The Nation Newspaper

Tag: OSUN

  • ‘Only Osun promotes mass participation in healthy living’

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said the success his administration recorded in the Health sector will be difficult to surpass by any other government in the state and beyond.

    He said Osun remained the only state that had promoted mass participation in healthy living, as reflected in its health-related programmes and schemes institutionalised by his government in the last seven and a half years.

    Aregbesola spoke in Osogbo, the state capital, while leading thousands of Osun residents on an endurance trek within the township.

    The 9.5-kilometre endurance trek, which was organised by the Community Development Council and Community Development Association, began from the front of the Government House en route Alekunwodo, Olaiya, Asubiaro, Isale-Osun, Oja-Oba, Plantation Area, Sabo, Kola Balogun, Testing Ground, Omo-West, Ayetoro and ended at Osogbo City Stadium.

    Aregbesola was accompanied by his deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, members of the State Executive Council (Exco) and political leaders, among other personalities.

    Addressing the participants, Aregbesola said his administration had fulfilled the promises it made to the residents that it would champion their well-being through free and effective healthcare delivery.

    He said: “Our administration has, in the last seven and a half years, recorded huge success in every aspect of the economy, particularly in the Health sector, as being seen and acknowledged ?in our efforts through the procurement of necessary health facilities, such as drugs, ambulances, prompt and timely river/waterways channelisation, enforcement of environmental sanitation and proper collection and disposal of refuse by the residents.

    “We have demonstrated good leadership; we have shown the world that ‘health is wealth’ and this could be seen and justified through our achievements in this sector.

    “We are doing all these to distinguish our state and reflect the good gesture by telling the world that no iota of development could be achieved if the Health sector and well-being of the citizens are lacking.

    “We have done so much to ensure that Osun is free from all forms on disease. This is a feat recorded through our prompt and swift response to anything that has to do with the healthy living and well-being of our people.”

    The Commissioner for Justice, who doubles as the Chairman of the programme’s Planning Committee, Dr Surajudeen Ajibola Bashir, said the event was meant to show appreciation to the contributions of the Aregbesola administration in the last seven and a half years.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Rural Affairs and Community Development, John Babatunde Ibirogba, lauded the Aregbesola administration for breathing life to rural and community centres.

    Also, the State Chairman of the Community Development Council, Alhaji Abubakar Isa, lauded the efforts of Aregbesola?’s administration? at providing basic amenities in rural areas and urban centres.

  • Lagos, Ogun, Osun to represent Southwest in NNPC science quiz finals

    The regional finals of this year’s Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) national science quiz competition at the weekend produced the Southwest winners.

    Of the six states – Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo – the three winners will represent the region at the national finals in September in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    The states’ representatives contested to represent the region at the Wesley School of Science, Elekuro, Ibadan.

    At the end of the quiz, Lagos, Ogun and Osun states jointly won the first position with 55 points each; Oyo and Ekiti states jointly won the fourth position with 50 points apiece, while Ondo State was sixth with 40 points.

    Lagos, Ogun and Osun states will represent the Southwest at the national finals in Abuja.

    The competition was set by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and it covers Biology, Chemistry, English language, Mathematics and Physics.

    The regional final was attended by Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry and other top government officials.

    It was also attended by top NNPC officials.

    Olowofela hailed the NNPC for the initiative and its support for secondary schools.

    The commissioner urged the corporation to assist the state in its new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) drive.

    He said: “What we are witnessing today is one of the efforts of the NNPC. Experience has shown that many of the winners in the past are successful people today. Not only in the quiz competition like this; they also support sporting competition and agriculture. So, we are also calling on them to support us in our recent ICT drive for schools.

     

     

  • Osun: Oyetola promises continuity

    A leading governor-ship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Alhaji Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola, has described himself as Mr. Continuity. He said he was better positioned than his co-aspirants to sustain legacies of the Rauf Aregbesola administration and also do a lot more. Speaking in Olorunda and Osogbo local governments at the conclusion of his consultation tours of the nine federal constituencies in the state, Oyetola said “I have an idea of what to do without being briefed.”

    “This is a competitive world and we must ensure that competitive leadership is installed at all times in the interest of the future of the state. We can not afford to have non visionary and non purposeful leadership take over from a dynamic, courageous and pace setting administration which has shown direction for great and abundant opportunities for every resident in so shot a time in the face of harsh financial conditions.

    “I am offering my self for service because I know what it means lead. I have been engaged in the public service in the last seven and a half years with very great achievements and accomplishment that any reasonable person will be proud to associate with. Also, I was in the competitive private sector driven by target for over thirty years. So, there won’t be any excuse for me not to be driven by same, vision, passion and commitment, integrity and sense of mission for which the Rauf Aregbesola administration is known.

    “I thank you so much for your warm reception and very large turn out and show of solidarity for my candidature. I enjoyed same reception in all federal constituencies, including those in the Osun West senatorial districts. I assure you that immediately after my victory, I will become a citizen of all parts of this great state and work with diligence and without favoritism,” the aspirant told the huge gathering at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park in Osogbo, the state capital.

    The Attoney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Dr. Ajibola Basiru, while attesting to the readiness of Bashiru to continue where the incumbent governor will stop, said “wherever Aregbesola goes there I will go on the issue of who succeeds him because I hold the development so dearly.” Many others that spoke acknowledged “excellent performance of the Aregbesola administration, saying only the ingrates in and outside Osogbo will not appreciate the governor what he had done for people individually and collectively.

  • ‘Ogunbiyi’s philanthropy will turn Osun around’

    A political interest group, the Victory Group, has described a frontline Osun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, as “a grassroots man with outstanding philanthropic pedigree that can positively touch lives”.

    In a statement by its chairman, Olasupo Wale and General Secretary, Oluwagbemi Yinka, the group noted that if given the mandate, Ogunbiyi would bring to bear his “milk of human kindness” in the state’s top job.

    Ogunbiyi recently donated two 18-seater buses to the party at its state secretariat where he also presented three lorry loads of materials containing 14,000 bags of five kilogrammes of rice to party members for Sallah celebration.

    He has also given a lot to party members across the state.

    The Victory Group said its investigation into the credentials and humaneness of the 40 aspirants jostling for the PDP ticket found Ogunbiyi to have met a five-point leadership criteria “outstandingly set for an ideal governor of the state”.

    It added: “It is widely acknowledged that Dr Ogunbiyi has not been fingered in fraudulently holding any political or elective office.”

    The group said Osun State needs someone with impeccable character and a risk manager who can lead the state out of debts.

    It argued that Ogunbiyi’s prudent financial managerial capability, which he demonstrated in his business carrier, is needed to turn the fortunes of the state around.

    The Victory Group noted that it considered Ogunbiyi worthy of earning its vote of confidence for growing his business empire from a one-room apartment into an international conglomerate.

    This, it added, would not only help him to harness the limited resources available in the state to foster unimaginable development but would also enhance his ability to reshape the situation in the state.

  • Osun excels in FADAMA programmes

    The execution of FADAMA programmes in Osun State has been rated as one of the best in the country. Prompt payment of the state counterpart fund is believed to be a major reason for the success of the programme in Osun.

    During the project inspection by the team for the joint 9th World Bank /FGN Supervision Mission to many parts of the state, the Task Team Leader, FADAMA III/ World Bank Mission Programme in the state, Dr. Adetunji Oredipe revealed that Osun State had performed so well. He further revealed that the World Bank considered Osun State to be among the five states that have been approved for the takeoff of the FADAMA III programme.

    Oredipe, who explained that the World Bank mission through the FADAMA programme is determined to end hunger and reduce the amount of money Nigeria spends on importation, noted that the project has been hugely successful in Osun because of the commitment of Governor Rauf Aregbesola to banish hunger in the state.

    He further said the effort of the state governor in collaboration with the FADAMA programme has placed Osun State among the leading states in the cultivation of cassava across the country, a feat which he said is capable of making the state one of the most stable economies in the country.

    The team leader explained that Osun, which hitherto used to produce cassava in the region of 12 metric tons per hectre, now boast of around 23 metric tons per hectre, noting that while other states are still struggling with their counterpart fund, Osun State has already released the sum of N321 million to support the programme.

    Oredipe added that the World Bank has no choice than to support Osun because the state has never been found wanting in its obligations. According to him,   the state now boasts of 10 processing centres spread across the state as well as a tractor hiring centre.

    The FADAMA/World Bank representative also emphasised that aggregation centres where offtakes can meet with farmers have been established across the state in a bid to further encourage farmers.

    He said: “I must confess here that FADAMA project has been hugely successful in Osun because we have a governor in the state that is determined to end hunger among his people and also wants to encourage young people into farming. Since Governor Rauf Aregbesola has been taking care of the state’s responsibility as at when due, we have no other option than to support the state with everything we have got.

    “In fact, we are encouraged by the governor’s actions. It is only Osun that pays its counterpart fund even before we demand for it and it is only this state that does not owe a dime in counterpart fund payment. The state just released N321 million as counterpart fund for FADAMA III project.

    “We are more determined to continue to collaborate with Osun State to sustain the dream of banishing hunger. It is a pride to us that Osun is now one of the leading growers of cassava in the country. The state used to produce just 12 metric tons of cassava per hectre but now we are happy that it has jumped to 23 metric tons per hectre and there is still room and the hope for improvement.”

    Some of the project sites visited by the team included Ifesowadotun PG; Ewa-Oluwa Community, Alaro Activities  Cassava Production, FFCA Project at Iwoye and Egbedore, among others.

    One of the participants of the FADAMA project in Osun, the Olu of Idi-Iroko, Oba Lateef Oyawale, who is also the Chairman of the Osun Farmers’ Community Association, noted that the Rauf Aregbesola-led administration had made a success of the project. He said farmers across the state are always encouraged by the attitude of the governor towards issues relating to agriculture.

    Oba Oyawale said: “Food production is bound to improve in Osun State because we have a governor who doesn’t want anybody to go hungry. His attitude towards agriculture has been a source of encouragement to us.”

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Mr. Cladius Aderemi Kolajo, said Osun has been in the forefront and therefore would always be in the good book of the World Bank. He said the state government was up-to-date in meeting the eligibility criteria to participate in the projects since 2015.

    He added that there are many success stories of FADAMA 111 AF project. According to him, FADAMA 111 AF project has positively impacted on many lives and communities in the three senatorial districts of the state.

    He maintained that the FADAMA 111 AF project is in line with the six-point integral action plan of the Aregbesola administration, which he said was designed to banish poverty, banish hunger, create work and wealth, ensure communal peace and progress, restore healthy living and to ensure functional education.

    Kolajo said it was on record that FADAMA project has created 2, 154 direct jobs and over 100,000 indirect jobs. The direct beneficiaries of the project are the farmers while the indirect beneficiaries are the agro-dealers, service providers, artisans and the project management team.

    Continuing, he said: “2,154 farmers benefited from capacity building training at no cost to the farmers. The training was 100 per cent supported by the state government and the World Bank. “Also 2,154 farmers benefited from upstream advisory service with the assistance of the ASICs engaged in the projects.

    “Ten cassava processing centres have been constructed and were spread across all the senatorial districts, while two cassava aggregation centres are under construction in Iwoye Egbedore Local Government Area, among other achievements.”

  • Oyetola assures Osun of all-inclusive govt

    •Aspirant pays tribute to industrialist Ajayi

    An Osun State governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, has assured the people that his administration, if he wins the election, will serve all the strata of the society.

    The aspirant, who was on a tour of the Osun East Senatorial District to sell his candidature, spoke at the weekend in Ibokun, headquarters of Obokun Local Government Area and Ijebu-Jesa in Oriade Local Government Area.

    Oyetola described himself as most fit for the job because of his involvement in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmers of the Rauf Aregbesola administration in the last seven and a half years.

    The APC chieftain also said he would be fit for the position because of his accomplishment in “a highly competitive private sector for more than thirty years”.

    He noted that governing Osun State is a serious business that must be entrusted in the hands of competent, efficient and spiritual personality like himself.

    Oyetola, who praised Aregbesola for laying a solid foundation for the incoming administration, stressed that he was ready for an all-inclusive government that will benefit workers, women, youths, farmers and students.

    He noted that though the Aregbesola administration had provided a template for good governance, innovation and creativity through courage, but the visionary leadership would wind up in a few months if it does not carefully allow competent hands to sustain his legacies and make more marks that can advance the fortunes of the state.

    To the political class, Oyetola said: “My government will also be for you, our leaders and members. So, don’t be deceived by those talking about dishing out money to sway you to their side only to give you a heartache in the end. Ours is an all-inclusive government that will harmonise all interests. Osun must never be allowed to retrogress.

    “When we set up our government, we will hold regular meetings with the communities to know your peculiar needs and attend to them at once. We will give according to what you desire to have. There will never be a misplacement of projects. So, it is important that everyone gets his Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), which is your power to elect a candidate of your choice, not one based on money inducement but on competence and the capacity to rule.”

    Oyetola paid tribute to the late industrialist, Sir Dele Ajayi, whose remains were interred at Ada, his native town, on Friday.

    The aspirant described him as a broad-minded community leader.

    Addressing reporters at the First Baptist Church at Ada in Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State after the funeral and thanksgiving service in honour of the deceased, the APC chieftain said the late Ajayi lived a fulfilled life worthy of emulation.

    Oyetola said there was a lesson for Nigerians, particularly politicians, in the late Ajayi’s high sense community to his family, the community and humanity.

    He said: “I admire Baba’s broad-mindedness to issues and politics. He was never narrow-minded. You will never see him exhibiting a bias for the APC or Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or being sectional in his relation with people. He saw issues beyond the smokescreen of emotion and sentiment. This is a big lesson for us all.”

     

  • $322m Abacha loot: Cash transfers to poor homes begin in July

    The Federal Government says it will commence disbursement of the recovered 322 million dollars Abacha loot through Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT) to 302,000 poor households in 19 states in July.

    Mr Tukur Rumar, of the National Cash Transfer Office (NTCO), said this at a roundtable on assets recovery organised by the Swiss Embassy on Thursday, in Abuja.

    The event was organised to intimate citizens and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on the efforts both nations were making on asset recovery after the Post-Global Forum on Assets Recovery (GFAR) held in Washington D.C. in Dec. 2017.

    At the forum, Nigeria made commendable commitments on beneficial ownership, tax transparency, asset recovery, transparency management of recovered funds and payments to victims of corruption.

    The states are: Niger, Kogi, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Kwara, Cross River, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarrawa, Anambra and Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs) in Borno.

    According to Rumar, the benefiting households will receive N5,000 monthly and are derived from the National Social Register (NSR) that the 19 states are already on.

    He said the programme was designed to also train beneficiaries on livelihood skills, social skills and other programmes that would change their lives completely.

    Rumar, however, said that NCTO had been making payments to the 46,000 poor and vulnerable households across the 19 states since Dec. 2016, adding that the number had increased to 290,000.

    Mr Iorwa Apera, the National Coordinator, National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), said 503,055 households were already on the NSR register from the 19 states, adding that by July, there would be a social register for all the states of the federation.

    He said that of the Abacha loot, about 302,000 poor homes across the 19 states would be mined by the NCTO to begin to receive the Abacha loot.

    Apera told the participants that the Federal Government would begin with those states, because they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NASSCO to put in place certain infrastructure to empower the national register.

    “Some of the states delayed, but the other ones were quick enough to set up infrastructure that allowed us to start work there, but all the states are now on board as they have set up their state operating offices and donated office equipment to us.

    “As states come on board, we enroll and so they extend to the beneficiary register, and presently we are generating data in all the states now,’’ he said.

    Read Also: EFCC launches probe as $500m Abacha loot goes missing

    Mrs Linda Ekeator of the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment said the Abacha loot was invested in the social investment programme, because it was a programme that was already supported by the World Bank.

    She said that before the money was returned to Nigeria, there was an agreement with the Swiss government that it should be used for alleviating poverty and this was to be done with the supervision of the World Bank.

    The Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Eric Mayoraz said the 722 million dollars of the Abacha family money that was hidden in Switzerland was fully repatriated in 2005.

    He also said that the 322 million dollars that was repatriated in Dec. 2017, was money that was frozen by the Swiss Attorney-General, but was not domiciled in Switzerland, but in other countries, mainly Luxembourg.

    He, however, said measures had been put in place to ensure that Swiss banks were not used to hide stolen funds from other countries.

    “For possible new cases, the Swiss legislation has fundamentally changed.

    “The law in Switzerland does not allow bank secrecy anymore, and all banks and financial institutions have a due diligence duty to ask everyone coming with money where it is coming from.

    “That does not mean that there are no illegal or stolen assets now in Switzerland, but then there is another instrument I signed myself with the Nigerian Ministry of Justice and Switzerland two years ago on mutual legal assistance and this is for new cases.

    “Now, this agreement with our own Ministry of Justice and Nigeria is that there will be direct communication and exchange on mutual legal request and we are really collaborating with EFCC and other agencies in Nigeria,’’ Mayoraz.

    The Executive Director, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, said for Nigerian citizens to not keep spreading rumours about the whereabouts of recovered loots, the government must be transparent in all the processes.

    He also said that CSOs should be given access to the social register to enable it monitor properly whether or not the beneficiaries received what was due to them.

  • Jamb: 44.7 percent of admission spaces not taken -Minister

    Despite complaints of poor access to tertiary education in Nigeria, the Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof Is-shaq Oloyede, has said 44.7 per cent of admission spaces were not taken up by candidates in the last admission exercise.

    Speaking at the 2018 policy meeting for tertiary institutions in Nigeria held at the brand new Bola Babalakin Hall, Gbangan, Osun State Tuesday, Oloyede said of the total 1,025,487 spaces available in universities,, polytechnics, colleges of education and Innovations Enterprise Institutions both private and public, across Nigeria, 566,641 were filled while 457,846 were unused.

    The college’s of education had the highest number of unused slots – 290,097 of 364,722. Universities had 119,878 unused spaces (of 538,269) while polytechnics had 39,404 (of 112,437) and IEIs, 8,467 (of 9,059).

    To address this problem of unused spaces, Oloyede said JAMB will provide a virtual market space for institutions to shop for students not admitted by their first choice institutions.

    He urged the Institutions to keep to the admissions timetable to enable the seemless coordination of the process.

    “If any institution does not do it’s admission on time, we will withdraw the names of the students and we will transfer them to the market place where others can pick them.

    When are doing First Choice admission, do your own even if you are not ready to resume,” he said.

    In his speech the Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, urged managers of the tertiary institutions to be transparent in carrying out their duties, noting that he had evidence of underhand dealings of some managers.

    “Please let the qualities of transparency, honesty, sincerity, equity, loyalty, and commitment to nation building be our guiding principles. We should be dissuaded from doing any official business under the table. heads of tertiary institutions are encouraged to institutionalised the qualities enumerated above.

    “A lot of revelations laced with observed lapses and documentary evidence have been brought to my attention. We have extensively consulted on the way forward and I therefore urge each institution to abide by the regulations,” he said.

    Read Also: No breach into our system, says JAMB Registrar

    “Some of you carry out your duties with full understanding and knowledge that some of your actions cannot stand the test of integrity, as some of the infractions you endorse and approve are irregular,” he warned.

    He urged all stakeholders to ‘ensure compliance with all Policy Directives in the interest of the Nation’s educational development’ adding that violations of these guidelines would not be tolerated as appropriate sanctions would be meted against violators.’’

    In his welcome address, the Pro Chancellor, University of Lagos Dr. Wale Babalakin, who gave out the newly constructed 4,000-seater facility to JAMB free of charge, said he provided the space for intellectual discourse.

    “This project was motivated by the desire to provide an environment conducive to serious intellectual work. It is our fervent believe that Nigeria will only achieve its full potential when the aggregate of our intellectual capacity is developed and harnessed appropriately,” he said.

  • We need new strategies in Osun – Adewopo

    A governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 22nd gubernatorial election in Osun State, Prince Ayoade Adewopo, has promised that his administration will develop new strategies that will help boost investments in the state  if he is given the opportunity to succeed Governor Rauf Aregbesola. Adewopo, a frontline contender for the ticket oft he opposition party, spoke while hosting a group of businessmen who paid him a courtesy visit in respect of his aspiration.

    According to him, part of the strategies to be adopted if he becomes the fifth executive governor of the state, would be to set up a committee that would restructure the business environment to reduce the burden, stigma and constraints attached to doing business in the state. He said that it has become necessary for Osun State to move towards creating an enabling environment that would boost investment and improve the living standards of the people.

    “We also need to revolutionalize the state’s efforts to champion the cause of micro and small enterprises. ‘’We have to do away with paying lip services to industrial revolution in Osun state. There must be drastic change from the ways we have been doing business to make it very easy for potential investors . This must honestly be in line with the practice all over the world’’ Adewopo said.

    He said that he was happy about reports that the national assembly has approved $500million for the completion of Ajaokuta Steel, saying the total completion of Ajaokuta is vital to Osun State in view of the Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill under it’s new owner, which would again come back to life and make the state the hub of steel business in Nigeria if he is given the mandate to govern the state.

     

  • Osun finance commissioner joins governorship race

    •Omoworare pledges economic growth, human capacity development

    The Osun State Finance Commissioner, Bola Oyebamiji, yesterday joined other 28 aspirants vying for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket.

    Also, the senator representing Osun East Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the National Assembly, Babajide Omoworare, has joined the governorship race in Osun State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fixed September 22 for the governorship poll in the state.

    Elders in Ikire and Apomu in Osun West Senatorial District, who procured intention form for Oyebamiji, said it was the turn of the district to produce the next governor of the state.

    Chief Falana Muritala, the Aare of Ikire, who led other elders to the party’s secretariat in Osogbo, the state capital, described Oyebamiji as a man of integrity.

    Muritala said the residents were vigorously rooting for him, with determination to support him to victory.

    He added: “We never informed him before taking this step, just as in 1999, when Chief Bisi Akande never had the intention of contesting but his community pushed for him and gave him the needed support.

    “We would only implore the people of Osun to support Oyebamiji. He is the only one who perfectly fits into the shoe that would be left behind by the incumbent governor.

    “He is a technocrat and an honest man. For the whole community to have done this for him, it means he is loved by all.”

    Omoworare visited the party’s secretariat yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, with thousands of his supporters where he declared his intention to run for the governorship seat.

    The senator reeled out his programmes and policies to take the state to the next level.

    He said: “We must appreciate the infrastructural foundation laid by the outgoing administration. We must improve on it and maximise same to grow the economy.

    “Small and medium scale enterprises, cottage industries, technological hubs, farm settlements and a host of other initiatives to create employment, wealth and economic prosperity for the people will be given priority.”