Breaking News

Governor Adeleke Seeks Fair Treatment for Nigerians in South Africa, Plans MOU with Gauteng | Governor Adeleke Orders Logo Design Competition Between April 19th to 26th | His Excellency, Gov. Ademola Adeleke received the Management of Mercy Medical University, Iwara, Iwo, Osun State | Asset recovery: We shall abide by the Express provisions of the law- Osun SSG, Igbalaye. | Governor Adeleke Appoints Dr. Wale Bolorunduro Chairman of Living Trust Mortgage Bank Plc. | Abuja honours Governor Adeleke, nephew, Davido, names street after them | How Bayo Adeleke Banik Lied: The Truths Unveiled | Yoruba Nation: Governor Adeleke Takes Pre-emptive Security Measures, Appeals for Dialogue | Governor Adeleke Hails CCC Wonderland Shepherd, Abraham Olumide Gangbe, on His Birthday | You lied, Adeleke’s commitment to workers welfare unbroken, | Sexual Violence Against Women: Governor Adeleke Sets up Action Committee | Ilesa Accident: Governor Adeleke Approves Expansion of Ilbodi-Ilesa Road, Creation of Trailer Park | EID-EL-FITR: “KEEP PRAYING FOR US”, GOVERNOR ADELEKE TELLS MUSLIM FAITHFUL. | Governor Adeleke Mourns Late Royal Father, HRH, Olaoye Oyelayo | Governor Adeleke Felicitates Dr. Muyiwa Oladimeji on his Birthday | Governor Adeleke Tasks Ibadan Disco on Power Supply to Osun, Unveils Power Sector Agenda | IFRA PLAN – Osun Government Charges Contractors On Quality And Timely Delivery | Osun government begins dredging of waterways | Governor Adeleke Expresses Shock and Sadness over Tragic Ilesa Accident, Directs Transportation Commissioner to Investigate | Governor Adeleke Celebrates Ebenezer Obey at 82

Breaking News

Governor Adeleke Seeks Fair Treatment for Nigerians in South Africa, Plans MOU with Gauteng | Governor Adeleke Orders Logo Design Competition Between April 19th to 26th | His Excellency, Gov. Ademola Adeleke received the Management of Mercy Medical University, Iwara, Iwo, Osun State | Asset recovery: We shall abide by the Express provisions of the law- Osun SSG, Igbalaye. | Governor Adeleke Appoints Dr. Wale Bolorunduro Chairman of Living Trust Mortgage Bank Plc. | Abuja honours Governor Adeleke, nephew, Davido, names street after them | How Bayo Adeleke Banik Lied: The Truths Unveiled | Yoruba Nation: Governor Adeleke Takes Pre-emptive Security Measures, Appeals for Dialogue | Governor Adeleke Hails CCC Wonderland Shepherd, Abraham Olumide Gangbe, on His Birthday | You lied, Adeleke’s commitment to workers welfare unbroken, | Sexual Violence Against Women: Governor Adeleke Sets up Action Committee | Ilesa Accident: Governor Adeleke Approves Expansion of Ilbodi-Ilesa Road, Creation of Trailer Park | EID-EL-FITR: “KEEP PRAYING FOR US”, GOVERNOR ADELEKE TELLS MUSLIM FAITHFUL. | Governor Adeleke Mourns Late Royal Father, HRH, Olaoye Oyelayo | Governor Adeleke Felicitates Dr. Muyiwa Oladimeji on his Birthday | Governor Adeleke Tasks Ibadan Disco on Power Supply to Osun, Unveils Power Sector Agenda | IFRA PLAN – Osun Government Charges Contractors On Quality And Timely Delivery | Osun government begins dredging of waterways | Governor Adeleke Expresses Shock and Sadness over Tragic Ilesa Accident, Directs Transportation Commissioner to Investigate | Governor Adeleke Celebrates Ebenezer Obey at 82
Red Cross

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) Presenting a key of an Ambulance to State Chairman, Nigerian Red Cross Society of Nigeria, Osun Chapter, Mr Ademola Ojo (4th right); Onirun of Oke-Irun, Oba Isaac Ilori (right); Deputy Secretary of the Society, Evangelist Folorunso Bamidele (2nd left); Divisional Secretary, Alhaja Ajileye Muyibat (4th left); Divisional Chairman, Red Cross Society, Osogbo Branch, Mr Nathaniel Fajoye (3rd left) and others, during the Presentation at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 31-01-2014
Red Cross

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NRICI – 2a

NRICI - 2a
The National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture is set to establish the first substation of the institute for the South West in Osun. Chairman Governing Board of the Institute, Dr Oluwole Aina disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in Osogbo.
According to him, the establishment of the substation will commence in the first quarter of 2014 which will go a long way in assisting the government agriculture programmes and strategy.
He said the benefit of the station to the state includes direct youth employment, development of beneficial linkages between the state government agricultural programmes and the institute’s research work Dr Oluwole added that the institute will be assisting in regular access to new varieties of root and tuber crops and increase agricultural production, economic growth and wealth creation. He also said that the farmers and government officials will have access to training in shot courses and degree programmes including the extension service to the farmers.
He said, “the benefit of the Institute for hosting the station include but not limited to direct youth employment; development of a beneficial linkages between the state governments agricultural programmes and the institutes research work.
“It will also increase agricultural production, economic empowerment for wealth creation as well as direct asses to training in short courses and degree programmes for staff of the station that will mostly be indigenes of Osun.” Dr. Oluwole stressed.
The institute however demanded from the state government the provision of land to site the substation, payment of compensation to the landowners, and provision of access road to the station as part of the partnership.
Responding, Governor Aregbesola commended decision of the institute to site the substation in Osun. He noted that his administration is serious and committed to agricultural development and food security.
Aregbesola assured the institute of cooperation of his administration since agriculture is one of the six Integral Action Plans.
DAILY TRUST

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Commissioning of ORLG-1

Photos from the commissioning of RLG/Adulawo Technology City,  at Ilesa/Akure Express Way, Ilesa, State of Osun, on Thursday 30-01-2014

Governor State of Osun,  Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola;  his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori and Chairman,  RLG and AGAGAMS Holdings, Ghana, Mr Roland Agambire, during the commissioning of RLG/Adulawo Technology City,  at Ilesa/Akure Express Way, Ilesa, State of Osun, on Thursday 30-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori and Chairman, RLG and AGAGAMS Holdings, Ghana, Mr Roland
Agambire, during the commissioning of RLG/Adulawo Technology City, at Ilesa/Akure Express Way, Ilesa, State of Osun, on Thursday 30-01-2014

Governor State of Osun,  Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola;  his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Chairman,  RLG and AGAGAMS Holdings, Ghana, Mr Roland Agambire (2 right);  Acting Chairman, Osun APC, Elder Lowo Adebiyi (left) and Leader of the State House of Assembly in Osun, Hon. Timothy Owoeye, during the commissioning of RLG/Adulawo Technology City,  at Ilesa/Akure Express Way, Ilesa, State of Osun, on Thursday 30 - 01 - 2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Chairman, RLG and AGAGAMS Holdings, Ghana, Mr Roland Agambire (2 right); Acting Chairman, Osun APC, Elder Lowo Adebiyi (left) and Leader of the State House of Assembly in Osun, Hon. Timothy
Owoeye, during the commissioning of RLG/Adulawo Technology City, at Ilesa/Akure Express Way, Ilesa, State of Osun, on Thursday 30 – 01 –
2014

Governor State of Osun,  Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, exchanging pleasantries with Dominican Partners RLG, Mr Javier Dotel (left); Stephaine Dotel (2nd left); APC Chieftain, Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (2nd right) and a Veteran Journalist, Mr  Segun Babatope (left), at the commissioning of RLG/Adulawo Technology City, in Ilesa, State of Osun, on Thursday 30-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, exchanging
pleasantries with Dominican Partners RLG, Mr Javier Dotel (left); Stephaine Dotel (2nd left); APC Chieftain, Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (2nd right) and a Veteran Journalist, Mr Segun Babatope (left), at the commissioning of RLG/Adulawo Technology City, in Ilesa, State of Osun, on Thursday 30-01-2014

Governor State of Osun,  Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola;  his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; the Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Abdul Rauf Olayiwola (right) and others, during the commissioning of RLG/Adulawo Technology City, at Ilesa/Akure Express Way, Ilesa, State of Osun, on Thursday 30-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Deputy, Mrs Titi
Laoye-Tomori; the Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Abdul Rauf Olayiwola (right) and others, during the commissioning of RLG/Adulawo Technology City, at Ilesa/Akure Express Way, Ilesa, State of Osun, on Thursday 30-01-2014

Governor State of Osun,  Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola;  his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State (2 right) and Chairman,  RLG /AGAGAMS Holdings, Ghana, Mr Roland Agambire, during the commissioning of RLG/Adulawo Technology City,  at Ilesa/Akure Express Way, Ilesa, State of Osun, on Thursday 30-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Deputy, Mrs Titi
Laoye-Tomori; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State (2 right) and
Chairman, RLG /AGAGAMS Holdings, Ghana, Mr Roland
Agambire, during the commissioning of RLG/Adulawo Technology City, at
Ilesa/Akure Express Way, Ilesa, State of Osun, on Thursday 30-01-2014

Governor State of Osun,  Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola;  his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State (2 right) and Chairman,  RLG /AGAGAMS Holdings, Ghana, Mr Roland Agambire, during the commissioning of RLG/Adulawo Technology City,  at Ilesa/Akure Express Way, Ilesa, State of Osun, on Thursday 30-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Deputy, Mrs Titi
Laoye-Tomori; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State (2 right) and Chairman, RLG /AGAGAMS Holdings, Ghana, Mr Roland Agambire, during the commissioning of RLG/Adulawo Technology City, at Ilesa/Akure Express Way, Ilesa, State of Osun, on Thursday 30-01-2014

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Aregbesola Revamps Technical And Vocational Education In Osun

The commitment of the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to the development of Technical and Vocational education has been reiterated. The Chairman, Board for Technical and Vocational education, Prof. Olu Aina OFR made this known while interacting with pressmen at Government Technical College, Osogbo shortly after the board meeting.
Prof. Aina explained that, there is going to be improvement in the area of formal training and education through the nine Technical Colleges in the state.
He added that intensive informal training will also be incorporated into the system through the 31 ‘Life Academies’ (Skill Acquisition Centres) that will be located in each Local Government and the Area Office.
The Board Chairman stated that in the past, technical education focused only skill development but today the focus is now on the teaching of the science of technical and vocational education and training with the primary aim of producing all round technicians.
Prof. Olu Aina said that the renovation and renewal of the 9 Government Technical Colleges is on-going. He promised that the renovated colleges will be delivered to the state in a complete and modernized form in six month’s time.
Meanwhile, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Board, Mr. Isaac Olowoyeye has enjoined all stakeholders in the Technical and Vocational education to join hands with the government. He explained that government will use technical and vocational education to arrest the spate of unemployment in the State of Osun.
OSUN DEFENDER

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Nigerian Baptist Convention Praises Aregbesola For His Developmental Projects

Nigerian Baptist ConventionThe Nigerian Baptist Convention is a peace loving denomination that takes challenges with ease and always ready to work harmoniously with government.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs, Mr. Adekunle Ige dropped the hint while hosting a delegation led by the new president of Osun Baptist Conference Rev. Dr. Paul Kolawole who were on a courtesy visit to his office.
According to Mr. Kunle Ige, the role played by the Baptist church, in terms of Children Training right from childhood makes them act like responsible citizens of the society and to relate well with people of other faiths in the society.
The Special Adviser who said that, the Ministry belongs to the Baptist setting emphasized that, his door is always open to receive them at any point in time while also charging the new president and his entourage to continue with the good foundation laid by the Elders of the church.
In his remarks, the new president for Osun Baptist Conference, Rev’d Dr. Paul Kolawole appreciated the unprecedented development across the state since the coming into power of the present administration in just a little over three years while stressing that, the State of Osun can be said to be the most peaceful state in the South West and the nation at large through the various steps of Ogbeni Aregbesola to ensure that the state is peaceful.
Dr. Kolawole prayed for a successful tenure of office for Aregbesola’s administration and the ability and capacity to achieve all its goals. He then highlighted the challenges of the conference and urged the present administration to take note of them for prompt action.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Adelere Oriolowo praised the Nigerian Baptist Conference for being an organized set up, saying that successful democracy all over the world are built on the quality of its system and good educational background it has laid down over the years.
He then assured the new Osun Baptist Conference of their good representation in the seat of government while imploring them to be calm and that the misunderstandings shall soon be resolved through the ever listening government of Ogbeni Aregbesola.
OSUN DEFENDER

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timthumb

timthumb
Education experts, including the World Bank Lead Health and Education Specialist, Prof. Donald Bundy, have lauded the school feeding programme initiated by the Osun State Government.
The All Progressives Congress Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy in the state, Mr.  Kunle Oyatomi, in a statement, on Thursday, said the governor received the commendation at the All Party Parliamentary Group in the United Kingdom.
The commendation came as the Peoples Democratic Party in the state accused the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of wasting the resources of the state on frivolous projects.
But Oyatomi said Aregbesola’s policies had continued to receive international acknowledgment despite criticisms at the home front.
This, he said, was a proof that the policies were laudable and deserved commendations.The statement read, “He ( Aregbesola ) was also commended for making such a world-acclaimed project possible in a state with limited resources as Osun in Nigeria.”
THE PUNCH
 

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coat of arms

coat of armsThe Osun State government said on Thursday in Osogbo that it had budgeted N800 million as compensation for land acquisition from its citizenry.
Mr Muyiwa Ige, the Commissioner for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development, said this in Osogbo during the 2014 budget defence before the House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation.
Ige said the budgeted sum would be used to clear the backlog of compensations to land owners as well as new land that might be acquired by government for developmental purposes.
“The provision made for compensation in the budget is targeted towards new land acquisition as well as the existing ones within the limit of the budget.”.
The commissioner said that government paid more than N670 million as compensation for land acquisition in 2012.
He added that the sum of N200 million was expended for the same purpose in 2013.
Ige said that in addition to payment of compensation, the government had also provided some palliative measures to affected land owners.
He said that the government would continue to work towards creating opportunities that would alleviate the suffering of the people.
The commissioner explained that land acquisition by government was for overriding public interest.
“Once government identifies a place for development, the next step is to engage the land owners in discussion.
“If there is a structure or livestock on such land, we enumerate it and through proper documentation, will ensure the money gets to the direct beneficiaries.”
Ige said that the government had been fast tracking the process of compensation to ensure the affected land owners were adequately compensated.
(NAN)

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OPINION: On The Aregbesola Church Project Controversy

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola

The PUNCH is my number one newspaper, at least for now. I am also an avid reader of the columns anchored by both Azuka Onwuka and Niyi Akinnaso every Tuesday. I read these two great columnists in the Tuesday, January 28, 2014 edition of the newspaper.  Interestingly, both addressed the same subject but from different perspectives.  While the content of Akinnaso’s article reveals a dispassionate analysis of the contemporary happenings in Osun State, and what I describe as an unfair onslaught on an administrator who is only sincerely and unapologetically passionate about the development of his domain, Onwuka’s surprisingly, reveals the usual tendency in many Nigerians to address issues from our often held primordial sentiments.
I am a citizen of Osun and I am very closely attached to my roots. Indeed, for good reasons, in the last 21 years, there has been no weekend that I would not visit the state unless I am some 300km radius away, or, I am held down by official duties elsewhere.  It is amazing the unprecedented development and modernisation in every sector taking place in that state in the last three years. For once, we see and feel a government at work. With such a scenario, it is only natural that some toes be stepped upon, which is the basis for the kind of ongoing reactions. Many commentators on contemporary happenings in the state have never visited that state, yet they make comments that even smack of  hatred and able to ignite a needless crisis. Just check out the social media.
Sadly also, many of these negative comments are by our so-called elite, many of whom are detached completely from the realities in our deprived society. All that the ordinary citizens crave for is sustainable livelihoods which can only happen in the long run through such enabling efforts as being witnessed in Osun.  The ordinary citizens do not care where their administrators hail from or where and how such administrators worship.  I think we, the elite, owe society and indeed posterity a duty to exercise caution in our utterances and comments, particularly, where and when sincere public policies are at variance with our immediate and narrow interests. This is succinctly captured in the parting words in Akinnaso’s article mentioned earlier: “This puts a major burden on reporters (and indeed the rest of us who have access to the media) to always look beyond the controversies surrounding well-intended projects (and policies) and not allow their reports to merge with those of the opposition.
And this poser: Will reactions that have followed the situation in Osun State have been different if the governor did not profess his current faith, or put directly,  if he did not spot his Mullah’s beard which for strange reasons some people perceive as a trait of a religious fanatic?
Director, Centre For Sustainable Development
University of Ibadan
labopopoola@yahoo.com
 
A Reader’s Comment…
The editorial of The PUNCH of Tuesday, January 21, 2014 on the subject stated above was quite characteristic of the newspaper: blunt. However, the rejoinder by Semiu Okanlawon, which was published in the same newspaper on Thursday, January 23, and the piece by Prof. Niyi Akinnaso on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 appear convincing. However, the responses probably couldn’t have emanated if that editorial was not published earlier. To me, as an indigene of Osun State and admirer of good developments anywhere in Nigeria, I strongly feel that Governor Rauf Aregbesola is so far the best in the state.
YAGBOYAJU Adewale,
Department of Political Science,
University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

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Federal Allocation To Osun Declines By 40% –Aregbesola


Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday said that the federal allocation to the state for the past six months has fallen by 40 per cent.

The development, he said, had almost made it impossible for the state to perform its statutory responsibilities. Governor Aregbesola made this known during a visit to him at the Government House in Osogbo by the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
He, however, appealed to the Federal Government to turn a new leaf so as not to cripple the economy of the state. The governor said: “Fifty percent of our Six Integral Action Plans centred on agriculture and food security so as to banish hunger, poverty and unemployment.
We recognised agriculture as a means to survive as a state.
“Through our school feeding programme, pupils are eating 300,000 eggs, 400 tonnes of cat fish, 35 heads of cattle, 15, 000 chickens and we are committed to building the state capacity to produce the food items and be supplying other states so as to create wealth for our people.”
Aregbesola said in as much as Osun is willing to help the Institute on the compensation and administrative structure, the government is constrained financially at the moment.
In his own speech, Chairman, Governing Board of the Institute, Dr. Oluwole Aina, said NRCRI and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture are set to establish the first sub-station of the Institute for the South-West in Osun State.
Dr. Aina said the establishment of the sub-station would commence in the first quarter of this year, adding that the development would go a long way in assisting the government on agriculture programmes and strategy.
He indentified the benefits derivable from establishing the sub-station as direct youth employment, development of beneficial linkages between the state government agricultural programmes and the institute’s research work
Aina added that the Institute would be assisting in regular access to new varieties of root and tuber crops and increase agricultural production, economic growth and wealth creation.
NATIONAL MIRROR

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coat of arms

coat of armsLocal Government Officers have been admonished to justify the money invested on them by government through various training programmes by improving on their job performance.
The Chairman Local Government Service Commission, Dr. Peter Babalola, gave the word of advice while declaring open a 3 day workshop titled “Budgetary Control, Project Monitoring and Evaluation” held at the Local Government Service Commission’s Multipurpose Hall.
Dr. Babalola noted that the workshop was designed for Directors of Administration and Service, Finance and Budget as well as Due Process Officers, Engineers and Internal Auditors to re-prepare them towards budget implementation, control and discipline, especially now that, the 2014 budget is nearing approval.
He stressed that, budget monitoring should start from conceptualization to completion while report should be made periodically and formally to relevant stakeholders and authorities.
The Commission’s boss made it known that, since the State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has turned the state to project sites, it is imperative to train relevant personnel who are saddled with the duty of implementing and monitoring the developmental projects.
He stated that, budgets should be seen as a tool of management control, discipline and effective project monitoring and evaluation.
He assured the participants that every positive recommendation and suggestions that, will assist the present administration to achieve the desired goals, will be welcomed and considered.
OSUN DEFENDER

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