Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has assured that his administration would complete all the projects it has embarked on before the end of his tenure in 2018.
 
 
 
Aregbesola said this while presenting the budget proposal of the year 2018 to the state House of Assembly on Thursday.
The 2018 budget tagged “Budget of  Enduring Legacy” was totaled N173,980,083,007.
Aregbesola who listed the achievement of his administration in various sectors of the state, promised to continue to work towards the development of the state in the fast approaching new year.
While reviewing the 2017 budget,  Governor stated that his administration has done well in Agricultural developments, education, health, industrialization, finance, commerce, transportation, regional planning and environmental development among other sectors of the state.
According to the Governor, “The 2018 Budget being presented today is to consolidate all the various achievements we have recorded in the various sectors and sub-sectors of our economy in the last seven years and to leave an enduring legacy for the State in line with the policies and programmes of our Administration.
“The draft Budget which is christened “Budget of Enduring Legacy” is anchored on the avowed commitment of the present administration to provide a conducive living environment for the people of the State.
“The budget is equally targeted towards ensuring the completion of all the on-going projects as much as we can and with a view to bringing about continued improvement in the socio-economic well being of the people of the State of Osun.
“Like the previous years’ budgets, the 2018 budget is in line with the Six-Point Integral Action Plan of our Administration; and has also been packaged towards ensuring achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the State of Osun in line with the national economic policy and international best practices.
“In line with our vision, we are prepared to continue to save our people from avoidable deaths due to emergencies, poverty, and inadequate health facilities. Health, as we know, is wealth.  We will ensure increased accessibility to qualitative health care services in all parts of the state by completion of all on-going projects. Specifically, in 2018 fiscal year, Government will ensure that the renovations and upgrading of the nine State Hospitals in the State are fully completed.
“In 2018, this administration will continue to provide essential drugs and medical consumables in all our hospitals at subsidized rate.
“This Administration has taken a number of steps towards the realization of sustainable growth and development of commercial activities in the state.
“Essentially, the focus of this administration on road projects in 2018 will be the completion of all on-going projects scattered across the State. If this feat is achieved in the New Year, we would have delivered on our promises to the good people of this State regarding road infrastructure in the State.
“The Government of Osun will continue to avert flooding by engaging in the continued desiltation of major drains, flood awareness campaign as well as dredging major streams and rivers.  Government will also ensure that all our obligations to our contractors are settled in the New Year.
“The current issues we are facing with payment of salaries and allowances and other benefits of public servants are not our own making.  Let me at this juncture, appreciate all the public servants in the State, including the teachers, for their support, cooperation and understanding, I want to assure you that the welfare of our workers is uppermost in the mind of this administration.  This effort will continue to be pursued vigorously within the limit of the resources available to this administration.” Aregbesola explained.
He thereby appealed to the people of the state to continue to cooperate with the Government in the arduous task of remoulding the State of Osun into a better place, adding that the welfare of the people will continue to be accorded top priority attention by his administration.

Race Director of Ile Ife Heritage Marathon Organization, Adedayo Akinbode on Thursday said no fewer than 150 athletes; both Nigerians and foreigners would participate in the first edition of the International Marathon Race holding on February 4, 2018.
 
 
 
Akinbode while speaking at NUJ Press Center, Osogbo, said lle Ife Heritage Marathon is a destination marathon borne out of a desire to showcase to the world, the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people through the century old Ile Ife matchless iconic heritages.
She posited that, “The marathon race event would also present unique opportunities for visitors from within and outside Nigeria to have first-hand contacts with many Ile-Ife’s iconic cultural sites and values. It will also provide ample opportunity to introduce sports to the growing population of residents as a platform of social development.”
She therefore urged interested participants to register for the with the fee of N16,500 for Nigerian and $53.60 for expatriates.
Akinbode contended that the marathon race is of International Athletics Standard of 42.195 kilometers distance.
Also, speaking at the press conference, the State of Osun Commissioner for Social Protection, Sports and Special Needs, Mr. Comrade Biyi Odunlade expressed the support of the State Government for the first edition of International marathon in the State.
Odunlade made it known that the purpose of the marathon race is to showcase the heritage of the cradle of Yorubas and the State which is why we are focusing our attention to Ile-Ife.
He said “There are three key objectives to this program; this kind of initiative was part of six integral point agenda the governor in building healthy life for every citizens of the State; for made know the cultural heritage we are blessed with in the State and to boost the Internally Generated Revenue of the state.”

…We had no money to buy textbooks before Opon Imo – Students
“We have been asked to buy textbooks so as to prepare for the coming Senior WAEC but most of us have not been able to do that because of unavailability of money. Many of us cannot afford the textbooks and have been wondering how to pass the fast approaching exams.”
These were the words of Adeleke Busayo, a final year student of Adventist Government High School in Ede, Osun State as she receives her “Opon Imo” tablet of knowledge.
In a similar vein, the Head Girl of the school, Oluwatuye Mary buttressed what Busayo said. She stated that most of the students have not been able to afford the needed textbooks for their coming exams, adding that the State Government under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, has lifted an over-weighting burden through the Opon Imo project.
“I feel so excited, we have been patiently waiting for the Opon Imo since the first day our principal told us about it. I am so happy to get the Opon Imo finally because we have been told to buy textbooks but not all could afford them. Now that the Opon Imo is here, embedded with several textbooks and past questions, the burden of having to buy textbooks has been lifted.
“We are immensely grateful to the Government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, we really appreciate this privilege and we promise to use it judiciously. Aregbesola has fulfilled his promise with the people of Osun on Education Improvement and we promise to study well and make him proud.” Mary added.

In addition to aiding preparation for School Leaving Examinations, the introduction of the tool is expected to aid adoption of information communication technology (ICT) skills among students in the State.
Back in 2013 when the Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led Government of launched Opon Imo, many were skeptical about its sustainability and its effectiveness in combating the low rate of student performance, especially for secondary school students writing final year West Africa Senior School Certificate but four years down the line, the Opon Imo has proven its worth.

Apart from aiding students in their exams and guaranteeing their success if properly used, the Opon Imo has also relieved parents the burden of having to buy textbooks especially in this current economy situation.
As usual, the State government has begun the redistribution of e-learning computer tablets for the 2017/2018 academic session to students in the final year in the state public schools.
The redistribution of the tablets began in an informal ceremony at Osogbo Government High School, Osogbo, as the students and teachers were excited to receive the device again.
While the redistribution lasted, 30,000 units of the tablets were given to final year students who will be writing the SSCE, NECO and Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) examinations and their teachers, across the state.

Speaking during the flag-off ceremony at Osogbo Government High School, the Principal of the school, Mrs Folorunsho Ladapo, described Opon-Imo as an unusual education infrastructure in the state.
Also the Administrator of Adventist Government High School, Mrs Uche Agbaso, said the distribution of the Opon Imo is an extra mile on the part of the Governor to enhance better performance of the students.
In her remarks too, the vice principal administration, Mrs A A Oyewole, lauded Aregbesola for the initiative and urged the students to make positive use of the tablets.
Speaking on the nitty gritty of the programme, the anchor, Mr Bambo Basorun explained that, “The government is doing its best to distribute to students a technological device, it is a marriage of technology and creativity, we are tying to make all our children have access to technology, as you can see, this device is being distributed to all SS3 students, the purpose is to help them in passing their exams and it has all their subjects textbooks, it has past questions and answers, it’s a fantastic digital learning tool, it’s a study note, so to say.
“Our Government deem it fit to give our children the best and we have started again this year, we are going round the 120 schools we have in the state now.”
About the controversy surrounding the Opon Imo, Bambo explained that, “As you know Opon Imo has won an award internationally, we won an award four years ago. As far as controversy is concerned, we are unmoved, we are not shaking. It is audible to the deaf and visible to the blind that Opon Imo has come to stay.
“It is a fantastic project and we have not ceased in distributing it four years running now. The teachers are there, the principals are there, the students are there, the parents are there and they will give you wonderful testimonies as to what this government has done through Opon Imo so criticism with objective, we will take it but without objective, we will struck it out.”

Governor Rauf Aregbesola has stated that with the standard infrastructure put in place by his administration, investment will surely thrive in the state.
Aregbesola said this known at a One-day enlightenment seminar on “Stimulating Effective Shipment of Non-oil Export Products” organized by Nigerian Shippers Council, South West Zonal Coordinating Office.
 
 
 
Aregbesola who was represented by the Special Adviser on Wealth Creation, Mr. Adetoyese Ademola, gave accolades to the organizers for identifying the state as a place of economic development, adding that the capacity of Nigerian Shippers Council as one of the leading economic regulator of Nigeria’s port sector cannot be overemphasised.
At the enlightenment seminar for stakeholders held at White Plain Suites and Towers in Osogbo, the State capital, presentations as regard the theme were revealed in line with part of the mandate of Nigerian Shippers Council.
In his presentation titled “Stimulating Effective Shipment of Non-Oil Export Products in the State of Osun”, the Commissioner, Ministry of Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives, Mr. Jayeoba Alagbada stated that the state government under the leadership of
Aregbesola has laid solid foundation for investors to invest in the state through projects and array of Agricultural produce as well as solid Minerals.
Alagbada stated that the foundations are necessary precursors to make the state a major player in the national drive to promote Non-Oil Export.
Alagbada described Aregbesola as a Governor with foresight, Alagbada added that one of the Governor’s major projects at inception of his tenure was construction of Free Trade Zone in the state which comprises Importers/Exporters, Shippers Associations, Commodities Association, Chambers of Commerce, Manufacturer Association of Nigeria, among others.
The Director, Inland Transport Services Department of Nigerian Shippers Council, Lagos, Mr. Akintunde Makinde in his presentation tagged: “Role of Nigerian Shippers Council in Trade Facilitation” affirmed that the role of the association is to provide protective platform for stakeholders in import and export business nationally and internationally.
Makinde who was represented by Mr. Akintola Kola, maintained that actualization of objectives of the Federal Government’s Executive Order on the ease of doing business in Nigeria through the councils trade facilitation and regulation must be embraced by stakeholders at all levels.
Also in his presentation on Packaging of Agricultural Products by the Regional Coordinator, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Mr. Babatunde Faleke averred that packaging must be protected and advertised, as well as trendy and innovative.
Faleke noted that agricultural products in Nigeria with improved packaging have a place in the international market.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Zonal Coordinator, Nigerian Shippers Council, South-West Coordinating Office, Mr. Olurotimi Anifowose appreciated Governor Aregbesola and stakeholders for their support of the council in the state through the Ministry of Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives.
He also appealed for appropriate recognition to the Shippers Council which is not a non-governmental organization for good service delivery, while pledging that the Nigerian Shippers Council will not fail in its function as one of the key boosters of Nigeria’s economy.

The entire members of staff of the Hospitals Management Board (HMB) have been urged to treat people with dignity, human face and the fear of God, while rendering their services.
This admonition was given by the new Permanent Secretary, Hospitals Management Board, Mr. Dayo Olaluwoye, while addressing the staff of the Board in an inaugural meeting held at the premises of the agency.
The Permanent Secretary told the staff that, it is incumbent on them to have compassion for their counterparts in the out stations hence
they should render services to them unconditionally.
Mr. Olaluwoye reminded the staff that God recognizes their services to humanity and asked them to give their best and leave the rest to God
for their rewards.
Furthermore, the Permanent Secretary informed the workers that he believed so much in treating people with fairness, justice and merit.
According to Mr. Olaluwoye, his office is widely open at all times for reasonable and genuine cases to all categories of staff and are
free to walk in with their complaints.

The State of Osun has consistently maintained her leading position as a centre of learning to other states in Nigeria and the
international community.

 
The State Programme Facilitator, Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme (O-MEALS) , Mrs Olubunmi Ayoola made this remark at a training programme organised for health teachers across the twelve centres in the State.
Mrs Ayoola who commended the Governor of the State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for rebranding O-MEALS in the State that has attracted
other states and the international communities, said deworming of school pupils has helped in both physical and intellectual
development.