From left- Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji during a visit to Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, at Olubadan’s palace, Ibadan, Oyo state
 
 

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left), his Deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd right), Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji (middle), Olori Kudirat Adetunji (right), and Olori Rashidat Adetunji (left),  during a visit to Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, at Olubadan’s palace, Ibadan, Oyo state
 
 

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left), Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (right), and Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji (middle), during a visit to Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, at Olubadan’s palace, Ibadan,
 

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Presenting head of Olokun statue to Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji during a visit to Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, at Olubadan’s palace, Ibadan, Oyo state

Prominent indigenes of Iwo in Osun State, have called on Governor Rauf Aregbesola to approve the planned conversion of the Reality Television building in the town, to a journalism institute. Elites from the town, including thirty professors and other eminent personalities, recently resolved to appeal to the governor to affiliate the proposed institute to Osun State University when approved.
 

 
The spokesperson of the groups, Prof. Alagbe Gbolagade, explained that part of the suggested programmes for the planned institute include, Bachelor of Arts in Music, Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts, Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts, Bachelor of Arts in Advertising, Bachelor of Arts in Film Production and Bachelor of Arts in Photo Journalism.
“We are aware of the current financial situation of the state. In order not to put financial pressures on the government of the State of Osun, the community, through groups likes Iwo Board of Trustees, Iwo Action Council, Iwo Progressive Union and some individuals, have agreed to take up the financial responsibilities for the take-off grants.
“All we want from the government is an approval for take-off. Iwo Local Government is one of the biggest in Osun State and it is not good that Iwo has no government owned higher institution. Sincerely speaking, one higher institution in a place is better than ten industries.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has reiterated that he would not renege on his promise to banish hunger and make life meaningful for the people of the state.
The governor made the statement on Monday in Osogbo at the celebration of 2016 International Day for Poverty Eradication.
 

 
Aregbesola said that his administration remained resolute to do ‘everything humanly possible’ to champion the cause of creating wealth by eradicating poverty.‎
In his speech titled: “Poverty Has No Place with Us,” Aregbesola said that the policy thrust and programmes of his administration were geared towards poverty eradication, make live abundant and create wealth for the citizenry.
 
He listed the six-point integral action plan of his administration to include: banishing poverty, hunger and unemployment; restoring healthy living, promoting functional education, enhancing communal peace and progress.
 
He said that the plans were designed to uplift the people from being poverty stricken to being wealthy.
Commenting on the achievements made by his administration, the governor said 40,000 unemployed youths had been empowered under the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme.
 
Aregbesola said his administration had adopted multi-faceted approach to achieve its goal of providing healthcare for all.
 
Aregbesola said: “While government will continue to do everything within its means to provide for the people, we should all be productively engaged, especially in agriculture where we have comparative advantage.”
 
Earlier in his address, Alhaji Abdul-Rahaman Musa, the Chairman, Osun State Community and Social Development Project, commended the governor for the various poverty alleviation programmes he had put in place to benefit the people.
 
The CSDP General Manager, Funmi Abokede, also commended the government for being consistent in payment of counterpart funds for the programme.
 
She said that CSDP was being funded by the state government and World Bank.
Abokede noted with satisfaction that government had released N550 million for payment of counterpart funds between 2010 and 2015.

Osun State government on Friday said the 46.30 per cent performance of its students in the 2016 West Africa Examination Council Examinations confirms its huge investment in the education sector.

The government said that for a state that once fell to a woeful six per cent performance prior to the Rauf Aregbesola’s administration to move up to 46.3 per cent aptly illustrated the fact that the government’s various interventions in education were paying off.
A statement by the Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor says the government is not yet satisfied or resting on its oars until the state emerges the best state in the country in external examinations.
The statement, signed by the Bureau’s Director, Semiu Okanlawon, noted that the 2016 WAEC results indicate that the 2016 performance rating remained the highest and the best in 13 years.
In 2015, results of the WASCE showed that Osun ended up with 21 per cent in performance.
The details of the results from West Africa Schools Certificate Examination (WASCE) showed that Osun presented for the examination, a total of 36,678 students with 18,318 males and 18,360 females.
Out of these, 8,329 males secured credits in at least five subjects including English and Mathematics while 8,654 females candidates secured credits in English and Mathematics totaling 16,983 that got five credits with Mathematics and English.
Gradual Upward Movement
The state had registered 48,845 candidates the previous year, 2015 with 25,347 males and 23,498 female candidates.
Out of these, 5,314 male candidates got five credits and above in Mathematics and English while 5,276 female candidates secured at least five credits, including Mathematics and English, making a total of 10,590 to make the 21.68 per cent performance of 2015.
The Bureau said Osun, under Aregbesola’s administration had recorded gradual upward movement from the abysmal performances due to the various interventions in the sector.
“For instance, the state has discouraged enrollment of students whose performances in internal examinations were nothing to write home about. This has compelled many of the students to change their orientations towards learning.
“Other novel interventions such as provision of stand-alone Tablet of Knowledge (Opon Imo) to all students writing WAEC each year has made learning much easier.
“With the introduction of this tablet, students now spend quality times both in and out of classroom situations.
“The result is that there is no dull moment for every student who is desirous of true education,” the Bureau’s statement read.
Better learning environment, the statement identified, had also contributed in no small measure to the improved results.
“So, far, Osun has completed 1,694 classrooms in the existing elementary, middle and high schools; providing accommodation for 84,700 pupils at 50 pupils per classroom.
“We have provided for them more than 100,000 desks and chairs, toilets and boreholes.
“Today, the Wole Soyinka Government High School, Ejigbo, Ataoja Government School of Science, Osogbo, Osogbo Government High School, Osogbo and Adventists Government High School Ede have been completed, with Ilesa Government High School, Iwo Government High School, Unity/Fakunle Government High School, Osogbo and others near completion,” the statement added.

The Government of Osun on Friday said the 46.30 percent performance of its students in the 2016 West Africa Examination Council Examinations confirms its huge investment in the education sector.
The government said for a state that once fell to a woeful 6 percent performance prior the Rauf Aregbesola administration to move up to 46.3 percent aptly illustrates the fact that the government’s various interventions in education are paying off.
 

 
A statement by the Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor said that the government is however not yet satisfied or resting on its oars until the state emerges the best state in the country in external examinations.
The statement, signed by the Bureau’s Director, Semiu Okanlawon, noted that the 2016 WAEC results indicate that the 2016 performance rating remains the highest and the best in 13 years.
In 2015, results of the WASCE showed that Osun ended up with 21. percent in performance.
The details of the results from WASCE showed that Osun presented for the examination, a total of 36,678 students with 18,318 males and 18,360 females.
Out of these, 8,329 males secured Credits in at least 5 subjects including English and Mathematics while 8,654 females candidates secured credits in English and Mathematics totaling 16,983 that got 5 credits with Mathematics and English.
The state had registered 48,845 candidates the previous year, 2015 with 25,347 males and 23,498 female candidates. Out of these, 5,314 male candidates got 5 credits and and above in Mathematics and English while 5,276 female candidates secured at least 5 Credits including Mathematics and English making a total of 10,590 to make the 21.68 percent performance of 2015.
The Bureau said Osun, under the Rauf Aregbesola administration has recorded gradual upwards move from the abysmal performances due to the various interventions in the sector.
The statement said that for instance, the state has discouraged enrollment of students whose performances in internal examinations were nothing to write home about adding that this has compelled many of the students to change their orientations towards learning.
“Other novel interventions such as provision of stand-alone Tablet of Knowledge (Opon Imo) to all students writing WAEC each year has made learning much easier. With the introduction of this tablet, students now spend quality times both in and out of classroom situations. The result is that there is no dull moment for every student who is desirous of true education,” the Bureau’s statement added
Better learning environment, the statement added, has also contributed in no small measure to the improved results.
“So, far, Osun has completed1,694 classrooms in the existing elementary, middle and high schools; providing accommodation for 84,700 pupils at 50 pupils per classroom. We have provided for them more than 100,000 desks and chairs, toilets and boreholes.
“Today, the Wole Soyinka Government High School, Ejigbo, Ataoja Government School of Science, Osogbo, Osogbo Government High School, Osogbo, Adventists Government High School Ede, have been completed with Ilesa Government High School, Iwo Government High School, Unity/Fakunle Government High School, Osogbo and others nearing completion,” the statement added.
The government expressed confidence that in the years ahead, Osun’s students are going to emerge best examples in true learning, adding that with the reforms already put in place, the state is on its path to the path of educational glory.

The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said that the education policy of his administration has erased the superiority complex between private and public education as sanity has also been restored to public education system.
 

 
The Governor, during the official commissioning of Ojo/Aro Community Government Middle and High Schools in Egbedore Local Government Area, said his administration policy on education was informed by the need to prioritize education having identified it as the only mechanism to development.
He said the newly built ultra-modern school was part of his government’s resolve to bring quality education to the residents of the state especially the rural dwellers.‎
Aregbesola said his administration has positively impacted in the lives of the people of the state through the provision of functional and quality education across board.
He held that N37 million was expended by the state to complete construction and renovation of the school, stating that efforts were put in place to ensure that public schools produced best pupils and students of good character as they are nurtured to compete favourably with their counterparts across the globe.‎
According to him: “This is the continuation of our commitment to standard education. To us, education remains our priority and as a matter of fact, this government has invested hugely on this.
“Our belief is that with well-equipped academic teaching and learning environment, coupled with state-of-the-art facilities, the state is on the right path to success.
“That is why we are building brighter future for our children knowing that good education prepares nation for good leadership‎. We are turning around the public schools to bridge the gap between public and private education.
“Our education policy has erased the superiority complex between private and public education as sanity has also been restored to public education system.”
Aregbesola, therefore, called on students, teachers and parents to put the facilities provided to good use as government has fulfilled it’s part of construction and renovation.

Earlier, the Osun State Deputy Governor, Titi Laoye-Tomori, had commended Governor Aregbesola for his commitment to functional and qualitative education.
Laoye-‎Tomori enjoined the traditional rulers, parents and guardians to at all times champion the course of maintaining the edifice and upbringing of their wards.
She said: “This project is an attestation to the fact that our state is being blessed with a Governor whose focus is to turn around the lives of the citizens.
“This government has successfully built a noticeable numbers of ultra-modern schools cutting across Elementary; Middle and High schools in the nooks and crannies of this state.
“We are doing this because our government is determined to revitalise education and build unprecedented legacy in the education sector.”
In her remarks, the former Principal of the school, Folake Dunsin, lauded the efforts of the state government in promoting education in all strata.
Dunsin also commended Aregbesola on adequate provision of instructional, teaching and learning materials in all the public schools across the state.
Dunsin said the Governor’s gestures had contributed significantly to quality education being aspired by the people of the state.‎
She said: “Aside the multifarious buildings that we have around the state to revive and finetune standard education, this government has also done a lot in turning around the education sector.
“We must commend this government because since its inception, we teachers in the state have been receiving both learning and teaching incentives promptly and timely.”
In their separate remarks, the Olojo of Ojo, Oba Timiamiyu Olayinka Bolagbade, and Alaro of Aro, Oba Zacheaus Popoola, expressed profound gratitude to the state government for building the school in their communities.
The traditional rulers, who affirmed their commitment to quality education, however, assured the state of putting in their best in maintaining the school.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Thursday inaugurated a N37 million Middle and High School in Egbedore Local Government Area of the state.
Aregbesola said at the inauguration that the newly built ultra-modern school was part of his government’s resolve to bring quality education to the residents of the state especially rural dwellers.‎
 

 
The governor said that N37 million was expended to complete the construction and renovation of the Ojo/Aro Community Government Middle and High School.
He said that the education policy of his administration had erased the superiority complex between private and public schools, adding that sanity had been restored to public education system.
The governor said that his administration prioritised education because it identified it as the only mechanism to development.
Aregbesola said that his administration had positively impacted on the citizens’ lives through provision of functional and quality education across board.
He said that efforts were being made to ensure that public schools in the state produced best students that could compete favourably with their counterparts across the world.‎
“Education remains our priority; as a matter of fact, this government has invested hugely on it.
“Our belief is that, with well-equipped academic teaching and learning environment, the state is on the right path to success.
“That is why we are building brighter future for our children, knowing that good education prepares the nation for good leadership‎.
He called on students, teachers and parents to put the facilities to good use.
Earlier, the Osun Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, commended Aregbesola for commitment to functional and qualitative education.
Laoye-Tomori urged traditional rulers, parents and guardians to maintain the school buildings.
In their remarks, the Olojo of Ojo, Oba Timiamiyu Bolagbade and Alaro of Aro, Oba Zacheaus Popoola, expressed gratitude to the state government for building the school.
The traditional rulers, who affirmed their commitment to quality education, assured the government of their continued support.

The Osun State School Feeding scheme has been praised as an important strategy for food and nutrition security.
Special Adviser, Zone A Affairs, Niger State, Alhaji Aliyu Takuma, stated this during a visit  to the state   andTUNS Farms Nigeria Limited, a poultry firm.
 

 
He said the Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme (O-MEALS), formerly Home Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP), had  brought  the much-needed change to youth/child empowerment.
According to him, the programme offers guidance on how to design and implement large-scale sustainable school feeding that meets standards.
Takuma said: “We thought that the programme is just the feeding of school children but today we have been exposed to the reality that the home-grown school feeding programme is a right step towards the change needed in youth empowerment which Osun State has been able to identify.”
Takuma said if the programme was implemented across the country, it would transform the poultry industry and enable it to achieve its potential as a major source of revenue and employment creator.
The Assistant General Manager, Admin, Research and Development, Mr. Taofeek Badmus, expressed gratitude to  Governor Rauf Aregbesola, for implementing the programme,  calling  on other governors to adopt it to enhance  their pupils’ nutrition  and  cognitive skills  while improving their academic performance.
He reiterated the determination of TUNS Farm to make the programme a success and to assist other states interested in starting similar programmes.
The Programme Officer, School Feeding Programme, Mrs. Ayoola Olubunmi, described the relationship with TUNS Farms as pleasant. She lauded the impact of the programme on the state, which include pupils’enrolment, job creation and women empowerment.
“The programme, O-MEALS, was conceived with the major aim of feeding school children; however, it has helped increase school enrolment by a minimum of 25 per cent  since its commencement while also creating new jobs for the teeming youths in the state and boosting the local economy,” she said.