aid to Lagbe Community Primary School, Lagbe. Akinyele LG.
   2) Cash donations to youth, women and religious groups.
   3) 2021 Multi Million Naira Mega Empowerment Programme.