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.

IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON

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.

IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON

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.

DAILY INDEPENDENT

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 

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

 

The State of Osun is on course for development and a socio-economic transformation like it has never seen before courtesy the tireless efforts of the current administration in the state led by His Excellency, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
With the vision to ensure ‘freedom for all’ and ‘life abundant’ for everyone within the state through a diversified economy, the Government of the State of Osun has setup several programmes and initiatives to make the vision a reality.
Some of these initiatives undertaken within the past 3 and half years include a massive restructuring of the educational sector with the creation of The Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme known as O-MEALS which cares for 254,000 students and empowers over 3000 community caterers. Another initiative within education is the unification of school uniforms (O-UNIFORM) to create a unique identity for students, promote the local culture and stimulate the local economy.
The implementation of the OUNIFORM scheme, has attracted additional socio economic benefits, such as the building of the biggest Garment Factory in West Africa, named OMOLUABI GARMENT FACTORY located in Osogbo. There is also the technological innovation with the Opón Ìmò Technology Enhanced Learning System (OTELS) which is a bold step in tackling learning problems with the use of ICT.
In the agricultural sector, the State of Osun has designed and is implementing the Osun Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Program also known as O-REAP. The administration intends to use agriculture as a core focus of the State’s economic development plan by serving 10% of the over three billion Naira ($20 million) per month food market in Lagos – the largest market in western Africa.
The youth haven’t been left out, as the Government of the State of Osun has empowered over 40,000 youth through the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES), a revolving volunteers’ scheme. The scheme has been used as an anchor to place some 5,000 youths in the technology sector with OYES-Tech, while 996 OYES Cadets have been empowered in modern agric practices with over 40 youths trained in Germany for the same purpose.
Social concerns have also not been neglected by the Government of the State of Osun as Agba Osun Elderly Scheme. Agba Osun provides welfare for highly vulnerable seniors who have do not have guardian support. The scheme currently provides monetary support to some 1,602 elders as well as free and personal medical attention.
There is also the Provision of micro credit of N600m to 18,000 women beneficiaries as well as provision of Agro-processing equipment at 40% subsidy rate for women and youth so all social sectors of the economy are well taken care of.
The State of Osun has also witnessed a massive development of boundary highways, inter-city roads, township roads, local government roads and rural roads.
These developments and changes have been observed by many people within and outside the State of Osun including paramount traditional rulers such as The Ooni of Ife who recently said:
“it is clear testimony that the present government has performed even beyond people’s expectation and I urge the people to support the government so as to be able to do more.”
The State of Osun currently has the 3rd largest GDP per capita in Nigeria despite being the 34th state in the federal allocation revenue.