Download inspiring Quotes from the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Today’s Quote is focused on GOVERNANCE. Visit the website at www.osun.gov.ng or Twitter @stateofosun for more updates on the State of Osun and its projects.
Category: News
Governor Rauf Aregbesola will today, 19th May, 2014 unveil his highly rated school feeding programme, O’MEALS, in Abuja where governors, ministers and international experts will gather to share his administration’s experiences for the benefits of farmers, community and Nigerian pupils.
Soon after this summit, Governor Aregbesola is expected to play host to state governments who are keen to learn from the Osun O’MEALS experience to achieve a sustainable implementation strategy for all-round benefits of stakeholders.
Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who is expected to be one of the keynote speakers at the parley, is expected to share the experiences of his administration with other states and Federal Government on how to achieve an integrated benefit chain for farmers to enjoy maximum advantages from the school feeding programme.
On 22nd January, 2014, Governor Aregbesola had, through the invitation of the Partnership for Child’s Development in conjunction with Imperial College, London, addressed the Parliament of the United Kingdom on the successes recorded by his administration on the school feeding programme.
Apart from Governor Aregbesola, his Kano State counterpart, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso; the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; Minister of Health, Professor Chukwu Onyebuchi; Education Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike; will also deliver keynote speeches at the occasion.
On the international scene, leading experts from the Imperial College, London, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, World Bank and World Food Programme are also expected to share their international expertise with the gathering for the benefit of the Nigerian child.
In order to share from the Osun experience and build on it, the Minister of Education, Barrister Nyesom Wike, with support from the Vitol Foundation, has invited his counterparts from the Ministries of Agriculture and Health, the Governors from Osun State and Kano State and development partners including the Partnership for Child Development, the World Bank and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to discuss how best to support other Nigerian states looking to benefit from HGSF programmes.
Described as a win-win situation for children and smallholder farmers alike, Home Grown School Feeding programmes, as implemented for hundreds of thousands of pupils in Osun Elementary Schools, provide hot fresh nutritious meals using ingredients procured from local smallholder farmers.
The programme which dates back to 2004 when 13 states of Nigeria implemented HGSF as a pilot programme, regrettably remained in only two states of Osun and Kano after a decade of its operation.
Till date, only the states of Osun and Kano, are still feeding their school children just as its impact of 28 per cent jump in primary school enrolment in addition to the creation of over 3,000 new jobs under the Aregbesola administration become the high points of state level experiences to be shared at the meeting. Only Osun has kept the scale in which the scheme is implemented.
The Osun State Government’s development of school feeding has benefited from the technical advice and support provided by Imperial College London’s Partnership for Child Development (PCD). PCD in partnership with the World Bank and WFP has been providing directed, evidence based support for the design and management of school feeding programmes linked to agricultural production.
While speaking about the summit, Dr. Lesley Drake,the Executive Director of the Partnership for Child’s Development (PCD) said,
“The meeting is an excellent example of high level inter-ministerial collaboration at the federal and state level to design sustainable school feeding programmes which will improve the lives of children and smallholder farmers across the country”.
Immediately following this meeting a technical workshop in Osun, hosted by the state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, will be held for states that are keen to learn from Osun’s expertise in running sustainable HGSF programmes.
Photos from the Two-Day Conference of Foremost Traditional Rulers in Osun on the Overall Development of the State at Centre for Black Culture and International Understandings, Abere, State of Osun on Thursday 15-05-2014
From right, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Nigerian
Poet, Writer and Social Critic, Odia Ofeimun and Ooni of Ife, Oba
Okunade Sijuade, during a Two-Day Conference of Foremost Traditional
Rulers in Osun on the Overall Development of the State at Centre for
Black Culture and International Understandings, Abere, State of Osun
on Thursday 15-05-2014
From left, Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; Governor State of Osun,
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Oyedotun and Ataoja
of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, during a Two-Day Conference of
Foremost Traditional Rulers in Osun on the Overall Development of the
State at Centre for Black Culture and International Understandings,
Abere, State of Osun on Thursday 15-05-2014
From left, Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; Governor State of Osun,
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Oyedotun and Ataoja
of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, during a Two-Day Conference of
Foremost Traditional Rulers in Osun on the Overall Development of the
State at Centre for Black Culture and International Understandings, Abere, State of Osun on Thursday 15-05-2014
In 2013, up to $75billion dollars was invested by the governments of 169 countries into school feeding programmes. It is estimated that for every $1 spent feeding school children, $3 are generated for the local economy. Last week, a special meeting of global leaders in school feeding met in the UK parliament to discuss how governments are increasingly using school feeding programmes as a means to both improve educational outcomes and at the same time improve agricultural economies.
Leading experts including the Governor of Osun State, Nigeria and representatives from Imperial College London, the World Bank, the World Food Programme and the African Union were speaking at an All Party Parliamentary Group on Agriculture & Food for Development meeting on the evolution of home grown school feeding (HGSF) programmes. HGSF refers to school feeding programmes which procure their food from local smallholder farmers thereby supporting local rather than foreign markets.
The impact that a successful HGSF programme can have was provided by key note speaker, H.E Rauf Aregebesola, Governor of Osun State in Nigeria who said that since the launch of his State’s school meals programme (known as O’Meals) which feeds over 250,000 children every school day, enrolment has increased by 24%. The O’Meals programme provides employment to over 3,000 women and purchases food from over 1000 local farmers.
The experiences of Osun State tallies with that of governments from across the globe, the World Bank’s Professor Donald Bundy noted that analysis from the influential book, ‘Rethinking School Feeding’ that he co-authored in 2009, had identified that countries were increasingly turning to school feeding programmes as a form of a social safety net for their poorest communities. In Europe, in response to the recent recession, countries such as Spain, Portugal, France and the UK, had implemented school feeding programmes as means to protect their most vulnerable members of society.
This growth in school meal coverage provides an opportunity for local agricultural economies, Professor Bundy said, “School feeding programmes provide a structured demand for agricultural produce and can, when implemented correctly, encourage wider economic development. Even crisis hit countries such as Cote D’Ivoire, Madagascar, Mali and Sudan are shifting to nationally run programmes which procure their food from local smallholder farmers.”
Speaking on behalf of the African Union’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development, Ms Boitshepo Giyose agreed, ‘We’re seeing more and more sub-Saharan Africa countries adopted HGSF but they still need support to achieve this, international partners have a vital role to play in promoting cost-effective and sustainable programmes.”
The meeting was co-hosted by the Partnership for Child Development (PCD) from Imperial College London who is working with governments to build the evidence base and provide technical assistance for the development of effective and sustainable HGSF feeding programme.
Speaking at the event, PCD’s Executive Director, Dr Lesley Drake said, ‘Research shows that when properly designed, HGSF programmes can act as a win-win for both school children and smallholder farmers alike.’
She continued, “For integrated school feeding programmes to succeed like they have in Osun, governments and development partners alike need to integrate HGSF into their policies, strategies and plans for agriculture and for education.
Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has said that the moribund Cocoa Product Industry in Ede would soon become operational.
He spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Community Forum, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye on weekend at a public sensitization programme in Ede on government policies and programmes.
According to him, the government had last year signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chinese Company for the resuscitation of the industry, saying, “the resuscitation process is now at final stage”.
He said: “The resuscitation process of CPI is almost at the final stage and what this means is that we are bringing the industry back to life fully.
“When it is back to life, it will boost the economy of Ede, its environ and Osun in general and it would create job for our youths.
“This development is a departure from the past, this commitment is for real, he said.
Aregbesola then noted that the on-going resuscitation of the industry was one of the promises made by his administration which has now become a reality.
Calling for the continuous support of the people before, during and after the August 9 governorship election, the governor emphasized that he would continue to encourage investors through his policies and programmes to boost the economy of the state.
The governor re-emphasized the need for the people to ensure the sustenance of the peaceful co-existence in the state, urging that the youths should not allow themselves to be used for security breach.
Speaking at the Forum, the Timi of Edeland, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal usd the occasion to drum support for Aregbesola’s administration to ensure success in his developmental policies and programmes. Oba Adesola said that the programmes of the administration has benefitted the generality of the people of the state and deserve to be supported.
The monarch noted, “we are fully in support of the administration and with this support, we are optimistic that more development will come to this state”.
The company , which was grossly undervalued at 156 million naira is now worth 544.5 million naira by the effort of independent valuers from both sides.
In the new arrangement the state government shall own 30% equity share while the 70% equity share of the Chinese company shall be one billion twenty-one million, five hundred thousand naira(N1,021,500.00) only.
Also the new arrangement provides that the board of directors of the company shall consist of five directors, two representing the interest of the state while the other shall be appointed by the Chinese firm.
As the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States draw near, men and officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have pledged their readiness for the exercise.
This is as Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, warned security agencies in the state against compromising their oaths of service in the task of protecting, maintaining and sustaining peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the conduct of the August 9 governorship election in the state.
Zonal Commander of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Zone Four, Oladapo Jacob Amujare, gave the pledge when he paid Aregbesola a courtesy visit in his office.
Amujare, who commended the governor for the relative peace being enjoyed in Osun, said that the peace has engendered progress and unusual tangible and intangible developmental revolution since the beginning of Aregbesola’s assumption of office.
He said the government has demonstrated that it values and recognises the importance of security by ensuring a robust interaction among heads of security agencies in the state.
To reduce child morbidity in Nigeria, the Partnership for Child Development(PCD), Imperial College London recently supported the Nigerian Government to map 7,500 children for worm infections across 150 selected schools in Osun State, Nigeria. The exercise was part of a government-led mapping carried out across six states in Nigeria which will be used to construct an effective treatment plan ensuring schoolchildren are dewormed for infections posing a threat to their health, nutrition and development.
“This exercise demonstrates the commitment from Nigeria’s Government to eradicating NTDs, which will be enabled by determining the prevalence of parasitic worm infections Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) and Schistosomiasis”, said Nigeria’s National Coordinator for NTDs, Dr Obiageli Nebe.
Worm Impact on Children
Currently, 00 million children around the world suffer from STHs or schistosomiasis and often fail to attend school on a regular basis, those who do attend school are unable to concentrate and learn due in large part to tired or sickness. Worm infections can cause anaemia and malnutrition which means that children don’t have the energy they would otherwise. School-based deworming is universally recognized as a safe, simple and cost-effective solution. At a cost of less than 50 US cents per child per year – the benefits of school-based deworming are both immediate and enduring. Regular treatment can reduce school absenteeism by 25%.
Mapping Training
The exercise which ran from February 20 – March 8 was carried out across Nigerian states including Osun, Kebbi, Akwa-Ibom, Lagos, Bayelsa and Kogi States. The exercise was led by the Nigerian Government with support from the Children Investment Fund Foundation , SightSavers, PCD and other development organisations. To enhance mapping effectiveness, a training of trainers workshop focused on building capacity of state technical officers and partners was held in Lagos prior to the mapping, here attendees were taught to capture data from the field using new tools including the use of android smart phones.
PCD have supported School Health and Nutrition activities in the state since 2011, assisting the government to implement its school feeding programme using local produce sourced from local smallholder farmers.
The governor of State of Osun has inaugurated Peace Resolution Commission of Enquiries, a commission set up to examine cases of abuses and breach of the peace, stating that peace and orderliness are the twin cardinal objectives of his administration.
Quoting from Section 2, subsection 1 of Cap 29 of the state law which empowered the establishment of the Commission, Governor Rauf Aregbesola said protection of life and property is a constitutional provision and responsibility of every government.
Aregbesola said, “It is clear to me on assumption of office that maintenance of law and order will remain the bulwark and cornerstone of my administration.
“I also communicated this to my party members through series of warning that anyone who runs contrary to the law of the land would be met with adequate punishment.
“It is this maintenance of law and order that has brought absolute peace we are enjoying in the state today.
“The former Inspector-General of Police and Chairman Police Service Commission, Mr. Mike Okiro attested to the fact that Osun State is the most peaceful state in Nigeria when he visited us a few months ago.
“By submitting to the rule of law as citizens, the responsibility behoves on the government to guaranty rights to life, employment, residency and freedom of religion and the likes.
“We have taken proactive measures in the past to ensure this and we are more conscious now as we approach election months.
“Whatever we are doing here today is in the interests of law, security and order and government has no reason being in place without maintenance of law and order.
“It is the weakness of governance that allowed assassins who killed 5 Osun citizens not to be brought to justice some 6 years after such heinous crime was perpetuated”, said Aregbesola.
The Governor listed the scope of the Commission as including: power to receive petitions, investigate, determination of extent of injuries, punishment and compensation, recommendations, stoppage of further occurrence and identification of groups or individuals.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Abdukarim A. Adeigbe thanked the governor for finding him worthy to pilot the cause of entrenchment of peace and orderliness in the state.
Justice Adeigbe promised to do justice to all manner of persons and ensure that justice is not merely served, but seen to have been served satisfactorily.
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has appealed to broadcast organisations in Osun State to give equal opportunity and adequate coverage to all political parties before, during and after the August 9 governorship election in the state.
The Director General of the commission, Mr. Emeka Nba, gave the appeal at a stakeholders parley with representatives of political parties and media executive in the state in Osogbo on Friday.
Speaking on the theme, “Ensuring decency and fairness in political broadcasts,” Nba who was represented by the Director of Monitoring, Mr. Chris Nwoyo, urged broadcast organisations to exhibit professionalism through total adherence to NBC codes on electoral matters.
The director general said the commission would not hesitate to sanction any media house that violated its rules and regulations; stressing the need for broadcasting organisations to work assiduously for sustainability of the nation’s democratic governance.
In his remarks, Osun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Sunday Akere, urged politicians to engage in issue-based campaign rather than attacking personality.
Akere said politics should not be seen as a do-or-die affair but an instrument for socio-economic and political development.
The commissioner lauded NBC for its efforts to ensure free and credible governorship election in the state.
In their goodwill messages, Osun State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Lawrence Martins and Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Maishanu, represented by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs. Folashade Odoro, urged stakeholders in the electoral process to play the game according to the rules.
They called on politicians to eschew violence during their campaign.
Participants including the Director General of Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Soji Fadehan, and General Manager, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Mrs. Folashade Hastrup, lauded the NBC for reminding them of their responsibilities during electioneering process.
They promised to cooperate with the NBC to ensure a credible governorship election in the state.
The maiden edition of South-West Secondary Schools Games tagged DAWN Games begins today in Lagos with over 2,000 athletes and officials in attendance.
The DAWN Games, initiated for secondary school athletes from the six states of the South-west region namely, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states, is a 12-sport tournament of Nigeria School Sports Federation, (NSSF).
The sports are Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Chess, Football, Gymnastics, Scrabble, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Taekwondo and Volleyball.
It will be staged in three centres across Lagos: Agege Stadium, Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park, Yaba and the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.
According to the schedule of event released to the media by the Technical Sub-committee of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), athletes and officials are expected to check in to the Games Village today with accreditations taking off in full swing, while events will begin on Sunday May 18, with football and gymnastics taking the centre stage at the Agege Stadium and Rowe Park Sports Centre respectively.
According to the schedules, Rowe Park will also play host to Badminton, Basketball and Tennis. At TeslimBalogun Stadium, sports such as Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Volleyball, Swimming, Scrabble and Athletics will be on stage, while Agege Stadium will also host Chess.
It was gathered that Ogun is to be represented by 186 athletes, while no fewer than 163 athletes will represent Team Lagos.
Meanwhile, a member of basketball team for Lagos, OloladeAzeez has expressed confidence that Lagos will win gold medal in both male and female basketball event of the competition.
“I am happy to be among the players that will represent Lagos at DAWN Games. Our training so far is superb and very impressive. We are in good form now and ready to win gold medals for team Lagos in Basketball both male and female category,” he said.
Also, Team Lagos badminton Head Coach, Kayode Olatunji, said spirit in camp is high as the players are looking forward to participating at the DAWN Game scheduled to end on May 24.
THISDAY