The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said his administration’s ‎new focus for development will be agriculture, solid mineral development and industrialisation‎.

The Governor stated this at the commissioning of the new effluent treatment plant and expansion project of the International Breweries PLC in Ilesa.

This was just as the company promised to do its best in ensuring compliance with payment of taxes to boost Osun’s drive for internally generated revenue.

Aregbesola noted that, given the falling price of oil and diminishing revenue from the oil sector, the state is already looking beyond oil for revenue, sustenance and meeting her obligations to fulfilling his electoral promises.

He commended the company for ‎its vision and forthrightness of the founder, the late Dr. Lawrence Omole and managers of the company for complying with international best practices and the aptness of the commissioning of effluent treatment plant coinciding with the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, France.

Aregbesola said, “Our new focus is agriculture, solid mineral development and industrialisation. This indeed should be the focus of the wise who is thinking beyond the financial catastrophe that befell this nation since 2013 on account of falling revenue from the Federation Accounts.

Aregbesola also lauded the company for increasing her presence and acceptability, which has translated to increase in market share of the brewery.

He said, “I commend you. But you must do more, not just to dominate your immediate environment but to spread to other regions as well and ultimately make your brands international by venturing outside the country. On our part, we will continue to support you and help to realise your vision to expand.”

The Governor stated that concerns for the environment has been an issue since the industrial revolution and the emergence of cities, noting that the fallout of industrialisation is pollution of the environment from industrial and household wastes.

‎He therefore described the impression that environmental friendliness is mutually incompatible with development as false, saying, if the right measures are adopted, there will be sustainable development.

He enjoined other industrial concerns in the state to emulate IBL Plc which is complying with international best practices.

Governor Aregbesola added that it is the dream of his government that an industrial hub develops around where allied industries that support you or feed off your operations can develop, prime one of which is agriculture and allied industries.

He said “In October, we signed an MOU with a Chinese consortium to start an agriculture and industrial park in Osun which will be cited in Ilesa. Last month, we also signed an agreement with the IITA to start agriculture demonstration farm and research centre at Orile Owu,” the governor emphasised.

Earlier in his remark, the Chairman Board of Directors, International Breweries Plc, Ilesa, Otunba Micheal Daramola, commended the state government for its unflinching support towards the growth and development of the company.
He extolled Governor Aregbesola for keeping to the promises he made in 2013, saying the MoU signed between the company and the state government has yielded positive results and tremendous impact in the lives of the citizens of the state.
Enumerating some of the organization’s achievements, Otunba Daramola said the company has been a job provider and development partner to the state.
He disclosed that N1.4billion was expended on waste management in the state, while N1.2 was spent on several projects, as the company equally spent N1.2billion on the new road and new pipeline recently installed and commissioned for use.
Daramola said over N4.8 billion has been expended so far on the new effluent treatment and water pipeline projects, promising that the company would not relent in its efforts to support the train of development in the state.
He described the present administration as being supportive, saying the company relationship with current government has been very seamless.
He said, “The main focus of this company is to ensure that we effect real change and transformation of our immediate environment and the state as a whole for meaningful development and positive improvement.
“We are doing everything to assist the government by empowering the youths through different programmes targeted to reduce the scourge of unemployment.
“Over 120 youths have been successfully selected and financially assisted on running capital to start both small and medium scale businesses.
In his address, the Chief Operating Officer of the company, Mr. Andrew Ross, said the newly installed Effluent Treatment Plant and Water Pipeline projects were first of it kind in the South-west, saying it remains a milestone for economic sustainability.
He commended the state government for its support, saying its continued cooperation had provided a seamless improvement, growth and development to both the company and the state government.
He promised that the company was ready to assist the government at improving its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by fulfilling its quota on regular tax payment.
Ross stressed further that the company was committed to offering Nigerians world class products, saying its mission was to be the best beverage company in Nigeria.
“The Effluent Treatment Plant and Water Pipeline we are commissioning today is very environmental friendly because it emits clean water.
“This project is of world class standard and this is so, because our company is ever ready and committed to world class products that is why our company has been progressing geometrically.
The Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, commended the company for the introduction of modern technology into its operation just as he saluted the efforts of the management and staff of the company in its bid to realize the dream of the organization.

Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Chairman Board of Directors, International Breweries Plc Ilesa, Otunba Michael  Daramola and Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Ross, during the Official Commissioning of the New Effluent Treatment Plant and Water Pipeline, at the Company’s premises, Ilesa, on Tuesday 8/12/2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Chairman Board of
Directors, International Breweries Plc Ilesa, Otunba Michael Daramola
and Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Ross, during the Official
Commissioning of the New Effluent Treatment Plant and Water Pipeline,
at the Company’s premises, Ilesa, on Tuesday 8/12/2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); Chairman
International Breweries Plc Ilesa, Otunba Micheal Daramola (right) and
Owo Obokun of Ijesa Land, Oba (Dr.) Adekunle Aromolaran, during the
Official Commissioning of the New Effluent Treatment Plant and Water
Pipeline, at the Company’s premises, Ilesa, on Tuesday 8/12/2015.

From left- Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Chairman
International Breweries Plc Ilesa, Otunba Micheal Daramola, Chief
Operating Officer, Mr. Andrew Ross, Corporate Affair Manager, Mrs.
Folasade Omole and Technical Director, Mr. David Holmes, during the
Official Commissioning of the New Effluent Treatment Plant and
Inspection of Expansion Project at International Breweries Plc, Ilesa
on Tuesday 8/12/2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); Chairman
International Breweries Plc Ilesa, Otunba Micheal Daramola (2nd
right), Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Andrew Ross (left), and Former
Commissioner for Commerce and Cooperative, State of Osun, Mr. Ismaila
Alagbada during the Official Commissioning of the New Effluent
Treatment Plant and Inspection of Expansion Project at International
Breweries Plc, Ilesa on Tuesday 8/12/2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); Chairman
International Breweries Plc Ilesa, Otunba Micheal Daramola (right),
Corporate Affair Manager, Mrs. Folasade Omole (3rd left), and others
during the Official Commissioning of the New Effluent Treatment Plant
and Inspection of Expansion Project at International Breweries Plc,
Ilesa on Tuesday 8/12/2015.

SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OSUN, OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA, AT THE COMMISSIONING OF THE NEW EFFLUENT TREATMENT PLANT AND EXPANSION PROJECT OF INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC IN ILESA, ON TUESDAY DECEMBER 8, 2015
 
Protocols,
It gives me great pleasure to be present at the commissioning of the new effluent treatment plant and expansion project of International Breweries Plc in Ilesa, the city of God.
I must commend the vision and forthrightness of the founder, late Dr Lawrence Omole, and the owners and managers of this company for complying with international best practices and the aptness of the commissioning of effluent treatment plant to coincide with the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, France.
The effluent treatment being commissioned today, I am made to understand, is top of the range in Africa and can handle up to 7,250kg Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) per day and an effluent volume of 1,800m³ per day. The first derivable from the waste is biogas which will be used to fire the boilers and thus reduce the cost of energy. The second is recycled clean water that can be used for other purposes in the firm while the third, solid waste, is converted to fertiliser.
Concern for the environment has been an issue since the industrial revolution and the emergence of cities. There have been worries on the depletion of the ozone layer through carbon emission; deforestation for cities and highways to emerge; the destruction of the earth’s fauna and flora; and pollution of the environment.
One of the fallouts of industrialisation is pollution of the environment from industrial and household wastes. One definition of pollution sees it as the ‘contamination of air, water, or soil by substances that are harmful to living organisms’. Another one see it as “the addition of any substance or form of energy (e.g., heat, sound, radioactivity) to the environment at a rate faster than the environment can accommodate it by dispersion, breakdown, recycling, or storage in some harmless form”. This second one is interesting in that it recognises that substances can be added to the environment but when it occurs at a rate faster than the environment can accommodate, it becomes harmful and should be of serious concern.
Development, no doubt, brings its own challenges. One of it is pollution. Another is depletion of earth’s non-replaceable resources and depletion of the replaceable ones at a rate faster than they are being replaced. In an atmosphere of unbridled depletion of resources, we are invariably taking more than our fair share of earth’s resources and making the planet less habitable for future generations.
We are therefore creating the false impression that environmental friendliness is mutually incompatible with development. However, if we adopt the right measures and follow regulations, what we will have is sustainable development.
It gladdens my heart that IBL Plc is complying with international best practices and should be emulated by other industrial concerns in the state. We are seeing from its good example that there is no waste in nature; what we need is to understand and flow with the cycle of life in an unending chain of translation of materials from one form to another.
I was here two years ago to commission a N500 million new production line, in a major expansion of the production capacity of this company. I am happy that you have even moved beyond that and carrying out another expansion. It is an indication of the industry, zeal and relentlessness of the managers.
Moving through the West, one cannot but notice your increasing presence and acceptability which translate to increasing market share. I commend you. But you must do more, not just to dominate your immediate environment but to spread to other regions as well and ultimately make your brands international by venturing outside the country. On our part, we will continue to support you and help to realise your vision to expand and take your products to the farthest reach of the world.
As I said two years ago, it is our vision that an industrial hub develops around you where allied industries that support you or feed off your operations can develop, prime one of which is agriculture and allied industries.
In October, we signed an MOU with a Chinese consortium to start an agriculture and industrial park in Osun which will be cited in Ilesa. Last month, we also signed an agreement with IITA to start agriculture demonstration farm and research centre at Orile Owu.
These, and many more, are designed to stimulate development from bottom up, lay the foundation for industrialisation, create opportunities for our youth and generate wealth, which will translate into increased revenue for government. Your firm is in a pole position to maximise the opportunities provided by these developments.
Given the falling price of oil and diminishing revenue from the sector, we are already looking beyond oil for revenue, sustenance and meeting our obligations and fulfilling our electoral promises to the people of the state. Our new focus is agriculture, solid mineral development and industrialisation. This indeed should be the focus of the wise who is thinking beyond the financial catastrophe that befell this nation since 2013 on account of falling revenue from the Federation Accounts.
This company boisterously began production of the Trophy lager in 1978 but lapsed into a lull in the 1990s until the coming of Samiller that has taken its stock to rise in leaps and bounds with many brands in lager beer, mineral water and malt drink. I congratulate you and wish you greater strides.
I thank you all for your kind attention.
Osun a dara!

Photos of the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola presenting the Staff of Office to the New Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, at the Enuwa Squre, Ile-Ife on Monday 07-12-2015

Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola presenting the
Staff of Office to the New Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan
Ogunwusi, at the Enuwa Squre, Ile-Ife on Monday 07-12-2015

Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola presenting the
Staff of Office to the New Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan
Ogunwusi, at the Enuwa Squre, Ile-Ife on Monday 07-12-2015

Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola presenting the
certificate of Office to the New Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan
Ogunwusi, at the Enuwa Squre, Ile-Ife on Monday 07-12-2015

From left, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; The Saltan of Sokoto, Alhaji
Saad Abubakar; Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwumi Anbode; Governor
Rauf Aregbesola; the newly installed Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye
Enitan Ogunwusi; Governor of Oyo State, Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi
and Wife of Osun Governor, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, during the
installation of the Ooni of Ile-Ife., at Enuwa Squre, Ile-Ife on
Monday 07-12-2015

From left, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof.
Yemi Osibajo; the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle
Aromolaran; Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his
wife, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, during the installation of the Ooni
of Ile-Ife., at Enuwa Squre, Ile-Ife on Monday 07-12-2015

From left, The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul Rasheed Adewale Akanbi; the
Saltan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saa’d Abubakar; Chief Bisi Akande; Governor
of Lagos State, Mr Akinwumi Anbode; Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu;
Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the newly installed Ooni
of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, during the installation of
the Ooni of Ile-Ife., at Enuwa Squre, Ile-Ife on Monday 07-12-2015

Saltan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saa’d Abubakar; Chief Bisi Akande; Governor
of Lagos State, Mr Akinwumi Anbode; Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu;
Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the newly installed Ooni
of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, during the installation of
the Ooni of Ile-Ife., at Enuwa Squre, Ile-Ife on Monday 07-12-2015

From left, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof.
Yemi Osibajo; the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle
Aromolaran and Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, during
the installation of the Ooni of Ile-Ife., at Enuwa Squre, Ile-Ife on
Monday 07-12-2015

From left, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof.
Yemi Osibajo; the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle
Aromolaran and Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, during
the installation of the Ooni of Ile-Ife., at Enuwa Squre, Ile-Ife on
Monday 07-12-2015

Pictures of the Governor State of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola presenting the Certificate of Participation to Oni Olayemi One of the participant of the Tournament, also present is the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Tope Adejumo among others…during the courtesy visit and Presentation Certificate of the Under 13th Gold Medal, Trophy to the Governor by Osun Under 13th Youth that won the Maiden South West Football Tournament recently in Akure, at the governor office secretariat Abere on Tuesday 1-12-2015.

Governor State of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd right); Secretary to the
State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (3rd left); Chairman Osun Football
Assosiation, Mr Taiwo Ogunjobi (2nd right); Former Special Advisers on
Youth Sport and Special Need, Comrade Biyi Odunlade (left); Special
Adviser to the governor on Security Matters, Tope Adejumo (2rd left); Vice
Chairman Osun Football Assosiation, Engr Jimoh Olayemi (right), during the
courtesy visit and Presentation of Under 13th Gold Medal, Trophy to the
governor by Osun Under 13th Youth that won the Maiden South West
Football Tournament recently in Akure, at the Governor Office Secretariat
Abere at the weekend

From Left-Governor State of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Receiving the
Trophy From the Chairman Osun Football Assosiation, Mr Taiwo Ogunjobi
(right); Special Adviser to the governor on Security Matters, Tope Adejumo
(2rd left). during the courtesy visit and Presentation of Under 13th
Gold Medal, Trophy to the governor by the Osun Under 13th Youth that won
the Maiden South West Football Tournament recently in Akure, at the
Governor Office Secretariat, Abere, at the weekend

Governor State of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right); Secretary to the
State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (left); Special Adviser to the
governor on Security Matters, Tope Adejumo (right); Vice Chairman Osun
Football Assosiation, Engr Jimoh Olayemi (right), during the courtesy visit
and Presentation of the Under 13th Gold Medal, Trophy to the governor by
Osun Under 13th Youth that won the Maiden South West Football
Tournament recently in Akure, at the Governor Office Secretariat
Abere, at the weekend

Governor State of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right) Presenting the
Certificate of Participation to Oni Olayemi One of the participant of the
Tournament, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti
(left); Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Tope Adejumo
(right), during the courtesy visit and Presentation Certificate of the
Under 13th Gold Medal, Trophy to the Governor by Osun Under 13th Youth
that won the Maiden South West Football Tournament recently in Akure, at
the governor office secretariat Abere on Tuesday 1-12-2015.

Governor State of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th left); Secretary to the
State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (3rd left); Former Special Advisers
on Youth Sport and Special Need, Comrade Biyi Odunlade (left); Special
Advisers to the governor on Security Matters, Tope Adejumo (2rd left) and
some of the players. during the courtesy visit and Presentation of the
Under 13th Gold Medal, Trophy to the governor by the Osun Under 13th Youth
that won the Maiden South West Football Tournament recently in Akure, at
the Governor Office secretariat Abere, at the weekend

Pictures of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Elder Statesman, Sir Olanihun Ajayi  and the Owo Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba(Dr.) Adekunle Aromolaran, and others, during a courtesy visit to the Governor, at Government House, Osogbo, last weekend.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle), Elder
Stateman, Sir Olanihun Ajayi (right), and Former Executive Chairman
Remo North Local Government, Ogun State, Chief Pekun Awobona, during a
courtesy visit to the Governor, at Government House, Osogbo, weekend

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle), Elder
Stateman, Sir Olanihun Ajayi (right) and Owo Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba
(Dr.) Adekunle Aromolaran, during a courtesy visit to the Governor, at
Government House, Osogbo, last weekend

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th right), Elder
Stateman, Sir Olanihun Ajayi (3rd right), Owo Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba
(Dr.) Adekunle Aromolaran (4th left), and others, during a courtesy
visit to the Governor, at Government House, Osogbo, last weekend

 …Collects N87.9 million compensation for church’s removal

The National President, The Apostolic Church of Nigeria, Pastor Gabriel Oladele Olutola, has on Thursday expressed the Church’s readiness to support the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on infrastructural development by giving up a branch of the church at the heart of the state capital for road construction.
The Clergy stated this while receiving an  N87,932,510 cheque as compensation for The Apostolic Church of Nigeria whose branch at Olaiya Junction in Osogbo has been marked for removal to allow for the construction of Olaiya-Ita Olokan dual carriage way.
‎
Pastor Olutola held that the Church is a partner with the governor in his quest to turn Osun’s fortune around for good, thus the agreement by the church on the separation of her branch for the project to enhance free flow of traffic at the popular Olaiya Junction.
He also expressed satisfaction over the decision of the state to compensate the church, saying Governor Aregbesola has distinguished himself as an epitome of transformation and performance.
Olutola noted that the leadership of the church found it easy to cooperate with government on the removal of the church building simply because it has been the principle of the church to abide and support the authority.
‎
The Clergy said, “We want to thank God today that the leadership of our church and Government of Osun were able to arrive at a meaningful conclusion that resorted in this compensation.
“Our general principle in the Apostolic Church is respect for constituted authorities and government, because the Holy Book (Bible) teaches us to obey those people in the position of authority. That is why we deemed it fit to release the church for the state to construct road which we believe will serve the general public.
“With this compensation, our Governor has really shown to us his love for peace and passion for development which has manifested and impacted tremendously in the lives of Osun people.
“It is our duty as men of God to pray, support and as well assist government in all ramifications for general success, and we are ready to continue in supporting this administration because once government fails, we all fail.
‎The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola however used the occasion of the presentation of cheque to the church to reiterate that his administration remains committed to its resolve to turn the state around through massive infrastructural development and financial re-engineering in the face of the present cash crunch affecting the country.‎
Aregbesola stressed that he will live up to his statutory responsibilities regardless of the current economic situation the state may be encountering.

He noted that the church was valued at sum of N57.9 million, stressing that the state having considered the constant renovation of the church resolved to add N30million to its valued cost making N87.9 million.

The Governor disclosed that his administration had paid over one billion Naira as compensation to people whose property will be affected in the course of development and transformation of the state.

He stated that his government has also made available N392 million as compensation fees for another set of 149 identified to have been affected by various constructions going on in the state.

Aregbesola emphasised that people whose property fall between Olaiya-Odiolowo axis will be compensated monetarily, while those around Isale-Osun/Ita Olokan axis would be resettled to Awosuru area, Osogbo.
He pointed out his government would not in any way trample on the rights of the citizens, saying the time has come for all and sundry to see personal sacrifice as a veritable tool to all-round development.
Governor Aregbesola noted that his government has no intention to victimise or disturb people of the state including religious organisations.
According to him, ” Before our administration, physical planning of our towns and cities was nothing to write home about as the state lacked availability of good access roads. I am confident that this era would go down in history. Our desire is to modernise our towns particularly the state capital and city centres through our urban renewal projects.

“Our joy is in the fact that the leadership of the Apostolic Church of Nigeria has agreed to our request to remove one of its branches in Osogbo for the purpose of upgrading and beatification of the state.
“Our government has set aside N392 million as compensation to our people whose property will be removed in the course of the ongoing reconstruction of Olaiya-Ita Olokan.

“We are doing this in other to give our towns a befitting look and guard against any form of human and vehicular conflict within our cities, dual carriage ways have been the priority of our administration since inception”.

Governor Aregbesola therefore commended the leadership of the church for being part of the state developmental process.

“I thank the leadership of this church for their willingness to be part of the progress of our state particularly the state capital. We thank God that your church has really cooperated and supported us, infact this is win-win for us.

“We pray God to reward the leadership of the church, the members and those who contributed to the success of this agreement” he stressed.

Ahead of the public presentation of the instruments of office to the 51^st Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II by the Osun State Government today, Monday, the State House of Assembly has congratulated the monarch on his coronation.
The Assembly, which felicitated with Oba Ogunwusi Ojaja II through its Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Oyintiloye Olatunbosun, noted that the towering confidence in his ascendancy would serve as a catalyst for the advancement of Ile-Ife, the Yoruba nation and the country at large.

The legislators said they are convinced that the credentials of the monarch is a testimony to the candor and tireless creativity the king would bring to the throne.
They also lauded the ruling houses for the manner in which they harmoniously resolved their differences during the selection process just as they congratulated the state government of Osun, the Council of Obas, and the good people of the state, especially the descendants of Ile – Ife, home and abroad for the peaceful transition.
“The spontaneous enthusiasm that greeted the announcement of the new monarch across Ile Ife, the state of Osun, and the entire nation is a substantiation of the better days ahead”, Oyintiloye explained.
The Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Najeem Salam, in a goodwill message to the Ooni during a parliamentary session, enjoined him to give inimitable service, and surpass the worthy legacies of his predecessors.
Hon. Salam also urged him to join hands with other traditional rulers and government at all levels to inspire harmony, peace and development in the country.
The lawmakers implored the Ooni to use his position as the custodian of the cultural heritage and traditions of the Yoruba land for the service of the people, urging him to be father to all.
They further urged the Ooni to use his royal office to foster peaceful coexistence not only in Ife and the Yoruba land but throughout the country and beyond.
The assembly further called on the new monarch to use his wealth of experience in business to uplift the fortunes of Ile-Ife industrially, politically and socially.
They equally charged the people of the ancient town to support the new monarch in his efforts to make Ife the pride of all.

The Osun State government has trained about 210 youths as tax revenue marshals to help in the collection of tax especially from the informal sector.
This was disclosed by the acting Chairman of Osun Internal Revenue Service (ORIS), Dayo Oyebanji, at a three-day capacity building programme for the trainees in Oshogbo, the Osun State capital.
Mr Oyebanji said the training became necessary owing to a drastic drop in the monthly revenue coming to the state from the Federation Account.
He explained that the tax collectors were expected to deal with the informal sector of the state economy by taking the collection process to the doorsteps of market men and women, shop owners, artisans among others.
The OIRS boss, who maintained that there would be no room for tax evasion and avoidance, emphasised on the need for all citizens of the state to perform ‎their civic responsibility by ensuring prompt payment of their tax.
‎He hinted that the agency had embarked on massive sensitisation , adding that the prompt payment of tax would drastically boost the revenue of the state and make it attractive to potential investors.
Drawn from the 30 Local Government Areas across the state, the tax collectors named “Osun Revenue Marshals”, were armed with Point of Sales (POS) machines each to ease their activities.
This comes as part of efforts to increase the revenue generation drive in Osun State, South-west Nigeria.
CHANNELS TV

…say agriculture remains the largest employer of labour

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Oyo State counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimobi have urged Nigerians to see agriculture as a better alternative to oil in the resuscitation of the country’s ailing economy.
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The Governors stated this in their separate speeches during the seventh Annual Lecture of Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun.
The duo noted that agriculture remains the largest employer of labour hence the need for individuals and government at all levels to encourage agriculture in a bid to revamp the dwindling economic fortune of Nigeria.
Aregbesola said since oil has been selling for less than $40 for the past months, it is quite predictable that the figures for November, when it is ready, would have dropped again.
‎
The Governor comparing the present situation when Osun collected N55.8 million to 2013 when the average  money distributed to states from the federation accounts was in excess of N800 billion, said Osun’s average allocation then was N3.6 billion.
According to him, “While our monthly wage bill is N3.6billion, the highest amount we have received this year alone was N2.1 billion. It went as low as N466 million in April while the figure for September was N55 million.
“Don’t think this is a problem for the states alone. The Federal Government under the last PDP administration had to borrow N476 billion from commercial banks to pay salaries of some of its workers (not all) for the last four months of that better forgotten tenure.
“We did not make this up. This statement came from the administration’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.The implication is that governments will be under a lot of strain to pay salaries, sustain themselves and embark on meaningful projects for the citizens.
“This also mean that employment in the public sector will be frozen. If this trend continues, it is a recipe for social upheaval and a mortal threat to the survival of the Nigerian state.Given that oil is volatile. Some unforeseen conflict in the Middle East might trigger price surge and change this scenario altogether.
“However, what we are sure of is that Iran will soon add to the oil glut once the sanctions on it are lifted and increasing research and innovations in alternative energy sources will continue to reduce demand for oil and push further down the price.
He noted that the current economic challenges is an opportunity for government to urgently diversify the economy and break the monopoly of oil, adding that it will also be an opportunity to explore other areas like agriculture, solid minerals, communication technology and services.
“If we respond to this challenge appropriately, the creative energy of our people, especially the youth, will be activated and unleashed. This will lead to increased productivity and wealth creation on a scale we have never witnessed before.
“While it may appear difficult, it is not undoable. The ancient counsel remains, that no matter how far one has gone on a wrong path, the right thing to do is to turn back, if one is to get to the destination. No one can get out of a pit by continuing to dig deeper. One must stop digging”. Aregbesola emphasised.
He maintained that the time has come for government at all levels to come up with value-adding agriculture to re-engineer the socio-political and economic structures of Nigeria.
Governor Ajimobi who was the Guest Speaker spoke on a topic titled “State Financing and Over-dependence on Oil: Issues and challenges”  identified a number of factors responsible for the on-going financial crisis in the country.
He called for true federalism as being practiced in advanced countries of the world, saying it is abnormal in any true federalism for any tier to be financially incapacitated as being experienced in the country.
Ajimobi stated that out of the 36 states in the federal structure, not as many as five could survive without federal allocation, saying apart from Rivers, Lagos, Enugu, Delta, Katsina, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Bayelsa State, which have tried to balance their budgets since creation, all the other States have had to depend more on Federal Government for survival.
He said, “Ordinarily, states are supposed to make use of their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for recurrent expenditure while statutory allocations are to take care of capital expenditure; but the reverse is pathetically the case currently.
“The current scenario whereby IGR and statutory allocation combined are not sufficiently for states to meet their financial obligations is indeed unfortunate. This has resorted to a situation whereby most states cannot generate the required funds needed to pay workers’ salaries.
“Government at the centre is currently assigned 52.68 percent of Federation Account revenues, including 7.5 percent of the account originally earmarked for “Special” projects like the development of the Federal Capital Territory and the amelioration of national ecological emergencies.
“The state and the localities, on the other hand, respectively get 26.72 and 20.60 percent of Federation Account revenues. Nonetheless, over-dependence on oil has made nonsense of this Allocation Formula and what is allocated to each tier except the Federal Government.
“The problem of this heavy dependence on the oil sector, started as far back as 1992 when global crude oil prices started fluctuating from $18.4 to $61 per barrel in 2006 and reached $115.05 per barrel by June 2014. Beyond these latent facts, bureaucratic and political corruption combined have crippled a number of states financially”. He lamented.
Ajimobi said the agricultural sector that has been neglected for long on what he described as “black gold” should be revamped to enhance food security, reduce importation of food items and engage able-bodied citizens who are presently either out rightly unemployed or under-employed.
He implored the students to imbibe the spirit of positive leadership qualities by joining the train of development as they explore technology positively to advance in the current and future world.