Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has explained why he is sending some youths to Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, for advanced training in agriculture and food production.
He said after the training, the youths would help the state move from subsistence to mechanised farming.
Aregbesola spoke yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, at a send-off ceremony for the youths.
He said his administration was determined to provide enough food for local consumption and exportation.
The governor said the administration had been providing infrastructure and support for farmers, such as improved seedlings, fertilizer, fumigants and cleared farmlands.
He said the government was liaising with reputable local and international partners, such as the Institute for Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, for technical assistance.
Aregbesola said: “Our efforts are geared towards taking farming from the subsistence level to the modern/commercial level, because that is the level at which farming is really worth it as a profession.
“To realize this goal, it is needful to add value to our agricultural practice by applying advanced knowledge in science and technology. We have adopted a multi-pronged approach to achieving this objective.
“On one hand, we are providing the necessary infrastructure and supporting our farmers with input. This requires supplying them with input, such as improved seedlings, fertilizers and fumigants, among others; giving them hundreds of thousands of hectares of already prepared farmlands; reviving old farm settlements that were the hub of agricultural miracles in the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s era; opening up rural areas through aggressive road construction and rehabilitation to facilitate easy accessibility and movement of goods from farms to markets; and the linking of farm produce from Osun to the huge market in Lagos via the Lagos-Osun Rail Logistics System.”
Mr. Olumide Ojo, who spoke for the trainees, thanked the governor for giving them such a privilege and pledged not to disappoint the state.
The trainees will undergo a four-week course on modern agriculture and food crop production techniques at an agricultural training school in Germany.
After this, the trainees would be attached to 11 large-scale co-operative farmers in Saxony-Anhalt for eight weeks.
THE NATION

  

Efforts by the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to achieve agricultural development through collaborative efforts have yielded fruits as the first batch of 20 youths chosen for training in best practice agriculture abroad are to depart for the State of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, next week.
Already, the youths were last Friday at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Osogbo, taken through an orientation programme handled by different level of experts in health, information and communications technology and ethical trainings.
Topics treated included “Food, clothing, medication and health insurance in Germany: Implications for first-time and non-frequent travelers” and others based on the concepts of virtuous living and the Six-Point Integral Action Plan of the Aregbesola administration.
Governor Aregbesola, who is expected to counsel the youths on Monday before their final departure had last year, secured the collaboration of the German State of Saxony-Anhalt to train a total of 40 youths in Germany in the best agricultural practices for the achievement of his administration’s food security programme.
The collaboration between the State of Osun and the State of Saxony-Anhalt in the Federal Republic of Germany was achieved during the maiden week-long visit of Governor Rauf Aregbesola to the European country in May 2012.
German authorities have issued visas to the youths to facilitate their trip to Europe under the auspices of Governor Aregbesola’s Quick Impact Intervention Programme (QIIP).
Upon arrival in Germany, the youths are to spend an intensive period of four weeks in formal agricultural training school where they would be taken through the rudiments of agriculture and food crop production techniques.
After this, the Osun youths are to be attached to 11 large scale co-operative farmers in the State of Saxony-Anhalt in Germany where they are to spend the last eight weeks in learning and building on the assessed capacities and interests of each of them.
In furtherance of this collaboration, the German government had sent language and Agricultural Implements and Terms Proficiency expert who arrived Nigeria and began work last January 3 and trained the youths till June, 2013.
The training was to prepare the youths for their study periods in Germany as well as introduce them to some of the assignments they would be expected to undertake abroad.
Apart from their training in agriculture, the youths would also serve as middle level link between the German experts and the State of Osun when the German Best Practice Demonstration Farm takes off.
This is the product of the collaboration put in place by Governor Aregbesola and the German government of the State of Saxony-Anhalt when he visited the European country last year.
OSUN DEFENDER

 
Trade and commerce are central to our development drive in the State of Osun. All our policies and programmes are connected in one way or another with market and marketing activities.
These were the words of the governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Monday at the inauguration of the State’s Market Women Board, held at Bola Ige House car park, in Osogbo.
Aregbesola held that his concentration on Agriculture and marketing activities brought about the Osun Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Programme (O’REAP), which right from its conception, engages in planning and execution linked to the lucrative daily food market in Lagos.
He added that it is for this purpose that the ultra-modern regional market at Dagbolu is being constructed.
The governor also added that the major reason behind the state partnership with the Nigeria Railway Corporation to revitalise the railway transport from Osogbo to Lagos, which has since been in full operation.
According to him, “Our ultimate aim, as I have said elsewhere, is to ‘create a produce and commodity market for goods produced, both locally and imported, in Osun where people would buy at the price they buy in Lagos which in our belief would promote commercial activities and peoples’ income within the shortest time.”
“It is also the reason behind our effort at reorganising our marketing activities in the state by building befitting modern markets across our towns and cities.” The governor said.
The governor stressed that governing boards are part of the machinery of government, adding that It is against that background that his administration is inaugurating the Market Women Board in the State.
In his words, “we want to ensure that these important commercial activities are properly structured, taken off the streets, and conducted in appropriate locations that are specially built for them.” The governor told the gathering.
Aregbesola noted that trading and marketing activities have been a key factor in the phenomenon of urbanisation for which Yoruba people have been noted from ancient times.
He added that,”we must always remember that our women have been, and still are, a significant –if not the most significant – part of these activities.
“The importance of market is not restricted to the people of old. Trade and commerce, as a matter of fact, has in modern times acquired far greater significance than ancient people could ever have contemplated.” The governor stressed.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative and empowerment, Mr. Ismaila Alagba charged them to cooperate with the governor as the present administration is given to development of commerce and the fortune of its citizen.
” I want to assure you that this just the beginning of good thing to come because the market and its operators are an important component of trade and commerce, and there is no way we can talk of commerce without considering the women, especially in our part of the world.” The Commissioner pointed out.
Alagbada stated that trade and commerce are vital parts of the economy of any country. And there can be no economic growth and material prosperity without the market.

The Governor of Ogun State Ibikunle Amosun and his Osun State counterpart Rauf Aregbesola, on Saturday, said they would name a museum and an airport after the late Chief M.K.O Abiola.
The governors announced the plans at a book launch to mark the 76th posthumous birthday of Abiola at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta.
The book titled, ‘Bashorun M.K.O Abiola: Okunrin Naa’ was written by Pa Razaq Osunjenrola.
Amosun, who was represented by Chief Olu Odeyemi, the Commissioner for Special Duties, said that the plan was part of measures to immortalise Abiola.
“There is no level of respect or honour accorded to late Abiola that is too much considering the sacrifice that he had made for the present democracy being enjoyed by Nigerians today,” he said.
He said the museum was part of the projects earmarked in the 2013 budget of the state, adding that work would soon start on it.
The governor gave assurance that relevant books as well as other works that could promote the legacies of Abiola would be made available in the proposed museum.
Aregbesola, who was represented by Mr. Femi Oyedele, his Senior Special Assistant, said that Abiola deserved a special place in the history of Nigeria.
He said that the airport currently being built in the state would be named after the late philanthropist and winner of the controversial June 12 elections.
The governor urged other governments in the South-West zone to consider other befitting ways to immortalise Abiola, saying, “we must go beyond the annual ritual of June 12 democracy walk.”

Crowd from all works of life stormed LA Primary School, Mosafejo-Aradagun area of Olorunda LCDA, Lagos State yesterday, where a Non-governmental but partisan organisation affiliate to the newly registered All Progressives Congress called The Newhope Network, graduated a set of ninety-six (96) youths trained free of charge in Computer skills and and appreciation.
Speaking at the event, the Principal Coordinator of the group, one Prince ‘Wale Adesina was full of praises to Almighty God and Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, the governor of The State of Osun, whom he claimed was inspirational to the feat the group has attained. He particularly made reference to Osun Youths’ Empowerment Scheme, O’YES an initiative introduced by the present governor of the State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola. He maintained that empowering the youths is the only antidote to numerous problems plaguing our nation at the moment.
According to him, Our nation is currently being plagued with insecurity, unemployment, bad leadership and many more. He urged all our leaders to emulate the O’YES scheme of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola of the State of osun.
       

OSUN DEFENDER

 
 
By Olufunke Lasisi
The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has once again reiterated his strong conviction in the continued existence of the country as one indivisible entity.
Aregbesola made this affirmation in his remark after a two-hour drama production put up by the renowned poet and playwright, Odia Ofeimun, at the grand finale of the yearly Osun Osogbo International Festival on Friday.
The production of the play is meant to add more colours to the annual festival to showcase the culture to the international tourists, who came for the festival.
This year’s Osun festival featured an eight-day Trade, Investment and Culture conference where foreign investors met with government and local business groups on trade partnership.
Drawing a lesson from the dance drama entitled: ‘Nigeria: The Beautiful,’ the governor lamented that the country has detracted from the part envisaged by its founding fathers.
He lamented that leadership has played a critical role in the existence of Nigeria, saying the vision and dream of the founding fathers have remained elusive because of dearth of selfless leaders.
He said: “How I wish we can all agree and conform with the title of the play. Nigeria was one of the promising nations on earth after independence in 1960
“Our founding fathers dreamt of a nation great in every sense of the word. They actually laid the foundation of a great Nigeria.
“Unfortunately, one thing led to another and we are where we are today not where we are supposed to be.
“It means at some point we got it all wrong. Since then we have moved farther and farther from the dream of our founding father. “I wish, hope and pray that we shall live to see the beauty of our country; the beauty and strength in our diversity.”
He further emphasized the need for true democracy and fiscal federalism for Nigeria to quickly return to the path of growth and progress.
THIS DAY

Efforts by the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to achieve agricultural development through collaborative efforts have yielded fruits as the first batch of 20 youths chosen for training in best practice agriculture abroad are to depart for the State of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, next week.
Already, the youths were last Friday at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Osogbo, taken through an orientation programme handled by different level of experts in health, information and communications technology and ethical trainings.
Topics treated included “Food, clothing, medication and health insurance in Germany: Implications for first-time and non-frequent travelers” and others based on the concepts of virtuous living and the Six-Point Integral Action Plan of the Aregbesola administration.
Governor Aregbesola, who is expected to counsel the youths on Monday before their final departure had last year, secured the collaboration of the German State of Saxony-Anhalt to train a total of 40 youths in Germany in the best agricultural practices for the achievement of his administration’s food security programme.
The collaboration between the State of Osun and the State of Saxony-Anhalt in the Federal Republic of Germany was achieved during the maiden week-long visit of Governor Rauf Aregbesola to the European country in May 2012.
German authorities have issued visas to the youths to facilitate their trip to Europe under the auspices of Governor Aregbesola’s Quick Impact Intervention Programme (QIIP). Upon arrival in Germany, the youths are to spend an intensive period of four weeks in formal agricultural training school where they would be taken through the rudiments of agriculture and food crop production techniques.
After this, the Osun youths are to be attached to 11 large scale co-operative farmers in the State of Saxony-Anhalt in Germany where they are to spend the last eight weeks in learning and building on the assessed capacities and interests of each of them. In furtherance of this collaboration, the German government had sent language and Agricultural Implements and Terms Proficiency expert who arrived Nigeria and began work last January 3 and trained the youths till June, 2013.
The training was to prepare the youths for their study periods in Germany as well as introduce them to some of the assignments they would be expected to undertake abroad. Apart from their training in agriculture, the youths would also serve as middle level link between the German experts and the State of Osun when the German Best Practice Demonstration Farm takes off.
This is the product of the collaboration put in place by Governor Aregbesola and the German government of the State of Saxony-Anhalt when he visited the European country last year.

The people of Ikirun, the headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State have rallied support for Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s second term bid.
On Saturday, they trooped out in large numbers and marched round the ancient town in solidarity for the governor.
The Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Rauf Olayiwola Adedeji, before the procession which involved different professional groups such as market women, barbers’ association, tailors and others, said the event was not political but “to show appreciation to the governor for the unprecedented development the town and its environs had witnessed in his tenure.”
The monarch, who noted that the appreciation of the people of Ikirun to Aregbesola and his team was in three folds, said the governor appointed many of his subjects into his cabinet and boards of agencies and parastatals; construction of the dual carriage way passing from Ikirun to Ila-Odo, a border town with Kwara State, as well as the on-going construction of Dagbolu International Market in the council area.
He said, “Aregbesola is passionately developing towns and communities across the state, including Ikirun. We have never had it this good. As far as we are concerned, Aregbsola is a winning horse which should not be stopped midway but should be allowed to finish the race.
“The dual carriage way passing theough Ikirun and the Dagbolu International Market and his other laudable projects on our soil are capable of transforming our lives economically and socially. What we are doing, rallying support for Aregbesola’s second term in office, is beyond politics.”
The monarch added that the governor’s policy to change the face of the state through the urban renewal programme was not a punitive measure but for the good of the state.
THE NATION