The Nation Newspaper

Tag: AREGBESOLA

  • Aregbesola launches vaccine to save 300,000 children annually

    Aregbesola launches vaccine to save 300,000 children annually

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Thursday said the newly introduced Pentavalent vaccine would save 300,000 children from preventable diseases in Osun state annually.

    Aregbesola made the declaration when he launched the new vaccine at Ede town in Osun.

    He said 133, 000 new vaccines had been supplied to the state, adding that it would serve all children in the 30 Local Government Areas, including Ife East Area Office.

    According to him, the pentavalent vaccine is a combination of five vaccines in one that prevents diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza type B.

    The governor appealed to nursing mothers to immunise their children to protect them from the child-killers diseases.

    Aregbesola urged all to join in the campaign against poliomyelitis because children were the future generation of the state, and country at large.

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr Temitope Ilori, said the administration had sustained the free universal health care for all in Osun.

    Ilori added that the state government had renovated and upgraded state hospitals, purchase medical equipment and drugs.

    She said that immunisation was one of the most important preventive health actions in children’s lives, as it provided protection against the most dangerous childhood diseases. “Achieving immunisation through administration of vaccines on boys and girls is a priority, because if they have not been vaccinated they are at major risk of contracting diseases,’’ Ilori said.

    She stressed the need for health workers and all stakeholders to ensure that every Nigerian child was vaccinated.

    Ilori called on parents and caregivers to avail themselves of the government’s resolve to improve the health of communities, women and children in the state by embracing the innovation. (NAN)

     

  • Aregbesola, Wada seek peaceful co-existence

    Governors Rauf Aregbesola of Osun and Idris Wada of Kogi States have called on Muslims to pray for the country’s peaceful existence during the Ramadan.

    The governors made the call in their separate remarks at the annual Ramadan lecture organised by the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society in Abuja.

    Aregbesola, who chaired the occasion, described Ramadan as a season for sober reflection when the prayers of Muslims were speedily granted by God.

    He enjoined Muslims to use the holy month for spiritual rejuvenation and dedication to the peace, unity and development of the nation.

    He said: “Ramadan is the best season on earth; it is a time when life is easier and our prayers granted faster. We must therefore avail ourselves of this opportunity and pray for the peace, unity and development of this nation.”

    The governor, who decried the spate of insecurity and underdevelopment in the country, called on Muslims to be in the fore front of nation-building.

    He stressed the need for Muslims to acquire both Islamic and western education, for them to make any meaningful change in the society.

    He urged Islamic organisations like Al-Habibiyyah to continue to contribute their quota to national growth through lectures and advocacy.

    Earlier, Governor Wada stressed the need for unity among Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic or religious creed.

    He urged Muslims to use the Ramadan period to be closer to Allah and shun all manner of vices.

    “We have to use this period (Ramadan) to be united and faithful to God; we must do as much good to everyone and think of the unity, peace and progress of our country. We should think of how best we can move our nation forward,” he said.

    The Kogi State Governor urged Muslims to use the period to feed and help the poor and needy in the society.

    The Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Mallam Mohammad Bello, who delivered a lecture, urged Muslims to be upright in their endeavours.

    “Ramadan is the right time for us to reflect on how to get things right; it is the duty of every Muslim to worship Allah according to the dictates of the glorious Qu’ran and the Sunnah,” he said.

    He urged prospective pilgrims to hajj to have the right intention and follow the rules and procedure for pilgrimage.

    Represented by Secretary of the commission, Dr Bello Tambuwal, he said NAHCON had been striving over the years to make hajj hitch-free in the country.

    The Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah Mosque, Alhaji Fuad Adeyemi, said the organisation’s goal was to enlighten Muslims on Islam and contribute to national development.

    He said it had introduced various programmes such as the Al-Habibiyyah food bank, zakat foundation, Arabic for beginners, street to school programme, to touch the lives of both Muslims and non-Muslims.

    The lecture was attended by Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, politicians, civil servants and Muslims from all walks of life.

  • Aregbesola supports 500 widows with empowerment materials

    Wife of Osun State Governor and President, Sheri Care Foundation (SCARF), Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, has assisted about 500 widows selected across the state with empowerment materials that would enhance their income generation activities.

    Aregbesola, while speaking at the distribution of the materials to the beneficiaries in Osogbo, Osun State capital, said the main purpose of the programme was to “reach out to some of the very critically needy in our communities.”

    Some of the beneficiaries were supported with materials for soap making, production of adire, baking of akara (bean cake), preparation of eko (pap), tailoring and petty trading.

    Mrs. Aregbesola said, “being made a widow could be very devastating, especially when one lives in a country where social security system is yet to be put in place.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Observe injunctions, Amosun, Aregbesola enjoin Muslims

    Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and his Osun counterpart, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola have urged Muslims to observe the injunctions of Ramadan as contained in the Holy Quran.

    Amosun said attributes such as self discipline, compassion, alms giving, study of Quran, prayers, among others, should define the Holy month for all Muslims.

    He urged all adherents of Islam to pray fervently for peace and progress in the country during the fasting period.

    “With sincerity of purpose and supplication to the almighty Allah, we can overcome all our challenges,” the governor said.

    Aregbesola enjoined Muslims to maximise the opportunities of the Holy month to purse the path of glory, progress, growth and sustainable development in the interest of the country.

    As a nation, he said, what the people, leaders and followers, need to do is to come together and forge a harmonious relationship for the betterment of the country.

    He called on the Muslim faithful to rededicate themselves to reproductive activities that are capable of positively affecting the nation’s fortunes.

    He enjoined them to use the month to channel their energies towards rewarding activities.

    “This is a month of sacrifice, perseverance and austere discipline; a period of humility, sober reflection, prayer and shower of blessings. It is a period when we are supposed to close rank with Allah, the Creator.

  • Why we back Aregbesola, by parties

    Why we back Aregbesola, by parties

    The Alliance of Collaborating Political Parties (ACPP) in Osun State has explained why it must defend Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s achievements.

    The ACPP, comprising the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Justice Party (JP), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA), Action Congress of (ACN), National Conscience Party (NCP), All Democratic Congress (ADC) and others, said it was imperative that “any right thinking group should rise against the damaging criticisms of the Aregbesola administration.

    At a news conference addressed by the Chairman of the ACPP, Comrade Waheed Lawal, in Osogbo yesterday, the group said it should not be seen as praising Aregbesola.

    ACPP said: “We found it essential to say and present things in the correct perspective for the sake of innocent watchers of events in Osun and prosperity. If we don’t do it, we may lose our respect and credibility among our members and the people who are enjoying most of the wonderful things done by the Aregbesola administration.

    “It is pertinent to note that they are carried away with the ‘freedom for all and life more abundant’ they now enjoy, so much that they can stone anybody who will condemn Aregbesola’s developmental stride.

    “We must say that the mushroom parties criticising and the fair-weather friends serving the mouthpiece of a minion, who is spoiling for a revenge, know that Aregbesola has done much in terms of making life more abundant for the people.”

     

     

     

     

    , but they have to pretend to be in opposition by saying something, even when it is unreasonable, irrational and inconsequential.

    “Of course, we acknowledge that genuine opposition is the tonic for democracy, but one that is being made as a proxy war for treacherous human being next door is to say the least unbecoming of any rational being and far removed from what criticism is all about. In additional, we note that it is an act of vendetta not to acknowledge good things done. It is for this reason that we are holding this news conference.

    “Let the people be informed of the developments that have made a lot of difference in the lives of the socio-economic and political facets of Osun since the advent of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola as the Governor.”

    The parties said the political parties condemning the Aregbesola administration are out for mischief and vendetta.

    ACPP warned the political parties, especially the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to desist from unnecessary and frivolous criticism of Aregbesola, saying that such step could mislead and misinform the people within and outside the state.

    They said Osun State has witnessed infrastructural, social and economic development, adding that Governor Aregbesola is doing much in terms of making life more abundant for the people.

    Apparently reacting to a statement credited to Labour Party, Osun State chapter, which said Aregbesola’s administration was full of propaganda, deceit and lies, ACPP said some of the political parties are out for vendetta.

    According to the ACPP, the mushroom parties are pretending to be in opposition by saying something, even when it is unreasonable, irrational and inconsequential on Aregbesola’s administration.

    ACPP said the wonderful achievements of Aregbesola have thrilled the people so much that they are calling for his return to the office one year ahead of the election.

     

  • Aregbesola fights poverty with O’Meal

    There were grim statistics for Nigeria from the recently released “State of School Feeding Worldwide Report”, compiled by the World Food Programme (WFP).

    The report, launched at the United Nations headquarters in New York, indicated that only one out of five school children get a healthy school meal in developing countries. The report also presented a gloomy picture of Nigeria’s school feeding programme highlighting that less than 500,000 school children get a decent meal in school. In that report, Nigeria and Cameroon shared the ignoble position of coming last.

    In 2004, Nigeria began a pilot project of Home Grown School Feeding and Health Programme (HGSFHP) which was part of the Universal Basic Education Programme. It was designed to feed pupils in elementary public schools. But out of the 13 states that participated in the programme, only one state remained committed to the continued implementation and improvement of the project: The state is Osun.

    The state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been developing a simple theory with his re-organised school feeding programme in the state. For him, providing nutritious and healthy meals in schools has a direct link to mental development and the eradication of poverty.

    Therefore when in April 2012, he decided to review the school feeding programme with a bigger and better menu, he targeted not just the children but also the farmers in the state. The Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme (O’Meals), which was the result of the new thinking in the state has since surpassed most of its main objectives.

    One of the cardinal points of O’Meals is to increase enrollment and retention of school children in state primary schools. Within four weeks of the commencement of the programme however, school enrollment has jumped about 25 per cent in government primary schools. By June 30, 2012, enrollment increased from 155,318,000 to 194,253 from primaries 1-3.

    Basking in the euphoria of this success, the state government promptly widened the scope and included primary 4 in the scheme. The state now feeds a total of 252,793,000 students daily at the annual cost of N3billion. From the report of the WFP, Osun State accounts for more than half of the total number of children getting healthy and nutritious school meals in Nigeria.

    The operation officer of O’meal, Mrs. Bunmi Ayoola, said the programme has achieved and surpassed its objectives of increasing school enrollment in the state. She said the government also ensures that the food is prepared in a healthy and neat environment.

    “Balanced diet helps in developing the brain’s capacity as well as cognitive response index of each child and it plays a major role in ensuring that children assimilate learning instructions fast and well,’’ she said.

    Fighting poverty and increasing enterprise

    But increased enrollment was not the only intention of the Osun State government; reduction of poverty and boosting small and medium scale enterprise were also key points in the school feeding programme. According to the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, the rebirth of the school feeding programme has had a positive impact on farmers.

    “As part of six points integral action plan of the state government to banish hunger, create employment and education for all; the school feeding programme has increased the enrollment of the pupils by 25 per cent within the two weeks of re-introduction, allowed farmers to engage in massive food production and encouraged learning in primary schools. Let me tell you that 80 per cent of food production by the farmers in the State will be used for feeding of our kids in the programme”.

    The deputy governor revealed that over 900 cocoyam farmers have been empowered by the government.

    “In order to ensure that the programme is sustained, we have encouraged our farmers to go into massive production of fish and chicken with which to feed the pupils. We have also directed our farmers to go into massive production of plantain, banana and very soon we are thinking on the possibility of going into massive production of rice and establish rice mills across the state to encourage our farmers,” she said.

    More than 3,000 women in the state have also been empowered to serve as the food vendors. The vendors are well kitted with modern cooking utensils and bowls at the cost of N152 million to the state government. One of the vendors, Mrs. Esther Ogundipe said the programme has empowered her family. “Aregbesola has added value to my life; I am no more a housewife,’’ she said.

    Today, according to the state government, 15,000 whole chickens are sourced weekly from local poultry farmers; 254,000 eggs sourced weekly; 35 heads of cattle purchased weekly from local cattle farmers and 400 tonnes of catfish purchased weekly from local fish farmers.

    Even though some have criticised the enormous cost of the programme, the WFP said even in developed country, the amount spent by government on school meals is a worthy investment for the future.

  • Aregbesola plants tree of life

    Aregbesola plants tree of life

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola was honoured last week at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, in recognition of his eco-friendly policies and Igi Iye initiative. DHIKRU AKINOLA and KEMI BUSARI (400-Level Political Science) report.

    It was 7am and the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile- Ife was filled with guests and members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) from within and outside Osun State. Academic activities were literally brought to a halt as students, in green and white attires, welcomed the honoree, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, to the university.

    The award was organised by the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, OAU in partnership with the Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria and the National Parks Service, Abuja.

    As people trooped into the campus, security operatives had a hectic time controlling them. At 8:34 am, the convoy of members of the State Executive Council led by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, arrived.

    Clad in a green attire with white trousers to match, Mrs. Laoye-Tomori led commissioners to the Vice-Chancellor’s office, where they were received by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof Ayobami Salami, and top members of the university’s management.

    Appreciating the management for recognising and supporting all developmental initiatives of the government, Mrs. Laoye-Tomori said the Aregbesola administration was proud of the university for being environmental-friendly.

    A few minutes after, Prof Salami, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole, led guests to the Jimoh Ibrahim Post Graduate Building to welcome Aregbesola for the tree-planting initiative of the government, tagged Igi Iye (tree of life).

    Welcoming guests, Director of the Institute, Dr Olusegun Awotoye, said Aregbesola was honoured in recognition of his administration’s initiatives on the environment through various programmes such as O-CLEAN and others.

    Awotoye congratulated the governor for being the third recipient of the prestigious award. Past awardees are Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and former Governor Donald Duke of Cross River State.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment and Sanitation, Mr Bola Ilori, said the survival of humanity depended on trees to restore friendly weather, adding that Igi Iye would be planted in towns and villages and not in the forest.

    He said God remained the best environmentalist with the creation of the Garden of Eden before man. He praised the institute for the support, commending OAU Parks and Garden for supporting the beautification project.

    Prof Bukola Oyawoye, Commissioner for Agriculture, said Aregbesola had worked hard to save the environment. Reading from Genesis 2:8, she noted that God believed that man could not survive without the environment, which was why it came first before man.

    Earlier, Prof Omole, noted that the university had a plan for ecology and the environment since 1972 after it held a conference on ecology and the environment.

    He promised to partner the state in its afforestration and environmental programmes.

    The highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of the Gold Environment Award Aregbesola.

    Responding, Aregbesola thanked the university for maintaining the standard and making the dreams of its founding fathers a reality. He restated the government’s readiness to partner with the university to improve the environment.

    Singing to the admiration of the guests, the governor said his joy knew no bounds, adding: “It is not easy to receive an award put together by three distinct and reputable organisations. It is uncommon for a university like OAU to lend its hallowed ground for a programme like this. I salute the management team.”

    Describing environment as humanity’s common heritage, Aregbesola said: “I want the children who are in their formative years to take this initiative with all their hearts. We have imbibed a positive spirit that we must improve our environment. For us in Osun, the environment is not something to trample upon but something that must be cherished and taken care of.

    “To the children, we are borrowing your time and you must not allow us to misuse it. We do not believe that the environment belong to us. It was bequeathed to us by our predecessors and so also we shall bequeath it to you.”

    Saying that the award will further spur more progressive action, the governor urged the youths to see opportunities in his administration’s environmental policies.

    Presenting the symbolic trees to the OAU managment, Aregbesola, who was joined by Oyawoye, Dr Awotoye and a female student representing the youths, said that the state had bought 2.5m seedlings for the initiative.

    The presentation of Igi Iye by Aregbesola was witnessed by Prof Salami, Registrar, Mr Dotun Awoyemi, traditional rulers, members of the state executives and students. The governor later planted the symbolic tree on the campus.

    Ace Nollywood actor, Saheed Balogun and hip-hop sensation, Olamide, thrilled the guests and students after the ceremony.

  • Aregbesola fights poverty with O’Meal

    Aregbesola fights poverty with O’Meal

    Where were grim statistics for Nigeria from the recently released “State of School Feeding Worldwide Report”, compiled by the World Food Programme (WFP).

    The report, launched at the United Nations headquarters in New York, indicated that only one out of five school children get a healthy school meal in developing countries. The report also presented a gloomy picture of Nigeria’s school feeding programme highlighting that less than 500,000 school children get a decent meal in school. In that report, Nigeria and Cameroon shared the ignoble position of coming last.

    In 2004, Nigeria began a pilot project of Home Grown School Feeding and Health Programme (HGSFHP) which was part of the Universal Basic Education Programme. It was designed to feed pupils in elementary public schools. But out of the 13 states that participated in the programme, only one state remained committed to the continued implementation and improvement of the project: The state is Osun.

    The state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been developing a simple theory with his re-organised school feeding programme in the state. For him, providing nutritious and healthy meals in schools has a direct link to mental development and the eradication of poverty.

    Therefore when in April 2012, he decided to review the school feeding programme with a bigger and better menu, he targeted not just the children but also the farmers in the state. The Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme (O’Meals), which was the result of the new thinking in the state has since surpassed most of its main objectives.

    One of the cardinal points of O’Meals is to increase enrollment and retention of school children in state primary schools. Within four weeks of the commencement of the programme however, school enrollment has jumped about 25 per cent in government primary schools. By June 30, 2012, enrollment increased from 155,318,000 to 194,253 from primaries 1-3.

    Basking in the euphoria of this success, the state government promptly widened the scope and included primary 4 in the scheme. The state now feeds a total of 252,793,000 students daily at the annual cost of N3billion. From the report of the WFP, Osun State accounts for more than half of the total number of children getting healthy and nutritious school meals in Nigeria.

    The operation officer of O’meal, Mrs. Bunmi Ayoola, said the programme has achieved and surpassed its objectives of increasing school enrollment in the state. She said the government also ensures that the food is prepared in a healthy and neat environment.

    “Balanced diet helps in developing the brain’s capacity as well as cognitive response index of each child and it plays a major role in ensuring that children assimilate learning instructions fast and well,’’ she said.

    Fighting poverty and increasing enterprise

    But increased enrollment was not the only intention of the Osun State government; reduction of poverty and boosting small and medium scale enterprise were also key points in the school feeding programme. According to the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, the rebirth of the school feeding programme has had a positive impact on farmers.

    “As part of six points integral action plan of the state government to banish hunger, create employment and education for all; the school feeding programme has increased the enrollment of the pupils by 25 per cent within the two weeks of re-introduction, allowed farmers to engage in massive food production and encouraged learning in primary schools. Let me tell you that 80 per cent of food production by the farmers in the State will be used for feeding of our kids in the programme”.

    The deputy governor revealed that over 900 cocoyam farmers have been empowered by the government.

    “In order to ensure that the programme is sustained, we have encouraged our farmers to go into massive production of fish and chicken with which to feed the pupils. We have also directed our farmers to go into massive production of plantain, banana and very soon we are thinking on the possibility of going into massive production of rice and establish rice mills across the state to encourage our farmers,” she said.

    More than 3,000 women in the state have also been empowered to serve as the food vendors. The vendors are well kitted with modern cooking utensils and bowls at the cost of N152 million to the state government. One of the vendors, Mrs. Esther Ogundipe said the programme has empowered her family. “Aregbesola has added value to my life; I am no more a housewife,’’ she said.

    Today, according to the state government, 15,000 whole chickens are sourced weekly from local poultry farmers; 254,000 eggs sourced weekly; 35 heads of cattle purchased weekly from local cattle farmers and 400 tonnes of catfish purchased weekly from local fish farmers.

    Even though some have criticised the enormous cost of the programme, the WFP said even in developed country, the amount spent by government on school meals is a worthy investment for the future.

  • Aregbesola approves N1.7b for nine hospitals

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has approved N1.7 billion to upgrade the nine state hospitals in Ile-Ife, Ipetu-Ijesa, Ede, Iwo, Osogbo, Ila, Ikire, Ilesa and Ikirun.

    The Commissioner for Finance, Economic Planning and Budget Planning, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, broke the news when he received the report of a monitoring team of the ministry assessing the level of work at the hospital sites.

    He said the governor made a provision for the upgrade of the hospitals to fast-track his administration’s free health care services.

    The commissioner urged contractors handling the rehabilitation and renovation of the hospitals to ensure they meet the stipulated deadline, adding that the governor was determined to patronise the best indigenous contractors, who execute good quality jobs.

    He decried the state of facilities, including the labour rooms, kitchens, mortuaries, x-ray departments, wards and other equipment in the hospitals before the current administration’s intervention.

    He said the governor’s resolve to improve the facilities was informed by the distressed call of the people on the poor state of hospitals, especially lack of drug supply.

    The commissioner assured that the ongoing renovation would also create jobs for artisans, traders and food vendors in the state.

    However, reports of the team revealed that work has started in seven of the hospitals, except the ones at Iwo and Ede.

     

  • Aregbesola’s second term bid gets boost

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s campaign for re-election is gathering momentum in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State.

    Traditional rulers, traders and artisans have supported the bid.

    The endorsement was made in Ibokun, headquarters of the local government, on Sunday at the birthday of the Assistant Director (Community Forum), Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, which was dedicated to the re-election of Aregbesola.

    The event, held at the Aregbesola Campaign Office in Ibokun and facilitated by Oyintiloye, was attended by traditional rulers, women, the Hausa community members, political office holders and members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    Speaking on behalf of the monarchs, the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Al-Maroof Magbagbeola and the Alademore of Ibokun, Oba Festus Awogboro, said the developmental programmes and policies of the Aregbesola administration would facilitate his re-election next year.

    Oba Magbagbeola said Aregbesola has impacted positively on the lives of the people.

    Oba Awogboro said Aregbesola has shown commitment to the transformation of the state and its people, adding that there is need for the people to give him a second chance.

    Congratulating Oyintiloye, the duo stressed that the dedication of his birthday to the second term bid of Aregbesola was a demonstration of his loyalty to his boss.

    The Chief of Staff to former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Elder Peter Babalola, said Osun State has witnessed development during Aregbesola’s tenure.

    He said giving him another chance to rule the state would turn it into a model of development.

    The Guest Speaker, Sheik Mustapha Mubarak, stressed that a government can only be said to be performing if it affects the lives of the people positively, “which Aregbesola’s administration has done”.

    According to him, once a government is confirmed to be proactive and alive to its responsibilities, there is nothing better than giving such a government an opportunity to continue.