The Governor, state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has received a warm applause for being forthright on the implementation of policies designed to revamp the agriculture sector in the state.
The praise was coming from members of the Osun state chapter of Cassava Growers Association of Nigeria, while they presented their position paper to the State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture.
 

 
The association commended the state for being the bulwark of support to the needs of farmers in the state since assumption of office.
Presenting the paper, the Chairman of the Association, Dr David Ogunsade, described agriculture as the only surviving alternative to dearth of revenue from crude oil production in the country.
He stressed the need for more support from governments, stakeholders and other interested groups to enhance agricultural productivity, capacity, as well improve on the youth’s endorsement and participation in farming.
Ogunsade said government must provide the enabling environment that would further enhance micro-credit facilities to farmers most especially the peasant farmers in the country.
He however saluted Governor Aregbesola’s administration for establishing what he described as a robust and mutually beneficial partnership with the association which according to him, had re-positioned the agricultural sector in the state.
Furthermore, he stated that the government of Osun had done well in boosting the welfare and morale of farmers through its prompt interventions as part of efforts to realising the state’s potentials in agriculture.
Calling for modern agricultural practices to improve on the agricultural productivity in the state, Ogunsade said no effort must be spared by all at building a capacity that would encourage farming through the provision of ultra-modern facilities to farmers.
According to him, for rapid growth in the sector, modern agricultural practices must be encouraged while interest-free loans must be introduced to farmers.
He implored the state not to relent on its goal at turning the state to food basket of the nation.
“Our moribund agricultural infrastructures like cassava processing industry, cocoa processing industry, palm oil production industry among others, must be resuscitated so as to meet the needs of the people and help the state to be self-sufficient in food production.
“We want our Governor to do more in reviving all the cassava processing industries across the state so as to further increase on our cassava production capacity,” he added.
In response, Chairman of the Osun State House committee on Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Gbadebo Abdullahi, said government would continue to support the association in realizing its goals.
He then urged the farmers to always fulfil their obligation by refunding all credit facilities provided by government in order to enable others to benefit.
Abdullahi also tasked the farmers to seek other avenues to improve on their production and quality.
He assured them that the government would do its bit and they should also do theirs while maintaining unity.
Another member of the committee, Mr Israel Aloba, in support, called on the members of the association to cooperate with relevant agencies in the realisation of their dreams, saying this would help fast track their job and make the state the hub of cassava production in the country.

Nigeria Women Premier League side Osun Babes FC have unveiled their new club crest which will appear on the club’s shirt from the start of the 2016/2017 Nigeria Women Premier League Season (NWPL).
The management of the club decided to make it known to the public after lengthy consultations with stakeholders and fans of the club who were broadly in favour of establishing a new logo for the Omoluabi Queens.
 

 
The new design marks the departure from the existing badge, adopted in 2014, and instead resembles an updated version of the club’s new philosophies.
According to a statement by the club’s media officer, Olayinka Olawole, “The new crest features a shield that retains the seal of the State of Osun, which comprises of two elephants, Ori Olokun, a Cocoa tree, an inner shield, crossed woods, Swords, a mace and seven cowries.
“The elephants symbolizes strength, service and prosperity, while the Ori Olokun represents the common origin of Yoruba and their dexterity in technology. The Cocoa Tree and two crossed logs of wood on which the elephant stands signifies the dependence of the state and its respects for agriculture and other natural resources of the land.

“Also, the chief’s sword and mace embodies the spirit and purpose of Osun State! While the inner shield and cowries on the Ori Olokun symbolizes the link between Osun State and the federal republic of Nigeria and the seven grandsons of Oduduwa respectively. The crest also includes the year the club was founded, 1995.
Some of the players told the club’s media team how happy they are looking forward to wearing the new badge.
“We are really looking forward to wearing it. It’s something new. This is what we love about this club and the journey we have been on since we’ve been here. There have always been new and exciting things and every one of them positive. It’s no different with this badge. We think it’s great.”
Meanwhile, the club has officially ended screening for new players ahead of the 2016/2017 NWPL season and have retained eighteen players from the old players and also picked twelve new exciting players for the new season.

Ife is an ancient town in Yoruba history and is regarded as the cradle of civilization. According to Yoruba tradition, Ife is the ancestral and spiritual home for all Yoruba. It is believed that the creation of the world started from Ife. Hence, it is popularly referred to as ‘’Land of the Source’’.
The Ooni of Ife is the traditional head and is highly revered amongst the Yoruba particularly and the nation in general.
 

 
 
Administratively, Ile-Ife has two local governments namely Ife Central and Ife East. The headquarters of Ife Central Local Government is on Ibadan Road while that of Ife East is at Oke Ogbo. The population of the two according to the 2006 National Census is put at 167,254 and 188,027 respectively.
Geographically, Ile- Ife lies on longitude 4° 69’E and latitude 70° 50′ N.The climate is tropical. Like every other Southwest area, the rainy season starts April to October while the dry season lasts October to March.
Ile-Ife is home to the Prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University and other important places like University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ife Museum of Antiquities, Opa Oranmiyan, Okemogun Shrine, Oduduwa Palace, Zoological Gardens and Odua Shrine. The Olojo Festival, an important event in the ancient town holds annually.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has said it would partner with the Osun State Government in the area of electronic assessment of students.
 

 
WAEC Head National Office (HNO), Mr Olu Adenipekun, revealed this during a courtesy visit to Gov. Rauf Aregbesola in Osogbo.
According to Adenipekun, “WAEC will require support and assistance of the state government with allocation of land in conducive location for this project.”
“The council is willing to collaborate with the Ministry of Education to create avenues for experience-sharing with teachers in secondary schools in the state.”
“This will be in the areas of standardised testing and candidates/ students assessment…
“We will continually ensure the smooth conduct of our examinations. We are equally open for collaboration in the training of teachers in order to improve the performance of candidates in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE),’’ he said.
Adenipekun commended the governor for strides in education in the state, praising the “Opon Imo’’ (meaning tablet of knowledge) initiative by the state government, as a major breakthrough of Aregbesola’s administration in the education sector.

Aregbesola im response commended WAEC for diligent conduct of their variois exs and promised to approve a piece of land for the proposed e-testing and training centre as requested by the WAEC.
“I am happy you are here today to recognise our little efforts in improving the quality of teaching and learning. But we are not particularly happy with our performance because we are still not where we want to be.”
“Our progress is steady, certain and with that progress, it has guaranteed us the need to do more.”
“Your visit has encouraged us to do more, and I want to assure you that we are fully committed and willing to partner with you on all your projects, aimed at driving our developmental effort in education.”
“What you want to do is a blessing and therefore, I want to appeal to you to register us as your partner in all your projects,’’ the governor said.

Governor of State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was in Ile-Ife for the official commissioning of the newly constructed office building of the newly created Ife Southwest Local Council Development Area, in Awolowo town.
See photos below:
 

 

 
 

 

 

Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Wednesday said that the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo is the father of modern government in Nigeria. Governor Aregbesola also said that his government has decided to establish new Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, in the state in order to consolidate on the efforts of the late Chief Awolowo and Chief Bola Ige.
 

 
Governor Aregbesola made the statement while addressing the people of Osun state at the official commissioning of the newly constructed office building of the newly created Ife Southwest Local Council Development Area, in Awolowo town.
 
The governor said the establishment of new LCDAs was to build on the legacy laid by the late sage who he described as a father of modern government in Nigeria. He said Chief Awolowo had in 1981, introduced the establishment of LCDAs with cardinal objective of making government closer to the people at community levels.
He said: “Besides, the fact that LCDA contributes to the development of the state, its creation also helps foster communal peace and progress among the people at grassroots. The creation of LCDAs is not for fun but rather, a noble intent to make government more nearer to the masses and enhance all-round growth and development.”
 
In his welcome address, the Council Manager of Ife South West Local Council Development Area, Alhaji Yinusa Olalekan Akande, commended Governor Aregbesola for the dedication of his government to the general well-being of the people in the state.
 
He said the commissioning of the new LCDA’s Secretariat complex in the town was a clear manifestation of the vision and mission of the Aregbesola government to make life more abundant and meaningful to the residents of the community.
 
In his remarks, the Chairman House Committee on Education in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Folorunsho Bamisayemi, commended the state government for being supportive of the people of the constituency.
 
He said the impacts of the creation of the council is being positively felt in the constituency, saying the constituency had benefited immensely from various  government intervention programmes.
 
Earlier, the Olu of Awolowo town, Oba David Omisore, expressed profound gratitude to the state government for citing the new LCDA headquartres in the town.

Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has reiterated that creation of local government council development areas is targeted at grassroots development.
 

 
Aregbesola on Wednesday said that his government decided to establish new Local Council Development Areas in order to consolidate on the efforts of the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Bola Ige.
He said the initiative was also to draw government nearer the people by extending the dividends of democracy to the grassroots.
Governor Aregbesola made the statement while addressing people at the official commissioning of the newly constructed office building of the newly created Ife Southwest Local Council Development Area, in Awolowo town.
Aregbesola, who described Chief Obafemi Awolowo as a father of modern government in Nigeria, said the establishment of new LCDAs was to build on the legacy laid by the late sage.
He said Chief Awolowo had in 1981, introduced the establishment of LCDAs with cardinal objective of making government closer to the people at community levels.
Governor Aregbesola lamented the truncation of the Awolowo’s ideology, saying if the progressives had been opportuned to govern the nation, the establishment of LCDA would have been popularised across the country.
Aregbesola disclosed that the gestures were conceptualized as part of efforts of his government to make life more abundant and meaningful to the citizenry irrespective of socioeconomic, political and religious statues.
He said: “The determination to guarantee security of lives and property of the people through the promotion of communal peace and progress informed our government’s decision.
“That is why we ordered the immediate take-off of the newly created 31 Local Council Development Areas, 3 Area Councils and 2 Administrative Offices across the length and breadth of the state.
“Besides, the fact that LCDA contributes to the development of the state, its creation also helps foster communal peace and progress among the people at grassroots.
“The creation of LCDAs is not for fun but rather, a noble intent to make government more nearer to the masses and enhance all-round growth and development.”
In his welcome address, the Council Manager of Ife South West Local Council Development Area, Alhaji Yinusa Olalekan Akande, commended Governor Aregbesola for the dedication of his government to the general well being of the people in the state.
He also lauded Aregbesola’s efforts at bringing government closer to the people through the establishment of Local Council Development Areas so as to complement the existing Local Governments in the state.
Akande said the idea of creating Ice Southwest LCDA was conceived with a view to bringing government to the grassroots and subsequently the dividends of democracy to the people.
He said the commissioning of the new LCDA’s Secretariat complex in the town was a clear manifestation of the vision and mission of the Aregbesola government to make life more abundant and meaningful to the residents of the community
The Council Manager said the idea to embark on the construction of the modern office complex was conceived immediately the take off/stabilization fund was released by the state to all the newly created LCDA.
According to him, “It would be recalled that the state government under the leadership of Governor Rauf Aregbesola created additional 31 Local Council Development Areas, 3 Area Councils and 2 Administrative Offices, which led to the appointment of Council Managers.
“This noble initiative had recorded huge achievement since the takeoff of the new LCDAs across the nooks and crannies of our state as this had sent signal of sense of belonging to the people of the state especially those at the extreme rural and remote areas.
“We must be diligent during this economic recession by working hard, improving our IGR, promoting communal peace and progress so as to drive away this recession in our dear state and Nigeria as a whole.
In his remarks, the Chairman House Committee on Education in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Folorunsho Bamisayemi, commende the state government for being supportive of the people of the constituency.
He said the impacts of the creation of the council is being positively felt in the constituency, saying the constituency had benefited immensely from various  government intervention programmes.
Hon. Bamisayemi,who represents Ife South State Constituency assured the people of the constituency of more dividends of democracy from the government.
Earlier, the Olu of Awolowo town, Oba David Omisore, expressed profound gratitude to the state government for citing the new LCDA headquartres in the town.
He said the gestures would further foster development and expose the community to better transformation and progress.

Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Wednesday said that his government decided to establish new Local Council Development Areas in order to consolidate on the efforts of the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Bola Ige.

 
Governor Aregbesola made the statement while addressing people at the official commissioning of the newly constructed office building of the newly created Ife Southwest Local Council Development Area, in Awolowo town.
The governor said the establishment of new LCDAs was to build on the legacy laid by the late sage described Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who he described as a father of modern government in Nigeria. He said Chief Awolowo had in 1981, introduced the establishment of LCDAs with cardinal objective of making government closer to the people at community levels.
He said: “Besides, the fact that LCDA contributes to the development of the state, its creation also helps foster communal peace and progress among the people at grassroots. The creation of LCDAs is not for fun but rather, a noble intent to make government more nearer to the masses and enhance all-round growth and development.”

In his welcome address, the Council Manager of Ife South West Local Council Development Area, Alhaji Yinusa Olalekan Akande, commended Governor Aregbesola for the dedication of his government to the general well-being of the people in the state.
He said the commissioning of the new LCDA’s Secretariat complex in the town was a clear manifestation of the vision and mission of the Aregbesola government to make life more abundant and meaningful to the residents of the community
In his remarks, the Chairman House Committee on Education in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Folorunsho Bamisayemi, commended the state government for being supportive of the people of the constituency. He said the impacts of the creation of the council is being positively felt in the constituency, saying the constituency had benefited immensely from various government intervention programmes.
Earlier, the Olu of Awolowo town, Oba David Omisore, expressed profound gratitude to the state government for citing the new LCDA headquartres in the town.