The State Government of Osun has engaged 5,000 women in the area of local soap production with a view to empowering them and indirectly connecting them to the international markets.
 
The programme conceived in partnership with an offtaker, Kasmo Industries, an indigenous soap making company in Osogbo, is supported with financial impetus from an investor organization in the state.
 
According to facilitator of the programme, Mr. Rufus Idris, the 5,000 women supply black soap which serves as raw material for the local production of over 6 million bar soap, “Dudu Kasmo”, for the first phase in the growing Kasmo Soap business.
 
He said the state Government of Osun through GEMS4, a DFID-fund programme will link expanding market for unique wholesale and retail products from Osun into larger local and international markets. One of the products selected for the programme is Dudu Kasmo.
 
It will be recalled that a memorandum of understanding was signed by Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Alhaji Kasali Owolabi, the CEO of Kasmo Industries Limited in October 2016 to create a non-governmental scheme to reduce hunger, poverty and raise the standard of living through wealth creation.
 
“The benefits attached to the production of Kasmo soap include capacity building for employed staffs, giving the product more credibility as well as improving the quality and quantity of the goods.
 
“With GEMS4 support, Kasmo Industries Limited is expected to increase its capacity for raw materials intake from rural women, increasing their production which will in turn increase their income,” Mr. Rufus noted.
 
One of the local soap makers who spoke on behalf of her colleagues, Emilia Abioye said the initiative has empowered them by giving them direct access to produce for Kasmo Company thereby improving their profit.
 
She expressed her appreciation to the state government and GEMS4 for the programme, a move Mrs Abioye confirmed could banish poverty in the land.
 
So far, about 10,059 cooperative societies have been registered under several similar schemes in the state. Through partnership with DFID and access to a N2.5bn development fund, 133 Small and Medium Scale Enterprises have been setup, with 800 cooperative societies benefitting in low interest loans which has helped them employ over 10,000 individuals across the state.
 
The money facilitated through the Central Bank of Nigeria is in collaboration with SMEDAN under the GEMS4 scheme to provide opportunities to itinerant business owners in order to boost their productivity and generate more income for them.
 
The government, however, reiterated its readiness to track the programme’s impact in the lives of itinerant women local soap makers in Osun State.

The Governor state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola will continually support the upliftment of artisans in the state. This is in line with his six point Integral Action Plan which is to banish poverty in the state.
The Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs in the State, Mrs Latifat Giwa disclosed this while participating in ‘the ‘walk to live’ organised by Osun Barbing/Hairdressing and Cosmetology Association(OBAHCA) while celebrating their annual anniversary.
 

 
Mrs Giwa then advised the artisans to remain focused and united in order to achieve their goals. She therefore urged them to pay all necessary taxes and levies to the state so that the on-going developmental projects would be continued.
Earlier in her speech ,the President Osun Barbing/Hairdressing and Cosmetology Association, Mrs Funmilayo Taiwo thanked the state Governor for the support to the association and commended him for the infrastructural development in the State which has placed Osun among the best in the country.
She therefore pleaded for more support to the association.
Highlights of the event was the walk to live from Orita Elelede to Freedom Park ..

… as Kwara Gov. Fatai Ahmed pays him condolence visit
 

 
 
The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on ‎Friday described the death of his mother as a great blow to Aregbesola dynasty and womanhood.
 
This was as the Kwara State Governor, AbdulFatai Ahmed described Aregbesola’s mother as a complete epitome of womanhood.
 
Governor Aregbesola stated this while hosting the Kwara state Governor who came to pay a condolence visit to him over the death of his mother, Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola.
 
Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola died at the age of 84 year on Tuesday and buried on the same day in her residence, Ilesa, Osun state.
 
Governor Aregbesola said the death of his mother was in no doubt caused him a deep sorrow, describing it as a ‘deep disaster’.
 
According to him, there is no strict definition of sorrow than a moment of great sadness which he’s personally undergoing over the demise of his mother.
 
“My mother would have been 85 years in the next few weeks if she had not died, but even at 90 years, I will not wish her dead.
 
“So it is a deep sorrow that I have to lose my mother as her death was not only shocking but painful to me personally.
 
“Her death has made me to know further that it is very tough to lose one’s mother, aside looking good on camera, within me, I have a feeling of great loss, but I am consoled with the voluminous condolences and expression of sympathies and love from all quarters.
 
“This is an attestation to the fact that my mother is very happy in her new station most especially for the expression of concerns and sympathies received across faiths and personalities from all walks of life.
 
“May God translate all these grieves, condolences to rewards for my mother wherever she is now and grant her soul the best place in the Aljana Fridao (paradise).
 
“May Allah spare the lives of those she left behind and make us live longer.
 
While appreciating the condolences from President Muhammadu Buhari and others, Governor Aregbesola beseeched God to reward in good for being concerned over the death of his mother.
 
In his condolence remarks, the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulFatai Ahmed, thanked Allah for taking late Saratu Aregbesola  at a time her demise is being celebrated globally.
 
Governor Ahmed who led members of the Kwara state Executive Council, politicians and top government functionaries to Osogbo, described the demise of Mama as ‎a painful exit.
 
He said Alhaja Saratu had lived a fulfilled life that is full of good legacies worthy of emulation, saying Mama would be forever remembered for giving the world a good son personified by Governor Aregbesola.
 
Governor Ahmed added, “We have come to commiserate with our brother Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Governor of Osun, over the passing on of our dear mother.
 
“We have to be grateful to Allah for making Mama to see the successes of her children most especially the landmark achievements made by Governor Aregbesola in taking the people of Osun state to greater height.
 
“We pray God to give you and other members of the family the strength and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. May God continue to stand by you, uphold you, guide you and protect you as you forge ahead to develop the state”.
 
Advising the bereaved on the need to emulate the good legacies left behind by Aregbesola’s mother, Governor Ahmed said “the essence of life is for one to live and leave good legacies behind.”

Farmers in the state of Osun have been advised to change their perception towards rearing of Goat and Sheep as mere domestic animals but rather embrace it as a lucrative business that can create wealth,employment and reduce poverty in the society.
 

 
The Coordinating Director,Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security,Dr Oluwabukola Aluko gave the advice during an opening remark at a training workshop organised for Goat and Sheep Farmers in the State held at Osogbo City Hall,Olonkoro area of Osogbo town.
The Coordinating Director ,who was represented by the Deputy Director, livestock Services Department , Mrs Ajibike Fagbemi added that the training workshop was organised by the government of the State in collaboration with Gems 4 and Animal Care Consulting Centre with Signed Memrandum of Understanding to give them necessary knowledge about Goat and Sheep rearing in modern ways.
Dr Aluko stressed that the training workshop ,which focused on modern techniques of Fattening Small Ruminant Animals is part of the Government effort to achieve part of its six point integral Action plan of reducing poverty, creating employment and wealth through rearing of Goat and Sheep.
While assuring the farmers that the training workshop is an additional opportunity for them to know how best to rear their animals with ease and for profit ,he also implored all benefitting Goat and Sheep Farmers to put the knowledge gained from the training workshop in use to stimulate other unemployed youths in the State.
Also Speaking,Mr Semowo Munyiwa from Animal Care Consulting Centre disclosed that Goat and Sheep rearing is a lucrative agricultural venture if properly managed.
Mr Munyiwa maintained that feeding of animals with adequate concentrate of feeds and restricting from roaming about will give farmers a profitable result within 50 days.
He therefore encouraged the farmers and others that are interested in Goat and Sheep rearing to embrace caging system and feeding system to profit and move out of poverty.

THE GOOD MOTHER DEPARTS
“INA LI LA HI, WA HI NHA ILLAHI RA JIUN.”
It is with heavy hearts and deep sense of loss; yet with gratitude to the Allah SWT that the State Government of Osun announces the transition of Madam Saratu Aregbesola, the mother of the State Governor; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
 
 

 
Madam Saratu Aregbesola transited in the early hours of Tuesday, August 1, 2017, after a glorious and eventful lifetime devoted to active service to Allah SWT, humanity and her illustrious family. Mama was 84 years old.
 
Mama left a remarkable legacy as a faithful wife, loving mother, community leader of no mean repute, leading kola nuts trader and a devout Muslim. She gave her very best to the service of Allah SWT in regular Asalatu as well as leadership of many Islamic charity organizations, kola nuts traders association and other women groups.
 
Mama was kind-hearted and generous of spirit and of her substance. She freely gave of her fountain of wisdom.  She was hard working and industrious, and famous throughout Ijesaland and beyond for her trade in kola nuts. This earned her the accolade of Iya Olobi.
In the care of the home and family, the children in particular, Mama was strong, astute and veritable in her support and cooperation for her late husband, Alhaji Rufai Aregbesola, whose expansive business concerns and commitment put to great service Mama’s virtues and versatility.
Mama will be sorely missed, especially when we cast to memory how well she played her motherly role behind one of her sons, AbdulRauf, in his quest to be governor and through his two successive terms up till date.
 
She left behind many children, grand children and great grand children.
 
By this departure, the state has missed yet another unmatched gift to motherhood, and this loss has obviously left a gulf too difficult to fill.
 
The government and good people of the State of Osun commiserate with the entire Aregbesola Family of Ogbon Arogbo Quarters, Ilesa and Urogbo-Ijesa, especially the First Family in the state. We condole with the Paramount Monarch of Ijesaland, the Owa-Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, the Owa-in-Council; the Muslim Community; the entire business and commercial class, the political class, especially the countless associates and admirers of our governor, the people of Ijesaland; and the entire state.
 
She has been buried before sunset according to Muslim rites. The third and eighth day firdaus prayers come up on 3rd and 8th August 2017.
 
May God keep us comforted, and may the soul of our mother find eternal rest with her creator in Aljannah Firdaus.
 
Signed
Sola Fasure,
Media Adviser to the Governor