As part of efforts to promote domestic tourism, the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, has included the Osun Children’s Cultural Fiesta as a major component of the annual OsunOsogbo Festival.

At the just concluded OsunOsogbo Festival, Mrs. Mbanefo noted that there must be an inclusion of culture/tourism in the school curriculum to enable children grasps the basics of same as they grow.

Her words: “The children’s cultural fiesta has come to stay as part of NTDC’s promotion of the cultural festival. We are reaching out to schools and talking to them to make tourism part of their curriculum. As part of subjects that they must pass, let the children grow with the culture, proud to speak their languages anywhere in the world. If you are fluent in English and unable to speak your mother tongue, you seem lost.”

The NTDC boss made these comments in a speech delivered at the Osun Children Cultural Fiesta held at the Ataoja’s palace in Osogbo on August 21, 2014.

She extolled the rich Yoruba culture saying that the Corporation is determined to ensure that all the cultural festivals in Nigeria would be promoted and marketed to the outside world as part of Federal Government’s effort to make tourism a major revenue spinner for the Nigerian economy.

On the children’s fiesta, NTDC organized competitions to encourage the children. They came in four categories like drumming, dancing, cultural fashion parade and Yoruba spelling and a total sum of two hundred thousand naira was expended as prize money to the winners of the various competitions. She said the festival is a veritable platform for cultural exchange in the country.

“It is a channel at which culture is being exhibited and exchanged to the world.

“South West Culture is the richest because civilization came early and was properly documented and handed down to generations.

“Osogbo Festival is unique to the Corporation and is included in our calendar of cultural events. Osun cultural festival is very unique to NTDC because it is one of the numerous festivals of international recognition, enlisted as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO including Sango Festival that has been exported to over forty countries of the world,” she said.

Mrs. Mbanefo noted that the festival witnessed a ground breaking  collaboration between NTDC and Osun Government, adding that the partnership necessitated a team of researchers from NTDC being on ground to collect data of many tourists both local and foreigners that attended this year’s festival.

“This is done because the Corporation must seek to determine how popular the festival is to the world and get records of the tourists that attended the festival. The idea is for the federal government to determine its commitment to continuing support for the festival,” she said.

Mr. Ayo Olumoko, Managing Director, INFOGEM Limited and Marketing Consultant of the Festival, lauded the efforts of NTDC in promoting the Osun Cultural Festival with the inclusion of the Children Cultural Fiesta. According to him, the synergy with NTDC has become necessary in view of the fact that government alone cannot drive domestic tourism.

“Mrs. Mbanefo has set a pace, the State of Osun and the organizing committee of the event appreciates her efforts,” he said.

Meanwhile, it should be noted that the great Osun Osogbo Festival is a ceremony celebrated annually for twelve days. It is celebrated to mark the commemoration of events that led to the founding of Oshogbo town and the renewal of ancestral bonds between the Osun goddess and the people of Osogbo.

This pact of association, which is rekindled every year in the month of August is said to be the foundation of the festival celebrated in memory of the goddess and the pact of association.

Osun is the Yoruba impersonator of the “water of life” and the spiritual mother of Osogbo. Osun goddess, according to the belief of the worshippers and faithful is a giver of children and cures infertility and other ailments. People around the state believe that any barren woman who drinks the water drawn from the flowing river must conceive and give birth to children.

Osun is believed to be one of the wives of Sango, the god of thunder and former king of Oyo. She is widely worshipped in Yoruba land and specifically along the stretch of the country through which the River Osun flows

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The 2014 Osun Osogbo Festival has come and gone but the festival will not only linger in the mind of tourists and stakeholders as a successful exercise, but also as one surrounded with controversy, no thanks to the Ebola Virus scare. A correspondent, who attended the festival, spoke with tourists and stakeholders on their expectations of the festival, the Ebola scare and the overall success of the yearly festival.
The scare of the dreaded Ebola Virus notwithstanding, the 2014 Osun Osogbo Festival was a resounding success. Tourists and stakeholders who spoke at the festival were full of praise to the organisers for organising a hitch-free festival and to the people of Osogbo for being good hosts.
Few weeks to the festival, there were uncertainties on whether the festival will hold or not. There were stories in the media alerting the public on the Osun State government’s stand on Ebola control, which discouraged non-resident and foreigners and tourists from attending the festival.

Though the festival witnessed slimmer patronage with the absence of the Odu’a People Congress (OPC) among others, but the domestic patronage has shown that it is the people’s festival with the significant number of cultural enthusiasts that converged on the grove for the annual rite to the Osun goddess.
Even with the Ebola scare, the festival also recorded a marginal influx of foreign tourists and Osun devotees from Brazil and visitors from within Nigeria.
Many believed that the ingenuity of the age-long festival of the people has become a point of reference and nothing can disrupt it because of the norms, value and heritage it holds to their existence while others said the degree of campaign mechanism at mobilising rather than discouraging people, put together by the organisers paid off at the end.
Notwithstanding, the festival started on a good note with the votary maid setting out the procession at about 10:00am to the Ojubo Osun (Osun shrine) at the grove.
In earnest, the procession progresses with a good outing and attracted spectacle and admiration from devotees, tourists and visitors who thronged the grove in their numbers.
Mrs. Nike Okundaye, the founder of Nike Art Gallery, said that this year’s festival was memorable as there was no record of casualties throughout the celebration.
She however commended the security operatives at this year’s edition for not only being around, but also giving maximum security to visitors. According to her, “The crowd was not much and the security agencies did a good job.”
Speaking on tourist patronage, Okundaye said, “My products were patronised by few people, but the patronage was not like the previous year. We hope next year’s edition (2015) will be much better than this year as we pray for better things ahead.”
Mr. Paulo Oliveira, the Director of Studies, Centro de Orunmila in Brazil called for stronger cultural ties between Nigeria and Brazil.

“We did every programme that we organised for the children and people of Osun State and gave out a special gift to the winner of the football competition that we organised.

Photos from a Congratulatory and Courtesy Visit to the Governor, by Council Members and Management Team of LAUTECH at

Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Wednesday 27-08-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) and
Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council, Ladoke Akintola University of
Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Professor Wale Omole, during a
Congratulatory and Courtesy Visit to the Governor, by Council Members
and Management Team of LAUTECH at Government House, Osogbo, State of
Osun on
Wednesday 27-08-2014

Vice Chancellor, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH),
Ogbomoso, Professor Adeniyi Gbadegesin (left) presenting a
Congratulatory letter to Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf
Aregbesola (right) and Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council, LAUTECH,
Ogbomoso, Professor Wale Omole ((middle), during a Congratulatory and
Courtesy Visit to the Governor, by Council Members and Management Team
of LAUTECH at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Wednesday
27-08-2014

From left, Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council, Ladoke Akintola
University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Professor Wale Omole;
Governor State of
Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Vice Chancellor, LAUTECH Ogbomoso,
Professor Adeniyi Gbadegesin, during a Congratulatory and Courtesy
Visit to
the Governor, by Council Members and Management Team of LAUTECH at
Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Wednesday 27-08-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th right);
Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council, Ladoke Akintola University of
Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Professor Wale Omole (4th left); Vice
Chancellor, LAUTECH Ogbomoso, Professor Adeniyi Gbadegesin (3rd
right); Deputy Vice Chancellor, LAUTECH, Professor Timothy Adebayo
(2nd right);
Members of Council, LAUTECH, Professor Richard Olaniyan (left);
Professor Olasupo Ladipo (3rd left) and others, during a
Congratulatory and Courtesy
Visit to the Governor, by Council Members and Management Team of LAUTECH at
Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Wednesday 27-08-2014

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Wednesday, said democracy does not have meaning and cannot thrive as a system of government where freedom is fettered.

Aregbesola made this observation at the Government House, Osogbo, when the Governing Council, Management and Staff of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomosho, paid him a courtesy visit.

The governor said what makes any democracy functional is the latitude of freedom offered the people under such system.

He argued that freedom is so central to democracy to the extent that it’s absence takes meaning out of that democratic system.

He said: “Freedom is so important in any democracy. In fact, it is superior to all other ingredients that make democracy functional.

“Therefore, there is no democracy where there is no freedom. What separates democracy from other forms of government is the latitude of freedom it gives to the people.”

Reflecting on what transpired during the August 9 governorship election in the state, in which he emerged victorious, Aregbesola lamented what he termed the partisanship of some security agencies which ought to be neutral in the election between two parties.

He opined that a situation in which the nation’s constitution was brazenly subverted creates danger for democracy and federalism.

He said there is need for a robust and constant dialogue and engagement on the true meaning of democracy and federalism so as for the country not to derail.

He continued: ” It is an aberration in any democracy, federalism or republic to render the head of a unit ineffective even for a day let alone weeks as was done in terms of security in the state during the election.”

While commending the governing council of the university, Aregbesola noted that there is no alternative to joint management of the university by the two state if an when reason prevails.

He stressed that finance is key in the administration of a university and but urged for a rethink in philosophy of how to fund the university with the meagre resources of the two states.

He added that there is the need for the two state to continue to jointly fund the university so as to uphold the dream of founding the university.

Earlier in his remark, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Wale Omole, while congratulating the governor on his victory, said the election is one fought by God and won by God.

Omole, who was a former Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, said what the governor has put in place in the state in term of efforts to rebuild it and make life more meaningful to the citizenry is enormous.

The Don also acknowledged the efforts of the government of Osun in sustaining the legacy of the jointly owned university.

“This is an election fought by God and won by God. You have done very well in rebuilding the state so as to make life meaningful and abundant to the people of the state.

“Your election as governor has done a good service to the university in terms of its stability. Without you, would have been telling another story.

“You are one of the most disciplined public officer in the land. You always walk your talk and do what you say,” Omole said.

 In a letter of congratulation written to the governor, the Vice Chancellor of LAUTECH, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin, said the management, staff and students of the institution congratulation and commend the governor on his victory and performance in office for the first term.

The letter said Aregbesola’s vision, mission and passion to move the state forward positively in terms of development is highly commendable.

The letter added “This vision, mission and passion is not only for Osun, Yoruba land but Nigeria as a whole.

“We, management, staff and students of LAUTECH congratulate you on your re-election and wish you another successful tenure.”

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has been lauded for the efforts of the administration to nip the spread of dreaded Ebola Virus in the bud in the state.
The Senior Brand Manager, Premium Brands Grand Oak, Mr. Nnamdi Ezeani, gave the commendation while speaking with newsmen on the measures taken by the state government to prevent the spread of the deadly virus to the state. He explained that the measures taken by the government were in the right direction stressing that it is an indication of responsible administration.

The Seamans was the only company that invited musician this year.
DAILY INDEPENDENT

 
Being The Text Of The State Broadcast Of Governor Rauf Aregbesola On The Occasion Of The 23rd Anniversary Of The Creation Of The State Of Osun

My good people of Osun,

I most heartily congratulate you on the 23rd anniversary of the creation of our state. It has been a long and tortuous path since the creation of our state to the stage we are today, but we have cause to give thanks to the Most High.

The creation of Osun in 1991 was a dream come true for our fathers and mothers who wanted a state of their own through which development could be accelerated in their various communities.
Over the years, the creation of the state has fulfilled some of their aspirations. Government has been brought closer to the people. The longest distance to the state capital is within easy reach. The civil service has provided jobs for many of our youths, including graduates, whose skills and abilities could have been lost to neighbouring states and other metropolis. Osogbo, as the capital city, has also witnessed expansion and renewal; and thus attracted other developments as a result of its status. This has created a cascading effect on its neighbouring communities like Ede, Ilobu, Iragbiji, Ifon, Erin, Ido-Osun, Ibokun, and Ikirun. We thank God Almighty for these developments and many more.

We must therefore be grateful to the founding fathers of the state and the successive administrations that have made Osun what it is today. Major General Leo Ajiborisa (rtd) was the pioneer military administrator. He was succeeded in January 1992 by Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke as the first democratically elected governor. The military returned and Navy Captain Anthony Udofia (rtd) assumed the mantle of leadership on December 9, 1993. He was succeeded by Lt Col Anthony Obi on 22 August 1996. Col Theophilus Bamigboye (rtd) took over from Obi in August 1998 and was the last military administrator that handed over to Chief Bisi Akande on May 29, 1999 in the return of civil democratic government. Chief Akande was succeeded by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola on May 29, 2003 and held forth until the coming of Oranmiyan on November 27, 2010.

These great men did their part but there are however many grounds to be covered and the challenges ahead are still formidable.
In the almost four years of our administration, we have striven to provide jobs for our teeming youths and get them positively and meaningfully engaged, revamp the educational system in order to position our children for a future that will be driven largely by knowledge, make agriculture the backbone of our economy in order to feed our people and drive our industries, provide modern infrastructure and make our cities look modern and attractive, among our many other commitments.

It is a formidable task we have undertaken with pride and satisfaction. I am convinced our success at this did not go unnoticed, which you have rewarded at the August 9 governorship election by overwhelmingly voting for me and my party. I thank you most sincerely for this.

Your conduct and choice during this election have distinguished you among the states of the federation as fiercely democratic, principled, courageous, patriotic, wise, intelligent and God-fearing. This is in spite of provocations and temptations. You came out peacefully, defied intimidations and confidently made a choice expressing your preference for me above any other.
You have demonstrated the Omoluabi essence and have made our race very proud. Generations to come will read about your heroic acts and take great pride in their forebears.

I will therefore like to express my profound gratitude to all the people of Osun for the support they gave us in the last election. I will like to thank all the political parties that participated in the election and their candidates. I will also thank the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for doing a good job and for remaining firm in spite of the enormous pressures on it to subvert the will of the people. I will like to thank women specially; and their groups for their exceptional support. My appreciation also goes to all the youths and their various groups for seeing their today and tomorrow in us and for identifying with the progressive platform under which we contested the election.

I will like to acknowledge the goodwill and support of our various professional groups, the traders, market women, artisans, professionals, the business community, transporters, farmers, our children, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, security personnel, civil servants, activists, housewives and other well-meaning people who stood by us and supported us in every way.

I will like to make a strong case for the promotion of the spirit of love and tolerance among us. We must be willing to accommodate each other and tolerate each other. Above all, we must all strive to seek the good of our community, our state, our nation and our neighbours. We must shun all acts of violence, vendetta and retaliation. National greatness and development requires citizens’ pursuit of public good and acting responsibly at all times.

There have been insinuations and unfounded speculations that there will be backlash against those who did not support us in the last election. Nothing could be further from the truth. Expressing a political choice is an inalienable right of every citizen and this choice should be made without fear or favour. Democracy is imperilled when citizens begin to exercise fear of possible backlash for voting for a losing candidate. Only those who commit wrongful and criminal acts during an election need to be fearful because the law would catch up with them, sooner or later. Law abiding citizens have nothing to fear.

The next four years will be great, rewarding and fulfilling and will surpass any previous era in the annals of this state. I am therefore asking for your cooperation and assistance in the effort to build our state and take it to the next level of greatness.

Once again, I congratulate us all on the anniversary of the creation of our state and wish us all many more years of prosperity and advancement.

Osun a dara!

The victory of the governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola in the August 9 governorship election has been described as a reward for dedication to the service of the people.

Senior special assistant to the governor on Community Forum, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye made the assertion at the Christ Apostolic Church, Number 1, Ibokun, during a Special Thanksgiving Service over the successful re-election of Aregbesola.

He said that if not for the overwhelming support of the people and divine intervention, the victory would have been difficult to achieve.

Outlining achievements of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the areas of infrastructural development, education and youth empowerment, Oyintiloye noted that vision and commitment on the part of governor brought about the change.

Promising that the governor would reciprocate the gesture in his second term, Oyintiloye added that the governor was concious and clear about the challenges of development.

Oyintiloye who noted that the governor places premium on the love and support shown to his administration leading to a victorious outing at the poll, stated that the governor would ensure equal distribution of social amenities.

LEADERSHIP

In a bid to avert the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in the State of Osun, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mrs Temitope Ilori has called on religious groups to be alert and help prevent be the deadly virus, which had killed hundreds in Africa.

Ilori who made the call on Tuesday August 26, 2014 in a telephone interview with our correspondent emphased the need for religious leaders in the state to sensitize their people on the havoc the disease has caused on the African continent.

She said, the State Government through the Ministry of Health, has embarked on campaign about the nature of the disease and how it spreads, while urging the religious groups to also join the crusade.

According to Ilori, ‘’the Ministry of Health in partnership with stakeholders in the state, has been making endless efforts, towards avoiding the spread of the ebola virus.’’

”The government of Osun and Non Government Organization (NGOs), are really trying in their campaign towards ensuring that no case of such epidemic was recorded.

” Lagos state have recorded cases of victims who are under isolation and those on the watch lists”.

The Health Commissioner who said prevention is better than cure added that it is better to stick to warnings made available and follow the medical advice given by experts, in order not to record any case that we may live to regret.

While appealing to the people to abstain from anything capable of spreading the deadly Ebola Virus, Ilori stressed that sentiments and ignorance must not be allowed to destroy thousands of lives.

The commissioner, who assured of the state government’s readiness to always provide adequate healthcare delivery in the state, charged the citizens to strictly follow the medical experts advisory on how to prevent Ebola.

BIOREPORT

The All Progressive Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Committee in Ijesa- North Federal Constituency has lauded the people of the state for their commitment to the development of the state.

The committee in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the committee, Dr Wale Bolodunro, who is Commissioner for Finance and Mr. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, who is Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Forum stated that the re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola has explained the commitment of the people for continuous development of the state.

The committee commended the people of the state especially Obokun and Oriade Local Government for displaying unprecedented love and total support for the return of Aregbesola-led administration by voting massively at the August 9 governorship election held in the state.

It said that the outcome of the election actually reflected the wishes of the people who are committed to further development of the state, irrespective of any Federal power.

The statement specially acknowledged the support of chiefs, market women and traditional council of Oba for their elderly advice, guidance and support to the present government.

It also appreciated various religious groups, artisans, labour unions, transport unions and religious leaders of all extractions for standing firms with whatever they have to ensure his return.

DAILY INDEPENDENT