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Category: Politics

Aregbesola Inspects Science High School Ikirun-3

Pictures of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola with the Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Abdurauf Adedeji and  Former Attorney General and. Commissioner for Justice, Hon Adewale Afolabi, during an inspection visit to Ikirun Science High School in Ikirun on Friday 25-12-2015.

The Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Middle); the Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Abdurauf Adedeji (left) and  Former Attorney General and. Commissioner for Justice, Hon Adewale Afolabi, during an inspection visit to Ikirun Science High School in Ikirun on Friday 25-12-2015.

The Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Middle); the Akirun of
Ikirun, Oba Abdurauf Adedeji (left) and Former Attorney General and.
Commissioner for Justice, Hon Adewale Afolabi, during an inspection
visit to Ikirun Science High School in Ikirun on Friday 25-12-2015.

The Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Middle); the Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Abdurauf Adedeji (left) and  Former Attorney General and. Commissioner for Justice, Hon Adewale Afolabi, during an inspection visit to Ikirun Science High School in Ikirun on Friday 25-12-2015.

The Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Middle); the Akirun of
Ikirun, Oba Abdurauf Adedeji (left) and Former Attorney General and.
Commissioner for Justice, Hon Adewale Afolabi, during an inspection
visit to Ikirun Science High School in Ikirun on Friday 25-12-2015.

The Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd Right); the Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Abdurauf Adedeji (2nd left), Former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Adewale Afolabi and Former Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Home Affairs, Hon Sikiru Ayedun, during an inspection visit to Ikirun Science High School in Ikirun on Friday

The Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd Right); the Akirun of
Ikirun, Oba Abdurauf Adedeji (2nd left), Former Attorney General and
Commissioner for Justice, Hon Adewale Afolabi and Former Commissioner for
Tourism, Culture and Home Affairs, Hon Sikiru Ayedun, during an
inspection visit to Ikirun Science High School in Ikirun on Friday

Governor Aregbesola going through the analysis of the West African Examination Council Results (WAEC), during an inspection visit to Ikirun Science High School on Friday

Governor Aregbesola going through the analysis of the West African
Examination Council Results (WAEC), during an inspection visit to
Ikirun Science High School on Friday

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Aregbesola (1)

Aregbesola (1)Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Wednesday asked Muslims all over the world to use the occasion of this year’s celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad to pray for divine intervention over the country’s economic challenges.

Though the Governor recognized the global nature of the economic meltdown, he said Muslims have a great role to play in offering prayers for God’s direction and interventions.

Asking Muslims to remember the teachings of Prophet Muhammad and apply the teachings to their personal lives, Aregbesola said in doing that, humanity would regain the lost essence of living and there would be a return to the path of God.

The Governor, in a message to Muslims on the occasion of this year’s Eid Maulud celebrations, signed by the Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, said though the country is currently facing challenges arising from dwindling fortunes of her only main source of revenue, the country only requires a new direction backed by prayers.

“While celebrating with our Muslim folks all over the world, we must remember as Muslims that we have a duty to use the occasion to offer prayers for divine intervention in the affairs of our nation.

“This is a most challenging time for us as a country. A time of serious economic hardship calls for God’s intervention.

“But a good condition for that God’s intervention is that we must return to the path laid down by God. Prophet Muhammad left behind a legacy of service and a worthy path to follow. If we all return to that path as Muslims, our examples might encourage even non-Muslims to follow the path of truth, honour and service and therefore lead our nation out of this challenging time.”

Aregbesola urged leaders to lead by example just as he reminded the followers to remember their duties to their leaders.

He concluded, “Islam has set a perfect template for the relationship between the leaders and the people they lead. While leaders must demonstrate the highest form of humility and service to their people, the followers must also reciprocate by performing their various civic responsibilities. It is only under such atmosphere that a peaceful nation can emerge.”

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2015 Xmass Light-1

Following his earlier promise to make the State of Osun a side attraction during this festive period and to stand out in comparison with any of its counterparts in the World, Governor Aregbesola has illuminated the State  capital with beautiful lights in preparation for 2015 Xmas and 2016 New year celebration at Okefia, Osogbo.

2015 Xmass Light-1 2015 Xmass Light-2 2015 Xmass Light-3 2015 Xmass Light-4 2015 Xmass Light-5

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Commissining of Olufi Govt Sch-1

Pictures of  The newly commissioned Olufi Government Middle School with the Students, during the commissioning by the executive governor of the State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in Gbongan, State of Osun.

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf aaregbesola; his deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (right); Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (left); the Olufi of Gbongan, Oba Adetoyese Oyeniyi and others, at the commissioning of Olufi Government Middle School, Gbongan, State of Osun.

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf aaregbesola; his deputy, Mrs Titi
Laoye-Tomori (right); Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji
Moshood Adeoti (left); the Olufi of Gbongan, Oba Adetoyese Oyeniyi and
others, at the commissioning of Olufi Government Middle School,
Gbongan, State of Osun.

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (left); Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (right); the Olufi of Gbongan, Oba Adetoyese Oyeniyi (in glasses) and others, at the commissioning of Olufi Government Middle School, Gbongan, State of Osun

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his deputy, Mrs. Titi
Laoye-Tomori (left); Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood
Adeoti (right); the Olufi of Gbongan, Oba Adetoyese Oyeniyi (in
glasses) and others, at the commissioning of Olufi Government Middle
School, Gbongan, State of Osun

The newly commissioned Olufi Government Middle School with the Students, during the commissioning in Gbongan, State of Osun.

The newly commissioned Olufi Government Middle School with the
Students, during the commissioning in Gbongan, State of Osun.

From right, Governor State of Osun, Ogbrni Rauf Aregbesola; Olufi of Gbongan, Oba Adetoyese Oyeniyi; member House of representative, Alhaja Ayo Omidiran; Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori and others, at the commissioning of Olufi Government Middle School, Gbongan, State of Osun.

From right, Governor State of Osun, Ogbrni Rauf Aregbesola; Olufi of
Gbongan, Oba Adetoyese Oyeniyi; member House of representative, Alhaja
Ayo Omidiran; Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori and others, at
the commissioning of Olufi Government Middle School, Gbongan, State of
Osun.

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Aregbesola Inaugurate LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Governing Board 1

Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola exchanging pleasantries with the newly inaugurated Chairman of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Professor Oluwole Atoyebi, while  Aragberi of Iragberi, Oba (Dr) Folorunso Agboade Makanju and others watch, during the inauguration of a nine-man Governing Board of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, at Governor’s Office, Osogbo, on 21-12-2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd right); Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (3rd left), newly inaugurated Chairman of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Professor Oluwole Atoyebi (middle), Head of Service, Mr. Sunday Owoeye (2nd left), LAUTECH Chief Medical Director, Professor  Akeem Lasisi (left), Aragberi of Iragberi, Oba (Dr) Folorunso Agboade Makanju (2nd right), Dr. Ademola Akintolu Onifade (right) and other members of the Board, during the inauguration of a nine-man Governing Board of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, at Governor's Office, Osogbo, on 21-12-2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd right); Secretary
to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (3rd left), newly
inaugurated Chairman of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Professor Oluwole
Atoyebi (middle), Head of Service, Mr. Sunday Owoeye (2nd left),
LAUTECH Chief Medical Director, Professor Akeem Lasisi (left),
Aragberi of Iragberi, Oba (Dr) Folorunso Agboade Makanju (2nd right),
Dr. Ademola Akintolu Onifade (right) and other members of the Board,
during the inauguration of a nine-man Governing Board of LAUTECH
Teaching Hospital, at Governor’s Office, Osogbo, on 21-12-2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle) exchanging pleasantries with the newly inaugurated Chairman of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Professor Oluwole Atoyebi, while  Aragberi of Iragberi, Oba (Dr) Folorunso Agboade Makanju (right) and others watch, during the inauguration of a nine-man Governing Board of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, at Governor's Office, Osogbo, on 21-12-2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle) exchanging
pleasantries with the newly inaugurated Chairman of LAUTECH Teaching
Hospital, Professor Oluwole Atoyebi, while Aragberi of Iragberi, Oba
(Dr) Folorunso Agboade Makanju (right) and others watch, during the
inauguration of a nine-man Governing Board of LAUTECH Teaching
Hospital, at Governor’s Office, Osogbo, on 21-12-2015.

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Children Party-1

Pictures of the Governor State of Osun Ogbemi Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat  with father Xmas, during the distribution of gifts to children in commemoration of Christmas celebrations, organised by wife of the governor, at the Government House Osogbo on Tuesday 22-12-2015

Governor State of Osun Ogbemi Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat and father Xmass, during the distribution of gifts to children in commoration of xmass celebration, organised by wife of the governor, at the Government House Osogbo on Tuesday 22-12-2015

Governor State of Osun Ogbemi Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat and
father Xmass, during the distribution of gifts to children in
commoration of xmass celebration, organised by wife of the governor,
at the Government House Osogbo on Tuesday 22-12-2015

Member of the House of Representative, Alhaja Ayo Omidiran(left), Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat; Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adept I and others, cutting cake with children, after the distribution of gifts to children in commemoration of Xmass celebration, organised by Sherifat Aregbesola, at the Government House, Osogbo on Tuesday 22-12-2015

Member of the House of Representative, Alhaja Ayo Omidiran(left),
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat;
Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adept I and others,
cutting cake with children, after the distribution of gifts to
children in commemoration of Xmass celebration, organised by Sherifat
Aregbesola, at the Government House, Osogbo on Tuesday 22-12-2015

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat (middle), cutting Xmass cake with children after distribution of gifts to them in commemoration of Xmass celebration, organised by wife of the governor at the Government House, Osogbo on Tuesday 22-12-2015

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat
(middle), cutting Xmass cake with children after distribution of gifts
to them in commemoration of Xmass celebration, organised by wife of
the governor at the Government House, Osogbo on Tuesday 22-12-2015

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat (middle), cutting Xmass cake with children after distribution of gifts to them in commemoration of Xmass celebration, organised by wife of the governor at the Government House, Osogbo on Tuesday 22-12-2015

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat
(middle), cutting Xmass cake with children after distribution of gifts
to them in commemoration of Xmass celebration, organised by wife of
the governor at the Government House, Osogbo on Tuesday 22-12-2015

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ilori

iloriHon. Bola Ilori is the Special Adviser to the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Environment. He was at the 4th Africa Digital Forum and Award Night, with the themed: “Broadband: Catalyst for Tomorrow’s Economy Today” held in Lagos. He speaks at the event with ROBERT AWOKUSE on the financial condition of the state, the state position on broadband among other issues. Excerpts:
The state of Osun and some other states of the federa­tion have been in financial quagmire in recent time. How will the state wriggle out of this financial mess?
Like you have said this is not peculiar to Osun state alone. 26 states got bailouts. Lagos with its Internally Generated Revenue, IGR is equally indebted. In fact, in the last four months of former president, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, the federal government bor­rowed to pay salaries. So it’s a Nigeria problem but when you narrow it down to Osun it shows bias or that one is not conversant with the happenings in the country.
But we are looking at the debt profile of Osun in rela­tion to other states.
The debt profile of Osun is not the highest. Kogi got the highest amount as bailout, it’s just that Osun was targeted for political reason, because Osun was totally opposed to PDP, so, it was easy to paint Osun as a worst hit. And I’m giving you fact now, go and find out. Osun is not the worst of all as painted by the opposition. The question is how do we find ourselves here as a country, and it is getting worst for the country. Buhari has de­clared that Nigeria is broke, so it’s not just about a state. Nigeria used to share N1.3 trillion on monthly basis but in the last three months the highest we have shared is N600 billion and that is why the states are now get­ting paltry sum which is not even enough to pay sala­ries. Forget about deduction for loan, the salary in Osun alone is N3.6 billion. So the entire gross allocation can­not pay salary.
So where do we go from here?
It’s IGR, people have to pay taxes. I remember grow­ing up then, if you don’t pay your tax you can’t even marry. Our value system needs to change. The era of free money in this country is over and people need to realise this because the oil is not even selling again. The biggest challenges we have now is not even about the low price of oil but people are not even buying the oil; under 40 dollar per barrel they are not even buying. The Salaries, Wages and Fiscal Commission said in the next six months many states will go bankrupt. Osun will survive it, because Aregbesola is very sincere to have come out with the debt profile of the state, while many states in Nigeria did not declare their debt pro­file. You will see what will be happening in some months to come because they refused to put their debt profile on the table when the bailout facility was made available. You can see that in the last few weeks now, Osun is back and it has started doing projects, because we have re­alised our situation, we are facing governance squarely, no more frivolity.
Beyond the tablet, “Opon Imo” initiative what other area has the State of Osun encouraged access to broadband penetration?
We have a serious challenge of intermittent cable cut because of the distance between Lagos and Osun which is a little far. Nevertheless the government of the State of Osun has been very passionate about information technology. That is why we are trying to link all our in­stitutions with broadband, virtually all the offices now in the state is connected to internet facilities. We tried having what they called digital canopy at a time so that people can have access to internet facilities. Once we get over the issue of cable cut, our people can all be enjoy­ing it.
How do you intend to create more awareness for broad­band use in the state, are you going to be taking the campaign to schools and so on?
You will not be getting it right when you say we should take the campaign to them because it’s already a daily reality there, having the capacity is the key issue here not about awareness. We still depend largely on these mobile communication service providers and they are limited when it comes to what they can provide. We need dedicated internet provider to increase accessibili­ty to broadband. Our people are aware already; we share “Opon Imo” to our students, you will be shock what the students do with it on their own; the extent they have taken Opon Imo to on their own and these are students from poor background. The distribution of Opon Imo in Osun kick started a revolution. People who ordinar­ily wouldn’t have access to it at age 12, age 13 are already playing around with it and that has opened their mind to the need for broadband.
This “Opon Imo” has been described by the opposition as a means of just providing job for the boys and that it’s not sustainable given the economic crisis the state is going through currently, what do you have to say to this?
The work of opposition is just to criticise and un­fortunately Osun has the worst form of opposition; the people who are just destructive in their criticism. This Opon Imo has been adopted by UNESCO as a standard for education and don’t forget the United Nations had also awarded it as the best innovation in education in year 2013. Of course you know that it is not a local award. So, to say that Opon Imo is not sustainable is funny. It’s not as if we are buying new ones, the ones we have bought are what we upgrade. We only replace faulty ones. I went to school in those days of free educa­tion when books were being shared to students. What they did then was that at the end of the session you sub­mit the books back to the school. When one is lost, you pay for it. That is exactly what we are doing with Opon Imo. It’s meant for SSS 3 students alone, and the moment you finish your SSCE, you submit your it before you col­lect your result. It is configured for individual student so you can’t take another person’s own. We reconfigure for the new set and upgrade as the syllabus changes. So what is not sustainable in that, it’s only poverty of idea and lack of vision that makes people think that way.
Lastly, we learnt that the four tertiary institutions in Osun, colleges of education and polytechnics will not be admitting students for 2015/2016 academic session and that the governor has asked the schools to go into short courses in entrepreneur programmes, is this cor­rect?
Yes, this is still part of facing realities; life cannot go on as it used to be before now. When Aregbesola as­sumed office as the governor of the state, the percent­age of students who passed WASC with five credits was three per cent. An average of 41,000 students annually sit for WASC in Osun, only three per cent of them will pass with five credits. Now it has improved to 21 per cent, though still bad, but far better than what we met. You now wonder what happen to the remaining 79 per cent of the students, they are going to become mechan­ics, bricklayers, tillers and so on.
We sat down and look at it that we can’t abandon these people. Our society needs this kind of services. Most times, we travel as far as Togo to bring tillers. So instead of continuing churning out people who will be useless to the society every year, even the polytechnics that supposed to train technicians are just churning out people with academic qualification, so we are changing from paper based certificate to quality education.
What becomes the fate of the candidates who have already chosen any of these institutions since the state did not officially write JAMB to remove them from the brochure so that candidates wouldn’t choose them?
Anybody who is in this country should know that Osun is not admitting for 2015/2016 academic ses­sion, but if you say many people don’t know, then we will make a public announcement. You should know that with the state of things in Osun now, we need to reprioritize. We are not merging those institutions as rumoured out there, even though the interest of those who are protesting against this is the economic gain they derive from those institutions, not for academic reason. Majority of those who attend the institutions are not from Osun because if only 21 per cent of the stu­dents passed WASC, what happen to the rest, so we are looking at education in the real sense of developing hu­man capacity not just churning out people with paper qualification who cannot translate their knowledge to economic benefit for the society.
NATIONAL MIRROR

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seal-of-the-state-of-osun

seal-of-the-state-of-osunThe Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Osun on Tuesday assured residents of the state of adequate security during and after the Yuletide season.
The spokesman of the NSCDC in Osun, Mr Wale Folarin, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo.
Folarin said the corps had put in place adequate security measures to ensure peace before, during and after the Yuletide.
He described Osun as one of the most peaceful states in the country, saying this was a reflection of the security measures put in place to protect lives and property by security agencies.
“We have officers in all the local governments, throughout the wards, in every nook and cranny of the state.
“We have officers in mufti gathering intelligence and providing security.
“Presently, we have mapped out some black spots and have posted our officers to such places to conduct surveillance.
“We are focusing mostly on religious centres during the festive period and also providing security patrols with armed officers throughout the state.
“We have also been holding meetings with stake holders to give us information on where there are security threats or breaches in the state,’’ he said

– NAN

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Osun Provides Free Train for Salla 1a

Osun Provides Free Train for Salla 1aThe government of Osun State has offered to provide free train services for citizens intending to return home to celebrate Christmas and New Year.
Government Spokesperson, Semiu Okanlawon, said this would lessen the financial burden of transportation during the yuletide.
He said the free train service was in continuation of the commitment of the administration to making life more meaningful for the people of the state.
The train would, by 11h00 on Thursday convey people from Lagos to Osogbo, the state capital.
The return journey to Lagos from Osogbo will be Sunday by 11h00.
The train will also resume the services of conveying people from Lagos to Osogbo for the New Year celebration by 11h00 next Thursday and similar time on Sunday to return to Lagos from Osogbo.
The state government has, since 2011, been making similar arrangements for people of the state, to travel home during festive seasons.
The Nigerian Railway Corporations has welcomed the gesture saying it had helped many Nigerians to restore their hope in the viability of railway as a reliable means of transportation in the country.

– CAJ News

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Rauf-Aregbesola1

Rauf-Aregbesola1REMARKS BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OSUN, OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA, AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF LADOKE AKINTOLA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY TEACHING HOSPITAL AT THE EXCO LOUNGE OF THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, BOLA IGE HOUSE, ABERE, ON DECEMBER 21, 2015
 
 
Protocols,
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the inauguration of the governing board of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital. Last month, the government announced a nine-man board headed by Prof Wole Atoyebi. Other members are: Dr. Kayode Akinlade, Dr. Ademola Akintolu Onifade, Oba (Dr) Folorunso Agboade Makanju Olaniyan, Prof Akeem Lasisi (Acting Chief Medical Director [CMD], LAUTECH); Dr. Temitope Olalekan Oladele (P.S Health), Dr. Surajudeen Ogunyemi, Chairman, NMA), Prof. Samuel Sunday Taiwo, Provost, College of Medicine and Dr. Daniel Adebode Adekanle (Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee). We are gathered here to inaugurate the board.
This is a well packed board headed by a renown and award winning medical scientist who had been provost of Lagos University College of Medicine; which also includes LAUTECH CMD; a traditional ruler who is also a medical practitioner; a medical labour unionist; the provost of LAUTECH College of Medicine and others who know and have practiced medicine at the public and private levels. This is our tradition, we don’t do half measure.
This board is being inaugurated at an interesting time, when public finance is at its nadir, on account of falling oil price and uncertainties at the global economy. In addition to your statutory responsibilities, therefore, you will be required to think for the hospital and make it a centre of medical excellence, by national and global standards.
There is a medical ethics at the tertiary level: since a teaching hospital is a hospital of last resort, patients brought there are ordinarily not expected to survive. I want you to change this mind-set; let LAUTECH be a miracle centre where those expected to die would live.
The second miracle you are expected to perform is to secure funding for the hospital without passing the burden on patients beyond what it is at the moment. On this, you are well familiar with what obtains elsewhere, a substantial part of the funding for hospitals comes from endowments, gifts and philanthropy.
The third pressing need is to have harmonious relations with workers and trade unions and ensure a seamless running at the hospital. I am glad the chairman is himself a labour titan and the chairman of the medical association is on board. While not discounting the right of people to association and advance their cause through the unions, industrial actions should have no place in a hospital where the difference between life and death is a matter of seconds. It is a sign that we are fast losing our humanity when caregivers look on indifferently and on purpose while people die.
Lastly, the board must also be on board our administration’s renewed efforts at work ethics. It is universally established that every human endeavour is for a higher purpose. This is why work must yield a higher value of result than the input. The surplus value between input and result is called profit. This is not a problem at the private sector; it is indeed the raison d’etre of enterprise where every worker hired is expected to add value. This principle must guide the public sector as well. Workers must see government work as an enterprise where the output must surpass the input. For the health sector, this must be manifest in punctuality, efficiency, honesty, a commitment to caring for people and ultimately an improved healthcare delivery to the people of the state. You should ensure that those who do not share this vision no longer have any place in the hospital.
In spite of the recent financial challenges we have had, we will continue to fulfil our obligations of state, especially to critical institutions like LAUTECH and other hospitals.
We have employed a multifaceted approach towards achieving our goal of providing healthcare for our people. The measures we have taken cover such health-related areas as provision of potable water supply to our people, especially in the rural areas, in order to promote personal hygiene. This has been known to go a long way in keeping away many disease-causing micro-organisms.
On the environment front, we have also ensured that waste management gets the deserved priority attention through regular bi-monthly environmental sanitation exercise, including the cleaning of work and market places on a weekly basis. Our administration has also taken care of the recurring incidents of flooding across the state along with its potential for spreading water-borne diseases. This we have done by embarking, immediately we assumed office, on widening, channelization and de-silting of our numerous canals, streams and rivulets. We are still doing it on a regular basis.
These and other measures have been adopted to raise the health status of our people. We have therefore been maintaining our free healthcare policy through constant procurement to ensure the availability of free drugs at our hospitals, while there are also free anti-malaria drugs for expectant mothers as part of their ante-natal treatment in government-owned hospitals. Indeed, in a recent World Bank publication, Osun came second after Lagos in the result of a national assessment for 2014 on infant and maternal healthcare delivery.
In addition, we have renovated nine state hospitals, as well as constructed nine trauma centres at the State Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo. There is also the upgrading of our existing primary healthcare centres while new ones are being built. To further enhance these efforts, medical equipment, furniture and electrical appliances have been procured for some of our health facilities where these are needed. Furthermore, ambulances were purchased and are now in full operation under the Osun Ambulance Services (O-Ambulance), which is aimed at improving the quick-response capacity of the health system, in cases of accidents and emergencies.
I congratulate members of the board and trust you will hit the ground running.
I thank you all for your kind attention.
Osun a dara!

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