Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Friday said the nation’s $20bn food import bill was unsustainable.
The governor, who spoke during an interactive meeting with farmers at Otan-Ayegbaju in Boluwaduro Local Government Area of the state, said Nigeria must be ready to take up the challenge of feeding its population.
 

 
Aregbesola noted that the era of crude oil had gone. He said that government must think on how to successfully diversify the economy.
He said, “It is now glaring to us that crude oil has gone to base. We have seen the challenge facing our monolithic economy. Oil is no more sellable in the market as it used to be.

“We must all go back to farm because agriculture is the only way out to this economic mess.
“And we are so blessed in this part of the world with a weather condition that supports lucrative farming unlike some other parts of the world.
“But unfortunately, our craze for foreign taste is so huge that we put undue pressure on ourselves.
“Today, Nigeria’s import bill stands at a staggering $20bn and this is unsustainable.”
Aregbesola, however, said his administration had prioritised agriculture with a view to turning the state to food basket of the nation.
He said as part of his administration’s six-point integral action plan was deliberately designed to banish hunger and enhance massive increase in food production through different agricultural intervention.
He urged the farmers to be more dedicated, proactive and proficient, especially at the time the economy of the country was yearning for diversification.
In his remarks, Owa of Otan-Ayegbaju, Oba Lukman Fadipe, commended Aregbesola on his support for the farmers through the provision of agricultural incentives.
Some of the farmers, who spoke at the meeting, also commended Gov. Aregbesola for his support for farmers in the state.
One of the farmers, Mr. Muideen Abidoye, a pepper grower, said the timely support received from the state government had helped him to go on large scale farming.
(NAN)

The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, traditional rulers, people and farmers of ‎Okomaje, Oja Oko and Otan-Ayegbaju of Boluwaduro Local Government Area of the state defied the heavy downpour of Thursday evening to convey an interactive meeting on the farm land.
 

 
This was just as the governor said that Nigeria’s current $20 billion food import bill is unsustainable adding that
Nigeria must grow enough to feed her population.
Farmers cooperative societies that benefited from the Osun State sponsored N1 billion Bank of Agriculture micro credit facilities lauded Governor Aregbesola for being at the vanguard of agricultural revolution.
A prominent traditional ruler, the Owa of Otan-Ayegbaju, Oba Lukman Adesola Ojo Fadipe, and farmers commended the present administration for its quick agricultural intervention aimed at making agriculture more attractive to young ones.
 
Oba Fadipe stated that the state government through its farmers friendly policies and programmes had created an enabling environment for farmers to thrive.
The monarch and the farmers gave the commendation while hosting Aregbesola at a special meeting tagged:
“Governor’s interaction with farmers,” at Okomaje, Oja Oko, Otan-Ayegbaju, Boluwaduro Local Government Area of the state.
In his remarks, Oba Fadipe described agriculture as an indispensable panacea to the present shortfall in crude oil, saying the impact of the state in building a productive, workable and effective agricultural system had been largely felt by all farmers.
He said Governor Aregbesola has greatly supported farmers in the state, commending the state for its timely provision of agricultural incentives, loans and other needs to farmers across the state.
He charged the youths on the need to show more interest in farming, saying it is high time for all to go back to farm.
In the same vein, some farmers who could not hide their joy at the meeting, saluted the Governor for prioritising agriculture since assumption of office.
While confirming the positive impacts of the present administration towards agricultural advancement, the farmers said the governor has helped in breathing new life to farming in the state.
The farmers, who are made of cocoa growers, cassava growers, plantain growers, vegetable and pepper growers, maize and yam growers among others, attributed some of the achievements made to government’s consistent intervention.
One of the farmers, Muideen Abidoye, a pepper, grower said the timely support received from the state government has helped on large scale farming.
Abidoye said: “Every right-thinking person knows that Osun State Government, led by Governor Aregbesola, is doing its best for farmers, especially on financial and material supports.
“Government provided loan facilities for us just as many benefited from other supportive means.
“As for me, I have over 20 hectares of land planting pepper, tomatoes, potatoes, cassava among others with the support gotten from government.
“Same goes to others who are into different agricultural production.”
The Governor applauded the farmers for feeding and building the nation through what they chose as  career.
Aregbesola said his government has prioritized agriculture with a view to turning the state to food basket of the nation.
He said as part of his administration’s six-point integral action plan deliberately designed to banish hunger and enhance massive increase in food production, several interventions had been made by his government over the years to champion the course.
The Governor held that the current administration under his watch has supported the farmers and rural dwellers with their needs, which include basic infrastructures.
He charged farmers on the need to be more dedicated, more proactive and proficient, especially at the time the economy of the country is yearning for diversification.
He said: “It is now glaring to us that crude oil has gone to base.
“We have seen the challenge facing our monolithic economy.
“Oil is no more sellable in the market as it used to be.
“The era of crude oil has gone.
“What we must think of now is how to successfully diversify our economy.
“We must all go back to farm because agriculture is the only way out to this economic mess.
 
“And we are so blessed in this part of the world with a weather condition that support lucrative farming unlike some other parts of the world.
“But unfortunately, our craze for foreign taste is so huge that we put undue pressure on ourselves.
“Today, Nigeria’s import bill stands at a staggering $20 billion.
“That is unsustainable.”

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State says he has no regrets in committing the largest part of the state’s resources to education development.
Aregbesola spoke when he unveiled a new block of 10 classroom in Attan-Ayegbaju town, Osun, on Wednesday
 

 
The classrooms were built by the Anglican Church in honour of Chief Bisi Akande, a former Governor of Osun State and former interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress.
According to Aregbesola, by investing massively in education, his administration is preparing the state’s future leaders for a better tomorrow.
Aregbesola said: “Education by far has commanded our greatest engagement and resources and we owe no one any apology over this.
“As I often let people know, we are preparing for the next 25 years, what we want our children to become and where we want them to be in an increasingly digitised and fiercely competitive world.”
Aregbesola said that the dedication of the classrooms resonates with the vision of his administration’s education programmers.
In his speech, Akande, attributed decadence and immorality in Nigerian schools to the forceful take-over of the missionary schools by successive military governments.

Akande said the consequence of the military take-over of the schools across the country resulted in the displacement of people with moral integrity by fraudsters and and the vagabonds from political leadership space.
He said that the major reason why the military took over schools from missionaries was to lay the foundation for their own immorality and corruption.
According to him whether in Islamic schools or in any evangelical learning centres, all Missionary schools known to Nigerians are institutions for moral instructions.
The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, said religion remains a veritable tool for the promotion of peaceful cohabitation and tolerance in the society.
Okoh, who decried religious crises in some parts of the country, expressed hope that with a Christian faith building a school in honour of a Muslim statesman, Nigeria would soon get out of religious vendetta.
He described Akande as a true Muslim whose ideology and faith have impacted greatly in the lives of fellow beings without discrimination.

Twenty-seven thousand households in the State of Osun are to benefit from Cash Transfer of the National Social Safety Nets Programme being organised by the Office of the Vice President of Nigeria . They are beneficiaries selected without bias, favour, political affiliation ,culture or religion.
The Special Adviser to the State Governor on Federal Matters, Hon. Idiat Babalola made this known at a two -day step down training programme organised at Palm Crest Hotel, Owode Ede for Local government facilitators by the State Ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs.
 

 
She affirmed that every household that will benefit from the Social Safety Nets programmes must adhere strictly to the policy guidelines. She then charged the local government facilitators to ensure that adequate counselling must be given to poor and vulnerable people through sensitization, education and monitoring.
The State Director, National Orientation Agency, Dr. Lawrence Martins ,in his goodwill message ,stated that the process of Cash transfer in the State is based on the trust of the federal government to the state government so that poor and vulnerable people in the state will be assisted and uplifted .
Earlier ,in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs, Pharmacist Mrs. Omolara Ajayi stated that the National Cash Transfer Programme is a collaborative initiative of the federal government ,the World Bank and the State Government.
She pointed out that the target is to reach one million extremely poor and vulnerable households in the country.
The Permanent Secretary , who was represented by the Director of Finance and Administration of the Ministry, Mrs. Kehinde Odediran affirmed that the State of Osun is privileged to be one of the pilot states with twelve local government areas namely: Atakumosa East, Ayedire, Boluwaduro, Ejigbo, Ifedayo, Ife North, Ife South, Ila, Isokan, Ola-Oluwa, Olorunda and Oriade local government areas that are to benefit from the program.
She then charged the local government facilitators and stakeholders to contribute their quota to ensure the success of the previous social investments programmes of the state as well as this newly launched Cash Transfer Programme.
The modules for training the local government facilitators include Overview of National Social Safety Programme, SOCU selection based process, Roles and Responsibilities of beneficiaries and Facilitators, Payment system and frequency as well as Monitoring and Evaluation among others.

The State Cash Transfer Unit(SCTU) has been urged to make the best use of the Single Register of the poor and vulnerable households in the state.
 

 
The Coordinator, Osun State Operation Coordinating Unit, Youth Employment and Social Support Operation(YESSO), Mr Olufemi Ifaturoti stated this while handing over the Single Register to the State Cash Transfer Unit(SCTU‎).
Mr Ifaturoti said Cash Transfer programme ,which is a social safety net intervention anchored by the Federal Government in collaboration with the World Bank ,is to lift the poor and vulnerable out of poverty through transfer of funds and life skill training .
He pointed out that it is an offshoot of the highly successful YESSO initiative, which he maintained is equally an offshoot of the greatly remarkable Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme(OYES) initiative of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration.
The State Coordinator added that the Single Register of the poor and vulnerable which was generated through dint of hardwork of his SOCU team and a painstaking process became inevitable with a view to correcting the hitherto targetting mechanism of safety net interventions in the country which was so weak to the extent that it encouraged double dipping.
In her response at the event, the Desk Officer, State Cash Transfer Unit(SCTU), Mrs Adeola Oyebamiji assured Osun State Operation Coordinating Unit that SCTU would not rest on its oars at making the best use of the Single Register.

The Osun Fadama III Additional Funding program, has begun training of 45 agricultural staff who would train farmers across the state to enhance food production.
The Coordinator of the program, Dr Ganiyu Adediji, said on Wednesday at Iwo in Osun, that the training involved all units under the program.
 

 
Adediji said that the training was designed to change farmers attitude to agricultural enterprises, enhance their knowledge on improved farming practices and encourage application of technical knowledge.
“The beneficiaries of this training are to step down their knowledge to the level of the local farmers.
“We are training our people on group dynamics, which has to do with group formation and management, book-keeping for farmers and contract negotiation, to get good bargain for purchases and sales,” Adediji said.
The coordinator said it was important for farmers to know the overview of agricultural production value chain in modern day agribusiness.
He said, Osun Government, in collaboration with the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation had also trained 190 farmers and staff on the application of “Aflasafe”, a bio-pesticide, to boost maize production.
“This training, held at Iwoye-Ijesha, is also to facilitate more profit for farmers as they embark on mass production of disease-free maize after applying Aflasafe to kill the fungi that transmits aflatoxin that can cause cancer.
“Farming should not be limited to eating from the farm alone but for mass commercial production and improved healthy living among the people.” the coordinator said.
Dr Julius Adedeji, a trainer from International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan said the participants would be well trained in modern method of farming.
One of the trainees, Mr Femi Anwo, said that the training would make great impact on food production and agricultural enterprises among the farmers.
He commended the Osun government for supporting the project in the state.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has praised the executive of the Osun State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (OSCAN) after the Christian group paid a courtesy visit to the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola recently.
 

 
In a statement issued by MURIC Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the Muslim group congratulated the new OSCAN executive on its assumption of office while lauding the new executive of OSCAN for its positive and progressive move.
“It is highly commendable and we are thrilled to find a new CAN leadership in the State of Osun extending the hand of fellowship to the state government,” MURIC said.
During their visit to the governor, OSCAN commended Aregbesola for his commitment to the development and transformation of the state in the face of present economic recession and lauded the state government for being consistent in championing equity, balance and harmony among the adherents of the three major faiths in the state.
“It is a radical departure from the past and we sincerely hope this newly found rapport will continue. We must build more bridges across the divides in order to move the state forward and harmony among the various faiths is cardinal to this objective,” MURIC said.
MURIC then urged Christian faithfuls in the State of Osun to support the Michael Okodu leadership in its bid to cooperate with the state government and return to the path of peaceful coexistence with the adherents of other faiths in the state.
“We charge Muslim leaders in the state to reciprocate in like manner. What the State of Osun needs presently is sensitive, responsible, visionary and pious religious leaders. Only thus can the dynamic steps being taken by the state government in the area of education and industry be fruitful,” MURIC said.

A UK agency, Department For International Development (DFID), in collaboration with the Osun state government is set to empower about 5,000 small scale business women and youth in the state.

 
 
This empowerment plan was made known at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between both parties, at the governor’s office in Osogbo, the capital of the state.
He says the programme will also facilitate better connection between small and medium enterprises.The leader of the team, David Joyner, said the scheme under the Growth and Empowerment in States (GEMS) arm of the DFID is aimed at providing jobs, creating wealth and in turn eradicating poverty.
To achieve this, he said the public sectors’ Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Agriculture would be in full partnership.
‎Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, added that the collaboration between the state and the subsidiary agency of DFID is a veritable framework for development of small scale business enterprises to create wealth and banish poverty in the state.
He therefore asserted that human development was what Nigeria must do to help its people out of the current economic recession.According to him, “it is not for lack of opportunities that we are poor, but our inability to creatively engage our people”.
The scheme is targeted towards empowering soap makers, livestock rearers, local plantain chip makers and traditional mat weavers among others.

*Soap makers, local delicacies producers, others to access international markets
The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, took a step further on Tuesday in his administration’s expansion of economic opportunities for the state as he signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Growth and Employment in States 4th scheme (GEMS4).
Aregbesola said at the signing of the MOU that his administration has been able to endure the harsh economic challenges in the country because of the government’s huge investments in human development.
 

 
GEMS4 is a Department For International Department-funded programme that will link and expand markets for unique wholesale and retail products from Osun into larger local and international markets.
Under this scheme, local producers of black soap, local delicacies, mat makers, and other petty producers are to be assisted to gain access to bigger markets for bigger economic opportunities.
The governor said investment in the people helps the commerce and economy of states as well as help in the process of wealth creation.
He said the signing of the MOU is to promote collaboration and cooperation with GEMS4 so as to provide assess to markets for the production of local products.
He said no government could create wealth where there is hunger, poverty and wants, saying his government is committed to raising the standard of living of the people through wealth creation.
According to him, a lot of people had asked how the state has been coping with the economic downturn, while others even castigated the state for the abnormal revenue that had previously accrued to the state from the federation account.
He said: “A lot of people have been asking how we are surviving in spite of the economic challenges. Some people even castigated us for the abnormal revenue we got from the federation.
“The answer to this question is that we have made human development centre of our programmes and policies long before taking over the mantle of leadership.
“The investment of our people is paying off handsomely. This is what we want to consolidate with the MOU with GEMS 4.
“We also believe there are still opportunities untapped and unexplored. The MOU will help us explore the opportunities previously unexplored for wealth creation, progress and development.”
The governor emphasised that wealth creation is the fulcrum of the MOU and the benefits are numerous and immeasurable particularly for the small scale industries.
He stressed that what is important is the readiness of the people to explore the opportunities the MOU offers.
In his remarks, the GEMS4 Project Director in Nigeria, Mr. David Joiner at the MOU signing ceremony at Executive Chambers, office of the Governor in Osogbo stated the project will raise the production and earning of the poor in Osun,
He noted that some of the industries that will benefit from this unique partnership between the state and GEMS4 include the soap making industry, agro-processing industries among others.
The DFID boss added that the project is aimed at creating and sustaining 10,000 full time equivalent jobs and increased incomes for 500,000 people in the state.
Joiner disclosed that the unique products identified so far for re-packaging, branding and marketing for larger markets include local black soaps, the popular ‘dodo Ikire’, domestic goats and sheep among every other trades.
“With signing of this MOU, we will hit the ground running, SMEs will benefit from the project and we believe that employment will be generated, up to 5,000 traditional soap makers in different parts of the state.
“We are also bringing new technology in goat rearing so that they can have better income and increase, we also look forward to making impact to the people.
“We seek to improve income and employment opportunities within Nigeria’s wholesale and retail sector, particularly for the poorest and most vulnerable”. Joiner told the gathering.