The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security in the State of Osun, Hon. Kunle Ige has reiterated government efforts to continue encouraging Osun farmers to embrace modern farming techniques in order to improve agricultural yields and boost food production in the State to seek royal advice. He then thanked him for his support for the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

 

 
Hon. Odewumi added that the present government in the State will continue to support and develop royal institutions in the state saying culture and tradition are very important for developmental strides.
While responding, the Owa Obokun of Ijesa land, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran enjoined the Special Adviser to continue to maintain culture and tradition in the State. He appreciated the visit saying, he would continue to cooperate with the government of Ogbeni Aregbesola.

Hon. Bisi Odewumi had paid a similar visit to Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja ll and Orangun of Ila, Oba Abdul Wahab Adedotun Bibire.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security in the State of Osun, Hon. Kunle Ige has promised farmers in the State that the government of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola will continue to give the needed support to all genuine farmers in the state of Osun without any discrimination in order to boost food production and banish hunger in the State.
 

 
Hon. Kunle Ige further disclosed that arrangement that will guarantee farmers’ easy access to government support on loan intervention, agro-chemicals, farm equipment and improved seedlings is already on -going but noted that government could no longer afford to subsidise again.
Hon. Kunle Ige made these known while playing host to the Executive members of All Farmers Association Of Nigeria (AFAN), Osun branch during its courtesy visit to the Ministry Of Agriculture and Food Security.
The Commissioner stressed that, the government is fully aware that non- availability of agro-chemicals and inputs at the needed time could create worries and challenges for farmers, he therefore allayed the farmers fear by assuring them that fertilizer and other agro-chemicals that may be needed would be available within their reach soonest. He added that 50 new tractors would be purchased while serviceable tractors among the existing ones would be put in
good working condition for the use of Osun farmers.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman, AFAN, Osun branch, Farmer Kayode Afolabi appreciated Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola for being friendly to farmers and appreciated his unalloyed contributions to the development of agriculture in the State.
Farmer Afolabi also congratulated the Commissioner, Hon. Kunle Ige and Special Adviser on Agriculture, Hon. Oluremi Kolajo for their appointment, describing it as a well deserved honour.
While pledging AFAN’s continued support to the government of the day, he also used the occasion to seek for
government assistant for AFAN to access the Central bank loan, provision of fertilizer at a subsidised rate and provision of tractors for farmers’ use among others, noting that, these would go a long way to assist AFAN members in the State.
Highlight of the meeting was the special prayer offered by AFAN members to the Commissioner and Special Adviser to achieve success in office.

The Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Architect Akintunde Akinajo has called for proper planning before erecting any structure in order to safe guard flooding and other associated hazards.

 
Arch. Akinajo made the call when he paid a visit to the Federal Government Technical College, Ilesa. He explained that the visit become imperative based on the letter he received from the school complaining of the blockade of drainage and the need for a site plan.
The Commissioner advised the School management to create a catchment pit and channel the water to the available drainage to safe guard the properties of the people living in the College neighbourhood. He added that detailed survey of the site must be provided to ensure good neighbourliness.
Arch. Akinajo assured the management of the College that the matter will be resolved amicably promising to invite the concerned people to a meeting where the matter will be resolved.
The Vice Principal Academics, Mr. Moses Gbadegesin who received the team on behalf of the Principal appreciated the team for the prompt action and later conducted them round the College to have the proper view of the matter. He added that all efforts to settle with the people living around the area have not yielded desired results.
On the team of the Commissioner were the Director of Lands Services, Mr Tayo Hassan, Director of Town Planning, Town Planner Ezekiel Oladejo, Surveyor – General, Surveyor Rauf Akintola, Engineers from the Ministry of Works and Transport and other Staff of the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning.

The Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. Leke Ogunsola has reiterated the commitment of the present administration in the State of Osun to make the State drug-free.
 

 
He made this known at St. Charles High School, Osogbo during the flag-off ceremony held to kick-start the year 2017 United Nation Anti Drug Abuse Campaign day.
Hon. Ogunsola emphasized that medical records show that majority of the patients admitted into mental health institutes in Nigeria fall within 21 to 30 years of age.
He added that drug trafficking breeds lawlessness crime, distorts national economy and even undermine the stability of government through increase in crime rate and act of vandalism and terrorism.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Usamotu said Osun State Drug Abuse Control Committee (OSDACC) had been creating awareness on the menace of drug abuse and trafficking at the grassroots by mobilising the communities against the threat posed by drug abuse to the present and future generations.
In addition, the Commissioner said the abuse of the aforementioned drugs is now a threat to Nigeria and to those countries where they are transported.
He therefore appealed to parents to listen to their children in order to help them grow healthy and safe.
While speaking at the event, the Commander National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Oyeleye Samuel assured the government of the State of Osun the maximum anti-drug abuse campaign in schools, market places, churches and mosques for the benefit of the state citizenry.
Finally, the Commander enjoined the community leaders, parents, teachers and policy makers to listen to the youths and children so that the menace of drug abuse and drug trafficking can be minimized in order to save the future of our nation.

In a bid to avoid water pollution both on the surface and through leakages that flow underground, all hands are on deck to ensuring that the disposal of waste by abattoirs, toilets evacuators and mechanics of various fields do not affect water ways.

 
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Rural and Community Affairs, Hon. Babatunde Ibirogba made this known in a meeting held with the members of the Executive Committee of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), in Osogbo.
According to him, the law that provides for rights, privileges and penalties for water users, providers and other relevant stakeholders across the State is also available for sale at the State of Osun House of Assembly at a cheaper rate. He then urged the people of the State to endeavour in making good use of water and facilities that are being put in place by the present administration.
Hon. Ibirogba who was represented at the event by the Director of Water Resources in the Agency who also doubles as the Committee Chairman of the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), Engr. Ademola Fatola said that efforts are ongoing to meet up with the global standards.
The Special Adviser noted that, Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Committee comprising line MDAs, (NGOs) like Kingdom Seekers and CAI4SR, and other relevant Stakeholders in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector is set up in order to reach out to different categories of water users and providers by making sure that water is available for all and without jeopardizing the interest of other water users, including other living things.
While appreciating the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for his support in curbing the indiscriminate water usage and making the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Committee functional, Hon. Ibirogba also enjoined all water users, providers and infrastructure developers to cooperate with the
committee members whenever they are on duty.

State of Osun Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji has charged Bank Managers in the State to partner with the State Government in its efforts at boosting the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State.
 

 
Mr. Oyebamiji made this charge in an interactive meeting held with Bank Managers at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Finance.
The Commissioner explained that banks in the State need to propel the economy of the State through aggressive Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) drive from both the formal and informal sectors of the economy.
He then assured them that as one of them, his door is open to all banks as no bank will be discriminated against. He
therefore urged them to display the highest level of professionalism in proper economic planning so as to set the target in generating more IGR to the State.
Mr. Oyebamiji thereafter frowned at some banks who display unethical attitude towards the State IGR to turn a new leaf before the State takes any drastic step against them.
Also speaking, the State Accountant General, Mr. Akintayo Kolawole advised the banks to cooperate with the State
government in its efforts to improve the economy of the State through the IGR drive.
In their separate responses, representatives of all the banks present promised to support the government in its efforts to improve the IGR in the State.

It was a day of joy for 50 medical students of the Osun State University and their parents at the weekend as they ended their medical studies at the V.N Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.
 

 
One of the new medical doctors, Miss Oyeleye Lateefah Abiola, was named by the Vice-President for Research and Education of the University,  Prof Mykola O. Azarenkov as the overall Best graduating student from both the Faculty of Medicine and in the entire university.
She came out with a percent score of 95.6%  in the KROK 2 Exams which was the final examination for graduating students.
The convocation arena erupted in cheers as the best graduating student mounted the stage to deliver her speech.
The Karazin Kharkiv National University is 213 years old having been founded in November 1804. It is one of the oldest and leading universities in the Eastern Europe. It is second oldest university in the Ukraine, second only to the University of Lviv, Ukraine.
The university has produced at least three Nobel Prize laureates. They include Ilie Mechnikov (Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine); Simon Kuznet (1971 Nobel Prize in Economics); and Lev Landau (Physics).
The 50 Nigerian students from Osun were the cynosure of all eyes at the event.
They were among the 87 who were sponsored by the Ogbeni led Government of Osun in 2013 to study Medicine at the National University of Kharkiv, Ukraine out of the inherited 98 students who secured admission to study Medicine at the state-owned University but could not continue due to non-accreditation of their medical programme for lack of a standard teaching hospital.
Respite came the way of the students, who were in their year 3rd, 4th and 5th years  respectively when the governor decided to send them to Ukraine after a rigorous search for universities across the world where their dreams of becoming medical doctors could be realised.
Aregbesola’s decision to send the stranded medical students of the State University to a foreign university to complete their medical studies was borne out of the conviction of his administration that no sacrifice would be too much to secure better future for the students, at a reasonable cost.
The Deputy Governor, Mrs Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, who represented Ogbeni at the event, said the graduation of the students was dream come true.
Aregbesola had said his government facilitated the transfer of the students because it believed that a responsible government must fulfill its part of a pact entered into with the people irrespective of which person or party in power signed the agreement, since governance is a continuum.
According to Laoye-Tomori, “We feel fulfilled that the students, who would have had their dreams aborted, have today realised their ambition of becoming medical doctors. This is one of our outstanding success stories in Osun.
“We have kept faith with these students, their parents and guardians towards realising their life time ambition. In spite of the acute paucity of funds that our state has been facing, we never renege on our promise to see them through. Today, we are happy we have caused their dreams to become realities.”
The Vice Chancellor of the Osun State University, Prof Labo Popoola, said at the graduation ceremony “This is an indication of leadership with vision.”
The Best overall student, Miss Lateefah Oyeleye Abiola, said the new medical doctors would  be forever grateful to the state government of Osun and Aregbesola for making the dreams possible.
“We are here today proud that from the loss of hope that we were plunged into, we have been raised with new vigour. We have seen in Osun a responsible government which would not let its citizens down. Words are not enough to celebrate our victory. We have won,” she told the crowd.
The Government of Osun in fulfilling that the students become doctors in years 2012, 2013 and 2014 expended the sum of N60,647,2‎00, N68,445,465, N64,215,800 respectively.
The Osun Government also in years 2015 and 2016 academic sessions spent N85,833,750 and N116,495,258.40, totalling N495,637,473.40.
Besides the initial 87 students who then were in 300-500 levels, government also assisted a total of 29 other medical students who were in 100 and 200 levels to secure admission to the university and process their travelling documents but were sponsored by their parents.
The event was graced by the Chairman House Committee of Education, Osun State House of Assembly  Hon Bamisayemi Folorunso Oladoyin , The Osun Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology  Engr Oluremi Omowaiye.

 The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Adelani Baderinwa has called on the League of Veteran Journalists in the State of Osun to use their wealth of experience and wisdom to better the journalism profession particularly among the up and coming professionals in the State.
The Commissioner made the call while receiving the veterans who paid him a courtesy call in his office.
 

 
According to him, the profession is going through a lot of challenges which need the attention of all experienced hands to redeem; hence the veterans should be ready to assist in this regard.
The Commissioner while appreciating the veterans who deemed it fit to visit him, called on them to strive further to support the programmes and activities of the present administration led by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
Mr. Baderinwa also assured the veterans that, the association would not be left out in the scheme of things, saying the Ministry of Information and Strategy would render all necessary assistance needed to make their programmes successful.
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the League of Veteran Journalists, Prince Kayode Adedire pledged the loyalty and support of the over 20 members of the association to the Commissioner, saying his appointment makes him the first thorough bred professional to assume the position of Commissioner for Information since the creation of the State.
Prince Adedire also commended the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for appointing Mr. Baderinwa as a Commissioner having fully paid his dues in politics as well as the journalism profession.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security in the State of Osun, Hon. Kunle Ige has assured women farmers in the State that they would be carried along in all agricultural programme and policy to benefit optimally from government support in agriculture.
 

 
Hon. Ige gave this assurance while play host to Association Of Small Scale Women Farmers, Osun branch, at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Agriculture  and Food Security.
Hon. Ige also advised the association to always send their representative to attend all meetings that has to do with agriculture in order to have adequate and beneficial information on government policy and programme in agriculture
While seeking for the continuous support from members of the Women Farmers Association that have benefited from the present administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola not to disappoint, Agric Commissioner further noted that though gender could not be use as a distribution ratio for agricultural inputs like fertilizer,  agro-chemicals and seedlings but rather base on number of applicants, he therefore advised the association to ensure that genuine farmers are put forward for considerations
Hon. Kunle Ige also pledged to look into Small Scale Women Farmers “Ten Smart Action Demands” in agriculture and see if it could be implemented within the limited time frame in office.
Earlier in her remarks, the Chairperson for the Small Scale Women Farmer, Osun branch, Chief Mrs Olaleye Janet disclosed that the Association is optimistic that their demands for women inclusion in Agricultural programme would come to reality with the appointment of Hon Kunle Ige as the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security in Osun.
Chief Mrs Olalaye stressed that their “Ten Smart Action Demands in Agriculture is part of the efforts for women empowerment and boost agriculture in the State.
She therefore assured that members of the association comprising FADAMA farmers, livestock farmers, processors and physically challenges person among others would continue to support the Government of Ogbeni Aregbesola.
Meanwhile, parts of their Ten Smart Action Demands include Gender responsive Agricultural Policy, Budget, Farm Inputs, Market Access, Farmlands Access, Farm Settlement Scheme, Herdsmen Attack among others.

The cost and efforts of building empire is enormous and tasking that is why the present administration under Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is doing everything possible to curtail any circumstance that can lead to disaster in the State hence the setting up of the Committee on Fire Safety Matters and others for the purpose of enlightening the populace in the State.
 

 
Commissioner for Special Duties who is also the Chairman, Special Committee on Fire Safety Matters, Hon. Oguntola Mudashiru Toogun made this observation during the sensitisation and inspection tours to private hospitals in Iwo.
He explained that Ogbeni Aregbesola is putting everything in place to ensure safety of lives and property of all the citizenry in the State. He said that is why the government is concerned with good road network, building of State of the art schools with modern facilities, dredging of water ways, equipping security men with sophisticated weapons and a host of others.
Hon. Toogun therefore urged owners of private hospitals to ensure that their staff monitor the way their patients use electrical appliances in their hospitals and take proactive step against anything that may lead to inferno.
In their separate responses, Medical Directors, KLM Muslim Hospital, Dr. Luqman Gbadamosi, Iwo Medical Centre, Dr. Taiwo Nafiu, Victory Hospital, Dr. Idowu, and M.O.T Hospital, Dr. Adeosun thanked the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for his developmental programmes across the State. They therefore assured the Government of their support to its programmes especially on safety of lives and property and payment of dues as soon as possible.