In the bid to increase Internally Generated Revenue in the state, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has hinted of the coming Commodity Board that will ensure that Osun ranks among the best cocoa producers in Nigeria within the next two years.

He said the board will be under direct supervision of his office.
The governor, while meeting with Produce merchants in the state at the Government House in Osogbo, stated that with the new cocoa development initiatives in the state, fresh revenues will be available to the state thus making the economy of the state prosperous in 2016.
He told the produce merchants that the economic situation of the state has been badly affected with the pillaging of the national treasury by the previous administration.
Aregbesola added that the situation with the drop in oil prices and the sharp reduction in the Federation Accounts from N1.2 trillion in 2012 to N369 billion in November allocations shared in December 2015 has reduced the running of government to little or nothing hence, the need to look inward in increasing IGR.
The governor noted that the state will soon bounce back‎ with the identification of Sixty million Cocoa trees presently in the state, adding that government henceforth will criminalize any action of farmers and merchants that runs foul of government laws on cocoa.
He pointed out that government will soon be registering all farmers in the state for easy implementation of government policies on agriculture thus giving adequate room for monitoring and giving the necessary support for farmers.
According to him, “To show the people of the state that we are ready to face agriculture squarely in Osun, I am establishing a Commodity Board that will be supervised directly from the office of the governor.
“Our bags of cocoa in Osun will be branded with this; government will be able to ensure that the quality of cocoa coming out of the state meets international quality standards.
“When there was free money coming from oil, no government was looking at what cocoa could bring to the economy; we are back to the days where cocoa will be the main stay of our economy in Osun,” The governor emphasized.
Aregbesola hinted that Produce tribunals will be set up across the state and that special colour will be given to vehicles transporting cocoa within the state.
The Governor reminded produce merchants of the immense wealth that cocoa alone brought to the Western Region and the good use to which the revenues were put by the then governments.
The Governor added that the State Executive Council meetings will be held in rural areas where cocoa farming is thriving in the state for about six months to one year after the formation of his cabinet.
Earlier, the Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Osun, Chief Raheem Adeniji, stated that the association is ready to partner and cooperate with government in her bid to revamp the cocoa farming in the state.
He lamented the poor economic state the country has found itself with the neglect of cocoa which he said was the backbone of the economy in the 60s.
He identified the cancellation of Cocoa and Marketing Board by the then military government as a setback for the industry in Nigeria.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), not long ago, revealed that no fewer than 5.3 million youths are jobless in the country, while 1.8 million graduates enter the labour market every year. This figure, it is believed, is a conservative estimate of the actual number of unemployed youths in the country, going by previous statistics released by NBS, which put the number of jobless Nigerians at 20.3m.
 

 
The above is a reflection of previous governments’ inability to design policies that will create more jobs, or provide enabling environment that could encourage both individuals and the private sector to expand employment opportunities without let or hindrance.
If government needed to know the gravity of the nation’s unemployment rate, especially graduate unemployment, the trampling of graduate job seekers to death during stampedes at the 2014 Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment drive across the country, presents a graphic picture of the problem. That incident, alone, tells us that something needs to be done urgently to address the scourge of unemployment in the country.
World Bank statistics recently put the number of Nigerians living in   destitution at 100 million, while it’s most recent report put Nigeria among the five poorest countries in the world. The high rate of unemployment and low per capita income in the country are just two of the indices used by the World Bank in arriving at this assessment.
All levels of government in the country need to be reminded that unemployment, especially among youths, is a time bomb for any country. Experience from other nations, including some in Africa, has pointedly shown that youth unemployment could provoke violent revolutions as we had in the Arab Spring. We, therefore, advise the government to design larger and more realistic programmes for job creation.
It is in line with the above that the government of Osun establishes an office called Osun Job Centre. This is in pursuance of a key component of Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola-led administration’s Six Point Integral Action Plan which is banishment of unemployment from the State. The Job Center is established as a State Government of Osun-funded one-stop employment agency with desk offices located at each of the 30 Local Government Areas of the State and the Area Office.
The Center will act as a facilitator between job seekers and employers by providing employment information and services to a wide range of people, from the unemployed looking for employment, the underemployed looking for a better job, to employers advertising job openings. It is aimed at eradicating barriers to employment by promoting education, training and business enterprise. It will contribute to the personal development of the labour force through the creation of opportunities for their productive engagement and utilisation.
The Center provides employment service tools such as:
An infrastructure for the business community to post its skills needs
As well as In-house computers with free access to the internet
These are situated at the Center’s Head Office in Osogbo, the desk offices at all the 30 Local Government Secretariats and the Area Office for registration purposes only.
• Career Counselling:
• Career Exploration of available opportunities to help make informed employment and educational choices
• Personal Career Development
• Other Career related issues
• Employability Skills Training:
• Seminars to enhance the employability and entrepreneurship of participants
• Effective CV & Cover letter Preparation
• Interviewing Skills & Technique Coaching
• Personal Branding Skills & Communication Skills
• Presentation Skills
• Verification of Qualifications and Employers
• Verification of Academic qualifications, (Degree, WAEC, NECO, GCSE etc)
• Verification of Professional Certifications
• Verification of NYSC certificates
• Verification of Past and Current Employments
• Reference checks
• Verification of the Physical address of companies
• Annual Job Fairs:
• To provide a venue where job seekers can meet and network with representatives of prospective employers from diverse sectors of the economic with the possibility of securing employment.
 
The Desk Offices operations:
• Desk Officers will be stationed at each Local Government Area to provide information to job seekers and employers on the employment related services provided by the Job Center
• In-house Computers with free access to the internet will be available for registration purpose only, (assistant available to those not proficient in usage of the internet)
• Platform will be provided for businesses at each Local Government Area to physically post job openings.
 
However, the private sector also has a role to play in creating employment, as experience has shown that government alone cannot provide all the needed jobs.  Unemployed persons, too, will also have to start working towards self-employment, through which they may even provide jobs for others.
This is no longer the time to sit on the fence. Unemployment and poverty have become serious problems that all levels of government must tackle with sincerity of purpose to keep the nation’s youths productively engaged, and out of avoidable trouble.
These efforts by Osun government are worth of emulation by other states of the federation. Observers, including the Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo once declared that Osun, out of the thirty six states in the federation, has the lowest rate of unemployed people, particularly among her teeming youths, due to the determination of the Ogbeni’s administration to banish poverty and unemployment among its people.
This new move at establishing a job centre is just one of them. The VP declared that Osun is one of the states with lowest in poverty. “The indication (in Osun) is that because there is a lot of investment on the people, poverty has been reduced and that is what we (the federal government) are trying to achieve in Nigeria.”
Aregbesola was once quoted as saying “The development of micro and small businesses forms a core component of our poverty alleviation and economic empowerment strategy.
“This is part of our six-point integral action plan that, among others, seeks to banish poverty, unemployment and hunger.
“We have designed programmes aimed at unlocking our people’s creativity and genuinely set them on the path of self-employment and self-reliance.
“I am certain that our people are hard-working and would at all-time take pride in working to earn a decent living.
“With the numerous programmes we are implementing, we are on the road to change the fortune of our state and lives of our people for better.
“Many of these programmes, like OYES, O’REAP, O’YESTECH, O’MEALs, O’Schools, O’Beef and O’BOPS, among others, have offered many of our youths self-reliant job opportunities and I want to assure you all that we have only just begun. A lot more good things are still coming”, he asserted.
The faster governments in Nigeria, federal, states and local governments, move in that direction the better as we have seen the concomitant effect of youth unemployment manifests itself in various forms across the country. Kidnapping, armed robbery and even militancy in the Niger Delta and to some extent the Boko Haram menace could be identified as some of the negative outcome of unemployment.
Ayo Akinola, arpa, is a publisher and media consultant based in Lagos; Bola Akande is a former commissioner for Human Resources & Capacity Building, State of Osun
 
SOURCE: www.elombah.com

The Governor of the State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, has appointed the third richest woman of African descent in the world, Folorunso Alakija, as Chancellor of the Osun State University, Osogbo.
 

 
The governor, in a statement by his spokesperson, Semiu Okanlawon, said p‎ursuant to the provisions of clause 5(8) of the first schedule to the Osun State University (Establishment) Law, 2006, Mr. Aregbesola is privileged to appointment Mrs. Alakija‎ as the Chancellor of the University. ‎
 
The appointment, which according to the statement, takes immediate effect will be for a period of five years.‎
The statement noted that statute 3(1) (a) and statute 5 of the Osun State University Law (2006) provides that the University shall have a Chancellor, who shall, in relation to the University take precedence before all other members of the University and when he or she is present shall preside at all meetings of Convocation held for conferring degrees, diplomas, certificates and other awards.‎
Mr. Aregbesola, while congratulating the new Chancellor, said Mrs. Alakija’s antecedent and sterling qualities as a God-fearing woman, a person of honour, integrity and successful business woman would no doubt impact positively on the running of Osun State University.
The governor pointed out that the government of Osun would look forward to a great working relationship with the new Chancellor as she leads Osun State University, Osogbo, to a new height of excellence.‎
“‎I wish to inform you, that the investiture is expected to hold during the 4th Convocation ceremony of the institution, proposed to come up on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th February, 2016.‎

“‎While congratulating you once again, please accept the assurance of best regards of the people and Government of Osun”.
In her acceptance letter addressed to the governor, Mrs Alakija said, “It is with pleasure that I receive and accept the appointment as the chancellor of the University of Osun State. I pray for God’s grace and strength to execute my duties as Chancellor of the University during my five-year tenure.”

Members of Osun Professionals in FCT, a group in support of Gov. Rauf Aregbesola on Tuesday staged a peaceful march in support of the governor.
 

 
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the group, led by its Pressident, Mr Yahaya Mojeed marched around Three Arms Zone and Central Area of Abuja.
Speaking with newsmen, Mojeed urged all indigenes of the state to support Aregbesola in his quest to develop the state.
He also urged the governor to avoid political distractions and to continue in his determination to move the state forward.
According to him, Aregbesola needs to be encouraged as he makes efforts to tackle developmental challenges facing the state.
“Most states in Nigeria are facing similar challenges due to dwindling revenue and reduction in allocation to states.
“We are using this opportunity to urge our governor to remain steadfast and be creative in revenue generation to deliver on his mandate.
“Poverty and underdevelopment do not have political colouration; we are, therefore, asking politicians to sheath their swords and support their leaders to perform,’’ Mojeed said.

Ekiti State Governor,  Mr Ayodele Fayose,  yesterday called for the unity of Yoruba,s nation for meaningful development.

He also identified the need for State Governors to collectively address the nation’s dwindling economy.
Governor Fayose stated this in Osogbo when he paid a visit to his counterpart in Osun State,Mr Rauf Aregbesola.
The Governor who said his visit to the state was about the future of Yoruba nation maintained that efforts of past Yoruba leaders must not be in vain.
According to him, the visit of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi to the Alaafin Of Oyo more than a week ago sends a strong signal on the need for unity and cooperation.
He remarked that Governors should also look beyond political parties and politics for proper development of the region.
Governor Fayose equally stressed that governors should tap from available opportunities from Agriculture to reduce economic problem in their respective states.
On weither Fayose would quit PDP he noted that “I won’t quit but time will tell if PDP is dead or not’.
Responding, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who commended Governor Fayose for the visit stressed the need to create economic bond that would rescue people from level of poverty and live a modern live.
He noted that since oil had lost its position as the biggest source of revenue generation for the country, said there is the need to shift attention to Agriculture.
Aregbesola added that Governors in the southwestern part of Nigeria had concluded plans to reposition Oodua Investment Company Limited conglomerate as the engine room of Yoruba economy.
Governor Aregbesola who described peace and unity as indispensable instrument to greatness, success and progress said it is time for Yorubas to strengthen the existing peace for all round development.

The President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, has given a pass mark to the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola over his management of the bail out funds received from the federal government.
 

 
Mr. Wabba stated this while speaking with Tribune Newspaper in an interview on issues bordering on the anti-labour activities in some of the states, oil pipeline vandalisation, corruption and the demand for new national minimum wage.
“Osun is better.” Mr. Wabba said while answering questions bordering on the use of FG bailout funds.
“You remember we went there to negotiate the payment of the bailout. Even after the bailout, the governor has keep fate with continue payment of salary and transparently put on the table whatever comes in. They have also worked on how to improve the IGR, including setting up a committee that is being chaired by Hassan Sunmonu. So we can say progressively, the issue is under control.”
“There is actually cooperation between the union and the government towards addressing the issue. I think that is quite different from the issue of Imo State. Imo State is not even carrying the workers along; everything is being done by himself, even the payment of the bailout. It has not been transparently done to ensure that everybody is on the same page.” Mr. Waba stated
He continued, “Oyo State also has the same case with Osun, they are also assiduously working with our people. They have arrears, but they are working and making the issue transparent to address it.”
“The other one is Ebonyi State, which we are also planning to visit. He is paying regularly, but he also went ahead to also deduct some percentage from the salary of workers, which cannot be justified and which is not accepted to us. The only challenge is that you cannot also deduct workers salaries without their consent because the salary was negotiated, there is a table and therefore unilaterally, you can’t also go ahead to deduct from workers salary without their consent.”
“The other issue associated to it is that he is also trying to undermine the NLC structure going to obtain a black market pronouncement of court. But all of these, we are handling them and the Central Working Committee (CWC) have already approved that we should visit Imo and Ebonyi states and we have visited Imo and ready to visit Ebonyi because it was the decision of the CWC after taken reports of activities from all the states of the federation. They thought we should be able to visit them and see how we can be able to assist them.”

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of the state of Osun has commended the management of the University of Ilorin for adopting the state’s initiative of Opon-Imo.
 

 
The Ogbeni also commended UNILORIN for developing “a seamless strategy for a stable academic calendar” in the institution, just as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, praised the existing love and harmony among the University staff, which he identified as the reason behind its consistent progress.
The duo made the observations last Friday (January 22, 2016) when the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali (OON), led top officials of the University on separate visits to the Osun State Governor’s Office, Osogbo, and the Enuwa Palace, Ile-Ife, respectively.
The University’s management team, which included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (RTI), Prof. Gabriel Olatunji; the Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel Obafemi; and the University Librarian, Dr. Joseph Omoniyi, was in Osun State to felicitate with the new Ooni on his recent appointment and installation as well as to thank the Governor for honoring the University’s invitation to its recent 40th anniversary and 31st convocation ceremonies.
Governor Aregbesola, who described the University of Ilorin as “the only public university in Nigeria that has escaped the customary breaks in academic calendar”, noted that “the University is doing very well”. He said, “When a student enters your school, the fear of not completing his/her education on time is totally eliminated”.
Pointing out that “this is Unilorin’s most important contribution to sustaining a credible academic environment in the country”, the Governor told the Vice-Chancellor, “We commend those who have developed this seamless strategy and we also commend those of you who are sustaining it”.
The Governor also commended the University’s “commitment to modernisation and knowledge tradition” with the distribution of i-Pad tablets to all its students. He said, “I am very much impressed by your adoption of the latest easy-to-carry-about and easy-to-use IT device”.
Ogbeni Aregbesola further noted, “That you have introduced and made compulsory the acquisition of this modern IT device by your students is a feat that must be seriously commended by those who genuinely want our nation to be at par with the best practices all over the world”.
The Governor also commended the University for its successful migration to STM 4, which is the latest technology in internet access, saying, “With this, the University has broken the digital divide between the developed and developing world and I am enthused by your leap in that direction.”
The Governor also expressed happiness that indigenes of Osun State constitute a substantial percentage of the staff and student population of the University.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor had congratulated the Governor on his re-election for a second term in office, saying this was a clear evidence of the people’s confidence in him.
Prof. Ambali disclosed that about 1, 400 of the newly admitted students of the institution are indigenes of Osun State. Pointing out that the state is also well represented on the University’s staff list, he said, “In fact, one of my Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Prof. Olatunji, is a proud son of Osun State.”
The Vice-Chancellor acknowledged Governor Aregbesola’s contributions to educational development, especially the “Opon Imo” (i-Pad) initiative for secondary school students in the state.
Prof. Ambali then reeled out some of the achievements of the University, which include the one-student-one-iPad initiative; the upgrade of the University’s classrooms to be IT compliant; upgrading of the internet connectivity on campus with the recent migration from STM 1 to STM 4; the operation of a paperless Senate; and a massive development of sundry plantations for teaching and research and for raising the University’s internally generated revenue (IGR) base.
Earlier at the Enuwa Palace of the Ooni of Ife, the royal father had commended the love and unity among the staff of the University of Ilorin, saying this was responsible for the stable academic calendar being enjoyed by the institution.
Oba Ogunwusi said, “I see love from Ife spreading to Ilorin and among University of Ilorin staff. You are working as a family and your oneness is the reason behind your progress” .
While thanking the Vice-Chancellor and the management team for the visit, Oba Ogunwusi promised to support the University of Ilorin in the area of the provision of hostel accomodation for the students.
The royal father said, “I am in discussion on the accommodation problem. I am deeply concerned about the need and I will work with you”.
He described Ife as a land of love, stressing that it is the love that makes descendants of the town to be playing critical role in the development of the University of Ilorin.
Oba Ogunwusi added that the Yorubas are a people blessed with rich tradition and culture. He thanked God for the wave of Unity among the Yoruba people, describing this as “a good development”.
In a show of his commitment to the provision of adequate hostel accommodation for students of the University of Ilorin, Oba Ogunwusi introduced one of his foreign friends, Mr. Laresh, an Indian and Managing Director of ML Construction Company to the Vice-Chancellor and his team. ML is a leading supplier of building materials in Nigeria.
In his own address, the Vice-Chancellor congratulated the royal father on his ascension to the throne of his forefathers, praying that God will help him to achieve all his good plans for the Kingdom.
Prof. Ambali explained that the purpose of the visit was to rejoice with the king on his recent installation, adding that it was also to show that the University of Ilorin greatly cherishes the monarch.
“We cannot talk about University of Ilorin without talking about the language we speak. We appreciate you and we want you to continue to think of Ilorin as one of your brothers in diaspora”, Prof. Ambali submitted.
Other top officials of the University on the Vice-Chancellor’s entourage included the Deputy Bursar, Mr. Munirudeen Dere; the Director of the Advancement Centre, Dr. Jeleel Ojuade; the Deputy Director of the Advancement Centre, Dr. Lateef Onireti; and the Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun.

The Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC) has described as political and insincere the planned rally of the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun state scheduled to hold at the National Assembly tomorrow.
 
 
 
 

 
OCSC, in a press statement by its Assistant Publicity Secretary, Comrade Abiodun Ibrahim on Monday said that the proposed rally was being sponsored by opposition party to destabilize the state.
Ibrahim accused a sitting judge of the Osun state High Court, Justice Oloyede Folahanmi of mobilizing members of the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun state for the protest.
According to Ibrahim: “The Chairman of the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun state, Mr Adeniyi Sulaimon, Director Media and Publicity of the group, Mr Seun Adeoye, Mr Olukanni Yemi Oyedeji and other members of the group were brought by Justice Olamide Folahanmi Oloyede as witnesses at the National Judicial Council (NJC) headquarters in Abuja on Monday for her defence against the petition written to the NJC by the Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC) on her petition against Aregbesola.
“We are confused on the intention of both the judge and the witnesses at the NJC. Could it be that the judge mobilized them to Abuja for the protest or they were sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party, Osun state to show support for Justice Folahanmi Oloyede on her case?
“We wonder how a mission to serve as witness to a case turned to political protest against the governor. We want members of the public to reason on the action of the judge and the members of the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun state.”
Ibrahim maintained that the purported financial crisis of the state on which the rally is to be held, is gradually fading out with the payment of workers’ salaries and commencement of infrastructural projects.
Ibgrahim said that the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, on Monday commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for the disbursement of the bailout used to offset the backlog of the salary debt.
He stated that there was no justification for the rally, if not to speed off campaign of calumny against the government as being dictated by the opposition party.