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Tag: Oyo

  • Oyo women address plight at seminar

    THe Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu, has given women in the state the opportunity to speak on their challenges.

    The legislator organised an interactive forum for the women in all the 20 wards of both Oyo-East and Oyo-West local government areas.

    At the occasion held at the Durbar Stadium in Oyo town, women spoke one after the other on how they have been marginalised, neglected and persecuted in decision-making as well as in development.

    While eulogising Sunmonu for her concerted efforts in empowering and improving the status of women, they lamented some retrogressive forces said to be working against them.

    They told the Speaker: “We know your untiring commitment towards improving socio-economic status of women, but all these efforts are being thwarted and hijacked by those opposed to our well-being.

    “We need your support and assistance in order to cope with the biting economic situation in the country. We no longer want to be sidelined, discriminated or excluded in the scheme of things. It is our inalienable rights and must be given to us.”

    Responding, Hon. Sunmonu noted that women have continued to display great dynamism throughout the difficult period in the state. She said that they have displayed ingenuity and creativity in finding answers to any situation, individually at the household level, and collectively at the social level, thereby creating a conducive atmosphere for democracy and democratic governance to thrive.

    “They constitute a dynamic breeding ground within the framework of any perspective for change. The issue of women empowerment has become a matter of concern in the world, and particularly for the present administration in Oyo State. Considering their indispensable role in the society as mothers, custodians, and shapers of the society, the Ajimobi–led administration is of the conviction that empowering women is empowering the nation.”

    The Speaker assured the women that any activity that can improve their economic power would be encouraged, and that government would also encourage them to develop confidence in themselves, through exhibiting their potentials.

    Mrs. Sunmonu spoke further: “The woman exists for herself as well as for others. The seriously responsible duties she is called upon to perform in life require a cultivated head, as well as a sympathizing heart. Consequently, government would continue to provide an enabling environment for women, as well as intensify awareness campaigns among the rural dwellers for meaningful participation in the development process. This will go a long way in ensuring a bright and stable future.”

    The Speaker later donated 40 bags of rice to the women.

     

  • Oyo Assembly approves N30b supplementary budget

    Oyo Assembly approves N30b supplementary budget

    The Oyo State House of Assembly yesterday passed into law the N30,396,508,000 Supplementary Budget.

    The passage followed a report by the House Committee on Public Accounts, Finance and Appropriation, headed by Mr. Olusegun Olaleye.

    The House, presided over by Speaker Monsurat Sunmonu, hailed Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s vision for the state.

    They considered the supplementary budget would enable the government complete ongoing projects and execute new ones.

    Twenty-three billion naira was allotted to the Ministry of Works and Transport and N145,700,000 to infrastructure.

    Others are N160,808,000 for the baseline data gathering programme of the Ministry of Economic Planning; N3 billion for the Consolidated Revenue Fund charges and N1 billion for miscellaneous.

    Olaleye said the supplementary budget would enable the government repair bridges and roads that were destroyed by flood.

    He said infrastructural development would attract investors to the state.

    Speaker Monsurat Sunmonu ordered eight local government transition committee chairmen to appear before the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to give account of their stewardship in the last one year.

    The local governments are: Saki, Surulere, Ibadan North, Oyo West, Kajola, Orelope, Itesiwaju and Lagelu.

     

     

  • Oyo distributes treated mosquito nets

    Oyo distributes treated mosquito nets

    The Oyo State government has commenced the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets to 1.3 million families in the state.

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this while addressing reporters in Ibadan, the state capital. Gbadegesin explained that a total of 893,000 nets were distributed during the first phase of the programme in Oke-Ogun area of the state. He added that a total of 1.3 million families translating to six million population are expected to benefit from the free nets across the 33 local governments of the state.

    According to him, the free nets were being provided in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO). He explained that the nets were being distributed under a partnership of the state and federal govenments tagged Malaria Action Programme for States (MAPS).

    Gbadegesin said that the 893,000 free nets were distributed in the 13 local govenment areas of Oke-Ogun in July and August, pointing out that the second phase would commence towards the end of the year.

    The commissioner further explained that MAPS staff and their counterparts from the state Ministry of Health as well as staff of the local governments conducted house-to-house mapping during which residents were identified, interviewed and issued cards with which to collect the nets before they were distributed. He pointed out that the mapping helped them to determine the number of people that make up each family thereby helping them to know how many nets to be earmarked for them.

    He said that each medium-sized nuclear family got two nets while more nets were given to polygamous families, depending on the number of people that make up the family. The nets were also torn open to prevent beneficiaries from selling them.

    Expressing satisfaction with the project, Gbadegesin said that malaria was the most prevalent disease in the state, in Nigeria and even in Africa. “It is the greatest killer disease. It is more so because children and pregnant women are most vulnerable,” the commissioner said.

    Gbadegesin further explained that the distribution of the free nets would complement the free malaria drugs that the state provides for children, pregnant women and the aged in all state and local government hospitals in the state.  ”But it is even better to prevent. Prevention is the reason for the nets. The weekly sanitation exercise is also helping because it is having a great positive impact on health in the state. It has helped reduce diseases and potential outbreak of lassa fever. We believe that the continuation of the sanitation and improvement in personal hygiene will reduce incidents of malaria and other diseases.

    “The two are the begining of good health,” Gbadegesin said.

     

  • Oyo rebuilds Olosan Bridge to avert flooding

    APRRENTLY bracing for the predicted heavy downpour in its domain, the Oyo State government has rehabilitated the bridge across the popular Olosan River in Alakia Isebo, Egbeda Local Government Area.

    Oyo is the only state in the Soutwest listed by the Federal Ministry of the Environment to be affected by floods before the rainy seasons subsides this year.

    Olosan Bridge is notorious for being overflown by flood each time it rains with its attendant effect of cutting off 11 communities from the rest of the city.

    But the bridge is wearing a new look as its rehabilitation would soon be completed.

    Besides the comprehensive rehabilitation, the retaining walls have been raised and fortified with hardcore stones to withstand future hazards.

    Also undergoing rehabilitation by Messrs OAF & Associates Limited is the 13-kilometre road network within the communities.

    Mr. Tunde Okunade, an engineer an official of firm, said the road was being rehabilitated to give residents of the area a new lease of life.

    Okunade said since the bridge had been raised from a single-box culvert to a double-box culvert and with the standard drain and supportive access and cross culvert, the era of flood wrecking havoc on it and the entire road has become a thing of the past.

    According to him, the firmed enjoyed the cooperation of the communities for as long as the rehabilitation lasted. He assured that the road would not be wiped away by floods.

    The Chairman of Olosan/Alakia landlords Association Road Committee, Alhaji Isiaka Salami hailed the government for extending democratic dividends to their doorstep.

    He specifically thanked Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his Works Commissioner Alhaji Yunus Akintunde for hiring a reliable company to handle the project.

    Speaking in his capacity as the supervising officer of the community on the project, Salami said he could attest to the quality of work.

  • Oyo indigenes in Law School get N10m bursary

    Oyo indigenes in Law School get N10m bursary

    The Oyo State Government has distributed cheques worth over N10 million as bursary awards to its indigenes at the Nigerian Law School for the 2011/2012 academic session.

    The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Adetokunbo Fayokun, during the distribution in Ibadan, said the gesture was aimed at assisting them financially.

    According to her, the state government was unaware of the importance of their school programme, and the huge financial resources required, hence the need to come to their aid.

    Promising that government would continue to implement policies that would enhance the educational development of the youth in the state, Fayokun urged them to reciprocate the gesture by being more committed to their studies.

    The commissioner also enjoined them to be good ambassadors of the state and shun all acts that could bring disrepute to their families, the state and the nation.

    The Chairman of the state Scholarship Board, Dr. Adekiitan Babalola, in his remarks, prayed Governor Abiola Ajimobi for approving the bursary to the students.

    He said arrangements had also been concluded for the payment of 2011/2012 bursary awards to final year students of Oyo State origin in all federal and state-owned tertiary institutions nationwide.

  • ‘We won’t allow fraudsters in Oyo civil service’

    ‘We won’t allow fraudsters in Oyo civil service’

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi at the weekend said his administration has very low tolerance for forgers and other misdemeanours in the civil and public service.
    The governor noted that to achieve this effectively, his administration would continue to ensure the enthronement of a civil service that would be efficient, effective and positioned for good service delivery.

    He promised to restore sanity into the system, warning that fraudulent workers and those with criminal records would not be allowed to stay one day longer in the state civil service.

    Ajimobi addressed a group of typists, who were promoted Grade Level 12, during a training session at the Simeon Adebo Staff Development Centre, the state secretariat in Ibadan.

    The govenor described the civil service as the bedrock of good governance and development. He said the service would be reformed to conform with the contemporary civil service, adding that in achieving this, human capital development would be accorded priority.

    Ajimobi berated critics of the recent sack of some workers with criminal records, saying they were merely exhibiting ignorance.
    The governor said he would not preside over a civil service that has suspected criminals.

    He said: “It is common knowledge that Oyo State civil service, which used to be a reference point in the country, is now at the precipice. But we are determined to bring the past glory back.

    However, in doing this, we will not allow thieves to stay in the system; we will not allow certificate forgers and fraudsters to be in the system.”

    Ajimobi explained that but for his administration’s benevolence, some of the recently sacked workers ought to be prosecuted because they had committed criminal offences.

    The governor noted that the initial number of civil servants alleged to have been involved in one act of malfeasance or another were over 8,000. He added that it was his intervention that reduced the number to less than 3,000.

    “But whatever it will take, we must improve Oyo State. And to improve the system is to improve the structure and human resources,’’ he said. Ajimobi congratulated the 300 typists who had stagnated on Grade Level 09 for several years but whose bar had been raised to Grade Level 12. The governor urged them to reciprocate the government’s gesture by rededicating selves to service and be more diligent.

    He added that going by the civil service rule, they ought to have been relieved of their jobs, having remained stagnated for more than three years.
    “But we don’t want to sack you; rather, we want to ensure that we assist you so that you can make progress in your careers.”

  • Alaafin appoints ex-governor Olunloyo Balogun of Oyo Empire

    Alaafin appoints ex-governor Olunloyo Balogun of Oyo Empire

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, at the weekend appointed a former Oyo State Governor Victor Omololu Olunloye the Balogun of Oyo Empire.
    At the ceremony, which coincided with the celebration of the maiden Oranyan Festival in the town, friends and well-wishers of the former governor gathered at the monarch’s palace for the honour.

    Olunloyo hails from Ibadan, the state capital.  The retired Archbishop of Methodist Church, Nigeria and an Oyo Prince, Ayo Ladigbolu, made the announcement on behalf of the monarch, to round off the week-long programme.

    Bishop Ladigbolu said: “The Alaafin has sent me to announce that Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo has been appointed the Balogun of Oyo Empire.”

    Cultural activities from various parts of the ancient kingdom as well as those from Republic of Benin were displayed.

    The grand finale of the festival generated controversies since the week long programme was made public.

    Olunloyo appreciated the honour, saying he would do whatever was expected of him as a chief of the ancient town.

    On the controversial statement credited to the people of Ile-Ife about the festival, Olunloyo noted that it was unnecessary.

    He said: “The Alaafin is the Sango; he is the Oranyan; he is the real Sango. The Ooni in Ife is not an Oba; he is an abore (priest) though he is my personal friend. He is my in-law.”

    Referring to the perennial feud between the monarch and his Isale-Oyo Chief (the Ashipa), Olunloyo said there was nothing like Ago-Oja which the Ashipa was claiming to be the original title of the compound.

    The former governor said: “Ashipa was misled. Tthere is nothing like Oloja of Ago-Oja.”

    Oba Adeyemi noted that Olunloyo has been supportive since he assumed office and that he deserved the honour.

    He said the Oranyan Festival has come to stay in the history of the town because Oranyan was the greatest warlord in the history of Yoruba land.
    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi described the Alaafin as the custodian of culture and tradition.

    The governor said the festival showed that the effort of Yoruba heroes past would not be in vain.

    He added that Oranyan was the greatest warlord in Yoruba land, adding that he stood firmly to break all odds during his reign in Oyo town.

    Ajimobi said: “I want to appreciate Baba (the Alaafin) for deeming it fit to start this celebration in Oyo town. This has shown that the effort of our heroes past will not be in vain but will be transferred from one generation to another for recognition and appraisal.”