The Government of Osun on Friday said the 46.30 percent performance of its students in the 2016 West Africa Examination Council Examinations confirms its huge investment in the education sector.
The government said for a state that once fell to a woeful 6 percent performance prior the Rauf Aregbesola administration to move up to 46.3 percent aptly illustrates the fact that the government’s various interventions in education are paying off.
 

 
A statement by the Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor said that the government is however not yet satisfied or resting on its oars until the state emerges the best state in the country in external examinations.
The statement, signed by the Bureau’s Director, Semiu Okanlawon, noted that the 2016 WAEC results indicate that the 2016 performance rating remains the highest and the best in 13 years.
In 2015, results of the WASCE showed that Osun ended up with 21. percent in performance.
The details of the results from WASCE showed that Osun presented for the examination, a total of 36,678 students with 18,318 males and 18,360 females.
Out of these, 8,329 males secured Credits in at least 5 subjects including English and Mathematics while 8,654 females candidates secured credits in English and Mathematics totaling 16,983 that got 5 credits with Mathematics and English.
The state had registered 48,845 candidates the previous year, 2015 with 25,347 males and 23,498 female candidates. Out of these, 5,314 male candidates got 5 credits and and above in Mathematics and English while 5,276 female candidates secured at least 5 Credits including Mathematics and English making a total of 10,590 to make the 21.68 percent performance of 2015.
The Bureau said Osun, under the Rauf Aregbesola administration has recorded gradual upwards move from the abysmal performances due to the various interventions in the sector.
The statement said that for instance, the state has discouraged enrollment of students whose performances in internal examinations were nothing to write home about adding that this has compelled many of the students to change their orientations towards learning.
“Other novel interventions such as provision of stand-alone Tablet of Knowledge (Opon Imo) to all students writing WAEC each year has made learning much easier. With the introduction of this tablet, students now spend quality times both in and out of classroom situations. The result is that there is no dull moment for every student who is desirous of true education,” the Bureau’s statement added
Better learning environment, the statement added, has also contributed in no small measure to the improved results.
“So, far, Osun has completed1,694 classrooms in the existing elementary, middle and high schools; providing accommodation for 84,700 pupils at 50 pupils per classroom. We have provided for them more than 100,000 desks and chairs, toilets and boreholes.
“Today, the Wole Soyinka Government High School, Ejigbo, Ataoja Government School of Science, Osogbo, Osogbo Government High School, Osogbo, Adventists Government High School Ede, have been completed with Ilesa Government High School, Iwo Government High School, Unity/Fakunle Government High School, Osogbo and others nearing completion,” the statement added.
The government expressed confidence that in the years ahead, Osun’s students are going to emerge best examples in true learning, adding that with the reforms already put in place, the state is on its path to the path of educational glory.

The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said that the education policy of his administration has erased the superiority complex between private and public education as sanity has also been restored to public education system.
 

 
The Governor, during the official commissioning of Ojo/Aro Community Government Middle and High Schools in Egbedore Local Government Area, said his administration policy on education was informed by the need to prioritize education having identified it as the only mechanism to development.
He said the newly built ultra-modern school was part of his government’s resolve to bring quality education to the residents of the state especially the rural dwellers.‎
Aregbesola said his administration has positively impacted in the lives of the people of the state through the provision of functional and quality education across board.
He held that N37 million was expended by the state to complete construction and renovation of the school, stating that efforts were put in place to ensure that public schools produced best pupils and students of good character as they are nurtured to compete favourably with their counterparts across the globe.‎
According to him: “This is the continuation of our commitment to standard education. To us, education remains our priority and as a matter of fact, this government has invested hugely on this.
“Our belief is that with well-equipped academic teaching and learning environment, coupled with state-of-the-art facilities, the state is on the right path to success.
“That is why we are building brighter future for our children knowing that good education prepares nation for good leadership‎. We are turning around the public schools to bridge the gap between public and private education.
“Our education policy has erased the superiority complex between private and public education as sanity has also been restored to public education system.”
Aregbesola, therefore, called on students, teachers and parents to put the facilities provided to good use as government has fulfilled it’s part of construction and renovation.

Earlier, the Osun State Deputy Governor, Titi Laoye-Tomori, had commended Governor Aregbesola for his commitment to functional and qualitative education.
Laoye-‎Tomori enjoined the traditional rulers, parents and guardians to at all times champion the course of maintaining the edifice and upbringing of their wards.
She said: “This project is an attestation to the fact that our state is being blessed with a Governor whose focus is to turn around the lives of the citizens.
“This government has successfully built a noticeable numbers of ultra-modern schools cutting across Elementary; Middle and High schools in the nooks and crannies of this state.
“We are doing this because our government is determined to revitalise education and build unprecedented legacy in the education sector.”
In her remarks, the former Principal of the school, Folake Dunsin, lauded the efforts of the state government in promoting education in all strata.
Dunsin also commended Aregbesola on adequate provision of instructional, teaching and learning materials in all the public schools across the state.
Dunsin said the Governor’s gestures had contributed significantly to quality education being aspired by the people of the state.‎
She said: “Aside the multifarious buildings that we have around the state to revive and finetune standard education, this government has also done a lot in turning around the education sector.
“We must commend this government because since its inception, we teachers in the state have been receiving both learning and teaching incentives promptly and timely.”
In their separate remarks, the Olojo of Ojo, Oba Timiamiyu Olayinka Bolagbade, and Alaro of Aro, Oba Zacheaus Popoola, expressed profound gratitude to the state government for building the school in their communities.
The traditional rulers, who affirmed their commitment to quality education, however, assured the state of putting in their best in maintaining the school.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Thursday inaugurated a N37 million Middle and High School in Egbedore Local Government Area of the state.
Aregbesola said at the inauguration that the newly built ultra-modern school was part of his government’s resolve to bring quality education to the residents of the state especially rural dwellers.‎
 

 
The governor said that N37 million was expended to complete the construction and renovation of the Ojo/Aro Community Government Middle and High School.
He said that the education policy of his administration had erased the superiority complex between private and public schools, adding that sanity had been restored to public education system.
The governor said that his administration prioritised education because it identified it as the only mechanism to development.
Aregbesola said that his administration had positively impacted on the citizens’ lives through provision of functional and quality education across board.
He said that efforts were being made to ensure that public schools in the state produced best students that could compete favourably with their counterparts across the world.‎
“Education remains our priority; as a matter of fact, this government has invested hugely on it.
“Our belief is that, with well-equipped academic teaching and learning environment, the state is on the right path to success.
“That is why we are building brighter future for our children, knowing that good education prepares the nation for good leadership‎.
He called on students, teachers and parents to put the facilities to good use.
Earlier, the Osun Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, commended Aregbesola for commitment to functional and qualitative education.
Laoye-Tomori urged traditional rulers, parents and guardians to maintain the school buildings.
In their remarks, the Olojo of Ojo, Oba Timiamiyu Bolagbade and Alaro of Aro, Oba Zacheaus Popoola, expressed gratitude to the state government for building the school.
The traditional rulers, who affirmed their commitment to quality education, assured the government of their continued support.

The Osun State School Feeding scheme has been praised as an important strategy for food and nutrition security.
Special Adviser, Zone A Affairs, Niger State, Alhaji Aliyu Takuma, stated this during a visit  to the state   andTUNS Farms Nigeria Limited, a poultry firm.
 

 
He said the Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme (O-MEALS), formerly Home Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP), had  brought  the much-needed change to youth/child empowerment.
According to him, the programme offers guidance on how to design and implement large-scale sustainable school feeding that meets standards.
Takuma said: “We thought that the programme is just the feeding of school children but today we have been exposed to the reality that the home-grown school feeding programme is a right step towards the change needed in youth empowerment which Osun State has been able to identify.”
Takuma said if the programme was implemented across the country, it would transform the poultry industry and enable it to achieve its potential as a major source of revenue and employment creator.
The Assistant General Manager, Admin, Research and Development, Mr. Taofeek Badmus, expressed gratitude to  Governor Rauf Aregbesola, for implementing the programme,  calling  on other governors to adopt it to enhance  their pupils’ nutrition  and  cognitive skills  while improving their academic performance.
He reiterated the determination of TUNS Farm to make the programme a success and to assist other states interested in starting similar programmes.
The Programme Officer, School Feeding Programme, Mrs. Ayoola Olubunmi, described the relationship with TUNS Farms as pleasant. She lauded the impact of the programme on the state, which include pupils’enrolment, job creation and women empowerment.
“The programme, O-MEALS, was conceived with the major aim of feeding school children; however, it has helped increase school enrolment by a minimum of 25 per cent  since its commencement while also creating new jobs for the teeming youths in the state and boosting the local economy,” she said.

Governor, state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was in Ojo/Aro community to officially commission the Ojo/Aro Community Government Middle and High School in  Egbedore LGA of the state.
 

Governor Rauf Aregbesola flanked by the Dep Gov. Otunba Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori and other dignitaries as he cuts the red tape to officially commission the schools

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from the crowd on arrival that the venue of the commissioning in Ojo/Aro community.
 

Hands cupped together in gratitude by this school child is acknowledged by Ogbeni with his trademark salute.
 

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola inspecting facilities in the just commissioned school in Ojo/Aro community.
 

 
 

 
 

As part of measures to reduce crime across Nigeria, the Nigeria Police has launched the ‘Eminent Persons and Stakeholders’ Forum in Osun State.

The police said security of lives and property must be taken as the business of every individual and not of security personnel alone.
The Assistant Inspector of Police in charge of Zone 11, Dan Bature, conducted the inauguration on Tuesday at the Police Headquarters in Osogbo, the Osun State capital in southwest Nigeria.
He stressed the need for a cordial relationship between the police and members of the society, saying it is imperative for the enhancement of security.
Highlighting the purpose of the forum, Mr Bature noted that new trends of crime were experienced across the country.
On his part, the ‎Commissioner of Police in the state, Simian Adeoye, explained that the inauguration was in line with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris.
He advocated the support and cooperation of every stakeholder towards ensuring proactive and effective policing in the state.
Stakeholders at the event, Samson Adewole and DIG Adeoye Adedayo (rtd), urged the residents to see the security of lives and property as a collective responsibility.
The police have launched similar forum in different states, as a strategy to maintain peace and secure lives and property of residents of different communities.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has called on Nigerians to stop consuming imported rice, better known as foreign rice, urging them to return to the pre-1980 era when indigenous rice was served only during festive periods.
 

 
Aregbesola, who also advised Nigerians to embrace family planning, argued that when the consumption of imported rice is stopped and the number of children given birth to by each couple is limited, then would poverty be eradicated from the country.
He stated this in Osogbo, the state capital, yesterday at an event organised by the Osun State Agency for Community and Social Development to mark the 2016 International Day for Eradication of Poverty.
“If we work and pray, we will banish poverty from our environment. Rice was not a staple food in Nigeria before 1980. Ofada rice was the only rice eaten during festivities. We should return to the time when we were eating indigenous rice.
“We have cassava, plantain, beans and yam. We should return to the time when we were eating our indigenous foods.
“Secondly, we should embrace family planning. I am not asking you to kill the ones you have given birth to but we should stop the erroneous belief that we would be sick if we don’t give birth to all the children in our body,” he said.
The governor also pointed out that since laziness was a factor that engendered poverty, every adult should strive to be productively engaged, especially in the agriculture sector, to ensure an abundant availability of food.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, had announced that the price of rice would start to fall from November this year, adding that his ministry would not encourage rice importation because it would be detrimental to local production.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Monday restated that his administration will not renege on its promise banishing hunger and making life meaningful for the people of the state.

 
‎The Governor at a programme commemorating the 2016 International Day of Poverty Eradication in Osogbo stated that his government remains resolute to do everything humanly possible to champion the cause of creating wealth by eradicating poverty.‎
Aregbesola in a speech titled; “Poverty Has No Place With Us”, said all his policies and programmes have been with the intention to eradicate poverty, make lives more abundant and as well create wealth for the citizenry.
He said his government’s six-point integral action plan of Banishing Poverty, Banishing Hunger, Banishing Unemployment, Restoring Healthy Living, Promoting Functional Education and Enhancing Communal Peace and Progress are designed to lift the condition of the people from being poverty stricken to being wealthy.
Speaking on some of the achievements of his administration, he recalled that his tenure had successfully established Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) through which over 40,000 cadets were employed into public works within two years.
“We gave the first batch safe landing with jobs in teaching, various agriculture schemes and ICT. For this, Osun now has one of the least unemployment figures in Nigeria while the state is also among those with the lowest crimes rate.
“The N200 million monthly allowance paid to the cadets reflated the economy of Osun and shot it up to the seventh largest GDP in Nigeria, according to the Federal Bureau of Statistics”, he added.
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Identifying quality and functional education as panacea to poverty eradication, he stated that the state as part of its commitment to education, is  building 100 elementary schools, 50 middle schools and 20 high schools.
He said the state has increased the number of teachers, renovated existing schools, provided teaching aids and as well increased subventions to schools.
On health, the Governor said his administration, having employed a multi-faceted approach towards achieving its goal of providing healthcare for all, embarked on health-related programmes targeted to promote personal hygiene.
He said, “Indeed, in a recent World Bank publication, Osun came second after Lagos in the result of a national assessment for 2014 on infant and maternal healthcare delivery.
“In addition, we have renovated nine state hospitals, as well as constructed nine trauma centres at the State Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo. There is also the upgrading of our existing primary healthcare centres while new ones are being built.
“To further enhance these efforts, medical equipment, furniture and electrical appliances have been procured for some of our health facilities where these are needed.
“Furthermore, ambulances were purchased and are now in full operation under the Osun Ambulance Services (O-Ambulance), which is aimed at improving the quick-response capacity of the health system, in cases of accidents and emergencies.
Describing work as antidote to poverty, Aregbesola called for productivity in all sectors of the economy, saying “we should also work hard and increase our productivity”.
“While government will continue to do everything within her means to provide for the people, we should all be productively engaged, especially in agriculture where we have comparative advantage.
“There is no way we can create wealth from low productivity. Even in agriculture which is our main occupation, productivity has been very low. While Nigeria is the leading producer of cassava for instance, the traditional yield per hectare has been around 10 tonnes while global average in 2010 was put at 12.5 tonnes”. The governor stated.
In his welcome address, the Chairman Osun Community and Social Development Project, CSDP, Alhaji Abdul-Rahaman Musa, commended Governor Aregbesola for all he has done in giving life in abundance to the people of the state through various poverty alleviation programmes in the state.
Musa held that the state under the leadership of Governor Aregbesola has witnessed growth and poverty, reduced through the demonstration of high sense of passion, having consistently pursued actions tailored towards increasing access of poor people to social and natural infrastructures.
He said the government has clearly demonstrated its commitment towards regular payment of annual government contributions to the cause of Community and Social Development Project, adding that the state has released a total sum of N550million directly between 2010 and 2015.
Musa disclosed that the agency has obtained for the projects a concessionary non-interest loan of N1.3billion from World Bank between 2010 and 2016.
“We are very happy to join other nations of the world in marking this international event while sharing with you the success stories in terms of the achievements of the State in the fight against poverty through the Community and Social Development Project, CSDP.
“This day is being observed every year since 1993, when the United Nations General Assembly, by resolution 47/196 of December 22, 1992 designated this day to promote eradication of poverty and destitution in all countries.
“It’s objective is to draw attention to the importance of poverty eradication for building sustainable futures for all. In CSDP, the community members are in the driver’s seat, they identify their priority project in a democratic manner and implemernt it through an implementation committee democratically elected by themselves”, he added.
Earlier, the General Manager, Osun CSDP, Mrs. Funmi Abokede, commended Governor Aregbesola for being consistent in his payment of counterpart funds.
She said Osun has been very committed in the payment of annual government contributions to the cause of CSDP which according to her has helped the agency to move forward in all its programmes.
Abokede disclosed that CSDP is being funded by Osun state government and World Bank just as she revealed that Osun has been the first among its counterparts in the regular payment of CSDP counterpart funds throughout the country.
“Osun has been leading in the payment of counterpart funds just as a total sum of 550million has been released between 2010 and 2015.
“Our agency has completed 311 micro projects in line with the six-point integral action plans of the state government”, added.
She said the agency has adopted a democratic development project which according to her aimed to remove people out of poverty.
Abokede sought for continual support of the state government, the World Bank and the people of the state just as she urged the people to always stand for poverty eradication.
She therefore promised that the agency would remain committed in its efforts to continuously develop the minds and the people through regular and timely execution of pro-masses projects across the state.