Photos showing the people’s reaction towards Governor Rauf Aregbesola at his Re-election Campaign in Ijesa South Federal Constituency on Tuesday 15-07-2014
Category: General
Known locally as O’Meals, the Osun State Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme, is viewed as a means to combat hunger, increase primary school enrolment and to encourage local and state-wide economic growth. Described as a win-win-win programme for children, smallholder farmers and small businesses operated by women and youths the programme provides hot nutritionally balanced school meals to over 252,000 children every school day. At the same time it provides employment and income to thousands of local caterers, farmers and traders.
Relaunched in April 2012 by the Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s Osun State Government, O’Meals has grown to become globally acknowledged as a leading example of an effective Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF) programme providing hot, fresh and nutritious meals, using ingredients procured from local smallholder farmers.
Since the programme’s inception, the Partnership for Child Development (PCD), based at Imperial College London, has been providing technical support to the Osun State Government to develop a sustainable government-led school feeding programme.
O’Meals in Action School enrolment and attendance: Within four weeks of the O’Meals launch, school enrolment increase by approximately 25% . According to the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics July 2013 edition, Osun has the highest primary school enrolment rates in Nigeria- a feat largely attributable to O’Meals.
Creating jobs
O’Meals promotes and boosts income generation opportunities, particularly for women. To date, the programme has economically empowered over 3,000 previously unemployed women by hiring them as food vendors, to serve nutritious meals to pupils during the school term.
Scaling up fish-farming
The Osun State Government in collaboration with Osun-based Feg-Agro Farms Limited, and the Association of Aquaculture Farmers and Agro- Processors of Nigeria, invested N253 Million to implement the Osun Fisheries Outgrowers Production Scheme (OFOPS). This scheme helps to improve the livelihood of 2000 fish out-growers for mass fish production in the state. Each week these fish out growers produce approximately 5 metric tonnes of fish for the O-Meals. In tandem with this, 100 factory workers are involved in the fish processing. In the first three months of the project OFOPS generated a profit of N2.5 million ($15,330).
Investing in Osun’s Poultry Industry
The Osun broilers Out-growers Production Scheme (OBOPS) initiative seeks to boost the state’s chicken production to enable it to supply the 15,000 chickens and 252,000 eggs required every week by the O’Meals programme. Similar to the fisheries model, the OBPOS programme contracts out the growing of chickens to a network of over 2,000 smallholder farmers by supplying them with of 3.1 million day old chicks, leading to the production of 4.4 million kg of broiler meat valued at N1.7 million for O’Meals. This scheme has earned a profit of N 185 million ($ 1,129,770) from December 2011 to date.
Key Facts
Number of children enrolled in primary school (elementary class 1-4): 252,793
Programme coverage: 100%
Days school meals are provided: 200 (100%)
Cost per day of O’Meals: N12.6 Million ($77,381)
Cost per child per day: N50 ($0.31)
Annual total expenditure on O’Meals: ($159,558,149)
Funding
Expenditure of the O-MEALS Programme is being shared by the State Government and all constituting Local Government Councils. The State contributes 40% whilst Local Government Councils contribute 60%.
READ THE FULL REPORT HERE …Omeals Snap Shot July 2014
Thousands of women stormed the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, Osun State Thursday last week when Governor Rauf Aregbesola launched a special empowerment scheme for women who are heads of their households. ADETUTU AUDU reports that a cheque of N375m was given out to the jubilant women.
The jubilant crowd mostly of women that converged on the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, capital of Osun State Thursday last week was an appreciative one. And the women had every cause to be as they showed their appreciation through singing, dancing and prayers for the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. Their joy and appreciation were not out of place. That day the Aregbesola administration was giving out N375 million in aid of women who head their respective households in the state.
Apart from giving the women stipend monthly, they will also be trained in vocations common to their area after which at the end of the 12th month, they will each be given a seed money to start small scale business.
The only condition attached to the beneficiary households was that they should make use of government infrastructure – meaning pregnant women in such households should make use of government health facilities while their children attend government schools.
Also, at the event, new ultra-modern hand-held ultrasound diagnostic scanners (touch screen) and mirror-3d (colour) Doppler ultrasound diagnostic scanners were launched.
Speaking at the event, Governor Aregbesola restated the commitment of his administration to making life better for the generality of the people of the state. “With all sense of modesty, I want to say that there is no household in Osun State that our administration has not touched positively,” he said.
According the governor, the programme being launched was the pilot programme assuring that it will spread to other local government areas in the state.
“You have not seen anything yet. We want to ensure that poverty is reduced to the barest minimum in this state. That is why our programme is anchored on the development of our people,” he assured.
Speaking on the scanners, the governor stated that they were procured to ensure reduction in maternal mortality and reduce incidence of stroke among the populace.
“The first scanner will scan pregnant women and detect the position of the unborn baby for any necessary medical action if there is need, while the second scanner detects early stroke symptoms in people for early medication,” Aregbesola explained.
The governor was emphatic on the fact that: “pregnant women and others that will make use of these facilities will not pay any money – it is free”.
The programme climaxed with the handing over of a N375 million cheque to the heads of the benefitting households and the commissioning of the ultra-modern, ultrasound scanners.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Aregbesola on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Honourable Abdullah Adeyanju Binuyo, under whose office the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme was executed, described it as a win, win situation for the people.
“From whichever way you look at it, the people are the winners. They are not only the direct beneficiaries but also all the positive multiplier effects of the programme come back as plus for the people,” the SSA said.
He explained further: “we give out N5,000 monthly to the head of each benefitting household who is a woman. That is the cash aspect. Residents of the benefitting households must make use of government facilities that is the condition. The transfer aspect is that the money given out will be spent in the state; that is ploughing back the money into the state economy thereby contributing to its development. At the end of the 12th month, each head of the benefitting household will get N100,000 to start a small scale businesses of their own. Remember that the pregnant women are treated free at government hospitals while the children enjoy not only free education but they also get free school uniform and are fed free. So the people are the ultimate winners of this programme”.
Explaining further, the state Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Mrs. Mofolake Adegboyega, stated that the benefitting households were not picked at random. “They were selected through a thorough research by the consultant we employed to do so and the woman is a Professor from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife. It took her six months of crisscrossing the nooks and crannies of this state to arrive at the list of beneficiaries,” she explained.
According to her, the pilot scheme involved five local government areas in the state with 100 from each local government. A total of 2,250 households will benefit from this programme,” she said.
NATION
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Oyo counterpart, Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi, acknowledging cheers from the mammoth crowd, during a campaign rally for Aregbesola’s Re-election at Unity School, Ejigbo, State of Osun on Monday 21-07-2014
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Oyo counterpart, Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi (On Top of Bus), acknowledging cheers from the mammoth crowd, during a campaign rally for Aregbesola’s Re-election at Unity School, Ejigbo, State of Osun on Monday 21-07-2014
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Oyo counterpart, Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi (On Top of Bus), acknowledging cheers from the mammoth crowd, during a campaign rally for Aregbesola’s Re-election at Unity School, Ejigbo, State of Osun on Monday 21-07-2014
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Oyo counterpart, Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi (On Top of Bus), acknowledging cheers from the mammoth crowd, during a campaign rally for Aregbesola’s Re-election at Unity School, Ejigbo, State of Osun on Monday 21-07-2014
From Top left, First Civilian Governor of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke;
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Oyo State
counterpart, Governor Abiola Ajimobi and others addressing the crowd during Aregbesola’s Re-election
Campaign at Unity School, Ejigbo, State of Osun on Monday 21-07-2014
From Top left, First Civilian Governor of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke;
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Oyo State
counterpart, Governor Abiola Ajimobi and others addressing the crowd during Aregbesola’s Re-election
Campaign at Unity School, Ejigbo, State of Osun on Monday 21-07-2014
From right, Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; his State of
Osun Counterpart, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; first Civilian Governor of
Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke; Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori
and others, during Aregbesola’s Re-election Campaign at Unity School,
Ejigbo, State of Osun on Monday 21-07-2014
Osun State Governor, Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said he is overwhelmed by the achievements of his administration in the last three and a half years, promising that he will do more to further transform the state.
The governor stated this at the weekend while relocating over 1,300 traders and shop owners along the MDS Road, Osogbo to a permanent site.
The governor said he had equally earmarked a sum of N2billion as compensation to traders and shop owners in the area.
He also handed over the parcel of land allocated to the traders and shop owners whose structures were affected by the road expansion.
Aregbesola said since the inception of his administration, numerous developmental projects had been completed, and thus had transformed the state beyond his expectation.
He noted that he was aware of the fact that the means of livelihood of the displaced traders under the umbrella of MDS Shop Owners Association had been affected by the demolition exercise, saying there was no gain without pain.
While making reference to those that were affected by the renovation of the railway area, now the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, the governor said: “Most of them were not happy when we asked them to vacate the area but now, they are praising the state government for engineering the new look of the area.”
The governor said all the beautiful countries and cities of the world were not created by God said they were developed by the government of the countries and cities.
He, therefore, thanked the traders for their patience and cooperation with his government since they were displaced.
Earlier in his welcome address, the state Commissioner for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Muyiwa Ige, said: “Everything that we see as being good and pleasant globally had at one time or the other passed through some processes with certain prices paid at each stage.”
Ige then appreciated the traders for their cooperation and understanding, saying that the parcel of land being handed over to them falls within the government commercial/industrial layout and covers approximately 20.919 hectares.
He said the new MDS Market situated beside the Aje International Market, still under construction by the state government, had already a borehole and electricity, adding that police post, health centre, fire station, filling station, banking mall among other facilities would be built on the market which would enhance immediate growth and economic empowerment of the traders.
THISDAY
To ensure that Osun State becomes the economic hub of Nigeria, Governor Rauf Aregbesola has once again reiterated his commitment to further develop infrastructure that will encourage investment both at the urban and rural communities of the state.
Speaking through the chairman, Aregbesola Campaign Committee in Ijesa North Federal Constituency, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, Aregbesola assured the people that if voted into office for another term, rural-urban migration will become a thing of the past.
Bolorunduro who is also the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning disclosed that government, in an attempt to encourage small scale investors, has set aside N4billion as soft loan due for assessment by the people.
The campaign chairman, who led the door-to-door campaign trail of the federal constituency to Ilahun-Ijesa, Iwoye Ijesa and Ijebu Jesa said Aregbesola commitment to Agriculture informed his ‘O’ REAP programme, adding that to ensure easy transportation of farm produce, government will further open up rural communities with access roads.
He, however, charged the electorate to ensure that their votes count, adding that the presence of security agencies is not to intimidate but protect them.
Responding to Bolorunduro’s team visit to his palace, the Alahun of Ilahun-Ijesa, Oba Lawrence Ajayi, Ilufemiloye 1, pleaded with government to complete the Primary Health Centre under construction and assist the community in building a befitting palace and town hall.
While pledging the support of his subjects to the continuity of Aregbesola’s administration, Oba Ajayi said Governor Aregbesola had performed well and deserves to continue and accomplish his mission and vision for the state.
(1). 40,000 youths employed under the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O’YES)
(2). 5,000 Youths trained and empowered in information communication technology under the Osun Youth Empowerment Technology (O’YESTECH)
(3). Over N2.4 billion injected into the economy as allowances for the OYES Volunteers
(4). 123 kilometres of waterways (streams, arteries and canals) dredged to keep the state flood-free for three years
(5). 750,000 school students provided with free school uniform coupled with empowerment of 3,000 tailors
(6). students provided with computer tablets (Opon Imo), an electronic learning tool preloaded with 17 subjects, 54 textbooks, and past questions of JAMB, WAEC AND NECO of the past 10years.
(7). Introduction of bi-monthly environmental sanitation exercise under the O’CLEAN initiative to keep the state clean.
(8). Beautification of the 185 Km Oyo Boundary (Asejire) to Osun-Ondo Boundary (Owena)
(9). Trucks provided for a Public-Private Partnership waste management model in the state.
(10). Primary School Funding Grants increased from N7.4 million to N424 million a year.
(11). 240,000 children feed daily with nutritious meals under the Osun Elementary School Feeding (O-MEAL) and Health Programme coupled with empowerment of over 3,000 caterers
(12). Secondary School basic funding grants from N171 million to N427 million per year.
(13). Tuition fees in State-owned tertiary institutions reduced by 30%.
(14). Security of lives and properties being guaranteed with provision of 5 Armoured Personnel Carriers, over 100 security patrol vehicles and one helicopter for area surveillance.
(15). 2 state of the art police stations built.
(16). Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) increased from N300 million to N1.6billion without increasing tax payable by citizens.
(17). Setting up of Omoluabi Conservation Fund with a N4.2 Billion reserve.
(18) Osun Debt Management Office established.
(19) Building of the largest commercial apiary in Sub-Saharan Africa for refined honey production.
(20). Over 1,765 hectares of land cleared and prepared to support farmers.
(21). Rehabilitation of farm settlements in the state.
(22). Over N1 billion committed to the support of farmers.
(23). Building of super highways to connect Osun to Lagos and Osun to Kwara states.
(24). 61 Township roads covering 128km are being upgraded all over the state
(25). Ede Water Works capacity increased from 13% to 30% and plans on-going to reach 100% capacity.
(26). Over 3,000 permanent teachers employed into the state education sector and recruited 339 university graduates into osun state civil service.
(27). 218 km roads being built across the 30 local government areas and Ife East Area Office, Modakeke.
(28). Osun Ambulance Service Authority established with 400 youths trained as paramedics.
(29). 9 State Hospitals and 12 Comprehensive Health Centers being rehabilitated and refurbished in the state; 74 Primary Health Centers built.
(30). Construction of Freedom Park, the first of its kind in the history of the State of Osun.
(31). Omoluabi Garment Factory employed up to 3000 people in the State of Osun.
(32). Free rail service to all indigenes of the State of Osun living in Lagos State.
(33). With just a few I have mentioned that Man has done, you will all agree with me that our governor is an unusual governor.
(34). Payment of salaries to old age people in the State of Osun referred to as Agba Osun.
(35). O-Mediation; to settle disputes between people in the state and increase in bursary from N2000 to N10000 to all the students in tertiary institution from the State of Osun. Osun TI o tin N DARA koni BAJE OOOO.
VOTE….. RAUF ADESOJI AREGBESOLA of APC for the 2nd term.
In less than one month, precisely on August 9, Osun people are expected to troop out in large number to elect a new governor for the state. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to conduct yet another governorship election few weeks after the Ekiti election which, till date has been commendation all through for the successful outing. All eyes are definitely on INEC to replicate in Osun what it did in Ekiti.
Since after the Ekiti polls, different groups have been assessing the conduct of the election and pointing out what INEC did and did not do well with a view to identifying challenges encountered by those involved in the process and suggesting ways of improving the electoral process towards Osun and future elections. Although the Ekiti election was generally adjudged free, fair transparent and hitch-free, there are still few areas that can be improved upon in order to sustain the success recorded in Ekiti by the Commission.
As part of efforts to build on the success of Ekiti, the Policy And Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) held a dialogue to assess the performance of INEC and other stakeholders in the Ekiti election. PLAC is a non-governmental organisation committed to strengthening democratic governance and citizens access and participation in electoral process. It coordinates civil society situation room during elections.
As the Osun election draws near, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room organised a dialogue with the INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega to critically assess the performance of the Commission in the Ekiti election to ensure far better poll in Osun State. Already the chairman has assured Nigerians and indeed the whole world that Osun election will be better than Ekiti and Nigerians are full of expectations from the Commission.
The dialogue titled “Replicating INEC’s Success in Ekiti on a National Scale Ahead of the 2015 General Elections”, held at the Protea Hotel Apo, Abuja and was facilitated by the UK Department for International Development (DFID). The dialogue afforded participants an opportunity to share their experiences in Ekiti, raise observations, ask questions and make very useful suggestions on how to improve on Osun election so that the bar already raised in Ekiti can be maintained.
Of particular concern to the CSOs is the issue of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) distributed and used in Ekiti election, which many eligible voters are yet to collect. They are worried that many people in Ekiti did not collect their PVCs and as a result did not vote. Unfortunately, those people now accuse INEC of disenfranchising them. But INEC chairman, responding to the comment explained that INEC devoted three days distributing the PVCs in the state after which it carried out continuous voter registration (CVR) weeks before June 21 and yet people did not come out to collect their cards.
Prof. Jega wondered why INEC was being accused of disenfranchising some people. “What the Commission insists on is non collection of PVCs by proxy. We emphasised that there will be no collection of PVCs by proxy. There may be legitimate reason for proxy collection but we said no.”
However, a situation where people have the PVCs and it has been verified that they are actual owners of those cards but their names are not on the distribution register, the chairman said, “If your name is on register of voters and you have PVC but your name is not on distribution register, we cannot stop you from voting, but it means you collected the card by proxy.”
On the suggestion to allow people collect their cards on election day, the chairman said “I cannot allow collection of PVCs on election day because it is going to disrupt election process, there should not be any other activity on election day.”
The Commission is also thinking of decentralising the distribution of PVCs so that the registration area officers (RAOs) can at intervals go out to distribute the cards.
Ogbuka works in the public affairs department of INEC
