Oyo State Agency For Youth Development

UPDATE ON HOUSE AGENT EXTORTION IN OYO STATE 🚨 Today, we met with the Chairman of the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development to further relay the growing hardship residents, especially young people, continue to face due to house agents’ extortion across Oyo State, with Ibadan being most affected. This engagement follows our earlier meeting with the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly and reflects a serious commitment to addressing this long-standing issue. The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly has now set up a committee to draft a bill aimed at regulating the activities of house agents and restoring sanity to the housing sector. We were also informed that the Speaker personally reached out to His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, to brief him on the matter. Encouragingly, the Governor has shown strong interest, and we have been assured that before the end of the first quarter of the year, the bill will be turned into law. As part of the proposed reforms, we proposed regulatory framework to protect tenants and promote transparency: •Agent Fees and Regulation Agency commission must be between 3% – 5% of annual rent. All agents must be properly registered, identifiable, and regulated under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. All rent collected must be remitted to landlords within seven (7) working days to prevent agents from absconding with tenants’ money. Unregistered or unregulated practices will attract strict sanctions. •Caution Fee (Security Deposit) Reform Caution fees are to be abolished entirely. Landlords retain the right to seek legal redress for verifiable damage caused by tenants. •Legal Fees Cap Legal fees must be between 3% – 5% of annual rent. No hidden, duplicated, or unjustified legal charges shall be permitted. •Rent Increment Protection Landlords must provide at least one (1) year written notice before any rent increment. No increase shall take effect without proper notice. •Restriction on Properties Intended for Sale Any property intended for sale within the next two (2) years must not be listed for rent. Where a rented property is later put up for sale, tenants must be informed immediately. And many more This is a major step in the right direction. We will continue to engage relevant stakeholders, monitor progress, and keep the public informed as developments unfold.

University of Ibadan Graduate Olamilekan Waheed Wins Calidad Film School Scholarship Olamilekan Waheed, popularly called "Orlando", a Broadcaster with 32fm Ibadan and Nigerian storyteller known for his work as a playwright and stage director, has taken a major step toward a lifelong dream after winning a prestigious scholarship to study cinematography at Calidad Film School. Sharing the news with excitement, Waheed announced, “I got the scholarship! Thank you, Calidad Film School.” For years, he had told stories on stage, writing and directing plays. But over time, he felt creatively unfulfilled and began yearning for a new medium—film. Determined to make the transition, Waheed visited Calidad Film School to inquire about enrolling. The cost, however, was beyond his reach. Still, he resolved to save toward it, convinced that filmmaking was what he truly wanted to do. Weeks later, an unexpected opportunity arrived. A friend, Progress, sent him a link on Instagram—Calidad’s studio scholarship announcement. “I was the happiest man on earth that day,” Waheed recalled. But he knew the scholarship would not come easily. To qualify, applicants had to submit a film strong enough to stand out. Without delay, Waheed selected one of his stories and transformed it into a short film titled ÒKÚTA. Taking on multiple roles, he wrote, directed, shot, and edited the project himself, working with actors Temi Agoro and Bmdtreasureofficial. He submitted the film with faith. The response exceeded all expectations. ÒKÚTA went on to surpass one million views across social media platforms, drawing widespread attention and support. Now, that effort has paid off. “Today, I got it—the scholarship,” Waheed announced. He will now study cinematography at Calidad Film School, officially beginning his journey into filmmaking. He expressed gratitude to everyone who entered the competition and shared his work, saying their support made the achievement possible.