Osun State Government recently entered into partnership with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on agriculture to boost food production in all the nooks and crannies of the state. In this interview with Correspondent, Gbenga Faturoti, Coordinator of the Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme (O-REAP), who is also the Director General, Office of Economic Development and Partnerships, Dr. Charles Diji Akinola, speaks on the seriousness the state government attached to agriculture, the challenges facing agriculture in the state, and how the government intends to source for funds or partnership to meet the 10 per cent food consumption market of Lagos State:         
What informed the going into partnership with IITA on agriculture? 
At inception of the present administration in the State of Osun, the agricultural sector came under critical scrutiny and it was observed that the entire agriculture value chain required intervention and incentivisation on a continuous basis. Among others it was observed that the productivity from farmers and their farm holdings was quite low as a result of lack of access to high quality seeds and as a result of crop failure as was experienced in the 2013 planting season. Due to this occurrence, the present administration was therefore motivated to focus greatly on improving and developing the agro input sector, including seed, agrochemical, farm implement etc. in order to boost food production in the state and in order for it to meet its goal of meeting 10 per cent of the food exchange bill of Lagos, a model adopted by Osun to achieve economic development and growth.
In furtherance to government efforts, it has sought in the short term for avenues to ensure that its farmers are supplied with high quality and certified seed in sync with its strategy for effective agro input distribution through partnership with the private sector.
As a background, the state and the private sector participated in the distribution of agro input under the Farmers’ Input and Credit Support Programme (FISCP) of Osun Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Programme (O-REAP). As a result, the state in 2014 achieved the best penetration in terms of agro input distribution as a result of the effective participation of the private sector.
This has also encouraged the state in going for partnerships in the production and distribution of high quality, viable and certified seeds which led to what we feel is the beginning of a strategic partnership on seed and seedling multiplication in the State of Osun. The parties involved in the partnership would include the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the State of Osun (duly represented by the OEDP) and Agronet Limited, the private sector participant.
The IITA would support this process technically and help achieve the objectives of production of quality seeds, in terms of breeding, production and certification of seeds quality. It is envisaged that the IITA being a research institute with vast experience would provide technical advice in the establishment and operation of the seed laboratory which would enable a possible collaboration with the University of Osun (Uniosun).
Agronet as the private sector participant would handle and operate the establishment and the state would provide the land and the enabling environment with the active participation of key ministries and agencies such as Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and Osun Agricultural Development Programme (OSSADEP). The main benefit from this would be such that the farmers in the state would be guaranteed of having high quality seeds to plant and this would further increase their production.
It is our hope that this partnership will help achieve the goals of seed multiplication programme under O-REAP to prevent yield failure due to low quality seeds and lead to increase of farmers’ output. Also we hope that by this partnership, the objective of making the State of Osun to be the food basket state of the southwest and meet its overall goal of 10 per cent supply of food products to Lagos market will be met.
What is the level of seriousness of the Osun State as regards the new MoU in mass production of agriculture food?
The partnership with IITA is a very serious one for several reasons; Mr. Governor, you listen to what Deputy Director General of IITA has said about Osun and what the state has done in agriculture sector. He spoke in glowing terms about the seriousness Osun attaches to agriculture. Immediately Mr. Governor won the second term ticket, he and his team came back to IITA, where the IITA Deputy Director General told him that Nigeria is beginning a new idea of taking the agriculture seriously and he mention the fact that the Governor of Osun brought his team here for about four days to come and review his agriculture strategies after the first four years of implementation and we review also on how we can get it more effective. And so government must take agriculture seriously to go all that length and it is being noticed by organisation like IITA. When he first came into government, Mr. Governor designed Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme (OREAP). IITA also was one of the first external organisations that he visited. He met with Director General at that time that showed the seriousness the Governor attaches to agriculture.
But there is no way we will embark on ambitious and aggressive programmes on agriculture through O-REAP as enunciated in our plans without working with partners. IITA stands out as the best in the class of research institution. It is globally recognised with focus in agriculture. We see our relationship with IITA as being very important, we are glad on how we are received here and I note that the Director General said that the new fresh partnership is the first working plans that the institute will signed this year and it is hoping that it is going to be one of the best projects this year.
What about finance and expertise?
Well, this is a very interesting MoU that we have drafted. The MoU is about a global class institution like IITA which recognises the seriousness that we attach to agriculture and it is ready to open its doors to us. They have in fact opened their doors to one of our private sector partners we introduced. The project we are discussing today even though we discussed about seed production, seed technology, seed multiplication because when you have the right seeds, we can increase yield by 30% to 40% and even more but the partnership is broader it covers a wide gamut of areas.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun on Monday called on its supporters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) before the collection deadline expired.
Mr Kunle Oyatomi, the APC Media spokesman, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo.
He said some party supporters were yet to collect their PVCs, warning that delay in doing so might prevent them from participating in the upcoming general election.
Oyatomi said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had called on the electorate to visit their offices across the country to collect their PVCs, but many turned deaf ears.
He said the PVCs remained the only means by which the electorate could exercise the right to vote for candidates of their choice.
“Without the PVC by INEC, there is no way they can cast their votes for our great party, APC.
“INEC has decentralised the system to make it easy for the electorate who cannot find their way to their state office for easy collection.
“So, I want to urge all supporters of APC in Osun to collect their PVCs without delay.
“Failure to collect such will be detrimental to their right to cast their votes and also denial of their fundamental human right.’’ Oyatomi said.
According to him, some people are yet to be registered with INEC and have been going to INEC offices to fruitlessly.
Oyatomi also called on INEC, security agencies and other stakeholders in the country to ensure that the election was peaceful. (NAN)

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has illustrated the alleged hardship and lack of vision that the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) leadership represents with what he calls the enslavement of the people of Ekiti shortly after the return of the state to the grip of the party.

The governor, in a statement by his Media Aide, Semiu Okanlawon, was quoted as stating this at the official flag-off campaign for re-election‎ of the Governor of Oyo state, Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi at the Mapo Hall in Ibadan.

He was quoted as saying Yorubaland has not gained anything reasonable from the PDP.

Aregbesola said that since 1962, the party has not changed its orientation from that of a conservative and anti-people posture saying it’s not strange that the party still stands oppressive to the people.

The governor pointed out that it took the Yorubaland a serious work to be free from the shackles of the PDP in South-west when it regained power from the party.

He said, “It is saddening that Ekiti fell back to the hands of these oppressors.  ‎In less than four months when they took over in the state through rigging, the people of the state are facing oppression, deceit and a government of force.

“It is very painful to every progressive mind that Ekiti has fallen back to backwardness and underdevelopment, our prayer is that in no distant time, APC will take over the state.

“The Yoruba nation has not gained any meaningful development under the reign of the party. Their government is nothing but deceit, ‎underdevelopment, oppression and hardship. We should all be prepared to vote for the progressives so that we can witness development in our land and Nigeria.

“APC is a party that has no tolerance for corruption and all this unpleasant vices of the PDP. All patriotic citizens should come together to vote in APC for development to continue in Oyo and Nigeria”. Aregbesola told the Mapo gathering.

He queried a situation where the Federal government will because of political gains empower an individual in the area of kerosene supply to the detriment of the masses who bear the brunt of the kerosene importation‎.

“They sell kerosene to Nigerians as high as 120 Naira per litre instead of forty naira ninety kobo to an individual in their Transformation Agenda of Nigeria (TAN), only for the individual to give it to marketers at ninety five naira.

“Is it not oppressive for the PDP-led Federal Government to now allow a margin of close to forty five naira to be shared or used for its presidential re-election campaign?” He stated.

‎The governor charged the people to go for their Permanent Voters Cards for them to participate in the election.

He also used the occasion to remind the people of Oyo state and Nigerians of the crucial task ahead come February 14 and 28 elections.

Aregbesola emphasised that, “We must all be ready to play our roles in ensuring a better Nigeria, the elections give us the opportunity to decide who we want as leaders and with our Permanent Voters Cards and voting right, the future of the country will be secured”.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola addressing mammoth crowd, during the Oyo State APC continuity Train

flag-off Campaign rally for Senator Isiaka Ajimobi’s 2nd Term in office, at Mapo Hall, Ibadan Oyo State, on Saturday 17-1-2015.

Photos of the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and National President Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen, Sheikh Daood Imran Molasan during the 16th Annual National  Conference of Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen at District Council Elementary School, Araromi , Iwo, State of Osun recently

Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and National
President Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen, Sheikh Daood Imran Molasan
during the 16th Annual National Conference of Jama’atu Ta’awunil
Muslimeen at District Council Elementary School, Araromi , Iwo, State
of Osun recently

Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and National
President Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen, Sheikh Daood Imran Molasan
during the 16th Annual National Conference of Jama’atu Ta’awunil
Muslimeen at District Council Elementary School, Araromi , Iwo, State
of Osun recently

Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle);
National President Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen, Sheikh Daood Imran
Molasan (left) and Former Assistant Chief of Staff to the Governor
State of Osun, Mr.Mudasiru Toogun (right) during the 16th Annual
National Conference of Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen at District
Council Elementary School, Araromi, lwo, State of Osun on recently

Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right);
National President Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen, Sheikh Daood Imran
Molasan (middle) and Life Patron, Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen,
Professor Olasupo Ladipo (left) during the 16th Annual National
Conference of Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen at District Council
Elementary School, Araromi , Iwo, State of Osun recently

Pictures of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola laying the wreath, during 2015 Armed forces Remembrance Day Celebration at the Military Cenotaph, Osogbo, State of Osun on Thursday 15-01-2015

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola laying the wreath,
during 2015 Armed forces Remembrance Day Celebration at the Military
Cenotaph, Osogbo, State of Osun on Thursday 15-01-2015

From right, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola;
Commandant, Nigerian Air Force Institute of Safety, Ipetu-Ijesa, Air
Commodore Oyewole Jackson; Commander, Engineer Construction Company,
(ECC) Ede, Brigadier General Gbenga Adeyemi and Chairman Nigerian
Legion, State of Osun, Colonel Alimi Samotu, during 2015 Armed forces
Remembrance Day Celebration in Osogbo, State of Osun on Thursday
15-01-2015

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); Commandant,
Nigerian Air Force Institute of Safety, Ipetu-Ijesa, Air Commodore
Oyewole Jackson (2nd right); Commander, Engineer Construction Company,
(ECC) Ede, Brigadier General Gbenga Adeyemi (3rd right); Chairman
Nigerian Legion, State of Osun, Colonel Alimi Samotu (left);
Commissioner of Police, Osun Command, Abubakar Marafa (right) and
others, inspecting the Fallen Heroes Military Tomb, during 2015 Armed
forces Remembrance Day Celebration in Osogbo, State of Osun on
Thursday 15-01-2015

From Left, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Commandant,
Nigerian Air Force Institute of Safety, Ipetu-Ijesa, Air Commodore
Oyewole Jackson and Commander, Engineer Construction Company, (ECC)
Ede, Brigadier General Gbenga Adeyemi inspecting the Fallen Heroes
Military Tomb, during 2015 Armed forces Remembrance Day Celebration in
Osogbo, State of Osun on Thursday 15-01-2015

All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari took his campaign to Osun State yesterday.
Buhari arrived the campaign rally held at the Osogbo Stadium around 5:30pm and thanked the crowd who have been waiting for his arrival since 10am.
A statement by his campaign office Tuesday also challenged President Jonathan to explain why over N5 trillion in oil and gas revenue vanished under his supervision, through fraud and embezzlement.
This challenge is coming some hours after Buhari and Jonathan, and other presidential candidates signed an accord in Abuja to avoid violence during and after elections.
“This government must answer the questions posed by the different Committees and Task Forces that probed the Oil and Gas Sector between 2011 and 2012. By this, we mean the Nuhu Ribadu-led Petroleum Task Force Report, the Minister of Trade and Investment’s report on stolen crude; the House of Representatives fuel subsidy report coupled with the investigations into the ecological fund, SIM card registration and frequency band spectrum sale,” the Buhari campaign said.
The campaign recalled that a prominent newspaper, had in the 25th of November, 2012 edition alerted Nigerians on how over N5trillion oil money had been stolen under Jonathan’s tenure.
The statement signed by the campaign’s media and publicity director Malam Garba Shehu said “industrial theft of oil surged from 250,000 to 400,000 barrels per day and remains unabated. The issue of corruption was also repackaged and lowered to the status of petty stealing. Worse still innocent whistle-blowers were hounded out of office.”
In his brief speech, Buhari urged the Osun supporters to obtain their permanent voter cards, promising to provide employment by breaking the vicious circle of corruption, unemployment and insecurity.
Osun State Governor Rauf Oregbesola, said “this election is not just an election. It is an election of independence.”
The governor said “Nigeria doesn’t want just any kind of luck. Nigeria deserves the best luck. Buhari is the best luck for Nigeria.”

Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday described the Boko Haram insurgents as the common enemy of Nigerians irrespective of ethnicity, religion or race.
Aregbesola stated this at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day ceremony and laying of wreath in honour of fallen soldiers held at the cenotaph site in Osogbo.
This was even as the governor demanded an unreserved apology from those casting aspersions on the academic qualification of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, saying that for Buhari to have risen to the level of a general in the army, he deserves the respect of all.
The governor stated that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the menace of insurgents in certain parts of Nigeria was brought to a permanent halt by every Nigerian without any consideration of tribe.
The governor called on all religious and traditional worshippers to use every power in their custody to fight terrorism to a standstill, saying they have all the spiritual powers to fight Boko Haram.
He held that the Armed Forces Remembrance ceremony should serve to inspire the hearts of Nigerians to be more committed to the progress and peace of Nigeria.
The governor reminded the gathering that as the remembrance ceremony was going on around the country, many of the uniformed men and women are engaged in deadly battles against a brand in the global network of terrorism of Boko Haram.
According to him, “I refer us to these ongoing battles in order to make the point that the government and the people of this country must in their various ways play the role becoming of them in support of those brave combatants.
“These are trying times. Yet, we must not shrink from our service to this country, whether as soldiers, public or private citizens.
“That enemy, popularly known as Boko Haram, is our common enemy. Consequently, we must be formidably united in confronting it.
It is by standing together in support of our men and women in the fight against terrorism that we can be sure of victory‎,” the governor emphasised.
Aregbesola charged that all must stand together in support of these men and women in the fight against terrorism for the country to be sure of victory.
He added that this was not the time to give up on those who for the country’s collective security are engaged in deadly warfare against terrorism.
The governor said: “Yes we have seen some lapses in the war against terror. Still we cannot run down our fighters. We must give encouragement and support, both in prayers and confidence, to the fighting spirit of our armed forces.
“We must note that those who rise in arms against our compatriots in the North-East are less in number than the rest of us. That misguided and malevolent minority must not triumph over us, the majority.”
Aregbesola urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to sufficiently arm the military for it to effectively rout the Boko Haram terrorists and regain the areas under their control.
The governor therefore called on military authorities to ensure that the welfare of those fighting men and women is well attended to and motivated to win.
The highlights of the remembrance day ceremony included the laying of wreaths by Aregbesola, the Commandant, Nigeria Institute of Safety, Ipetu-Ijesa, Air Commodore. Oyewole Jackson.
Others were Chairman Nigeria Legion, Osun, Col. Alimi Samotu, the state Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Marafa, the Commander, Engineering Construction Command, Ede, Brig. Gen. Gbenga Adeyemi and the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun.
 

The State of Osun House of Assembly has said that the state parliament would be critical in giving approval to the 2015 budget estimates proposal of different ministries and agencies of government.
Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, stated this while declaring open the 2015 budget defence exercise ‎of the state ministries and agencies before the House.
The Speaker said the parliament would take critical look into details of budget estimates brought before it, with a view to ensuring that only the estimates that are realistic would be approved.
According to him, the Assembly would prioritise only budgets that are implementable, saying, upward or downward adjustments would be made in the budget estimates where necessary.
The Speaker further stressed that considering the dwindling resources of the state, the Assembly would give approval to only the estimates that have direct impact on the people of the state.
In his remarks, Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Honourable Kamil Oyedele, charged the various ministries to ensure direct implementation of the allocated funds for projects meant for the development of the state.
Oyedele, who chaired the exercise, however, implored them to continue to support the government of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in his bid to further bring unprecedented development to the state, as they are partners in progress.
While presenting its budget estimate for 2015 for defence before the state legislature, the state Ministry of Education‎, led by the Permanent Secretary, Lawrence Oyeniran, presented budget estimate of N451.7 million as revenue and N4.6 billion as expenditure.
Also, Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH‎), led by its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adeniyi Gbadegesin, presented N10.4 billion as total revenue and N10.4 billion as expenditure.
Also, the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), led by its Chairman, Prince Felix Awofisayo, presented N8.2 billion as revenue and N8.02 billion as expenditure for the year, of which the construction of new model schools take N4 billion.
Other agencies and parastatals that presented their 2015 budget estimates during the exercise included Osun State Mass Education Agency‎; Teachers’ Establishment and Pension Office; Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke; Osun State Polytechnic, Iree; Osun West Education District, Osun East Education District and Osun Central Education District.
Meanwhile, the assembly deferred the appearance of the Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun and Osun State College of Education, Ilesa for the budget defence exercise due to some pending unresolved
issues.
OSUN DEFENDER