The people are the most important asset of a government. A genuine development agenda should therefore have at its core, the welfare of people, and seek to implement a robust human capacity development programme. The Ogbeni administration passionately aligns with this governance approach and is entrenching welfarism at the centre of her development programmes.
The social factor forms a major component of the socio-economics of a society. In this light, concise attention should be paid to integrate social value in the delivery of all government projects.
Apart from the state’s social centric programmes, other programmes like physical infrastructure programmes should also be delivered in such a way as to add social value like public services, local jobs, capacity development to pragmatically improve the socio-economic status of the people. Osun has been implementing its programmes across all society strata in this direction.
Through the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, OYES, the state is pioneering for Nigeria, a grassroots youth empowerment scheme that has won commendations from institutions like the World Bank. See http://www.punchng.com/business/money/osun-to-access-world-banks-18m-support/
OYES engagement of youths has helped to drastically reduce youth unemployment and consequently reducing crime rates. The scheme injects N200 millions monthly into the grassroots economy through the payment of N10, 000 each to some 20,000 volunteers.
The scheme is currently at its second phase, where some 20,000 of the newly recruited are being engaged.
Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme (OMEALS) targets children, the most vulnerable and promising of our society. OMEALS provides free nutritious lunch meal to 254,000 elementary school children every day. The scheme has helped to improve school attendance, improve school children nutrition and cost savings for parents.
Opon Imo (Tablet of Knowledge) is a programme to provide senior secondary school students with free tablet computers preloaded with learning materials to prepare for school leaving exams.
These programmes were designed and are being implemented to deliver tangible and radical socio-economic value across the various demographics of the society. The comprehensive multi-sector impact of these programmes has helped Osun record dramatic improvements in human development indices. See http://www.ynaija.com/northern-states-top-nigerias-jobless-list-according-to-figures-released-by-nbs/
Conventional Infrastructure programmes are also targeted at delivering social value as roads are being constructed in the state to aid quick movement of goods and services.
Agriculturally advantaged areas are being opened up under the Farm Settlement Rehabilitation Scheme and the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP). Massive constructions are being carried out to open the state up for investment and position it as a hub for commercial activities in the South-West.
The impact of this social development approach is being felt as the state economy is stabilizing, capital flight is being checked, security of lives and properties is being guaranteed and a great value has been placed on human lives. In the long run, this approach will place the state at par with other developed economies in the country.