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Tag: Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola

Osinbajo, a selfless leader, Law reform advocate – Aregbesola
- Felicitates with Acting President at 60
Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has joined other prominent Nigerians to felicitate with the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as he clocks 64.

Aregbesola, in a state statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, described Osinbajo as a judicial revolutionary whose contributions to the administration of justice have changed the face of the judiciary in Nigeria.

He said when the accounts of law reforms in Nigeria are given, Osinbajo’s robust contributions would continue to be a source of reference.

Describing him as one prominent promoter of selfless leadership, Aregbesola said Osinbajo’s trajectory of service to the people has seen him taking up worthy causes for no personal gains as long as they serve humanity well.

“In public and personal lives, Prof Osinbajo has demonstrated that the most worthy service is that carried out for the good of fellow human beings even for no personal gains and comfort,” Aregbesola noted.

Recalling his roles in the pioneering efforts of Lagos State in law reforms, the Osun Governor, who served along Osinbajo when the later was the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, said the face of Judiciary did not remain the same after eight years of Osinbajo’s intensive reforms as the Chief Law Officer.

“Today, it is gratifying to note that his pioneering efforts in that sector have influenced in no small dimension, similar reforms in other parts of the country. This is one crucial aspect of our national life as a people where the acting President has had a tremendous impact.

He said the Vice President has demonstrated that he is a man of the people, always identifying with the grassroots across the country.

The statement read further, “On this occasion of your birthday, I join you and your immediate and political families in celebrating the abundant grace of God in your life.

“Your life has been an eventful one dotted by numerous achievements and accomplishments.

“Nigeria has benefited immensely from your fountain of knowledge, a wealth of experience, and leadership acumen.

“The remarkable impact you have made in all spheres of human endeavour remains a reference point.”

“You are indeed a cerebral academic per excellence, a judicial revolutionary; stabilising force; a bridge-builder, an embodiment of and astute observer of the rule of law.

“This is so that you can continue to make significant contributions to the overall development of our country, Nigeria in general.

“On behalf of the government and the people of Osun, I congratulate you on the attainment of this age.”

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March 8, 2017
Osun can produce rice for Southwest – Aregbesola

The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Thursday confirmed the claims of a research that the state has the capacity to meet the rice needs of the South West.

The Governor made this observation during a visit to Onilapa to meet with rice farmers to discuss ways of improving output and packaging of local rice in the state.

“Two days ago, I was in Onilapa to meet with rice farmers to discuss ways of improving output and packaging of local rice in the state.

“New research has shown that the state of Osun has enough capacity to meet the rice needs of the South West.

“Our government will continue to provide support for these local farmers until they reach the target of 20 tonnes per hectare.

“We are working closely with various research institutes to offer insight and ideas to rural farmers towards improving their capacity.

“Our intervention in agriculture did not begin today as we have prioritised the welfare of these rural farmers from the get-go. This is why we willfully up took the task of opening up our rural areas through the construction of roads

“Under our Rural Access and Mobility Project (ORAMP), we have constructed 10km of roads in all LGAs totalling 310km across the state,” he said.

February 16, 2017
Aregbesola inspects burnt high court in Ilesa
Describes attack as assault on civilisation

Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Thursday described the actions of the hoodlums who set ablaze the state High Court in Ilesa as a major assault on civilisation.

The Governor stated this during an on-the-spot assessment of the premises of the high court which was allegedly set ablaze by hoodlums on Monday morning.

Aregbesola, who went round the facility in company with the state Chief Judge Justice Adebola Adepele Ojo stressed that an attack on the judiciary is a direct attack on the civilisation of the people.

He said, “The fulcrum of human civilisation is based on two things: the maintenance of law and order and secondly the upholding of justice and truth.

“Where law and order can not be guaranteed, when the instruments of justice can not be guaranteed, what you have is chaos and anarchy. Our government will not allow this to happen.

“This attack is a major assault on the civilisation of the land because when you attack the major instrument of justice then you are also attacking the common man on the street.

“As a government, we are very dissappointed that this has happened,” Aregbesola said.

The Governor, who promised that everything will be done to ensure that the perpetrators of the dastardly act are brought to book, hinted that the state Commissioner of Police has been charged to apprehend those involved as quickly as possible.

Governor Aregbesola, who noted that the vandalised court calls for urgent rehabilitation stated that the high court in Ilesa and others across the state will be given urgent attention in terms of rehabilitation and security.

The Governor, during the inspection, also sympathised with of one of the securitymen of the premises, Mr Olanrewaju Owoeye, who was beaten up and wounded by the hoodlums during the attack.

Sections of the court which was inspected by the Governor include the Registry, Library l, the Secretary’s Office among others.
February 16, 2017
Osun Utd FC: Aregbesola unveils Udi

The Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has unveiled Duke Udi as Osun Utd. FC Coach. However, the State’s Chief of Staff, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola represented Ogbeni Aregbesola at the unveiling ceremony.

Meanwhile, the State Government has charged the management and technical crew of Osun United Footbal Club to instill discipline in the team especially the players ahead of the commencement of the 2016/2017 Nigeria National League.

Oyetola urged the technical crew to select the best players to prosecute the league and urged the team to appreciate the good gesture of the government by turning in good results.

In the same vein, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi expressed optimism in the new coach as he stated that Udi was a fantastic player during his playing days . Ogunjobi revealed that Udi recorded many victories with Shooting Stars FC.

“In the mid-90s when the Oluyole warriors won the league and challenge club. Udi was indeed selected on merit after screening,” he said.

Coach Udi, while addressing newsmen said he appreciates the government and management of the club for giving him, the opportunity to coach the club.

Udi said: “I came to the club to make a statement and deliver, I am not promising anything but I will give my best while I also pray that my best brings the required result.

Former FIFA and CAF instructor, Adegboye Onigbinde also charged the Udi-led crew to be upright in the discharge of their duty and called for the support of all stakeholders to make their job easier.

Meanwhile Ogbeni Aregbesola was inducted as the Grand Patron of the club, while Oyetola was made the club patron. .

January 10, 2017
Osun mourns passage of Rasheed Gbadamosi

The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Thursday, extended his condolences to the family of Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi who died on Wednesday.

Aregbesola described the late Gbadamosi as a leading industrialist, humanist, art and culture promoter and writer.‎

In a condolence message signed by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola described the death of the industrialist as the “passage of a good man.”

The Governor, who prayed for the repose of Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi’s soul and extended his condolences to the immediate family, members of the business community, the people of Lagos state where he hailed from and Nigeria at large.

Aregbesola urged Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State, people of the Business and Art communities, to take, with equanimity, the death of Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, describing it as an inevitable end for all.‎

Aregbesola said: “The late Gbadamosi lived his life for the good of humanity. He was a good man. He built a reputation as a credible businessman and industrialist. His love for philanthropy was remarkable. He loved culture and spent his resources to promote arts. It is painful to loose this good man but one clear lesson is the transient nature of life itself.”

“On behalf of the good people of Osun, it is our fervent prayer that Allah will grant him Aljanah Firdaus and give the people of Lagos State the fortitude to bear the loss.”

November 17, 2016
Do things differently, Aregbesola urges youth

The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has urged youths to do things differently in order to make their mark quickly in the society.

Aregbesola gave the advice in a statement by his media aide, Semiu Okanlawon, made available to newsmen in Osogbo on Thursday.

“We are focusing on youths in this state; we engage them and discuss regularly on things that affect them.

“No government will neglect people of this age bracket because they are very central and critical to the society.

“That is why we provide for them to participate in one way or another in our programmes and policies.

“Youths are crucial to governance because of the huge deposit of potential they have to actualise things easily.

“All I want to advise them to do is to be creative and innovative in whatever they engage in.

“It is by doing things differently that they can quickly make their marks in the society,“ he said.

Aregbesola said his administration had provided different avenues for youth engagement in governance.

According to him, such avenues include the creation of Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) and Youth Empowerment Scheme –Technology (OYESTECH).

He said his administration had also established the Osun Job Centre, as a way of creating a database of unemployed youths across the state, so as to train them to be employers of labour.

The governor urged youths in the state to take advantage of the opportunities to develop themselves.

November 3, 2016
Nation building: Ambode, Ajimobi, Aregbesola harp on Role of family

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, his counterparts in Oyo and Osun States, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Monday said that if the nation must make meaningful progress, the family, which is the mirror by which any society is measured, must be strengthened.
The trio, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the 16th National Women Conference, organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), said as much as the family is the reflection of the society, government at all levels must give priorities to issues as it affects the women, who are the bedrock of the family must also be empowered to flourish in her career and the home front.

In his goodwill message, Governor Ambode said while the importance of the family unit to the overall development of the nation was not in doubt, much emphasis must be placed in the commitment towards strengthening the family unit and building strong moral values.

“The importance of the family unit to the overall development of any nation is not in doubt. The family is the foundation and smallest unit of any nation. The heart and conscience of a nation is formed, to a large extent, in the family. However, the issue is the amount of commitment we, in our individual capacities and as a nation, have shown towards strengthening the family unit.

“With Strong Families, we can build a Strong Nation. But Strong Families will only exist in a society where nobody is left behind, where everybody has a voice and a stake. This is one of the toughest challenges facing governments – “to build an all-inclusive society”, the Governor said.

He said his administration recognizes the critical need for societal inclusion and thus has initiated policies aimed at guaranteeing equal opportunities and participation for all Lagosians.

He said that his administration remains totally committed to empowering women as well as protecting the girl-child against all forms of negative vices, while creating viable platforms for families to bond and recreate.

“Women are the glue that hold families together and we believe strongly that an empowered woman, with a sense of self-esteem, will be better positioned to make a success of her career and at the same time be a pillar of strength for the family,” Governor Ambode said.

He said the decision of his administration to resuscitate the famous Apapa Amusement Park while speeding up work on Ipakodo Park in Ikorodu, Badagry Recreational Park and Ajako/Alimosho Park was beyond boosting the tourism potential of the State, but to serve as meeting points for families to relax and have fun together.

In his goodwill message, Governor Ajimobi said the family as the building block of the nation must be given top priority, therefore, according to him, women who holds the chord that binds the family together, must be empowered to thrive both in their career and the home front.

Corroborating him, Governor Aregbesola said that if the family must be strengthened, the women who are saddled with the responsibility of building the home front must be encouraged and celebrated.

Declaring the conference open, wife of the President, Hajiya Aishat Buhari, said that COWLSO has emerged as of the many things that have put Lagos in the unique class of excellence.

“What strikes me the most about the committee is that, it is an intellectual and philanthropic association, established to complement the efforts of the Lagos State Government to improve the welfare and well-being of the good people of this state,” she said.

The President’s wife who was represented by the wife of the Governor of Imo State, Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha, said the importance of strong family values must continue to be emphasized, saying that the absence of it gives rise to the challenges of poverty, crime and declining school performance.

Earlier in her remarks, Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode said the theme of the Conference, ‘Strong Family, Strong Nation’, was carefully chosen in recognition of the fact that the strength of a nation is linked to the strength of its family units.

Mrs Ambode, who is also the Chairman of COWLSO, traced most of the social challenges currently confronting the nation, including drug addiction, cultism, teenage pregnancy, kidnapping, child abuse, domestic violence, armed robbery and others have their foundation in dysfunctional family units.

“When family units are bound together in love and children are raised in the fear of God and high socio-moral values, it begets a good and peaceful society and country, where social vices are reduced to the barest minimum. To build a strong and virile country therefore, we must go back and build strong family units,” Mrs Ambode said.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of the Inspirational Woman of the Year Award to Mrs. Tara Fela-Durotoye and the investiture of Senator Oluremi Tinubu as the Grand Matron of COWLSO.

October 24, 2016
LAUTECH Crisis: Ajimobi, Aregbesola pledges irrevocable commitments
- As Olanipekun heads visitation panel‎
Following the lingering crisis rocking the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology(LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and his counterpart from ‎Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola on Wednesday evening pledged their irrevocable commitment to the joint ownership of the institution in accordance with establishment laws.

This was part of both governments resolution at the end of a four-hour meeting held at the Oyo State Governor’s office in Ibadan.

The institution had in recent times faced the challenges of funding from its owner states, which they hinged on the economic challenges bedevilling the nation.

Ajimobi, who addressed journalist after the meeting, appealed to the institution’s academic staff to resume academic activities while they address their grievances.

He also disclosed that a visitation panel to be headed by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) will review the current terms of engagement with a view of consolidating the joint ownership.

Other members of the panel are Hon Rasheed Afolabi(Osun), Prof. (Mrs) Akinola (Osun), Prof. Sola Fajana (Osun), Dr Tunji Olaopa (Oyo), Prof. Ayo Salami (Oyo) and Mr S. A Raji(Oyo).

The panel has Mrs A. O. Makanjuola, the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology as Secretary.

The Olanipekun panel was expected to conduct an audit into the institution’s sources and application of funds while proposing strategies for overall improvement of its quality of education and service delivery.

The governor said they regretted the current challenges of funding and management confronting the institution and restated their commitment to moving the institution forward.

“We have both agreed on the necessity for a comprehensive restructuring of the institution to ensure fair and effective development.We also agreed on the distribution of academic resources, physical structures and other assets of the university across the two states to achieve national, regional and global reckoning,”he said.

Ajimobi said that they have both resolved to rededicate their efforts towards the development of mutually beneficial goals that would further cement their bond of friendship and brotherhood.

He said both governments enjoined residents, stakeholders, students, teachers and workers in the respective states to go about their lawful duties.

The owner governments urged them to resist any temptation to take laws into their hands, saying anyone that does otherwise would face the full wrath of the law.
October 20, 2016
Photos: Caliisthenics displays in Osun at 25

August 26, 2016
Osun at 25 promises spectacular calisthenics display

Celebration of compositions, colours, designs and formations to stun! No form of human activity appears to have been formed to arrest, entertain and motivate better than calisthenics. That is what the skyline of Osun, South-West Nigeria promises to be resplendent with as the State of Virtuous marks its 25th anniversary on Saturday 27th, August 2016.

Calisthenics is a body of exercises consisting of a variety of gross motor movements; often rhythmical and generally without equipment or apparatus. They are, essentially, body-weight training tactics.

Wikipedia explains that the word calisthenics has its roots in Greek words kálos, which means “beauty”, and sthénos, meaning “strength.”

Thus, calisthenics is the art of using one’s body weight and qualities of a body’s motion as a means to develop one’s physique as well as an art of aesthetic display.

There are numerous types of this body building exercise which include: lunges, jumping Jacks (star jumps or stride jumps), squat -jumps, sit -ups, crunches, pushups, pull-ups, dips, leg raises, hyperextensions, planks and so on.

Sports teams and military units often perform leader-directed group calisthenics as a form of synchronized physical training (often including a customized call and response routine to increase group cohesion and discipline.

Calisthenics is also popular as a component of physical education in primary and secondary schools across the world.

Either at its most elementary or at the advanced level, calisthenics’ primary motif always resonates whenever it is performed.

To say that it brings out beauty is to say the obvious. Wherever there is calisthenics display, the atmosphere turns into beautiful scenery with competing colours and designs..

It is this component of calisthenics that has been given meaning in Osun under the Government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as part of the total package of educational training for young minds.

This kind of extra-curricular development was last exhibited in the Second Republic in the old Oyo State under late Chief Bola Ige as the Governor.

The State of Osun is the first in the country to revive this sterling and rewarding initiative in about more than three decades.

The scheme seeks to instill the spirit of collaborative efforts and discipline in school children. This is by combining extra-curricular activities with academic pursuit, thus building their minds and bodies and preparing them for the future.

Besides, calisthenics trainings are also intended to increase body strength, body fitness, and flexibility of the pupils through movements such as pulling or pushing oneself up, bending, jumping, or swinging, using only one’s body weight for resistance; usually conducted in concert with stretches.

Again, proper calisthenics training will promote the growth of lean muscle mass, and increase the strength, mobility, flexibility, agility, and endurance.

Proper strength training via weight lifting routine will promote the growth of muscle mass and strength.

When performed vigorously and with variety, calisthenics can provide the benefits of muscular and aerobic conditioning, in addition to improving psycho-motor skills such as balance, agility and coordination.

It also teaches the pupils the spirit of cooperation, discipline, organization, concentration and togetherness as they perform as a group thereby working in their minds as one.

In addition to general fitness, calisthenics exercises are often used as baseline physical evaluations to test physical fitness. In other words, pupils who undergo calisthenics training will have sound minds in healthy bodies. Participants become good samples in precision, unity of purpose, social networking and above all, discipline.

This programme was conceived to enhance the emergence of a new generation of students who are physically fit, mentally sound and socially responsible and well-adjusted to the need of the society.

The programme has been so entrenched in the body system of the pupils that it has become a routine exercise and they have, on few occasions, displayed the stuffs they are made of.

On the two previous occasions the state had put up the show, the pupils had dished out breathtaking calisthenics performances at the Osogbo City Stadium.

As Governor Aregbesola would say, “Education has three aspects: the affective, cognitive a psycho-motor. It is this last aspect – the psycho-motor – that had been neglected before our government. Education is meant to be total. As we develop their cognitive and effective senses, so also we must develop their body fitness in order to have a sound mind in a healthy body.”

In the fullness of time, the child being raised in Osun today must turn out to be a model of good character, innovation and competence; the true Omoluabi to the state’s tomorrow.

On a third outing in the state, the 25th anniversary of the creation of the State of Osun awaits another spectacle of performance as colour, arrangement, cooperation, concentration, focus are all to be on display in what promises to be another historic performance in Osun.

*Owolabi, a Media Assistant writes from Osogbo, State of Osun

August 26, 2016