Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State on Tuesday said the state had put mechanisms in place to boost the production of honey.
He made this known in Osogbo when he declared open a national beekeeping workshop organised by the National Board of Technology Incubation (NBTI), in collaboration with the state’s Modern Bee Keeping Association.
The workshop was tagged: “Phase II, Knowledge Transfer Initiative.’’
Represented by Mr Wale Adedoyin, the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Aregbesola said “the Osun government is making efforts to make the state one of the highest producers of honey in the world.’’
The governor said that the state had established an apiary in Ashi in Odo-otin Local Government Area to boost honey production.
He added that industrial grade honey extractors were installed at the project site for the benefit of bee keepers within and outside the state.
“The state has the potential to compete with top honey producers in the world and the state government has laid a foundation by providing bee keeping facilities to help beekeepers to fulfil their potential,’’ he said.
Aregbesola urged beekeepers from within and outside the state to make good use of the facilities put in place by government to boost honey production.
Earlier, the President of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Mr Bayo Ajibade, thanked the government for the facilities put in place to boost honey production in the state.
Present at the workshop were special advisers to the governor on agriculture and food security, Quick Impact Intervention, as well as federal and state agriculture directors, agric officers, among others.
(NAN)
AS a result of the closure of major refuse dump sites serving Osogbo and other adjoining communities, residents in Osun State, on Monday, expressed fear over imminent outbreak of epidemic in the state.
Besides, private refuse collectors licensed by the government to manage waste had failed to collect refuse from residents, owing to closure of the dump sites, a development, which had culminated in heap of refuse dotting major streets and neighbourhoods.
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere, said there was no cause for alarm, assuring that “the refuse dump site would be opened in the next 24 hours.”
According to him, “I want to allay the fear of our people over the outbreak of any epidemic. We are only trying to put some critical facilities in place at the refuse dump and it would be re-opened for use in the next 24 hours.
WITH less than six days to the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the Osun State government has concluded arrangements to provide free train services for its citizens.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Industry and Empowerment, Mr Ismail Alagbada, on Monday, the free train service would be offered between Thursday and Friday.
Alagbada said the train would, by 11.00 a.m convey people from Lagos to Osogbo onThursday and Friday, while the return journey to Lagos would start by 11.00 a.m on October 6 and 7.
While contending that the gesture was aimed at facilitating stress-free homecoming for the people during the festival, the commissioner recalled that the state government had, since 2011, been making such similar arrangements for people of the state, to travel home during festive seasons.
Introducing the bill titled “State of Osun Livestock Roaming Bill, 2014” at the plenary, its sponsor, Mr. Afolabi Atolagbe, member representing Ifedayo state constituency, said it was necessary to outlaw roaming of animals on streets in the state to curb environmental problem and diseases that may arise from the faeces of such animals.
He further argued that the bill was not seeking to prohibit rearing of animals, but to ensure that they are properly reared and kept to ensure that they do not constitute nuisance to environment.
He added that there were instances, when roaming animals have caused accidents on roads in the state, saying that if the animals are reared in confined places, such occurrences would be reduced.
Speaking in similar vein, Hon. Ipoola Binuyo, representing Ife North and Kamardeen Akanbi, representing Ede South, expressed opposition to the passage of the bill on the ground that it would block the means of livelihood for those engaging business of such animals, with no means to confine them, especially the old ones.
Other lawmakers, including Mohammed Ibrahim representing Oriade, Dejo Osuolale representing Boripe/Boluwaduro and Razak Adeyemi representing Odo-Otin state constituncies supported the passage of the bill, saying it would prevent public health hazard that might be caused by animals.
Also, during the proceedings, the bill tagged “Hotel and Other Tourism Industries Enterprise Licensing Authority Establishment bill” scaled through first reading.
Reading the bill’s policy trust, its sponsor, Hon Adetilewa Sijuwade, said it was aimed at controlling the activities of hoteliers and other related businesses, adding that, if passed into law, it would add to sources of Internally Generated Revenue for the state.
Supporting the passage of the bill, other lawmakers in their submissions, said it would boost the economy of the state.
Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has joined well-meaning Nigerians in commiserating with the family of late Remi Olowude, who passed on Sunday morning.
In a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola described the death of Olowude as a big blow to the insurance world, the State of Osun and Nigeria as a whole.
The governor said the late insurance guru was an invaluable asset in the insurance sector.
Aregbesola said Olowude’s death has undoubtedly robbed the nation and insurance sector of another great personality.
“The death of Chief Remi Olowude is a sad one to us in Osun. Here is a man of immense qualities, which he had employed to promote everything ideal in his lifetime.
“Olowude, unarguably, distinguished himself in the insurance and business sector to the extent that his name became a household name across the country.
“Throughout his sojourn on the earthly surface, he distinguished himself as a man of immense wealth, a perfect gentle man and an Omoluabi per excellence, which is what Osun epitomises.
“There is therefore, no gainsaying the fact that Olowude’s exit would create a huge gap in the business and insurance sector in Nigeria.
“I, on behalf of the government and people of Osun offer our heartfelt condolences to the immediate and extended families of deceased as well as the insurance family.
“We pray that the Almighty God repose his gentle soul in paradise,” Aregbesola said.
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Newly posted Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) State of Osun, Mr Abada Okpiroro and others during a courtesy visit to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo

From left-* Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Special needs, Mr.
Stephen Kola- Balogun; Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs. Grace
Titi-Laoye Tomori, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Newly posted Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) State of Osun, Mr Abada Okpiroro during a recent courtesy visit to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo
Ahead of official resumption of primary and secondary schools in Osun State, the state government has organised a sensitisation workshop for teachers in the state-owned tertiary institutions and the physically challenged on how to prevent the dreaded Ebola virus.
The state government, through the Ministries of Health, Environment and Sanitation trained some selected primary and secondary teachers and principals on what to do to prevent the spread of the disease.
The state government also trained traditional rulers and various organisations, including members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employer Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) who would also train others on the scourge.
Also, the higher institution lecturers, who were part of the workshop, are expected to train others in their various institutions, while the physical challenged will also train their colleagues in their various local government areas of the state.
Speaking during the training session, the state Commissioner for Health, Temitope Ilori, charged all participants that, the knowledge acquired should be properly used in their various institutions and local government areas on how to prevent the disease by taking necessary preventive measures.
An opinion article titled ‘Aregbesola, education and election promises’ written by Tade Adekunle from Osogbo on September 24, 2014 makes an interesting reading but still leaves a sour taste in the mouth. The author does not sound familiar, but it matters little.
His main concern is on his perceived state of education in Osun which he used the last result of the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination to buttress. According to him, Osun pupils’ performance which was 22nd out of the 36 states that sat for the examination was worrisome and an indication that the state’s educational policies are not working. He then stacked his cards with the issues of merger of schools and uniform school uniform. Pardon the tautology.
The author tries hard to be civil but the piece is riddled with cynicism and thinly disguised mockery of the state’s education summit chaired by the revered Prof Wole Soyinka, that had recommended comprehensive review of the education policies of the state, early in the life of the administration.
Adekunle sounded like the voice of one of those who stoutly resisted the education reforms in the state from the standpoint of opposition politicians, religious former school owners, disgruntled teachers or an old student revelling in past glory, even when the alma mater had fallen into disgrace and disrepute. They forged a coalition of the disgruntled with the opposition in the August 9 election and were thoroughly trounced and disgraced. He might just have resumed where they left, considering his conclusion that the policies should be reversed.
It should be pointed out, however, that the immediate result of an examinationis not and cannot be the right yardstick to measure an education policy. Those who wrote the last examination in question must have been in the school system at least for 11 years (assuming they spent five years in primary school and six at the secondary level) in the school system. The result you have today is a cumulation of all the inputs and efforts within that period.
We all know that it is not the day you plant a crop that you harvest it. What is being harvested today could not have been planted yesterday. The result of today is the reflection of the neglect of the putrefaction that had crept in. that is not Aregbesola’s making and it will be illogical to blame him for this.
And it could have been worse, since the problem is longstanding. Governor Aregbesola noticed this and cried out when he was inaugurated upon observing that less than five per cent of those who took the WAEC and NECO of 2010 passed. This actually informed his convoking the education summit early 2011.
The state government is doing everything needed to turn education around. This includes hiring over 10,000 teachers, training and retraining them, kitting them and giving them all necessary motivation. It also involves building new state of the art schools, rehabilitation and equipping existing one and providing 150,000 computer tablets to senior pupils and their teachers (out of which 50,000 has been delivered and distributed). Do not forget that elementary pupils now enjoy free feeding and medication in all public schools, to which the government commits N3.6 billion every year.
For school furniture alone, the government, as at last year, had committed N2.5 billion. Grants to schools was jacked up to N856 million from the N122 million inherited from previous administration. Before Aregbesola’s coming, no school had instruction materials, but his administration has committed N506 million to providing these. These are verifiable facts.
Beyond those still sulking because the reforms had cut off their extortion channels in the schools, even the teachers and other stakeholders are full of praises to the governor, claiming that they feel proud to be teachers for the first time.
The central basis of opposition to the reforms is the inability of some stakeholders to reconcile to the facts that the state government owns all the schools in question. They are still living in denial since the takeover in 1975 or thereabout. The tragedy is that eight out of 10 agitators, when asked, still think that the schools belong to the old missions and the reforms are superfluous government interference.
The government had explained countless times that the mergers were brought about by the policy of classifying schools into elementary, middle and senior categories. The mergers are therefore necessary to streamline these schools into the various classes for operational and administrative purposes. These policies do not affect private schools.
What the governor promised, due to much agitation, was that some of the schools would be returned to their original owners. This is after some of the mega schools being built are completed and the pupils moved into them. At no time did he promise that the policy would be reversed. It is high time all the agitated were reconciled to this. Those hoping for a reversal are only engaged in wishful thinking and let no Tade Adekunle raise false hope where there is none.
The governor, being a student of history, does not wish to erase the memory of any school. However, mergers and closures are part of the history of education. Even in the affluent world, when the caretakers can no longer maintain a school or it is no longer relevant to the need of that society or community, it will be merged with others or shut down. Plato’s Academy no longer exists, but it is etched permanently in the books, in the philosophy and the memory of those who have acquired western education. Where a school is closed, a monument will be left as its physical legacy.
What is more important, however, is its intellectual legacy and how it has affected our time and society. Those still sulking over the carcass of a dilapidated and ruined physical structure should let go and embrace positive change.
On school uniforms, the government has explained that the uniform distinguishes those in public schools from others. Even in the United Kingdom, this is the norm – uniforms are the same and can be picked in any convenient store. What mark them differently are the badges, cardigans and berets branded for each school. In our neighbouring Benin Republic, all school children wear khaki as uniform.
Aregbesola has carried out a revolution in education in Osun. I am of the firm belief that with the policy direction, funding, equipment, motivation and technology, all driven by the passion and will to change things for better, Osun, within the shortest possible time, will be producing the best school leavers and world beaters in all fields.
Fasure lives in Osogbo
Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has been urged to introduce a housing policy that would further enhance his efforts to urbanise the state.
The call was contained in a congratulatory message sent to the governor for his re-election by the state branch of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV). The group also called on the governor to consider the introduction of property rate to widen source of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.
The group’s message, a copy of which was made available to Saturday Mirror, was signed by its Chairman and Public Relations Officer, Dr Oluseyi Adegoke and Tunde Oladokun, respectively.
The group commended Governor Aregbesola for breaking new grounds in terms of provision of infrastructure in his first term, urging him to raise the bar in his second term in office.
It also hailed the state government for transforming the Osun State especially in the areas of road construction, saying that the present administration has opened up many towns and cities in the state.
The group also urged the state government to patronise local professionals who are based in the state and expressed its readiness to partner with him for the overall development of the state.
It also stated readiness to work with the state government in the areas of land acquisition and compensation valuation among others.
THE Osun State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Hon. Sikiru Adetona Ayedun, has charged traditional rulers to protect and support the cultural heritage of their various communities.
Speaking at this year’s Odun Ade Orolu Cultural Festival in Ifon, the commissioner, who was represented by the Director, Museum and Monument in the Ministry, Mr. Samuel Adeniyi, commended Oba Al-Maroof Magbagbeola, the Olufon Orolu for encouraging cultural activities in his domain.
According to the commissioner, festivals provided opportunities for unity, harmony, development among the people.
Ayedun also said cultural festivals should be encouraged because “they have considerably improved the economy of the state.”
THE NATION