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Tag: Ondo state

  • Ondo trains 18,000 youths on agri-business

    Ondo State Government has trained 18,000 youths on various agriculture businesses through a programme of Ondo State Agri-Business Empowerment Centre ( OSAEC ) tagged: “Youth on the Ridges”.

    The trainees were drawn across the 18 local government areas of the state.

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who launched the training on Thursday at the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, described agriculture as a major sector that creates job.

    Akeredolu said that the initiative was a proof of his administration’s commitment to ensuring food security and job creation.

    The governor, therefore, urged the beneficiaries to take the initiative as a limitless possibility to greatness.

    “No serious government can be comfortable with the present rate of unemployment. So, there is need for our youths to be engaged in modern agriculture,” the governor said.

    He promised to make land and funds available, saying that there was money meant for agriculture that was yet to be tapped.

    Mr Akin Olotu, Chairman of OSAEC and Senior Special Assistant to the governor on agriculture, stated that the programme would rewrite the story of farming and farmers in the state.

    Olotu said that the governor’s vision to ensure agro-preneurs was becoming a reality.

    He urged the beneficiaries to be focused so as to stand out in their chosen profession “as history beckons on them”.

    The OSAEC chairman said that the beneficiaries would be empowered to take advantage of all links on the agricultural commodities to become employers of labour.

    Earlier, Mr Adegboyega Adefarati, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, noted that the programne was designed to improve on food production and arouse interest of the youths in agriculture.

    “Our aim is to increase food production in the state and promote youth employment by engaging 18,000 youths across the state.

    “The governor has created enabling environment for youths and women to take up career in modern agriculture,” he said.

    Dr Samson Odedina, Provost, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, thanked the state government for the initiative, saying it would go a long way to encourage young people into agriculture.

    Odedina promised that the college would train the participants on attitude, increased productivity and cost reductions.

    NAN

  • Ondo sacks Sunshine Stars coach

    The Ondo State Government on Tuesday sacked the Head Coach of Sunshine Stars, Duke Udi with immediate effect and asked  the former Coach of the team, Henry Abiodun to take over.

    The state Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, made this known  on Tuesday in Akure.

    Abiodun was the Technical Director of the team before his appointment .

    Yusuf-Ogunleye said his ministry took the decision following letters received from the Ondo State Football Agency over the act of insubordination and gross misconduct by Udi.

    The commissioner noted that the Management Board of the club and the ministry decided to part ways with the coach after a joint meeting.

    Yusuf-Ogunleye said the duo also agreed that Abiodun should take over the management of the team till further notice.

    The former Sunshine FC head coach is a CAF Licence C category coach.

    Sunshine Stars are 17th on the NPFL table with 13 points from 12 matches.

    The club will play Yobe Deserts on Sunday in Akure.

    NAN

  • Why we have stunted entrepreneurial growth in Nigeria – Dogara

    The prevalent unfriendly banking practices are responsible for the stunted  entrepreneurship and by implication the slow growth of the nation’s economy  in Nigeria, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has said.

    He also identified lack of political will to effect necesaary reforms as a major stumbling block to a conducive entrepreneurial  growth in the country.

    According to him, the seemingly intractable  adverse effect of the harsh business environment requires a concerted action by all stakeholders.

    Dogara spoke  on Monday in Abuja at the launch of a book on banking reforms by Dr. Bode Ayorinde, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Owo/Ose Federal Constituency of Ono State.

    Also in attendance were the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and the governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu among several others.

    Dogara, who noted that high lending rates, coupled with  difficulties in accessing loans, regretted that the prevailing Nigerians banking  situation was not so unfriendly compared with what obtains in other countries.

    He said: “The challenge in the banking industry in Nigeria is such that it is organized in such a way that it creates buoyancy and development in other jurisdictions, not in Nigeria.

    “I have had cause to say this before, that unless you have assets or equipment, there is no way you can take loans or access loans from Nigerian banks to do the business.

    “If you are not careful in taking loans from Nigerian banks, one will just end up in the poverty gap. I don’t think our citizens are supposed to do their businesses with money they already have in their pockets.

    Read Also: Dogara decries difficulties in accessing loans

    “Businesses elsewhere are executed by loans by the banking industry in those countries. I don’t know why the interest rate in Nigeria is so high”.

    Saying that the time is now for a comprehensive review of the situation, the Speaker added, “What is it that we can do to lower the cost of funds in Nigeria, so that our young men, women and entrepreneurs can risk taking money from our financial institutions in order to realize their dreams?”

    Besides, business reforms in the country are not likely to succeed in Nigeria considering the fact that loans remain largely inaccessible to those who most require such financial aids to grow their businesses, he noted.

    “I love the fact that the Vice President is chairing the council on the ease of doing business in Nigeria but in dealing with most businesses, you are forced to ask what business are we doing? How do we fund these businesses?,” he noted.

    Saying that the political will to tackle the challenge has been lacking, Dogara nonetheless challenged all stakeholders to work together to strengthen institutions saddled with the responsibilities of repositioning the econony to work towards ensuring compliance with global best practices.

    “That has been the challenge, from the point of view of the Executive down to the Parliament, the political will to address this has not been there.

    “And the answer has always been that just one opinion cannot solve the issue, all hands need to work at it. We cannot afford to continue having weak institutions in Nigeria, not after so many years of having balance.

    “So I believe that concerning some of these borrowing voyages such as been embarked upon recently can be avoided by applying the required formulas that work even here in Nigeria.

    “The sharp parallel that is drawn between the practice here in Nigeria and the practices in over 20 other jurisdictions of the world,” he added.

  • There’s no killer vaccine in Ondo State –Akeredolu

    There’s no killer vaccine in Ondo State –Akeredolu

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has said that killer vaccine does not exist in any part of the state.

    He asked parents and other  stakeholders to join hands with his administration to prevent the outbreak of measles in the state.

    Akeredolu spoke yesterday during the flag-off of the 2018 measles vaccination campaign in Idanre.

    According to him,  his administration has released the sum of N16.7 million as  counterpart fund for this year’s edition of the measles vaccination campaign.

    He said the release  of the money demonstrated  government’s resolve to join hands with the Federal Government to reduce childhood mortality, especially the ones caused by measles.

    “Measles is still one of the killer diseases which we must strive to eradicate,” the governor said, and described   immunization as the most cost-effective intervention to nip in the bud the rate of mortality associated with the viral illness.

    He added that the ongoing campaign against measles was for the benefit of all children between the ages of nine months and five years.

    Akeredolu said: “The 2018 measles vaccination campaign is, therefore, double-edged; an opportunity of a booster dose for children who might have had the routine measles immunization at nine months of life, as well as an opportunity of measles vaccination for eligible children who might have missed the previous dose at nine months of life.

    Phase one of the campaign is beign  carried out in  10 local government: Odigbo, Ilaje, Okitipupa, Irele, Ese-Odo, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo, Ondo West, Ondo East, Ifedore and Idanre .

    It will end  on Thursday, March 13, while phase two will begin on Thursday, March 15, in  Akoko North-East, Akoko North-West, Akoko South-East, Akoko South-West, Ose, Owo, Akure North and Akure South .

    It ends  on Tuesday, March 20.

  • Ondo Communities groan over power outage.

    Ondo Communities groan over power outage.

     

    Residents of Ogbagi, Irun, Eshe and Afin in Akoko North West local government area of Ondo state are aggrieved over lack of electricity for the past three years.

    The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) disconnected the whole of Akokoland from the National grid since 2015 until succour came to some towns in Akokoland almost a year ago through a prominent religious leader, Pastor Temitope Joshua of Synagogue Church and some notable indigenes of the area who offered a huge amount of money for the project.

    Joshua, who is from Arigidi-Akoko donated the highest to bail his people out of darkness which almost paraylsed socio- economic activities of the four local government areas in Akokoland.

    Many of the damaged electricity appliances that had been vandalized were replaced through a committee initiated by Pastor T.B Joshua which paved way for the communities to secure light.

    Read Also: Three feared dead in Ondo road crash

    However, some towns including Ogbagi, Irun,Eshe and Afin-Akoko that constituted a political constituency could not benefit from the gesture.

    The communities are still groaning in total in total blackout, which made many artisans who relied on energy to relocate from the area.

    Two community leaders from Afin-Akoko, Joseph Omolale and Chief Eli Olorunsola from Ogbagi-Akoko commended Pastor Joshua for his selfless service to Akoko people regularly.

    They urged him to intervene and find solutions to the problem in the affected areas.

    Another Akoko Community leader, Alhaj Ibrahim Kilani appreciated Synagogue founder for donating vehicles to security agents for patrolling Akokoland to check rampant cases of armed robbery and kidnappers who had made Akoko roads unsafe to travellers.

     

  • Ondo vows to clamp down on illegal abattoirs

    Ondo vows to clamp down on illegal abattoirs

    Ondo State Government has vowed to clamp down on illegal abattoir and meat slab operators in the 18 local government areas of the state.

    Mr Adegboyega Adefarati, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, made this known on Tuesday in Akure while sealing off the premises of an illegal abattoir in Shasha Market on Akure/Owo Expressway.

    According to Adefarati, the abattoir owned and operated by one Alhaji Sambawa, is located close to a public toilet and the expressway, making the meat unhygienic for consumption.

    The commissioner explained that several warnings had been issued to the operator “but he turned a deaf ear”.

    Adefarati, who noted that more than 70 per cent of the diseases that affect humans come from animals, said that government would do everything possible to safeguard the health of the people.

    Read Also: Ondo APC spokesman loses mum

    “The meat on their slab here is not safe for consumption as it can be easily contaminated because of the closeness to public toilets and the expressway.

    “The operation contravenes the law of the state. It causes us a loss of revenue aside from the danger it poses to the public, and we will not fold our arms and watch them kill our people.

    “We, therefore, warn all owners of illegal abattoirs and meat slabs operating in unhygienic environments to close shop or face the wrath of government.

    “We also urge all unregistered private abattoirs to register with government for approval before slaughtering animals for sale,” the commissioner said.

    NAN

  • Ondo to revive Forest Reserves

    Ondo to revive Forest Reserves

    Ondo state government has reiterated its determination at making the forest reserves across the state viable and economically useful to the citizenry.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Natural Resources, Lawal Fatai Olusina said the Akeredolu led administration in the state have planted  over six million trees, ranging from teak,melania and other species an 3,000 hectares of land quarterly in the last 365 days of the present administration in the state.

    According to the Governor’s aide, this efforts were geared at replenishing the forest reserves that have been depleted in the past by encroachers.

    Read Also: SSG: Akeredolu’s govt will uplift Ondo

    He informed that investors have also been invited in this regard at making sure that forest reserves across the state are viable, preserved and protected from been collapsed.

    While appreciating the efforts of the Governor in the last one year in office as tremendous and people oriented administration in nearly all spheres of human endeavours, saying the people can attest to this in their judgment.

    He urged all forest users in the state to always follow the laid down forest rules and regulations procedures in their activities, in order not to see the wrath of the government.

    The SA noted that the state government would continue to guard its forest reserves across the state, to make them viable.

     

  • ‘800,000 die of measles annually’ – UNICEF

    ‘800,000 die of measles annually’ – UNICEF

    Ondo state government in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund(UNICEF) have concluded plans to immunise over 700,000 children between nine months and five years.

    The first phase of the exercise will come up between March 8 and 13 in  10 local government areas of the state.

    Children in the other eight local government areas would have their own immunisation between March 15 and 20 as second phase.

    Speaking at the media sensitisation meeting for measles vaccination campaign held in Akure,the state capital,the Secretary, Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Board(OSPHCDB) Dr Francis Akanbiemu said government had released N30m for the exercise.

    Akanbiemu who described measles as one of the deadly diseases, USAID over 800,000 children were being killed annually across the world by the disease.

    Read Also: UNICEF ranks Nigeria 11th highest on newborn deaths

    He however said it is a Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD).

    The state commissioner for Health,Dr Wahab Adegbenro said”we need to sensitise our people on how to combat the disease,we are just getting over the lassa fever,which claimed some lives in the state,we are doing our best to confront measles.

    Adegbenro said the state government had reactivated a burial law through which government must be notified on all burials in the state to enable medical experts identify the cause of the death to prevent spread of such virus.

    He said the burial law had been in existence but passive,adding that the state government had reactivated it with mandate to security agencies to prosecute its violators.

    Commissioner for Information and Orientation,Yemi Olowolabi expressed the need for sensitisation of mothers and the public on the campaign.

    He urged the media to give free jingles and write-up to the organisers of the immunisation as part of their social responsibility.

    The commissioner said everything must be done to prevent the re-occurence of last November scare,which forced many parents to hurriedly withdraw their wards from schools as a result of rumours on fake vaccination alleged to be applied on pupils by some soldiers.

    Many medical experts especially on Public Health including UNICEF Consultant,Haizatu Zango spoke on how to prevent measles.

     

     

  • ‘Let justice prevail on NDDC’s appointments’.

    ‘Let justice prevail on NDDC’s appointments’.

    Youths under the aegis of Niger Delta Youth Movement (NYDM) in Ondo state has called for the composition of a new board for the Commission.

    They noted that that the tenure of the present board had expired since December 31, but the new board was yet to be reconstituted.

    Besides, the group lamented that Ondo state had suffered deprivations in the allocation and implementation of infrastructural facilities being executed by the NDCC.

    This development, it observed was because the state was not presently represented in the management structure of the Commission where decisions are made.

    A statement by the Chairman of the group,Agbejoye Adetoye clamoured for dissolution of the Board and granting Ondo State, the Managing Directorship position of the commission.

    It said “Section 12(1) said there shall be a commission, a managing director, and two executive directors who shall be indigenes of oil producing areas and Ondo state ranked number five on the production table after Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa states.”

    NDYM stressed that since allocation of positions and other benefits is based on quantum of production and flowing from section 12 of the NDDC act, it is the turn of Ondo to legally and morally produce the position of the Managing Director.

    The group called on President Buhari to do the needful in the in the interest of justice and fairness to the people.

    The statement emphasized that since 2001 when the board was officially inaugurated, Ondo state has not been granted any key position in the NDDC.

    It urged President Buhari in the spirit of fighting corruption, resist power play in the NDDC and give Ondo  State, its rightful position in the Commission.

  • Benin-Owena River Basin Authority ‘ll be overhauled – Olanusi

    Former Deputy Governor of Ondo state, Alhaji Ali Olanusi at the weekend assured that the lost glory of the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority would be restored during the present tenure.

    Olanusi, who is new Chairman of the Agency spoke with reporters in Akure ,the Ondo state capital after his inauguration by the Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu.

    The All Progressives Congress(APC) chieftain lamented the neglect of some water projects under the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority.

    According to him, the Owena Dam at Igbara-Oke in Ifedore local government area of Ondo state which was initially meant for irrigation purposes but later approved for a water treatment plant to produce drinkable water had been abandon in the last few years.

    The chairman said, the project which was in a state of 70 per cent completion was to serve all the six local government area in the central senatorial district of the state.

    Olanusi assured the people of Ondo state that the delivery of the water project through reticulation to various towns and villages by the state government will be carried out during his tenure.

    The Chairman who thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for counting him worthy for the appointment also appreciated the people of the state for their support for his administration.

    The former Deputy Governor assured the people of the state that with their prayers and support, he will not let them down.

    Other members of the board are; Otunba Tunde Onakayo, Romanus Egbuladike, Bashi Yusuf Ebrahim, Nelson Alakpa and Alhaji Waheed Adesina.