State governments have been urged to increase the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to fast-track their socio-economic development agenda.
The call was made in a statement issued by the Nigeria Information ‎Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) in Lagos. The statement, signed by the executive members of the association, said deliberate use of ICT tools to automate processes in government and support every aspect of the states’ economy has become imperative if the country’s Vision to be one of the 20 most industrialised economies in 2020 is to be attained.
“Today, Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa, and we have the auspicious Vision 20:2020, which aims at making Nigeria one of the leading economies in the next six years. To achieve this, it’s our believe that both the federal and state governments will have to infuse ICT into their processes as well as using ICT to automate every sector of the states’ economy,” the statement said. NITRA, however, commended state governments, especially Osun State, for deliberate deployment of ICT to support e-learning and automate government processes, resulting in growth in the state’s revenue generation.
According to the statement, “Osun State is one of the state governments in Nigeria that has taken deliberate decision to deploy ICT to drive economic growth and deepen e-learning in the state. It is noteworthy that the strategic use of ICT tools and services by current administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in Osun State to advance the course of development in the state, using ICT has become a sterling example of how other states should leverage ICT to pursue their development agenda.”

The tablet contains over 56 textbooks, 900 minutes of virtual classroom lessons and 1000 Practice Questions for WAEC and JAMB. In addition to aiding preparation for School Leaving Examinations, the introduction of the tool is today aiding adoption of ICT skills among students in the state. “We hope that in years to come, the state government will begin to reap the harvest of this laudable ICT initiative, where ‎digital education is being advanced in the state,” NITRA said.
The group similarly noted that Osun State has leveraged ICT for capacity building among youths in the state, promoted ICT investment in the state with the siting of RLG Communication, a phone manufacturing firm in the state, as well as deploying ICT to enhance delivery of government services to the the citizens of the state in a way that is transparent and process-driven.
THIS DAY

Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, his Wife, Sherifat and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, during a Courtesy Visit to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Wednesday 03-12-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right); his Wife, Sherifat and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, during a Courtesy Visit to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Wednesday 03-12-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (centre); his Wife, Sherifat; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi (3rd left); Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Rauf Adedeji (2nd right); Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Rasheed Olabomi (left); Oru of Imoru-Ijebu, Oba Munirudeen Bashorun (right) and Asiwaju Adeen of Yorubaland, Chief Tunde Badmus, during Alaafin’s Courtesy Visit to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Wednesday 03-12-2014

The Government of the State of Osun and the National Defence College on Wednesday agreed that Nigeria requires a more unique strategy towards combating poverty as a way of maintaining national security.
While the National Defence College commended what it called the unique ways in which the Osun government has been generating employments and thereby reducing risks of insecurity, the state government said its heavy investment in schemes such as the highly impactful school feeding programme, youth employment scheme and others have helped in making its economy the 7th largest economy and the state with the 3rd GDP per capital despite being the state with the least revenue from the federal allocation.
The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, while hosting members of the Course 23 of the National Defence College at the Government House told the team that a well-run economy such as obtains in Osun has the capacity to reduce the burden of insecurity and make the job of the Defence personnel and other security agencies less cumbersome.
The Director, National Military Strategy, Air Commodre AbdulGaniy Olabisi, who led the Course 23 Participants of the College on a courtesy call commended Aregbesola for developing the economy of the state to the benefit of the masses.
The governor lamented the current financial predicament of the country, ascribing it‎ to the Nation’s heavy reliance on crude oil to the detriment of agriculture and other money-spinning sectors of the economy.
Aregbesola stated that the over dependence of the country on oil cannot be sustained for too long, noting that, still depending on oil at this time of oil glut may spell doom for the stability of Nigeria’s economy.
He held that the country must look inward ‎on how to sustain it’s economy through other sectors like agriculture and other mineral resources which were sustaining the country before the advent of the oil boom.
According to him, “The dependence on oil will undermine the stability of the country if care is not taken. What is happening to oil cannot be helped by the country, beyond the issue of international relations, personal interests of some producing states comes to play.
“We must look inward to salvage our economy. Our people are overstretched with the sacrifices they have made with the decline in the price of oil. Therefore, the country must earnestly diversify the economy for the benefit of our people.
“The economy of Nigeria is in a bad stage; a state that does not give anybody a clue of what will happen next, all hands must be on deck to safe the country from doldrums,” Aregbesola stressed.
He advised that‎ the school feeding programme is an alternative approach to development, saying that for the country to eliminate insurgencies, government must ensure that poverty is reduced and lives of Nigerians made meaningful.
The governor pointed out that development can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace hence government must do everything to make the development and growth of the people it’s priority.
He said, “We will not be able to liquidate insurgency completely because we must first liquidate it by putting in place policies and programmes that will bring to the barest minimum the unnecessary insurgents that will want to threaten our security.
“Development is freedom, peace and security. The level of development that is acceptable is where every individual sees themselves as a relevant part of the society”.
The governor added that Osun has been able to improve its economy through the school feeding of over 250 thousand elementary pupils every school day.
He revealed that the programme has directly employed 3,007 women and over tens of thousands of farmers in the state.
Aregbesola stated that if Nigeria can focus on a school feeding programme that will not allow any imported materials, the country will be able to improve its economy.
Speaking earlier, Air Cdre Abdulganiy Olabisi congratulated the people of Osun on the inauguration of Aregbesola for second term.
He said the National Defence College chose Osun as the focus of its study of the economy and that of job creation‎ due to the excellent performance of the governor of the state in the development of the economy.
Olabisi noted that the 23 Course of the National Defence College noted that the country as a whole is faced with the challenges of poverty and unemployment hence the need to check out how Aregbesola is doing it in Osun.
He said, “Before we came here, we had done our background study of Osun on economy and finance. The visit is for us to have a first-hand experience of Osun for us to be able to teach what we have seen practically.
“We have visited Osun Investment Company Limited (OSICOL) and Omoluabi Garment Factory. We found out that the two companies and that of the Adulawo RLG computer village are doing fine. We are impressed with what is happening in Osun”.
Governor Aregbesola was joined by the his Deputy Iyaafin Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori and other top government functionaries in receiving the course participants.
OSUN DEFENDER

THE Election Petition Tribunal adjudicating over complaints arising from August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun State, on Tuesday, admitted as exhibit a subpoena and four bags of ballot papers used during the exercise in Ilesa East Local Government.
Standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the poll, Senator Iyiola Omisore, is contesting the result of the election won by the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Governor Rauf Aregbesola, in 17 local local government councils, including Ilesa East.
At Tuesday’s sitting, a star witness and forensic expert, presented by the petitioner, Omisore, Mr Pius Bakare, appeared before the commission to give his testimony.
The lead counsel to the petitioner, Dr Alex Izinyon, leading the forensic expert in witness, tendered a subpoena and four bags of the ballot papers produced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, the move was objected by counsel to the 1st Respondent (Rauf Aregbesola), Akin Olujimi, APC counsel, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and counsel to INEC, Ayotunde Ogunleye.
In his argument, Olujimi contended that the subpoena tendered from the bar by Izinyon was not a Certified True Copy (CTC), hence it is not admissible before the panel, stressing that the forensic expert brought by the petitioner had no connection with the subpoena.
He also maintained that there was no fact to authenticate that the sacks of ballot papers brought to the court were produced by INEC officials.
Olujimi, who observed that the expert witness was not the author of the documents and therefore cannot tender them, said that certain marks were made on the subpoena which makes it inevitable for the person who made the marks to be cross-examined.
TRIBUNE

Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Director National Military Strategy of the National Defence College, Course 23, Commodore Abdul Ganiy Olabisi, during a Team from Defence College’s visit to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo, the State of Osun on Tuesday 02-12-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Director National
Military Strategy of the National Defence College, Course 23,
Commodore Abdul Ganiy Olabisi, during a Team from Defence College’s
visit to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo, the State of Osun
on Tuesday 02-12-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Director National
Military Strategy of the National Defence College, Course 23,
Commodore Abdul Ganiy Olabisi, during a Team from Defence College’s
visit to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo, the State of Osun
on Tuesday 02-12-2014

From left, Commander, Engineering Company, Ede, Brig. General Gbenga
Adeyemi; Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori;
Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Director National Military Strategy of
the National Defence College, Course 23, Commodore Abdul Ganiy
Olabisi, during a Team from Defence College’s visit to the Governor at
Government House, Osogbo, the State of Osun on Tuesday 02-12-2014

From left, Head of Service, State of Osun, Mr. Sunday Owoeye;
Commander, Engineering Company, Ede, Brig. General Gbenga Adeyemi;
Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf
Aregbesola; Director National Military Strategy of the National
Defence College, Course 23, Commodore Abdul Ganiy Olabisi; Brig. Gen.
Joel Unnigbe; Commodore Micheal Okonkwo; Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf and
Captain Muktar Abdulai, during a Team from Defence College’s visit to
the Governor at Government House, Osogbo, the State of Osun on Tuesday
02-12-2014

One of the witnesses called by Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Moshood Adejare, to prove the allegation of malpractices in the August 9th governorship election failed to prove the allegation of overvoting he alleged in his witness statement on oath at the Election Petitions Tribunal.
Adejare, who was called by counsel to the petitioner, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), had earlier adopted the statement he deposed to at the registry of the tribunal as his evidence before the court.
Adejare, a ward supervisor for PDP in Ede South during the poll had alleged overvoting among other irregularities before the tribunal.
However, the All Progressives Congress’ counsel, Mr. Kunle Adegoke, during cross examination confronted the witness with exhibit 207 which is result for the ward but he said he could not find evidence of overvoting there.
He added that his explanation might not have been full.
The counsel described him jokingly as a witness of truth and said he should be given an award by his religious leader.
The counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mr. Ayotunde Ogunleye, also challenged the witness to prove the allegation of superimposition which was contained in his deposition but he failed to establish this before the panel.
Asked what he superimposition meant, Adejare said, ” It is when you complain of irregularities and your complaints are not attended to.”
Another witness, Taofeek Opaleye, from Boripe Local Government Area of the state also alleged that eligible voters suspected to be supporters of the PDP were prevented from voting by some APC leaders.
He admitted that he voted but he stated that PDP agents were forced to sign election results.
The third witness, Oluwaseun Fapohunda, stunned the tribunal, when during cross examination, he said that Governor Rauf Aregbesola voted at his polling unit in Oriade Local Government whereas Aregbesola is from Ilesa in Ilesa West Local Government Area.
Fapohunda also alleged overvoting and he was presented exhibit 203 ( election result for his areas) but he said it was not clear after the counsel had given his ( counsel) glasses to the witness to assist him to read the result.
The tribunal’s proceedings are still going on.
DAILY TIMES
Aregbesola Opposes Omisore’s Forensic Expert’s Report 
Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola has urged the Election Petitions Tribunal hearing matters arising from the August 9th governorship election to reject the report tendered by the forensic data analysis and ICT expert called by Senator Iyiola Omisore to prove his petition.
Counsel to the petitioner, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), led the expert witness in evidence on Tuesday at the resumed hearing of the matter.
Izinyon sought to tender the report of the witness but Aregbesola’s counsel, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), who represented the All Progressives Congress and the INEC counsel, Mr. Ayotunde Ogunleye raised objection to the admissibility of the report.
The first respondent (Aregbesola) said that the document did not comply with the provisions of Section 84 of the Evidence Act.
According to him, the report is computer generated and such requires a certificate that the computer used in arriving at conclusion was working properly when it was used.
Osinbajo, who aligned himself with the arguments of Aregbesola’s counsel cited a Court of Appeal ruling in Akeredolu versus Mimiko to back his argument.
Counsel for the INEC said computers could be used to do photo tricks and that was why the provision of Section 84 of the Evidence Act was sacrosanct.
Izinyon while reacting on point of law said that Appeal Court just warned court to be weary of using experts opinions.
He also described the reliance of the respondents on the Section 84 of the Evidence Act as a gross misconception and misapplication of what the section contained.
The tribunal admitted the document and reserved ruling on its admissibility until judgment stage.
Meanwhile, the tribunal has warned lawyers and those attending the proceedings against taking photographs of witnesses and uploading same on social media.
The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime gave the warning before the proceedings started on Tuesday.
She said, “It has come to our notice that some persons are taking photographs of witnesses and uploading them on Facebook. This is wrong. I believe all of us here are matured.
“I observed somebody (a lawyer) was fidgeting with his phone yesterday and he denied. But there was no evidence against him.
Why are those involved doing this? Is it to expose the witnesses to unnecessary danger?
“Be warned! If you are eventually found out, justice will take its course.”
PUNCH

It was remarkable as Osun civil servants thronged on Governor Rauf Aregbesola on arrival at Bola Ige House- his office- the first time after taking oath for his second term as Osun governor.
The workers; led by the Head of Service, Sunday Owoeye were ecstatic as they sang praise songs- thanking God for bringing back the man that has brought various inovation that has impacted positively on Osun workers.
Governor Aregbesola took second oath of office last Thursday.
Addressing the workers, 5 he Osun governor noted that the song with which the workers welcomed him to office reminded him that three days was already out of his second term calender. He explained that he made a pronouncement after he took the Thursday oath to further develop the state with the speech of twenty years within the next four years of his new administration. He urged the workers to stand up to the task ahead.
Aregbesola thanked the workers for appreciating what was achieved by his government the first term.
He urged the workers to ignore the grandstanding of the opposition; adding that no amount of shenanigans of the opposition can truncate the steady growth Osun is experiencing. He said members of opposition “are telling all sorts of lies on a radio station in Ife in order to continue their grip on ignorant members of their fold”. He however decried the inaction of the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, NBC- adding that the broadcast regulatory body “is allowing evil by not cautioning a radio in Ife.
“This is not how to operate in a civilised community. Don’t insult our senses by inciting the public.
“What they were saying before the inauguration on the radio was that inauguration would not hold. Unfortunately for them the inauguration has held”, Aregbesola said.

Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has urged members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) to see their call to service as a call for dedication and commitment to the success of the nation now and in the future. The governor stated this yesterday at the NYSC orientation camp, Ede, Osun State during the formal opening of orientation exercise and swearing-in ceremony of the 2,780 batch ‘C’ deployed to the state.
The Chief Judge of the state, Justice Adepele Ojo administered the oath of office on corps members comprising of 1,339 males and 1,441 females. Aregbesola who was represented on the occasion by his Deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye Tomori, told the corps members that their deployment to the state was designed for a purpose and charged them to strive hard to be relevant in the state in the next one year.
THISDAY

One of the witnesses called by Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Moshood Adejare, to prove the allegation of malpractices in the August 9th governorship election failed to prove the allegation of overvoting he alleged in his witness statement on oath at the Election Petitions Tribunal.
Adejare, who was called by  counsel to the petitioner, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), had earlier adopted the statement he deposed to at the registry of the tribunal as his evidence before the court.
Adejare, a ward supervisor for PDP in Ede South during the poll had alleged overvoting among other irregularities before the tribunal.
However, the All Progressives Congress’ counsel, Mr. Kunle Adegoke, during cross examination confronted the witness with exhibit 207 which is result for the ward but he said he could not find evidence of overvoting there.
He added that his explanation might not have been full.
The counsel described him jokingly as a witness of truth and said he should  be given an award by his religious leader.
The counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mr. Ayotunde Ogunleye, also challenged the witness to prove the allegation of superimposition which was contained in his deposition but he failed to establish this before the panel.
Asked what he superimposition meant, Adejare said, ” It is when you complain of irregularities and your complaints are not attended to.”
Another witness, Taofeek Opaleye, from Boripe Local Government Area of the state also alleged that eligible voters suspected to be supporters of the PDP were prevented from voting by some APC leaders.
He admitted that he voted but he stated that PDP agents were forced to sign election results.
The third witness, Oluwaseun Fapohunda, stunned the tribunal, when during cross examination, he said that Governor Rauf Aregbesola voted at his polling unit in Oriade Local Government whereas Aregbesola is from Ilesa in Ilesa West Local Government Area.
Fapohunda also alleged overvoting and he was presented exhibit 203 ( election result for his areas) but he said it was not clear  after the counsel had given his ( counsel) glasses to the witness to assist him to read the result.
The tribunal’s proceedings are still going on.
DAILY TIMES