The failure of successive administrations in Nigeria to bring up the nation’s children socially and educationally has been described as the reason behind high spate of terrorist activities presently rocking the country in form of Boko Haram insurgency. There is the claim that uneducated and badly educated children grow up to develop hatred for society, thus becoming easy recruits for terrorists.

Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, said this recently while declaring open a three-day workshop on Technical Meeting on Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme (O-MEALS) at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo, the state capital.

Aregbesola said the state’s school feeding programme is packaged to meet the world standard and in conformity with statues of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), saying the security challenges presently facing the country could be nipped in the bud if all concerned in the development of children could carry out their duties with a sense of responsibility.

Describing O-Meals as a revolution in governance, the governor said his administration made it a priority to deworm elementary school children across the state to guard against losing nutrients the children gain from taking meals served them to worms, adding that constant supply and security of food would be sustained if school feeding programme is embraced by all.

According to the state governor, the nation’s education sector would be positively positioned, more jobs would be created, the agriculture sector would be improved while qualitative health programme would be made available to the citizenry with the nation’s future secured through O-Meals implementation.He thereafter appreciated efforts of those who had, at one time or the other, partnered with the state government to make the programme a success with a special commendation to local government council areas in the state who had provided no less than 60 per cent of the total expenditure on O-Meals to the state government put at over N3 billion annually.

Aregbesola also used the occasion to call on other partners to come to the aid of the state government so as to sustain the programme for many years to come and extend it to middle and high school students in public schools across the state.

In her welcome address, Osun’s deputy governor and Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, called on the Federal Government to encourage state governments across the country to get involved in school feeding programmes by increasing allocation to school feeding programmes considering its huge costs.

According to her, O-Meals has positively impacted on the economy of the state of Osun through employment generation for youths in general and unemployed graduates in particular as a large number of them have been assisted financially to embark on food and animal production.

Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, represented by Dr. Chris Isokonu of the Federal Ministry of Health, commended efforts of Aregbesola for taking up the challenge of feeding school children in the state, not minding the financial challenges confronting the Osun at this critical time.

Advising parents to always feed their children with food rich in energy to secure their future, the Minister appealed to Aregbesola to extend the O-Meal programme to pre-school children in Osun with a view to improving on the feeding of children under the age of five across the state.

Representing the executive secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Dipo Sulaimon, the deputy executive secretary of the commission, Dr. Yakubu Gambo, pledged to ensure that the position of the law establishing UBE in 2004 stating that five per cent of the nation’s revenue should be allocated to school feeding is carried out to the letter to assist state governments to feed their children in schools.

He thereafter promised that Osun and Kano states will benefit more than other states in the federation for sustaining the programme all these years even without UBEC assistance.

On her part, the executive director of the Partnership for Child Development (PCD), Dr. Lesley Drake, said this was the time to revitalise school feeding programme in Nigeria.

Describing school feeding programme as a social safety net, encourage local production and ensure that kids stay in school, Drake charged participants to build on what is on the ground and fashion out ways of improvement.

She said PCD is ready to give technical assistance to every willing state in the country that is ready to introduce school feeding programme in their states.

World Bank representative at the programme, Dr. Don Bundy, said school feeding programme should not be seen as a charity but a huge and sound investment targeted at improving lives and living condition of children from the poorest homes across the world.

He said countries across the globe feed their school children with an annual average of N75 million, adding that health, education, aid and trade across the world will be improved upon if school feeding programme is embraced and well positioned.

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A federal High Court sitting in Osogbo has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct separate election into Orolu and Irepodun State Constituencies in the State House of Assembly in 2015 general election.

Both Orolu and Irepodun local government areas of the state are currently represented by a lawmaker in the state House of Assembly making 26 lawmakers in the assembly.

Going by the court order, 27 lawmakers would now have representatives in the State House of Assembly come 2015.

According to the judgement delivered by Justice Babs Kwewumi, the Osun State House of Assembly as currently constituted, having 26 members is illegal as a result of act of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suppression of the 27th constituency created in 1996 and restored in 2004.

He ruled that the INEC does not need the approval of the National Assembly before conducting election in the suppressed Orolu State Constituency, affirming that having been lawfully delineated and created by the combined effect of Sections 91 and 112 of the 1999 Constitution, Orolu Local Government had in suit number FHC/OS/CS/10/2013 urged the court to declare the State House of Assembly as currently constituted unconstitutional by virtue of Sections 91 and 112 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 due to the act of INEC that suppress the constituency created since 1996.

It also sought the relief of the court to order the electoral commission to conduct election in Orolu State Constituency to increase the number of members in the House of Assembly to 27 in compliance with the said section of the constitution.

The Judge in his judgement relied on a letter attached to the plaintiff originating summons dated June 2, 2004 written by former INEC Chairman, Sir Abel Guobadia, informing the clerk of the National Assembly that the commission erred in suppressing Orolu Local Government State Constituency.

It further disclosed that the Orolu State Constituency was legally delineated and created since 1996 and restored the suppressed constituency.

The court further relied on two similar judgements earlier delivered by a Federal High Court, Ibadan involving the state Attorney General and INEC and a judgement of a Court of Appeal involving Oju Local Government and INEC.

Daily Independent

Osun government has assured farmers in the state of its continued support in meeting the challenges of crop production to improve the economy of the state.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Wale Adedoyin, gave the assurance at the official flag-off ceremony for the distribution of 500,000 hybrid cocoa seedling to farmers free of charge held at the government secretariat, Abere.

He held that Osun being the third largest producer of cocoa in the country there is the need to develop the tree crops economy cannot be overemphasised.

The commissioner, who described agriculture as  a reliable form of boosting any economy and a panacea to any economic crisis stated that it has become more important to develop the agric sector because of the dwindling fortune from the federation account to states.

In an address, Coordinating Director in the Ministry of Agric, Dr. Olubukola Aluko, stated that the flag-off of the distribution is a huge testimony that the Aregbesola administration has great passion for the development of tree crops and agriculture generally in the state. He then urged the beneficiaries to utilize the gesture.

One of the beneficiaries, Chief Bola Otunla, described the gesture of Ogbeni Aregbesola in the agric sector as unprecedented, saying farmers have never had it so good in the state.

Other items distributed free of charge at the event include 6,000 improved seedlings of kolanut and bitter kola, 1,200 cocoa game as extension to farmers as well as the sale of 64,000 Teneral oil palm and 25,000 cashew seedlings at a very subsidized rate and N5,500,00 worth of agro-imputs to farmers.

In attendance were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agric and Food Security, Mr. Festus Agunbiade, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on QUIP, Mr Dele Ogundipe, Executive Secretary, Oriade Local Government Area, Taiwo Fatiregun as well as many excited farmers.

DAILY INDEPENDENT

Download inspiring Quotes from the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Today’s Quote is focused on the history being made in the State. Visit the website at www.osun.gov.ng  or Twitter @stateofosun for more updates on the State of Osun and its projects.

‎In its continued quest to make life more meaningful for the citizen, create more job opportunities for youths and enhance their capacities the Government of the state of Osun‎ is establishing an Automotive Mechatronics Specialist Institute christened “Bola Ige Mechatronics Institute (BIMI) hosted by the Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke.

In a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the institute, when completed, will be be the first in Nigeria.

He pointed out that the institute will deal with the latest technology involved in modern vehicles which consist of combined electro-mechanical systems with fully automated controls termed “mechatronics” that reduce use of kilos of wires making way for light weight and greater efficient motor vehicles of today.

The statement also revealed that the state has concluded arrangement to send 30 indigenes of the state to Germany to master the technology.

The Communications Director added that fund for the project is an intervention soft loan provision by the National Automotive Council using part of its Auto Development Fund Loan Scheme domiciled with the Bank of Industry (BOI).

According to him, ” Osun is the first of all States and Federal Institutions to establish this World class Automotive Skill-gap Bridge in Nigeria meant for promoting skills needed for employability of our graduates, technicians and improvement for artisans in the sector.‎

“End-user training and associated maintenance support for 2-years was integrated to allow Osun workers master the repairs and routine maintenance under leadership understudy scheme.

” Following due process, advertisement was placed to attract qualified automotive, mechanical and electrical engineers and technicians who were tested/recruited and shall be going for a 2-month in-plant, end-user training at LN, Germany from 5th May – 30th June, 2014 before returning to participate in the installation and commissioning at Esa-Oke”. He stressed.

‎Okanlawon added that the local experts having trained in Germany will in turn serve as train-the-trainers to train other Nigerians at Esa-Oke .

He emphasised that the exercise is purely a practical delivery project as trainees shall be tested and certified before graduation from the centre.  ‎

‎”Our auto engineers, technicians and mechanics are getting out of job because of technological changes as the era of trial-and-error to fix auto maintenance is gone. Everything is knowledge-based and Osun is ready to empower not only the indigenes but all Nigerians willing to seek knowledge at the BIMI, Esa-Oke.

“We plan to offer through National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) & National Universities Commission (NUC) approval for upgrade of the polytechnic syllabus, a degree course on Auto Mechatronics using the facilities in future”. He pointed out in the statement.

Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, has given over 50 buses to alleviate transportation problems among school children in the state.
This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to the governor on Transportation, Prince Samson Ataiyero, at the opening of a training workshop for those recruited to drive the new buses.
According to Prince Ataiyero, the buses are in the O-Scholar buses scheme of Osun State to improve the quality of education, while also reducing the hardship faced by school children in the area of transportation.
He lauded the support of the governor given to easing the movement of the school children to and from their schools and promised that the buses would be adequately maintained and given regular servicing.

The Osun State Government has warned its Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as the local government councils against non-compliance with the budget implementation guidelines approved for them.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Bade Adeshina, gave the warning in Osogbo on Wednesday.
To show the administration’s seriousness with compliance with budgetary provisions, Adeshina said that the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning would soon inaugurate a monitoring team to ensure strict compliance with the budget implementation guidelines.
The special adviser said, “Governor Rauf Aregbesola has given his assent to the budget bill passed by the state House of Assembly and based on this, all ministries, departments and agencies of government, local government councils and tertiary institutions are advised to strictly follow and comply with the budget implementation guidelines as approved for them.
“In as much as the budget is the guide for all the MDAs to deliver the dividends of democracy and for equal distribution of wealth for the masses, those in charge should follow the approved budget to the letter so as to meet the demand of all towns and villages, and the generality of the citizenry.”
The special adviser hailed Aregbesola for what he described as the prompt attention given to the 2014 budget, saying it was accented to quickly immediately the lawmakers passed the bill.
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Photos of the Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola;  his wife, Sherifat  and others, during the

57th Birthday celebration of Governor Aregbesola,  at the Government house, Abere, Osogbo

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat;
Mr Kabiru Aregbesola (right); Qudir Aregbesola (5th right),Sakirat
Aregbesola (4th left),Rauf Aregbesola (Junior) (left); Olateju Ishola (2nd left); Jumoke Oladeji (3rd left); Bode Oladeji (2nd right)
and others, during the
57th Birthday celebration of Governor Aregbesola, at Government house Osogbo

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Wife, Sherifat; Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (5th left), Special Advisers Youth, Sport and Special Need, Comrade Biyi Odunlade (3rd left),
Member House of Representatives in Irewole, Ayedaade, Isokan, Federal
Constituency, Hon. Ayo Amidiran (5th left), Prof. Siyan Oyeweso (left), Commissioner Regional Integration and Special Duties, Mr. Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru (4th right)
Vice Chancellor, Osun State University, Osogbo, Professor Adekunle Bashir
Okesina (right) and others, during the 57th Birthday celebration of Governor Aregbesola, at Government house Osogbo

The World Bank and the French Development Agency have offered $243 million in grants for construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of rural feeder roads in four Nigerian states.
National Co-ordinator of Rural Access sans Mobility Project (RAMP), Ubandoma Ularamu, disclosed this at a three-day workshop on message development, review, testing and harmonisation on RAMP Communications, holding in Osogbo, Osun State.
Ularamu listed the four participating states under the agreement as: Adamawa, Enugu, Niger and Osun, which are expected to pay 3 per cent of the total project costs under as counterpart funding.
Under the scheme, he said 500 kilometres of rural roads would be constructed in each of the participating states.
The RAMP, an agency under Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is saddled with responsibility of constructing, rehabilitating and maintenance of rural feeder roads to enable farmers evacuate their farm produce and enhance time to market.
The National Co-ordinator assured that work would soon begin on the selected rural roads in the states, noting that the process of hiring contractors and consultants to execute the projects is already on.
He pointed out that the construction of rural roads would greatly complement the efforts of the present administration to transform agricultural sector and ensure food security in the country under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA).
Ularamu equally recalled that under RAMP 1, the construction of rural roads in Cross River and Kaduna States recorded huge success which also was sponsored by the World Bank and African Development Bank.
Consequently, he urged the participating States in the RAMP 11 project to pay their counterpart funding for immediate take-off of the projects in the States.
Also speaking, the Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, commended the management of RAMP for its initiative to providing road infrastructure to rural communities.
Aregbesola noted that the RAMP project is a positive contribution towards helping state governments in Nigeria to accelerate the pace of economic growth and development.
According to Aregbesola who was represented by Moshood Adeoti, Secretary to the Osun State Government, “any development efforts can hardly be meaningful without positively touching the rural areas in significant ways.”
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