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Tag: Akeredolu

  • Akeredolu holds town hall meetings with residents over 10-year blackout

    •Contractors commence works on transmission lines

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu yesterday held a town hall meeting with residents of South Senatorial District over a 10-year blackout in the area.

    The two-part meeting, which was part of efforts to end the blackout, first held at the Williams Hall in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area.

    It later moved to Okitipupa, where the governor met with the residents and the contractors handling electricity project.

    At Igbokoda, various groups, including youths, women and community leaders, spoke about the hardship they had been experiencing due to the prolonged blackout.

    The Executive Director of Engineering and Technical Services in Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPC), Ife Oyedele, lauded the efforts of the Federal Government and Akeredolu, which he said resulted in mobilising the contractors to site.

    The people unanimously urged the governor to help them restore power supply to their communities.

    They regretted the eight years of neglect by the previous administration, saying this informed their determination to stage peaceful protests until their requests were met.

    Akeredolu, who addressed a group of protesting youths at the venue, said his administration was determined to ensure that the power supply problems of the area were resolved.

    The governor allayed the fears of the youths, urging the people to cooperate with the contractors handling the electrification projects.

    He said: “Let me appeal to the youths. I appreciate your concerns because they are genuine. But I come to you with genuine intention to put a permanent end to the blackout. I beg our fathers to appeal to the youths to let the contractors do their job and ensure that the timeline for the project is maintained.”

    Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi described the meeting as a unique opportunity to end the more than 10 years of suffering of the people.

    He urged the residents to cooperate with the contractors.

    The projects were among the three-layer intervention of the Akeredolu administration, which includes solar stands for homes and national grid extension by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

    At Aboto, where the governor mounted a solar stand, he urged the residents to protect it and maximise its use for their power consumption.

     

  • Akeredolu praises aide at anniversary

    The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has challenged government appointees to upgrade their skills in line with modern techniques in governance.

    Akeredolu, who spoke at the 50th birthday celebration of his Special Adviser on Health, Dr. Ajibayo Adeyeye in Akure, the Ondo State capital, noted that Adeyeye’s versatility made him a pillar of the administration.

    According to Akeredolu, the impact of the special adviser on governance could not be underrated, stressing that he relied on him for critical health decisions. He said the combination of Adeyeye and the Health Commissioner, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro has made issues of health management an easy one for him to deal with.

    He said while the commissioner is well grounded in medical practice, Adeyeye is well experienced in the area of health management, making their combination a tremendous value.

    Also speaking, Ekiti State Governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi described Adeyeye as a brother whose advice on many issues of life over the years is reliable.

    He commended the former Lagos State lawmaker for his great service to the Ondo people. Chairman of the occasion and an Ondo High Chief, Chief Olabanji Akingbule described Adeyeye as a true chip of the old block.

    Akingbule, who said he was a friend of the celebrator’s late father, said Ajibayo has shown that a good tree cannot produce a bad fruit.

    He said: “The people of Ondo enjoyed his father and Ajibayo has stepped into that shoe and it is a special thing of pride to me,” he said.

    The former lawmaker in the Lagos State House of Assembly, now aspiring to represent Ondo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, had earlier empowered about 689 indigent residents of Ondo town with gifts ranging from N10,000 to N25,000.

    Speaking, Adeyeye said the event was to thank God for what He has done for him, noting that his plan to affect the lives of the less privilege in his home town when he turns 50 has been in planning for over 10 years.

    The event was climax by  the launch of his autobiography, presented by Akeredolu and Fayemi, on the out pouring of love towards him at the birthday celebration.

    The medical doctor turn politician said, it was a clear indication that his service to the fatherland was well appreciated and that he was challenged to keep putting in his best whenever the opportunity calls.

  • Akeredolu seeks effective land use

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has said inconsistent land policies, uncoordinated execution of policies and poor monitoring and evaluation are militating against the effective implementation of land policies in the state.

    The governor spoke yesterday in Akure, the state capital, at the inauguration of an 11-man Land Reform Committee.

    The committee members has a former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof Peter Adeniyi, as its Chairman; the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr Donald Ojogo, as Co-Chairman, while Mr Wale Adegoke will serve as its Secretary.

    Other members are: the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Prince Solagbade Amodeni; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands and Housing, Alex Aragbaiye; Acting Surveyor-General; the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Agriculture and Agribusiness, Pastor Akin Olotu; a representative of ONDIPA, a representative of Ondo State Board of Internal Revenue, SSA to the Governor on ICT and the Director of Deed in the Ministry of Lands and Housing.

    Akeredolu recalled that following the constitution of the State Executive Council (Exco), he directed the Ministry of Lands and Housing to encourage and explore possible means of correcting lapses and anomalies of the past in the land resource sector.

    The governor said the ministry was mandated to focus on acquisition of public and private land, procurement of title deed to land, commercialisation through land use charge, digitisation of the land process, mapping of the state, legal reforms, as well as the management and monitoring of land.

  • Akeredolu inaugurates 11-man committee on land reform

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Monday inaugurated an 11-man committee on land reform with a view to unlocking economic potentials of land in the state.

    Addressing the committee in Akure, Akeredolu identified inconsistent land policies, uncoordinated execution, poor monitoring and evaluation as factors militating against effective governance of the land sector.

    The governor said that he had directed the state Ministry of Lands and Housing to urgently explore possible means of correcting past lapses and anomalies in land use.

    According to him, the ministry has been specifically mandated to focus on acquisition of land for public and private use.

    The governor added that the ministry should also ensure procurement of title deed, commercialisation through land use charge, digitisation of the land process, mapping of the state, legal reforms as well as management and monitoring of land.

    “These became imperative for obvious reasons as this administration needs to break grounds to shore up the state’s revenue base in order to meet its ever increasing demand and be responsive to people’s needs.

    “Our major desire is to undertake measures aimed at tapping all vital resources to strengthen the state’s social-economic base.

    “One major means of achieving this is to embark on aggressive land reform that will not only enhance our revenue generation capacity, but will also provide a secured environment for prospective and potential investors.

    “It is the only sure way to instill confidence in the system,” the governor said.

    He expressed confidence that the reform would be comprehensive, pragmatic and simple enough to enable the people to buy into its overall goal of improving the quality of life of the people.

    Akeredolu said that efficient governance and responsible use of land would attract large scale agricultural investment.

    He said that these would also enhance job creation through entrepreneurship and industrialisation.

    The governor gave an assurance that the committee’s recommendations would be instrumental in charting a new course for the state on land.

    Akeredolu, therefore, enjoined members of the committee to be efficient in discharging their duties.

    Earlier, Mr Donald Ojogo, the state Commissioner for Lands and Housing, had said that there was need for a holistic as well as more enduring and effective land management and acquisition system in the state.

    “We observed that the state, with a total land mass of about 15,500 square kilometres and having a population of about 3.6 million people would be under pressure to effectively manage its land.

    “The committee will come up with a lot of measures that would eradicate human errors in the administration and acquisition of land in the state,’’ he said.

    The commissioner stated that the Land Reform Committee would ensure that policies were initiated and developed for proper implementation with minimum errors in administration and management of land.

    Responding on behalf of the committee, its Secretary, Mr Wale Adegoke, who thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve, gave an assurance that members would not compromise on the confidence reposed in them.

    ” As population grows, there would be issues of proper allocation of lands as population grows.

    “The committee will chart a way forward and present recommendations that would ensure that land is effectively managed within best practices.

    “We will also ensure inter-agency collaboration in the use of land data as well as delivering value while unlocking the economic potentials of land in the state,” he stated.

    NAN reports that the committee has former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Peter Awoniyi, as Chairman.

  • We’ll make healthcare affordable, says Akeredolu

    Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, at the weekend said that provision of accessible, affordable and qualitative health care and social services delivery is one of the five-point agenda of his administration.

    The governor spoke in Akure, the state capital, when he received Samuel Adekola-led new national executive of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN).

    Akeredolu expressed the readiness of his administration to employ more health workers in the state, especially more pharmacists to make effective and quality healthcare accessible and affordable for the people.

    The ACPN chairman had earlier urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Ondo State government to address the delay in mobilising graduate pharmacists for NYSC scheme due to inadequate offices for their one year compulsory internship.

    Adekola said, “Our colleagues, young pharmacists who are graduating, are not having opportunities for their compulsory one-year internship. As I speak to you, we have most of them that have spent two years after graduation, they couldn’t go for (NYSC) service; we therefore call on the government to initiate and implement central placement for internship purposes.”

    Akeredolu, however, directed the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro, to bring up memo for the increment of slots for pharmacists’ internship to enable graduating pharmacists get opportunity to acquire their one-year compulsory training.

    He said, “I am happy we are starting from Ondo State, which is my state. We have taken the campaign against fake drugs to the government of Ondo State.

    ”We appreciate them because Ondo State is taking a lead in the fight against fake drugs through the use of scanning machine. It is the only state in Nigeria that has the machine which can detect fake drugs on the spot.”

    The ACPN boss described the Ondo State version of the Contributory Health Insurance Scheme Law as the most people-centred and easy to implement in Nigeria.

     

     

  • Akeredolu distributes 400,000 cocoa seedlings to farmers

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Friday in Akure distributed 400,000 cocoa seedlings and 25,000 cashew seedlings to farmers in the state.

    Akeredolu said that the state government was making effective policies and actions to return the state to its leadership position in cocoa farming in the country.

    He promised that his administration would make loans available to farmers and partner with banks to make loans easy and accessible.

    According to the governor, the distribution was a partnership initiative of the state government and Federal Government.

    The governor urged youths in the state to embrace farming as a profession, saying it was only agriculture that could rescue Nigeria out of economic problems.

    Akeredolu noted that the government was embarking on training of cocoa farmers, using modern form of fermentation and drying.

    He noted that the development of the cocoa value chain was key to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, hence all hands must be on deck to achieve the goal.

    Akeredolu said that the state government was also promoting local consumption of cocoa drinks and chocolate through sensitisation of its citizenry on health and wealth benefits.

    Also speaking, Mr Adegboyega Adefarati, state Commissioner for Agriculture, said that there was need to sustain the position of the state as a front runner of cocoa production in Nigeria.

    Adefarati noted that the state government gave the hybrid cocoa and cashew seedlings free to farmers.

    He stated that the gesture would go a long way to assist farmers in rehabilitation and replanting of their various plantations in the state.

    According to him, the exercise is a prelude to big event of cocoa rebirth initiative, which is aimed at addressing the production and distribution of improved cocoa varieties.

    The commissioner said that the present administration in the state had resolved to establish 2,000 hectares of land of hybrid cocoa plantation at Ijugbere in Owo Local Government Area of the state.

    He added that the plantation would be allocated to youth farmers, saying the efforts would sustain leadership position of the state in cocoa production.

    Adefarati, therefore, urged the beneficiaries to make use of the seedlings to enhance productivity.

    Similarly, Mr Akin Olotu, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Agriculture and Agric Business, said that the real wealth was inherent in farming, hence the need for the gesture.

    Olotu noted that food security was the best security that any government could give to its citizens.

    The SSA added that the best source of foreign exchange for Nigeria was agriculture, through cocoa and other tree crops.

    ” No amount of rice and millet can make us to compete with Europe and America.

    “But our area of strength is largely cash crops, which cocoa is number one and the Akeredolu administration is improving its value chain.

    “We want Ondo State to be the face of cocoa in Africa, we have to create jobs and wealth through it,”  he stated.

    According to him, no fewer than 5,000 modern cocoa farmers will spring up in the state. (NAN)

  • CVR: Akeredolu declares Thursday work-free in Ondo

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has declared Thursday, August 30, as work-free day to enable public servants participate in the continuous voter registration exercise in the state.

    Akeredolu, according to a statement on Wednesday by Mr Yemi Olowolabi, the State Commissioner for Information, in Akure, made the declaration following a resolution of the State Executive Council.

    The CVR, which was to have been suspended two weeks ago ahead of the 2019 general elections, was extended to enable more people register.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that it would now be suspended on Friday, Aug. 31, until after the 2019 elections.

    Read Also: Ondo Monarchs to BEDC: We are disappointed

    Akeredolu called on the people of the state to take full advantage to the opportunity to register and obtain their Permanent Voters Cards, to be able to vote in the forthcoming general elections.

    He said that the work-free day on Thursday be observed in the state to allow public servants participate in the CVR, ahead of Friday’s suspension of the exercise.

    The workers in state are expected back at work on Friday, August 31, 2018.

  • Adaba FM gave voice to the voiceless, says Akeredolu 

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has described the state’s  first private owned radio station, Adaba 88.9, as a child of circumstance.

    Akeredolu said the emergence of the station liberated the opposition by giving it a platform to speak at a time when there were no avenues to air their voices.

    The governor spoke at the dinner and award night marking the 10th year of the station at the Bash Event Centre Akure.

    Akeredolu said he his Commissioner for Information, Yemi Olowolabi, has intimated him with good reports about Adaba FM.

    He recalled that even when the last administration dug a gully on the road leading to the station, he intervened and spoke on behalf of Adaba to the then government.

    The governor hailed the management and staff, led by the General Manager, Sir Ayo Martins, for keeping its values for a decade.

    While responding to the call by the general manger and some guests that the government should fix the road leading to the station, Akeredolu promised to take up the matter with his exco.

    “We were somewhere earlier today, and the same things were asked, road. They want us to fix their roads. But we have challenges. Just as I told them; we have heard and we will try our best. Just as we strive to attend to these roads, we will make sure we do something about Adaba FM road. “ Akeredolu said.

    Ayoola  praised Akeredolu for identifying with the station and sharing in its celebration.

  • Ondo first lady launches 2018 Summer Tennis Clinic for children

    The Wife of Ondo State Gov., Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, on Friday launched the 2018 State Summer Tennis Clinic for children between four and 13 years old.

    Speaking at the ceremony, which took place at the Township Stadium in Akure, Akeredolu expressed joy that the dream of initiating the tennis clinic was gradually being realised.

    She said that she was impressed that the children who participated in last year’s edition attended other competitions and won laurels.

    “This clinic is essentially to identify and develop talents in our children.

    “It is important to encourage sports development among youths in the state, particularly at the grassroots level.”

    She said that the essence was to discover and develop the latent potential and skills of young ones who were capable of becoming champions.

    Read Also: ASUP re-elects chairman at Ondo poly

    “The benefits of catching our youth’s young, especially in sports, are enormous.

    “Let us look at champions like Venus and Serena Williams. They all started as young children.

    “Today, they have become world champions winning numerous awards. We have Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Billie Jean King, just to mention a few.

    The governor’s wife said that the programme “is not a government thing”.

    “You can give into it. Let nobody wait for the governor to bring money here,” she said.

    Mr Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, the state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, commended the governor’s wife for the initiative.

    Yusuf-Ogunleye said that the programme would go a long way in building future tennis players for the state and Nigeria.

    A participant, Aanuoluwapo Efunsile, said the participants would use the opportunity provided by Akeredolu to develop themselves and become great tennis players.

    300 students are participating in the programme holding from August. 23 to Septemper.1, 2018.

    It is organised by the Office of Wife of Ondo Governor in collaboration with the Ondo State Sports Council. 

  • Akeredolu hails Otudeko at 75

    Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has joined other Nigerians across the globe to felicitate with Oba Otudeko, an industrialist and patriotic Nigerian par excellence, as he celebrates his 75th birthday.

    Akeredolu in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) heartily wished Otudeko more fruitful years of continued service to humanity. According to the governor, “in the life of mortals, commemoration of the day of first contact with the earthly plane comes in a yearly calendar.” Akeredolu prayed for healthy and more prosperous years for the celebrator.

    He expressed his belief that the good seed the celebrator planted in the areas of human and material resources have produced fantastic results whose impacts are evidently seen across all sectors of the nation’s social and economic spheres.