The Osun Government has approved over N108 million for the construction of three plantain mills to boost productivity, an official said on Wednesday in Osogbo.

The Director of Produce, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Supply, Mr Joseph Adeniyi, told the News Agency of Nigeria that Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun had given approval for establishment of the mills.

He said that though the fund had yet to be released for the project, the amount was appropriated in the 2014 budget.

According to him, the mill is estimated to cost N36.029m each, with the first to commence operation this year.

He identified the proposed sites Ife-Odan in Ejigbo Local Government Area, Ode-Omu in Ayedade Local Government Area and the third in Ijeshaland.

The produce director said the government believed that the establishment of the mills would facilitate increase in plantain and yam production.

“This administration is committed to the development of agriculture to encourage mass production of food items and with some programmes put in place for supply of inputs and finance.”

According to him, the project will boost the economy of the state.

He further said that the government was in a joint venture with a private company, to mop up grains in the state, preserve it to avoid wastage, ensure supply of inputs and encourage farmers.

THE PUNCH

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has said that the current security challenges the country is currently facing were a result of economic depression.

Aregbesola made the assertion in Osogbo at the opening of a two-day capacity building training for security personnel organised by the Society for Peace Studies and Practice of African Studies, University of Ibadan.

Ogbeni Aregbesola highlighted unemployment, lack of infrastructural development and clai m of superiority of one religion over the other as other causes of the security challenges the nation is facing.

Aregbesola, who stated that peace is not just the absence of violence but also the absence of animosity among the people, stressed that peace cannot be bought but built through mutual understanding.

Establishing a link between economic depression and social challenges, the governor stressed that social crisis is always a product of economic hardship the people are facing, noting that the crisis in the North is a manifestation of lack of development.

He however urged religious leaders to guide against making their followers believe that one religion is superior to the other.

He pleaded that nobody should be forced to practise any religion while calling for respect for every belief and faith.

The state governor, who condemned the actions of suicide bombers in the country, described them as psychopaths who have been derailed by a lot of negative vices.

In his address, Chairman, Board of trustees, Society for Peace and Practice, Prof. Olawale Albert, stated that the institute was brought together with a view to working for the peace of the country.

He commended the governor for the tremendous work going on in the state while appreciating the him for investing so much in the peace of the state.

He also expressed delight at the creation of a mediation centre in the state, saying the institute would do all it takes to support it.

Security agents including the Nigerian Police, the State Security Service, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps attended the training.

DAILY INDEPENDENT

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has said that his guiding principles are patterned after one of his role models, Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s slogan of “Freedom for All and Life More Abundant.”

He disclosed this at the dinner organised for Osun ‘One-Day Alternate Governor’, Master Habibllah Ayoola Ayodele. The governor stated that his guiding principle was to become an agent of positive change, which would impact on the people in a way that will improve their conditions.

He said those who seek power for the sake of it and other personal gains often realise that power without social enhancement for the society’s responsibilities is useless.

In his remarks, the state’s ‘One-Day Alternate Governor’, Ayodele, said he was overwhelmed by the enormity of the purposeful leadership provided by the governor to the people of Osun State.

Ayodele, who was selected as the overall best student in Omoluabi High School Debate held among public secondary schools in the state, said that he had learnt the virtues and values of hard work and diligence from his parents who he described as his role models.

He said he knew that Nigeria will only survive its many ‘man-made afflictions’ when good people who understudy society like Aregbesola assume positions of leadership.

About his impression of governance of the state, Ayodele averred that he had never had any negative impressions about politics and governance of Nigeria, only that political scene in the country scares a good number of well-intentioned Nigerians.

His words: “I have never had any negative impression about the politics and governance of my country. If good people like Governor Rauf Aregbesola stay out of politics, bad people are in it, then the good will suffer and the bad will take preeminence.

NATIONAL MIRROR

Osun State government yesterday, again, restated that Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led administration in the state, had no intention to sack or retrench workers despite the paucity of fund being witnessed across the nation.

It insisted that it would rather embark on training and retraining of all categories of workers in its service.

Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, spoke in Osogbo while declaring open a Train-the-Trainers workshop with the theme Project: Water Education for Teachers, WET, organized for some selected public school teachers in the state by the Osun State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB in conjunction with Nestle Nigeria Limited and Starbright Nigeria Limited.

Mrs. Laoye-Tomori, who said the state government had placed teachers’ welfare among its priorities, said prompt payment of workers’ salary, including teachers, remained the hallmark of the present administration.

According to her, the state government would not relent in providing infrastructure and teaching aids in schools.

Earlier, Chairman of SUBEB, Prince Felix Awofisayo, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the board, Mr. Fatai Kolawole, commended the efforts of the state government in uplifting the standard of education in the state.

VANGUARD

Afro beat musician and a former member of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s Egypt 80 band, Duro Ikujenyo, thought he had known all about his native Yoruba culture and tradition until he had a chance encounter with the famous goddess of fertility, Osun, opened his eyes.
“I didn’t know much about Osun until I observed some friends of mine from Brazil and Cuba writing songs about Osun. I felt ashamed that foreigners could show so much reverence for a deity that originated from my own homeland. I must confess that I hardly knew enough about the religion and history of my people. A lot of things had changed. So I decided to learn more about Osun,” he says, in a recent interview with our correspondent.
Ikujenyo says he was privileged to attend a past edition of the Osun Osogbo Festival. During the festival, there was an exhibition on the Trans-Atlantic slave trade in a small village close to Ijesha and he was there.
After the event, he gained a fresh insight into the real meaning of slavery. He continues, “I realised that the slave trade was not just what most people thought it was. Its scope and dimension was much bigger than I had imagined.”
After the Osun-Oshogbo Festival, he was moved to record a new album, a tribute to Osun the Yoruba goddess of fertility extolling her virtues and qualities.
Ikujenyo believes that Osun is closely connected with the future of Africa. He describes the deity as playing a pivotal role in a much-desired cultural re-awakening in the continent. “This is the essence of what I have done in my new album,” he says.
The product of his adventure is a six-track album titled Pe Osun, produced under the Gold Records label.
PUNCH

The Osun State University (UNIOSUN) has emerged the second runner up in the 2014 Africa Regional Inter-University Debate Competition organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Institute for African Culture and International Understanding in partnership with the Centre for Human Security and Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.
The university was represented by Temiloluwa Ogundele, a 200-Level Law student,  and Olusegun Faleyimu, a 200-Level Languages and Linguistics student.
The objective of the debate was to enhance communication and literary skills of African students and provide a scholarship platform with a long-term benefit of promoting African unity and derive solutions to developmental challenges facing African countries.
Thirteen African countries, including Benin Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Niger Republic, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Nigeria participated in the debate. Crawford University and Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone won first and second positions respectively, while UNIOSUN came third.
Temiloluwa was adjudged the best speaker in one of the sessions. The award was presented by the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Centre for Human Security, Professor Akin Mabogunje.
The event was attended by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof Hassana Alidou, Director of UNESCO Regional Multi-Sectorial Office for West Africa, Dr Minkailu Bah; Minister of Education, Science and Technology in Sierra Leone, Prof Juma Shabani, Prof Tunde Babawale, Prof Peter Okebukola, Dr Mary Khimulu and Dr Christopher Kolade.
THE NATION

Download inspiring Quotes from the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Today’s Quote is focused on the highlights of the rewards of good governance. Visit the website at www.osun.gov.ng  or Twitter @stateofosun for more updates on the State of Osun and its projects.

The one-day alternative Governor of the State of Osun, Master Habibllah Ayoola Ayodele, has said he was overwhelmed by the enormity of the purposeful leadership provided by Governor Rauf Aregbesola to the people of the state.

Ayodele was selected as the overall best student in a keenly contested Omoluabi High School Debate across the state. He is an SS 2 (Grade 11) student at Osogbo High School, Osogbo.

Ayodele said he learned the virtues and value of hard work and diligence from his parents who are his role models, saying Nigeria would only survive its innumerable man-made afflictions when good people, who understudy society like Aregbesola, assume positions of leadership.

Asked about his impression of the governance of the state, Ayodele intoned that he has never had any negative impressions about politics and governance of Nigeria, only that political scene in the country scares a good number of well-intentioned Nigerians.

“I have never had any negative impressions about the politics and governance of my country. If good people like Governor Rauf Aregbesola stay out of politics, bad people are in it, then the good will suffer and the bad will take pre-eminence

“With the development I have seen in some parts of the state today on my tour with the symbol of modern governance, Governor Rauf Aregbesola has shown that there is hope for my country if this is what is going on all over Nigeria.

“I will also like to contribute my quota to the governance of Osun and Nigeria when I come of age too.

“Beyond anything else, I want to implore Omoluabi Support Group to make the debate competition an annual event so that others can benefit from it”, Ayodele said.

Earlier, Aregbesola told Ayodele that his guiding principles as governor are patterned after one of his role models, Obafemi Awolowo’s slogan of “freedom for all and life more abundant. “

DAILY INDEPENDENT

Photos from the Flag-Off campaign  for the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola ‘s re-election into office, at Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, State of Osun, yesterday,  Tuesday 27-05-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers
from his Supporters after paying Homage to the Ooni Of Ife, Oba
Okunade Sijuade, during the Flag-Off campaign for his re-election
into office, at Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, State of Osun on Tuesday 27-05-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) dancing with his
supporters during the Official Flag-Off of his re-election Campaign
for 2nd Term in office, at Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, State of Osun on Tuesday 27-05-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers
from his Supporters during the Official Flag-Off Campaign for his
re-election into office, at Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, State of Osun on Tuesday 27-05-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); his Deputy,
Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (left) and others acknowledging cheers from the
crowd, during the Official Flag-Off Campaign for his re-election into
office, at Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, State of Osun on
Tuesday 27-05-2014

The Ooni of Ife , Oba Okunade Sijuwade; Governor Rauf Aregbesola of
the State of Osun and member, National Assembly, representing Osun
East Senatorial District, Senator Babajide Omoworare, during the
Official Flag-Off Campaign for Governor Aregbesola’s re-election into
office, at Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, State of Osun on
Tuesday 27-05-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) dancing with his
supporters during the Official Flag-Off of his re-election Campaign
for 2nd Term in office, at Government Technical College, Ile-Ife,
State of Osun on Tuesday 27-05-2014

From left, Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori;
Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat, during the Official
Flag-Off Campaign for Governor Aregbesola’s re-election into office,
at Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, State of Osun on Tuesday

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); his Deputy,
Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (left) and others acknowledging cheers from the
crowd, during the Official Flag-Off Campaign for his re-election into
office, at Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, State of Osun on
Tuesday 27-05-2014

Mammoth crowd during the Official Flag-Off Campaign for Governor
Aregbesola’s re-election into office, at Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, State of Osun on Tuesday 27-05-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); his Deputy,
Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (left) and others acknowledging cheers from the
crowd, during the Official Flag-Off Campaign for his re-election into
office, at Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, State of Osun on
Tuesday 27-05-2014

It will be difficult if not absolutely impossible for politicians or political parties to rig the August 9 governorship election in Osun State.

The state resident electoral commissioner, Ambassador Rufus Akeju, who stated this at Osogbo yesterday, said the commission had put measures in place to prevent rigging.

Speaking at the venue of a two-day workshop organised by the Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Democracy Vanguard, Akeju explained that the forthcoming election in the state would be strictly monitored by election observers from both within and outside the country.

He said that INEC would guard against all forms of rigging during the election, adding that all forms of malpractices that characterise elections in the country would be strictly prevented by the commission.

The INEC boss also urged media practitioners in the state to play active roles in the election and avoid being an appendage of any political party, just as he stressed the need for them to be unbiased in their reports during the election.

Earlier in his speech, the co-ordinator, Democracy Vanguard, Mr Adeola Soetan urged the electorates to troop out to cast their votes during the election and urged them to also monitor their votes.

He said the only power that the masses have is their vote, and urged them to use the power well for the sustenance of democracy in the country.

LEADERSHIP