Photographs of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Oyo State counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, his wife Florence and Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, during the Funeral Service of Late Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne, Ogun State, on Wednesday 25/11/2015.

From left- Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Oyo State
counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, his wife Florence and Deputy
Governor, State of Osun, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, during the Funeral
Service of Late Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, at Our
Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne, Ogun State, on Wednesday
25/11/2015.

Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo
(second right); his Wife, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo (right), Governor
State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left), and Oyo State Governor,
Senator Abiola Ajimobi (2nd left), during the Funeral Service of Late
Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, at Our Saviour’s Anglican
Church, Ikenne, Ogun State, on Wednesday 25/11/2015.

President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari (second
right); his Vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (second right), Governor
State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) and Ogun State Governor,
Senator Ibikunle Amosun (right), during the Funeral Service of Late
Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, at Our Saviour’s Anglican
Church, Ikenne, Ogun State, on Wednesday 25/11/2015.

The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has extended his condolences to the family of Audu in Kogi over the death of Prince Abubakar Audu who died at the age of 68 on Sunday.

In a statement by the Director of the Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola described the death of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last Kogi Governorship election as sudden and shocking.

Aregbesola, who prayed for the repose of  Prince Abubakar Audu’s soul, extended his “profound condolence to the immediate family, members of APC in Kogi,  the government and the entire people of Kogi State.”

The governor urged the family to take with equanimity the death of Prince Audu; saying death is an inevitable end for every living being.

Aregbesola said: “One clear lesson is the transient nature of life itself; it’s not about Prince Audu, but about the fact that death is a certainty that must come to every living being, not only human but every living being.

The governor noted that Prince Audu’s death was not only a loss to his immediate family and the APC but also to the people of Kogi state, who he served as commissioner and governor twice.

“It is my fervent prayer that Allah will grant him Aljanah Firdaus and give the people of Kogi State the fortitude to bear the loss. We also pray Allah to comfort his family and give them courage and hope.”

He also urged family members and supporters of Prince Abubakar Audu to take heart and consider the death an act of God, saying Audu lived a life of service whose concern for the unity, stability and progress of Kogi remained unshakable until he breathed his last.

Pictures of Professor Wole Soyinka and Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, during the commissioning of Wole Soyinka Government High School, Ejigbo, State of Osun on Monday 23-11-2015

Professor Wole Soyinka and Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf
Aregbesola, during the commissioning of Wole Soyinka Government High
School, Ejigbo, State of Osun on Monday 23-11-2015

Professor Wole Soyinka (Middle); Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf
Aregbesola (2rd left); his wife, Sherifat (left); Deputy Governor, Mrs
Titi Laoye-Tomori (2rd right) and Speaker of the House of Assembly,
Hon. Najeem Salam (right), during the commissioning of Wole Soyinka
Government High School, Ejigbo, State of Osun on Monday 23-11-2015

From right, Wife of Osun State Governor, Sherifat Aregbesola; Governor Rauf
Aregbesola; Professor Wole Soyinka; Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Loaye-Tomori
and others, during the commissioning of Wole Soyinka Government High
School, Ejigbo, State of Osun on Monday 23-11-2015

Pictures of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the Director General, International  Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan; Dr. Nteranya Sangiga and Deputy Director General Partnership & Capacity Development (IITA);  Dr. Kenton Dashiell, during the Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Osun Government and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, at Governor’s office, Abere, Osogbo, on Tuesday 17/11/2015.

From left- Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Director
General International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA),
Ibadan, Dr. Nteranya Sangiga and Deputy Director General Partnership &
Capacity Development, IITA, Dr. Kenton Dashiell, and Head of
Administration, (IITA), Mrs. Sylva Oyinlola, during the Signing of
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Osun Government and
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, at Governor’s office, Abere, Osogbo, on Tuesday 17/11/2015.

From left- Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori,
Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Director General International Institute of
Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan; Dr. Nteranya Sangiga and Deputy
Director General Partnership & Capacity Development (IITA); Dr.
Kenton Dashiell, during the Signing of Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) between Osun Government and International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture, at Governor’s office, Abere, Osogbo, on Tuesday
17/11/2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle), Director
General International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA),
Ibadan, Dr. Nteranya Sangiga (2nd right); Secretary to the State
Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (left) and Deputy Director General
Partnership & Capacity Development of the IITA, Dr. Kenton Dashiell
(right), during the Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between the State Government and International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture, at Governor’s office, Abere, Osogbo, on Tuesday
17/11/2015.

REMARKS BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OSUN, OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA, AT THE SIGNING OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN THE STATE GOVERNMENT OF OSUN AND THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE (IITA), HELD AT THE EXCO LOUNGE OF THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, BOLA IGE HOUSE, ABERE, ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2015
Protocols,
A Timely Partnership
I am most pleased to be here and welcome you all to this great event, the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the State Government of Osun and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
Under this partnership, we are releasing 204.39 hectares of land around Ago Owu in the state, to IITA for the purpose of conducting research and setting up demonstration farms for best farming practices. IITA will carry out cassava, plantain and other crops multiplication. It will also train Osun youths on modern, commercial and profitable farming. This will no doubt complement our agriculture programme and give it a new fillip. It will bring capital to our state, extend robustly the agriculture value chain, create jobs and hopefully make millionaires out of our farmers, especially the youths that are being attracted to farming.
IITA, a member of the Consultative Group for International Agriculture Research (CGIAR), is a foremost research institution established in 1967 for the development of agriculture in this region. The State of Osun, created in 1991, is a predominantly agrarian state. Agricultural development, especially for food production, has been the main thrust of our administration’s policies since our coming in November 2011. Our relationship with IITA, therefore, looks like it was made in heaven. Given our both commitment to agriculture, it is inevitable that our paths would cross.
To be sure, this is not our first collaboration. At the beginning of this year in January, we signed an MoU that eventually produced today’s ground breaking event. IITA has been very supportive of our flagship agriculture programme, Osun Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Programme (O’REAP) in many ways.
I must commend the institute’s Director General, Dr Nteranya Sanginga, whose coming has reenergised IITA and has taken it from the insularity of a research enclave into the planting fields of the vast farms. I hate to compare, but given the innovations he has carried out at IITA and how he has taken it a notch higher the development ladder, I must say that Dr Sanginga understands the critical role of agriculture research institutes in our continent’s grim battle against the scourge of hunger and poverty, more than any of his predecessors.
Under him, we are seeing IITA breaking out, providing the lacking critical linkage between research and implementation. This our partnership simply means that we are going to have direct-to-farm linkage of scientific innovations in farming by the very best of agriculture scientists.
The parcel of land being released to IITA is very strategic. It is embedded within a farm settlement of 4,000 hectares of the 11,496 hectares of land we are developing in the Ago Owu area. We have also opened up another farm settlement in Mokore on 3,340 hectares of land. This IITA centre is surrounded by some 28 farming villages whom we expect would be the first beneficiaries of the farming innovation that would come from the centre. There is no doubt that this would spread to the entire farming community in Osun and then to our neighbouring states.
Big things start small. I am convinced that what we are starting today would lead to agriculture revolution, not just in Osun, but in Nigeria as a whole.
With our Bonny Light selling for $38.18 yesterday, we don’t need a soothsayer to tell us that our focus must shift to agriculture if we must survive the looming financial storm. We believe that it is for this reason that God has positioned Dr Sanginga in our country at this time, as a light first to Nigeria and the continent of Africa as a whole. We are confident therefore that IITA would surpass our expectations and showcase this project as a worthy and unsurpassable model.
I therefore thank the entire IITA team that has been working behind the scene to make this deal come through. I will also like to thank our team led by Dr Charles Akinola of the Office of Economic Development and Partnership (OEDP) and other organisations and individuals that have been of good assistance to us.
I thank you all for your kind attention.
Osun a dara!

In a bid to make agriculture the mainstay of the state’s economy and stay afloat the oil gluts, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

The signing ceremony which took place at the Executive Lounge of the Office of the Governor in Osogbo‎ will have the state release 204.39 hectares of land around Ago Owu in the state, to IITA for the purpose of conducting research and setting up demonstration farms for best farming practices.

IITA will also carry out cassava, plantain and other crops multiplication and train Osun youths on modern, commercial and profitable farming.

Signing the MOU on behalf of the state government, Governor Aregbesola stated that releasing the farmland to IITA will complement Osun agriculture programme, extending robustly the agriculture value chain and create jobs for farmers, especially the youths that are being attracted to farming.

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The Governor commended ‎IITA and her Director General Dr. Nteranya Sanging for being supportive of Osun’s flagship agriculture programme, Osun Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Programme (O’REAP) in many ways.

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He stressed that agricultural development especially food production has been the main thrust of his administration’s policies since his assumption of office in November, 2010. ‎

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The Governor attributed challenges facing farmers to lack of critical linkage between agricultural research and implementation, adding that with the MoU and partnership with IITA, Osun stands to have direct-to-farm linkage of scientific innovations in farming with the best of agriculture scientists.

According to him, “with our Bonny Light selling for $38.18 yesterday, we don’t need a soothsayer to tell us that our focus must shift to agriculture if we must survive the looming financial storm.

“We believe that it is for this reason that God has positioned Dr. Sanginga in our country at this time, as a light first to Nigeria and the continent of Africa as a whole.‎

‎”Osun is a predominantly agrarian state. Agricultural development, especially for food production, has been the main thrust of our administration’s policies since our coming in November 2010.

“Our relationship with IITA, therefore, looks like it was made in heaven. Given our commitment to agriculture, it is inevitable that our paths would cross”. The governor stressed.

‎Speaking earlier, the Director General Office of Economic Development and Partnerships (OEDP), Dr. Charles Akinola stated that there had been relationship with IITA for over four years.

He held that the MOU is an epoch-making event that will facilitate a working relationship with OREAP carrying out crop multiplication and all inputs of planting material will be adequately considered.

He said, “we are anticipating large impact from this partnership, the location is close to the two major farm settlements that we have in the state.

“In these areas, we hope it will translate to the development of 14,000 settlerso. We expect that the impact of IITA will be felt among about 85 villages and the state as a whole”.

In his address, the Director General of IITA, ‎Dr. Nteranya Sanging‎ stated that the time has come for Nigeria to diversify from its dependence on oil, saying with the disappearance of the oil boom, the country must turn to agriculture to survive.

He held that the only source of wealth for Africa is agriculture, noting that agriculture is one of the best ways to get the teeming youth of Africa employed‎.

He implored Governor Aregbesola to keep to his own side of the MOU adding that IITA will hit the ground running in Osun with the 1,00‎0 extension workers provided by the state for the multiplication of seedlings.

He said “I want to ask these two questions, just think of Africa or Osun state with‎out cassava or yam?. If not for the research of IITA there may not have been cassava as it is in the soil of Africa, our Genetic resource centre contained all seeds.

“What we have to do is to use that resources for the benefit of Osun, we will soon start a small programme on Banana and cassava, we will give some of the seed to Osun”. The IITA boss stated.

Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) is a World Bank assisted program of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The State of Osun is amongst other States of the Federation participating in the implementation of YESSO.
The support operation is in line with the World Bank and Nigeria’s commitment to poverty reduction by permitting the poor to access increased opportunities for youth employment and social service delivery.
YESSO is supporting existing institutions to help strengthen capacities for poverty alleviation.
Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) is also a World Bank assisted project aimed at improving access to services for Human Development.
The project is expected to have positive impact with respect to human development outcomes through the financing of social and economic common goods as well as upward and downward accountability between communities and Local Government Areas and State.
WORLD BANK COMES TO OSUN NEXT WEEK
In line with the foregoing, the World Bank is coming to Osun for CDSP and YESSO joint supervision mission on the 18th and 19th of November 2015.
Mission objective is to support government on specific implementation and technical aspects related to on-going projects. This will include helping government in assessing progress on the agreed operation action plans in participating States.
The team is to be led by Dr Wale Oni from the World Bank and would be co-hosted by CSDP and YESSO.
‘Femi Ifaturoti
Coordinator, Osun YESSO
On behalf of CSDP and YESSO

Osun State House of Assembly has said the meagre resources coming to the state have been properly managed and utilised by Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration.
The Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Rasheed Afolabi stated this at the inaugural meeting of his committee.
He said the resources accrued to the state within the last five years have been properly managed and invested in infrastructural development.
According to him, if not for the fall in the resources accruing to the state, there would have been multiplier effect of the investment on the state economy than what has been on ground.

“If you have your developmental plans based on your revenue expectations and it is not coming as it is in the case here, the only thing is to go back to the drawing board and re-adjust your plan.
“To the best of our knowledge, the little resources available to Osun under the present administration was properly and adequately applied and managed”, he said.

Pictures of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Ataoja of Osogbo Land, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, during the Conferment of Award of Excellence in Basic Education to the Governor AOPSHON, at GMT Events Centre, Ring Road Area, Osogbo on Wednesday 18/11/2015.

From left – Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori,
Governor Rauf Aregbesola, National President, Association of Primary
Schools Headteachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), Alhaji Mahmud Lawal and
Ataoja of Osogbo Land, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, during the Conferment of
Award of Excellence in Basic Education to the Governor by AOPSHON, at
GMT Events Centre, Ring Road Area, Osogbo on Wednesday 18/11/2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Ataoja of Osogbo
Land, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, during the Conferment of Award of
Excellence in Basic Education to the Governor AOPSHON, at GMT Events
Centre, Ring Road Area, Osogbo on Wednesday 18/11/2015.

From right- National President, Association of Primary Schools
Headteachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), Alhaji Mahmud Lawal, Governor State
of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, his Deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori
and Senior Special Adviser to Anambra State Governor on Special
Duties, Dr Amaka Akudo, during the Conferment of Award of Excellence
in Basic Education to Governor Aregbrsola by AOPSHON, at GMT Events
Centre, Ring Road Area, Osogbo on Wednesday 18/11/2015.

Senior Special Adviser to Anambra State Governor on Special Duties, Dr
Amaka Akudo Presenting an Award of Excellence to Governor Rauf
Aregbesola of Osun, on behalf of the Association of Primary Schools
Headteachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), at GMT Events Centre, Ring Road
Area, Osogbo on Wednesday 18/11/2015.

…To name new school after Soyinka

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has on Wednesday said his administration will leave no stone unturned in giving Osun a legacy of an enhanced environment of learning‎ obtainable in any advanced country of the world.
This was even as the Association of Primary Schools Headteachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON) lauded the educational policies and programmes initiated by the Osun State Government under the leadership of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
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The governor stated this while receiving an Award of Excellence from the Association of Primary school Headteachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON) in Osogbo.‎
Aregbesola noted that his government has  come to the realisation that school environment largely determine the quality and character of students produced.
He stressed that as part of his administration’s commitment to the development of education in the state, government will be putting forward for use a High school facilty with the capacity of 3,000 students named after Prof. Wole Soyinka in Ejigbo on Monday‎
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He thanked the Association for finding the state worthy of being the host of her National convention,  contrary to adversarial media impression.
The Governor held that Osun is a safe haven and the best place for the meeting of serious minds, saying It is peaceful, safe and endowed with the beauty of nature in its grandeur. ‎
Aregbesola added that education has been a major policy thrust of his government in Osun since the inception of our administration and the reason for the considerable amount of resources and effort spent on education.‎
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According to the Governor, “un‎doubtedly, education is also a common denominator between us; it is a passion we both share and it is my great desire that we both take it to a great level. On our part, we have given our possible best to education and will continue to do so.
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“We are therefore building state of the art 100 elementary schools. The idea behind this is that there should be an elementary public school in every neighbourhood. We are also building 50 middle and 20 high schools. Out of these, 14 elementary schools, 15 middle schools and 11 high schools have been completed.
“Work is ongoing on the rest and they are at different stages of completion. It is our sincere hope that we shall complete them before the end of our tenure.
“On Monday, we are going to present our model high school, named after a worthy Nigerian and a great educationist himself, Prof Wole Soyinka. It is a school in a class of its own, that will accommodate 3,000 pupils, with full learning infrastructure”. The governor told the gathering.‎
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The Association through its National President, Alhaji Mahmud Lawal commended the governor. For his giant stride in Education.
He described the state educational policies as one of the best in the world, saying Governor Aregbesola has bridged the wider gap between the public and private education in the country.
Alhaji Lawal who identified with the state government on the current economic situation lauded Aregbesola for his unwavering support to quality education as he has provided a smooth template and conducive academic environment for pupils and students across the state.
He averred that in spite the current financial challenges being encountered by the present administration, the state didn’t deter from all the programmes embarked upon.
The (AOPSHON) National President contented that the state government has been building its educational policies on the solid rock of academic transformation, success and development which according to him has manifested in the quality of its pupils and students.
He said the provision of viable educational sector in the state has significantly translated into what he described as vibrant basic education knowledge acquisition which according to remain the best stage of learning.
According to him ” Osun State deserves a worthwhile commendation and encomium especially on its giant strides and laudable achievements in educational sector which had earned it several accolades and international recognition.
“Though our coming to Osun State was primarily to hold our annual National Seminar/Workshop and as well acknowledge the trends of general development and immense contributions of the current government in education most importantly elementary education.
“we have identified primary education as the most essential part of human life which must not be ignored by any serious government as it sets pace for subsequent knowledge acquisition and academic qualifications.
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