I congratulate Nigerians on the 53rd anniversary of our nation’s independence. But as we celebrate, we must also take time to reflect on the state of the nation. The Nigerian project is a bold experiment in nation-building. It is an experiment that has proved to be a challenging undertaking. But, for me, building Nigeria is an experiment that is well worth the attempt.
At independence, on this day in 1960, Nigeria was a country full of high hopes, and good prospects, with its diverse peoples filled with aspirations. But somewhere along the line, we got it fundamentally wrong, with the consequences that, today, 53 years on, we are still struggling to get the basics right. The country is faced with tough difficulties and mortal dangers on multiple fronts. Our efforts at nation-building are being affronted by manifold crises of under-development – bad governance; poor planning; industrial collapse; decay of basic infrastructure; socio-economic backwardness; political instability; insecurity; widespread poverty; social, ethnic and religious tension; high incidence of crime and criminality; and terrorism among many other woes.
These are undeniably serious setbacks to our development march; but they do not amount to any permanent incapacity for us not to move forward. Indeed, setbacks are necessary but temporary impediments along the path to progress. Therefore, I am at one with American entrepreneur, Les Brown, who counselled that: ‘Anytime you suffer a setback or disappointment. Put your head down and plow ahead’. Hence, I remain convinced that the Nigerian project is a viable one. And I am optimistic that we may yet get it right as a country; and convert our much vaunted great potentials into actual benefits for our people. All we need is sound leadership and good governance.
Indeed, our story on the independence path has not been doom and gloom only; it is also strewn with bright patches and shades of greatness. We have had sporting glories, a Nobel Prize in literature, representation in the top universities in the world and a Nigerian got in the Forbes 100 top list. For the most part, we groan so much at the cup being three quarter empty that we forgot it’s also one quarter full.
As someone in leadership position, I set my sight firmly on the promises the future holds and the opportunities that our great country can offer. My aspirations are for Nigeria to be able to overcome its development challenges, and to become one of the top 10 economies in the world in the shortest time possible. But we need to work towards achieving these goals. As a matter of urgency, we must shift our economic paradigm from sole dependence on oil towards productive diversification. Agriculture is a viable alternative here. We must develop our agriculture towards achieving food security. We must give primacy to food production as a strategic national imperative, for it is a sure basis for sustainable economic development.
Indeed, pursuing food security as a strategic value goes beyond merely feeding the people. Food security is a core pillar of national security. No nation can have genuine national security without food security. Therefore, if we make food security the driving force of our agricultural development, the accompanying spin-offs it will generate can only add greater value to our overall economic development efforts.
My conviction about agriculture as a viable solution to our unemployment problem lay in the fact that, an agricultural economy that is grounded in food production cannot fail. People can give up luxury items if occasion demands it. But for as long as we remain human, we will eat; food is a biological necessity! Luxury item are a matter of choice. People for instance can very easily forgo chocolate; but it would be hard to imagine them forgoing staple food like rice or potato. Food security is an essential condition for national security.
Related to this is the need to gainfully and meaningfully engage our youths by creating jobs and employment opportunities. Our present chronic youth unemployment situation is a potential source of social explosion. There is profound wisdom in productively engaging our youths. Young people are some of society’s greatest assets; but they can also be a major source of its problem. In Nigeria, youths constitute the bulk of our productive population, and that bulk is overwhelmingly unemployed! In other words, we have a potentially advantageous youth bulge in our population, which could also be turned into a bug by prolonged lack of employment.
Young people are energetic, talented, innovative, aspirational, and daring. These are good qualities for economic enterprise. We only need to be creative to harness them for the rapid socio-economic transformation of our country. Again, agriculture presents enormous possibilities in this regard. Our huge population offers immense opportunities as a market, and for massive job creation, that can absorb our teeming unemployed youths, and help in eradicating poverty.
Another area of great promise is information and communications technology. ICT also offers enormous possibilities for creating jobs and for meaningfully engaging our youths. After all, ICT is a field that is not only a product of innovation, it is driven by human creativity. Innovation and creativity are an area of strength for young people. They will have their imagination taxed and their minds energised. It can help focus the vibrant energies of our youths on positive development. In addition, it is a fertile area of almost infinite possibilities where the only limitation is the human imagination. Again, all we need do is to get our acts together; think and organise so that we can make the most of the opportunities available to us.
Essential to modern life and any economic endeavour is power, but this is an area in which the nation has been badly struggling. The circa 4,000mw the nation produces is a huge joke. This, when the economy is in full throttle, cannot even serve the Ikeja business district. Admittedly there have been great efforts at addressing the problem but they have amounted to little. This is the time to discard the old approach and tackle the problem of power squarely. We must be jolted by the realisation that without sufficient electric power, all other efforts will come to nought.
I am not trying to make light of the formidable challenges involved in making a success of the Nigerian project; my point is that the difficulties are not an excuse for failure. In fact, they are a compelling reason for us to try to overcome them. I am an unflinching believer in the assertion of George Bernard Shaw that ‘[t]he only real failure in life is the failure to try’. It is in our utmost interest not to fail to try. Success is only born of trying, and I am in no doubt at all that if we genuinely keep trying, we shall surely overcome.
October 1st of every year offers us the opportunity to review the journey of nationhood and to come to the awareness that just as we have the prospect of greatness, so also are we faced with the grim possibility of tipping over the brink; the probability of outcomes now depends on the choices that we make. It is my fervent hope and prayer, however, that we will always make the right choices and realise our greatest potential.
Once again, I congratulate us all and wish us happy independence celebrations

Photos from Nike Arts Gallery Team visit for the partnership agreement over development of Arts, Culture and Tourism between the Company and State Government, at the State Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, State of Osun at the weekend

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Managing Director, Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Okundaye, during the company’s Team partnership visit on agreement over development of Arts, Culture and Tourism between the Company and State Government, at the State Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, State of Osun at the weekend

From left, Special Adviser to Osun Governor on Cultour and Tourism, Mr. Ladi Soyode; a Team member of the Nike Art Gallery, Mr Ayandare hammed; Managing Director, Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Okundaye; Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’; Creative Director, Jemash Media, Miss Jemiriye Adeniyi and another member of the team, Mr.Adebisi lookman, during the Nike Gallery’s Team partnership visit on agreement over development of Arts, Culture and Tourism between the Company and State Government, at the State Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, State of Osun at the weekend

In its bid to sensitize stakeholders in the education sector of the State of Osun on the ongoing re-classification exercise embarked upon by the state government, the deputy governor of the state who also doubles as the State Commissioner for Education, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori has paid advocacy visit to All Progressive Congress (APC) party state secretariat in Osogbo, the state capital on Saturday.
At the interactive session, Laoye-Tomori sensitised the party members and Market Women Association members on what informed the state government’s decision, among which were, the rot in the system, gross under-funding of the sector, dilapidated structures, lack of instructional materials in schools, lack of incentives and poor welfare of teachers in the state, which culminated in the abysmal performance of the pupils in public schools in the state.
“To reverse the ugly trend, the state government organised an education summit in the state and that it was the submission at the summit that formed the basis of our decision now,” she said
According to her, “the school re-classification exercise will enable the state government to deploy its meagre resources effectively to provide functional education to our future leaders.”
The deputy governor further stressed that already in the public schools, the state government has been providing free meals to pupils in its elementary classes, as well as free school uniforms. In an effort to deter imposition of arbitrary levies on parents, the state government has increased its grants to schools, by paying N400 on each pupil monthly, along with the provision of Opon-Imo to pupils in higher classes.
She further sensitized the parents that with the re-classification exercise, elementary schools will consist of pupils in grades one to four, while the middle schools will comprise of pupils in grades five to nine, while the high schools will be for pupils in grades ten to twelve.
She further maintained that this was in tandem with what operates in advanced climes and in line with the recommendation of United Nation policy on education.
It will be recalled that the state government had tried to implement the policy earlier in February this year, but ran into few hitches, which had been rectified with all the stakeholders and various religious leaders.
Otunba Laoye-Tomori assured the political leaders and members of the public that the exercise will not lead to deployment of the teachers, but will rather create employment of more competent teachers, while assuring that no pupil will be taking far away from his residence.
The exercise, according to her, has been made flexible to accommodate choices by guardians and parents, as all schools in the state are now co-educational, while all the newly-built schools are being provided with all amenities such as functional laboratories, conveniences, well-fenced and necessary furniture.
She therefore, urged the parents to cooperate with the government as the exercise is for the betterment of the pupils pupils, whom she called the future leaders of the country.
At the newly-built Salvation Army Middle School, where the commissioner had interactive session with parents who had their wards at Fakunle Comprehensive High School, she informed them that the Baptist Girls High School has now become Baptist High School, while all high school pupils at Fakunle High School will resume there at the commencement of this academic session.
Pupils in the junior classes in the school will as well resume at Salvation Army High School, Alekuwodo, Osogbo, as well as CAC Middle School, respectively.
She also reiterated that the state government has taken into consideration all lapses in the exercise and assured the parents that the safety and the welfare of the pupils were put into consideration before the government took its decision.
In a meeting with the Parents/Teachers Association held at Executive Council chamber of the Governor’s Office, Abere, the chairman of the association in the state, Alhaji Afeedat Lawal, commended the effort of the state government to revamp the education sector in the state from its comatose state.
He therefore pledged the support of the association to lead the campaign for the government policies on education to the people, as they are partners with the government in its laudable programmes.
Responding, for Laoye-Tomori used the occasion to correct the misconception that the state government has proscribed the Parents/Teachers Association, stating that the association contributed immensely to the sustainability of the sector before the inception of Ogbeni Aregbesola’s administration.
She therefore solicited for their cooperation, as the state government will continue to foster useful relationship with the association.
More than twenty five members of the association, representing all the local government council areas in the state, including the Area Office and members of school re- classification committee were present at the parley.
OSUN DEFENDER

The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, has acknowledged the State of Osun as a major tourist centre of Nigeria and a proper place to be.
He said that especially at this point that the nation is seeking alternative to generating revenue, the full potentials of tourism in the state must be tapped.
The minister spoke on Thursday during a courtesy visit to the governor of the state, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, as part of the programmes lined up for the 44th edition of National Council on Information conference held in Osogbo.
Speaking on the need for advancement of information management, the minister said adaptation of social media in the development of information content and management is a viable tool for promotion of government activities in the country.
Maintaining that social media has gone a long way in enhancing information dissemination in the world, he emphasised the need to design a policy that will guide the operation of the new media.
While urging the state government to tap the cultural potentials of the state for job and wealth creation, Maku said that the Federal Government was working assiduously to diversify the nation’s economy to cultural sector to enhance its foreign earnings.
Responding, Aregbesola urged the council to develop a strategy through which Nigerians could volunteer information on security issues, so as to stem the tide of insecurity in the nation.
He said it is important for the public office holders to understand the essence of federation in the interest of national development.
The governor, who maintained that security is germane for overall growth of the country, hinted that no meaningful development could take place in an atmosphere of rancour and acrimony.
OSUN DEFENDER

While campaigning to be governor of the State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola had realised that a large percentage of the well educated youths in the state were without jobs. He had, in fact, raised the issue during 2006 Workers Day celebrations as part of his concern for the state. Critics however dismissed his observation as mere campaign stunt.
But when he assumed office, the first three weeks were used to give the youth training on leadership and discipline so as to get them prepared for what they would do. There were no white collar jobs to give them as the entire state civil servants were not up to 20,000.
Aregbesola, thus decided to form the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O’YES) cadets. OYES is a revolving volunteer scheme designed to eliminate the frustration and paralyzing effect of unacceptably high and seemingly intractable youth unemployment pervasive in the state and country at large. It aims at creating a bridge to employment by equipping as many young men and women with positive work ethics and culture, self sustenance, resourcefulness and respect for the environment. It is designed to develop youths with character and competence.
OYES corps are deployed to productive services in identified areas of socio-economic life and paid a basic allowance to help cover basic needs. They are also smartly kitted for group identity and high morale.
Aregbesola announced recently that the State Government had been committing about N200 million to payment of allowances for the over 20,000 youths engaged in the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O’YES) and commended the Federal Government for replicating the model at the federal level through the Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO).
“It is most comforting for me to note that our tiny State of Osun has been able to contribute something meaningful to our national development effort. The idea of youth employment that has now snowballed into a national programme was conceived as a pragmatic approach to tackling the chronic and dangerous problem of unemployment among our youths in the state.
“Happily, O’YES became a very effective mechanism of massive public sector employment that offered not just income, but great hope for the youths that are absorbed into the scheme. Through the scheme alone, N200 million is injected into the economy of Osun every month as allowances for the cadets which naturally are accompanied by their multiplier effects.
Aregbesola remarked that the success of the programme attracted the attention of the World Bank, which studied it and certified it to be a viable and sustainable solution to the problem of youth unemployment in Nigeria and consequently recommended it to the Federal Government and other States in the country.
“Given the success recorded by the O’YES initiative the World Bank, studied it and certified it to be a viable and sustainable solution to the problem of youth unemployment in Nigeria and consequently recommended it to the Federal Government and other States in the country”, the governor stated. The result, he said, is the Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) that was launched last week in Abuja
Aregbesola said O’YES has helped the state to manage unemployment rate to a considerable manner stressing that according to the National Bureau of Statistics publication, Osun has the least rate of unemployment.
“And I want to believe it is not unconnected with the OYES. My swan song has always been that if the government particularly Federal Government, is interested in curbing youth unemployment or drastically reduce it, it is very simple. I am quite happy about this World Bank and Federal Ministry of Finance for the YESSO scheme. It is quite commendable.
“But it is still a scratch on the surface. When you consider the fact that the number of youths who are in their peak of productivity compared to the number they are talking about is quite low, then something more drastic has to be done.
“My suggestion is simple, let the federal government match each state’s effort at youth empowerment scheme one on one; it will go a long way in reducing youth unemployment and even eliminating all the security threats which is indeed a manifestation of youth unemployment.
“Youth, for want of other things to do are restive and uncontrollable and easy to be manipulated for any vice to be committed. So if federal government can say that for every youth that is engaged by any state government, they will match it with one it will go a long way in reducing, if not eliminating youth unemployment”, he observed.
Aregbesola believes that if the federal government can match the efforts of states at job creation, it would check youth unemployment in the country. He said; “if the Federal Government matches each state’s effort at youth empowerment scheme one on one, it will go a long way in reducing youth unemployment and even eliminating all the security threats which is indeed a manifestation of youth unemployment.”
According to Aregbesola, federal government can really help in eliminating the scourge of unemployment by matching the states. “With that nobody can accuse you of favouring one state over the other. If the state employs or empowers 1,000 let the federal government also employ or empower 1,000. If the state can do 10,000 or 100,000 let the Federal Government match it with the same 10,000 or 100,000 and it is easier for federal government to do it”, he argued.
The governor stated that he is miffed, disturbed and worried by the spate and scale of insecurity in Nigeria, arguing that there can’t be a solution outside providing something for the youth.
He noted that the energy, vibrancy and creative talents that abound in young people are vital ingredients of development that only need to be properly channelled into productive engagement.
He suggested that it is a matter of governance imperative that youths must be kept positively engaged by any government that is serious about the task of social and economic development. “Keeping young people meaningfully engaged is not only a sound economic policy; it is a sensible approach to good governance. For no effective or successful governance can take place where there is rampant unemployment among the youth”, the governor stated.
Using his state as an example of government intervention in youth empowerment, Aregbesola said the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O’YES) became a very effective mechanism of massive public sector employment that offered not only income but great hope for the youths that are absorbed into the scheme.
He specifically described the move by the Federal Government as a worthy cause deserving all stakeholders’ support in view of the achievements recorded by his state in its efforts to create jobs for youths.
He said: “the launching of the YESSO programme is a forward leap for us as a nation in our concerted drive to surmount the scourge of youth unemployment in the country”.
DAILY INDEPENDENT

Security  agencies have beefed up security across the 36 states of the federation as Nigeria prepares to  celebrate its 53rd Independence anniversary on Tuesday 
In Osun, correspondents report that  police patrol vans as well as vehicles with armed soldiers have been patrolling Osogbo and other major towns in the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mra. Folashade Odoro, said, “We assure the people of the state of water-tight security during the 53rd Independence Anniversary of our nation. Our men are all over and police presence will be seen.”
For any emergency please use the information below.

Swift Action Squad (SAS)

08100000481-7
08116759696-9
08157012059, 08157012056, 08157012065, 08157102007, 08157012050, 08157012052, 08157012048, 08157012009, 08116759595, 08116759696

Osun Ambulance Service ( O’ AMBULANCE)

07080601212, 07080601213

The governor of The State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola has added to the number of prominent Nigerians who visited the recuperated chieftain of the newly registered All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his London home.
Fews days ago, Gen Mohammadu Buhari, Gov. Kayode Fayemi among others visited Tinubu allaying fabricated media fears about the health status of Tinubu after he recently went abroad for surgery on his knees.
Tinubu is fully recovered and set to return to the country.
OSUN DEFENDER

Osun has a fairly large population. According to the 2006 National Population Census, the population of the state is put at 3,423,535. The state is rich in human and material resources
Historical evidence shows that the Yoruba tradition is one of the earliest and dominant traditions in Nigeria. The people of Osun are predominantly Yoruba. The state is composed of Osun, Ifes, Ijesas and Igbominas. Their language is Yoruba but there are variations in intonation and accent in across the towns and cities.
Commercial activities have brought the people of the state in contact with non-indigenes and foreigners who have adopted the state as their homes owing to the peaceful nature of the people and  prevalent atmosphere.
Osun is culturally rich and this can be seen in all spheres of life such as arts, literature, music and other social activities in the state. Similarly, the state is blessed with a highly literate and articulate populace which makes up a strong and productive workforce
Being an agrarian state, agriculture is largely practised both at commercial and subsistence scales and this attracts people from outside the state.

Traditional Institutions

The Ooni Of Ife, Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade
The traditional institution such as Kingship which dates back to pre-colonial era is still held in high reverence in the state. Their foresight, determination and aggressiveness led to the creation of Osun .Obas as they are called play pivotal roles in ensuring peace and stability in their domain as well as preserving the age-long tradition and culture
The State is blessed with qualitative traditional rulers, highly educated and sound in their various field of endeavour thus using it for the overall development of their people and domain. They are highly enlightened, widely travelled and committed to the progress of the state in general.
Foremost traditional rulers in the state includes the Ooni of Ife, The Ataoja of Osogbo, The Owa Obokun of Ijesa Land, The Timi of Ede, Oluwo of Iwo, Akinrun of Ikirun, and a host of other traditional rulers.

Socio-Economic and Cultural Background

The social environment in the state is characterised by a people filled with warmth, hospitable, tolerant and accommodating. The social relationship existent in Osun is a plus to the economic aspect because businesses and economy grows in an atmosphere of peace. This affords indigenes and foreigners the opportunity to carry out their commercial activities in a conducive environment devoid of violence and arson.
Being an agrarian state, the presence of food and cash crops pools traders and artisans to the state and this further helps in the economic development .The state is famous for many prominent markets such as Owena, Sekona, Ikirun, Ifon, Odo Ori markets and a whole lot of others
The presence of cottage industries provides jobs for the virile manpower abundant in the state. The railway track crossing in the state also helps in the economic development through movement of goods and people.
No state in Nigeria is as culturally rich as Osun. The state has produced cultural icons like Chief Duro Ladipo, Twin Seven Seven, Nike Art Gallery and the famous Susan Wenger popularly known as Adunni Olorisa. The state is famous for festivals such as Osun Osogbo International Festival, Olojo Festival in Ife, Iwude Festival in Ilesa. Osun is also blessed with numerous tourist attractions like the Kiriji War Museum, Erin Ijesa Waterfalls, Oranmiyan staff at Ife Ife Museum, Obafemi Awolowo University Zoological Gardens, Ayinkunigba water falls, Mbari-Mbayo Cultural Heritage, Idi Baba Cultural Centre, Igbo Sango at Ede. These tourists’ sites are potential sources of revenue generation.
 

Religious Environment

Osun is a multi religious environment with inhabitants practicing the Islam, Christianity and traditional worship. The diverse nature of their faiths and the peaceful nature characterising the way everyone goes about it harmoniously is a lesson in tolerance. The state has never witnessed a religious crisis whether minor or major since its creation.

Pastor E.A. Adeboye
It is also worthy of note that notable religious leaders have their roots in the state and this includes; Pastor E.A Adeboye of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Prophet S.K Abiara of Christ Apostolic Church,Sheik Ajisafe the Chief Imam of Osun, Chief Priest Yemi Elebuibon,Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo of Kingsway International Christian Center and various legendary faith based organisations who have brought pride to the state.
 

Educationally Enriched

The thirst for western education has always being a thing of pride in the state making the literacy level to be on the high side. The presence of educational institutions in the state is a major advantage and is being run by both public and private sectors. The state boasts of Technical Schools, Schools of Health Technology, Schools of Nursing and Midwifery, two public polytechnics and three privately owned, two public universities and five private ones.

For more on the people and culture of the State of Osun, visit the website www.osun.gov.ng

The Yoruba people within and outside the country have been called upon to embrace peace and promote unity among themselves, so as to fast track development in all parts of Yoruba nation.
Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade and the Osile Oke Ona Egba, Oba (Dr) Adedapo Tejuoso, Karunwi III made this call, on Friday, in Ile-Ife, Osun State, during the Odun Oranmiyan lecture, held at Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, with the theme, “What is in a name?”
Aregbesola, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Olelakan Adeoti, while speaking on “Celebrating Yoruba’s common heritage, forging common front,” stated that celebrating culture should serve as bond of unity and rally point for all Yoruba people, noting that in celebrating Oranmiyan, “we’re identifying with the character of Oranmiyan, who had adept leadership qualities, virtues of compassion, which leaders of today should emulate”.
The governor said the enviable qualities in Oranmiyan made him to adopt him as his campaign symbol. This, according to him, enabled him to defeat his strong enemies during his tussle for governorship.
The Ooni of Ife, highlighted the importance of understanding history in sustaining and strengthening bonds of unity and harmony and not division. He also stated, “knowing the past helps us to understand the culture of today. The celebration of our cultural heritage helps us to sustain our own cultural identity,” and commended the governments in Yoruba states.
in “assisting in maintaining the cultural identity and strengthening the emotional, cultural and spiritual bonds that bind them to their origin, Ile-Ife, the Source.”
Sijuwade cautioned against the bastardization and politicisation of Yoruba tradition and culture and enjoined children to recognise, respect and appreciate their cultural heritage. He also tasked tourists to visit Ife to see the symbols of ancient Oranmiyan paraphernalia of office including his Opa Oranmiyan among others.
Oba Tejuoso, enjoined all Yorubas to stop all wars and needless bickering and rivalries capable of derailing meaningful progress.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE