The 5th edition of the Nigeria Private University Games Association (NPUGA) which kicked off last week will be rounded off today at Joseph Ayo Babalola University, (JABU) sports complex, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State with the state Governor , Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola expected to declare the weeklong tournament closed.

Other important dignitaries expected at the event includes Vice Chancellors from different Universities from the country, representatives of the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie; JABU Chancellor, Pastor Dr. Ademola Wemimo Odunaiya; Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the university, Prof. A.M.A. Imevbore; Vice Chairman, Pastor C.S. Fasuyi among others.
Twenty five Universities across the federation featured in 75 events in ten different games such as tennis, athletics, chess, scrabble, volleyball, basketball, badminton, tabletennis, swimming and football.
Among the institutions that featured in the championship are Adeleke University, Ede; Bowen University, Iwo; Fountain University, Oshogbo; Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu; Lead City University, Ibadan and Caleb University, Ikorodu. Others are Redeemer’s University, Mowe; The Bells University of Science and Technology, Otta; Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin; Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa and Benson Idahosa University, Benin City.
Other Universities that took part in the tournament are Babcock University, Ilishan- Remo, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Crescent University, Abeokuta; Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin; Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo; American University of Nigeria, Yola; Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu and Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo just as Achievers University, Owo; Western Delta University, Oghara; Kwararafa University, Taraba; Veritas University, Abuja, Birmingham University, Keffi and the host Joseph Ayo Babalola University also took part in the championship.
NATIONAL MIRROR

The Executive Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been commended for his initiative over creation of 27 additional Local Governments in the state.
The spokesperson of the Lagos State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy, Security and Publicity representing Epe Constituency II, Hon Segun Olulade made this commendation during a chat with the newsmen in Lagos.
Olulade said the creation of additional LGs in the State of Osun is a welcomed development and is due. According to him, more Local Governments will bring developments to grassroots and people will be able to feel presence of government more especially in the remote rural communities where government finds it difficult to reach people due to the size of most Local Governments in the state.
“I commend the Government for taking such initiative; I also congratulate the people of the State who are the larger beneficiary of the good things coming along with the initiative. I have no doubt that having commenced due process by the Governor towards final ratification of the bill, the Lawmakers in the State House of Assembly will give speedy passage of the bill creating those new
Local Governments’, he said.
“I seize this opportunity to commend the community leaders, CDAs, CDS, market women, the youth and especially the traditional rulers for the roles played and contributions made towards ensuring that the Governor’s initiatives on taking governance to people living in the most remote parts of the state through additional Local Government creation is being realised. Surely, history will never forget all the people of the State for these laudable achievements.
Olulade stressed that Lagos has set a good example over additional Local Government creation occasioned by necessity, and as such, State like Osun is doing the needful by embarking on such project that will better the lives of the people. The Lawmaker said development is about people, and that is the essence of having democracy in place.
“Considering the developments going on presently in the State in all sectors such as education, health, infrastructure, roads, agriculture and many more,I have no doubt that the people of Osun will see this move by the Governor as act of good governance they deserve, and as such cooperate with the Governor in concluding all processes required for successful creation of the LGs”, he said.
Osun State currently has 30 Local Governments which is expected to rise to 57 with the additional 27 presently being created.
NAIJA HOTTEST GIST

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs, Mr. Adekunle Ige, has said that the Ministry, which is well known as a service provider, has devised many means of generating revenue to augment source of Internally Generated Revenue of the State of Osun.

Mr. Ige dropped this hint during the meeting of the Board which was the last meeting for the year 2013. He spoke further on the Ministry’s Micro-Credit Scheme which involves giving grants to 18,000 women, focus on 600 trainees per Local Government Area of the State, Micro-Finance organization donating 400 million Naira, while the State Government donated 200 million Naira to make 600million Naira to be disbursed. Mr. Ige then promised the Board Members that the disbursement shall take effect as soon as the awareness programme comes to an end.

In his response, the Board Chairman of the Rural Development and Community Affairs, Alhaji Taofik Makinde, commended the Special Adviser, on all the meaningful projects being embarked upon. He stated further, that the beneficiaries of the Community Development Association is non-political and that the beauty of the programme is it’s continuous concept, and once the funds are repaid promptly, there’s going to be  availability of more funds which attracts little interest, for these traders.

Alhaji Makinde who thanked Mr. Ige for his openness and accommodating spirit, also requested that, the Board Members should be made relevant in the implementation of year 2014 Budget.  He then pledged the support of his colleagues for the realization of the objectives of the Ministry.
OSUN NEWS

The Governor, State of Osun, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, has approved the payment of N58.1m to  581 tenants and shop occupants in the State. He also assured the 157 landlords whose structures were affected by the ongoing road dualisation from Mosalasi-Gaji-Onisekere in Ayetoro, Osogbo Road axis, of the payment of their compensation, which is worth N750 million.
The Commissioner for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Muyiwa Ige, made this disclosure during a visit by the affected Landlords and Tenants Association to the ministry.
He said the state government would not allow the affected property owners to suffer by ensuring that they receive compensation for their structures, which had given way for the construction of the road project.
Ige, however, warned landlords to maintain the approved six-metres as set back of their structures to the road, which had earlier been agreed upon.
One of the landlords, Elder Moshood Oladejo, commended the state government for the kind gesture and promised that the compensation, as well as the special packages to the tenants, would be optimally utilised.
Also speaking, Comrade Waheed Lawal reiterated the commitment of the present administration to alleviating the sufferings of the citizenry.
Adapted from the NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

Photos from the Osun Farmers Festival, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in conjunction with all Farmers Association in the State, held at the Government Technical College, Osogbo, State of Osun

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, inspecting farm produce, during 2013 Osun Farmers Festival, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in conjunction with all Farmers Association in the State, held at the Government Technical College, Osogbo, State of Osun

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, inspecting farm produce, during 2013 Osun Farmers Festival, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in conjunction with all Farmers Association in the State, held at the Government Technical College, Osogbo, State of Osun

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, inspecting farm produce, during 2013 Osun Farmers Festival, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in conjunction with all Farmers Association in the State, held at the Government Technical College, Osogbo, State of Osun

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, presenting certificate
of Award as Best Farmer of the Year to Alhaji Sule Taiwo. With the is
Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori and others, during 2013 Osun
Farmers Festival, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in conjunction with all Farmers Association in the State, held at the Government Technical College, Osogbo, State of Osun

The Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has again explained how the state government has continued to increase its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to N1.5 billion every month with the deployment of electronic payment technology (E-Payment).
Speaking at the recent Africa Digital Forum 2013, with the theme “Deepening eGovernance, Transparency with Broadband Access”, Aregbesola disclosed that Osun state generated so much revenue on monthly basis with the support of its E-Payment system, and insisted that state and federal governments could do same by blocking financial leakages in public sector through the deploying appropriate technology.
Dignitaries at the plenary session, which was chaired by the former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr. Ernst Ndukwe, were Group CEO, Computer Warehouse, Austin Okere, CEO of Teledom Group, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, CEO, Disc Engineering, Bayo Banjo and President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Lanre Ajayi.
Explaining how his administration raised its revenue, he said with the singular implementation of rudimentary e-banking systems, Osun state increased its IGR from N300 million monthly to N1.5 billion and was achieved without increase in taxes but by attracting new tax payers to the existing ones, the governor said.
He added that the public sector could achieve transparency and growth through the deployment of information technology devices that ride on affordable broadband infrastructure. “Osun addressed the hydra-headed problems of ghost workers through the deployment of technology”, he announced at the awards ceremony where he was inducted into the maiden edition of Digital Hall of Fame based on his contributions to the growth and development of information and telecommunications technology.
Personalities inducted into the hall of fame alongside the governor included Austin Okere, Bayo Banjo, Lanre Ajayi Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem. Others were Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, Group Managing Director, Omatek Ventures, Mrs. Florence Seriki, Chairman, Zinox Technologies, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Managing Director of 21st Century Technologies, Mr. Wale Ajisebutu and President, Tribe Media Group, Dr. Bayero Agabi.
There were also two special recognitions for Galaxy Backbone as well ADPLUS 360, a subsidiary of HIIT Plc.
At the event, three posthumous awards were presented in memory of the timeless contributions of pioneer Director-General of the Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Prof. Gabriel Ajayi, former Chief Executive Officer of Mobitel, Charles Alaba Joseph, and first President of the Nigeria Internet Registration Authority (NIRA), Ndukwe Kalu.
THISDAY ONLINE

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu has commended the State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for the various steps being taken to rehabilitate all the State Hospitals in the state as well as providing new equipment so as to make health care accessible to the generality of the public.
The Special Adviser gave this commendation during a monitoring visit by the Hospitals Management Board to the State Hospital Ilesa. Dr. Rafiu said when the rehabilitation works going on in all State Hospitals is fully completed; the people of the state would have easy access to health delivery in the state. Speaking further during the monitoring, the Special Adviser said, since the restoration of healthy living as one of the Six –Point Integral Action Plan of Ogbeni Aregbesola, the present administration will not relent in its efforts to ensure that, the sector is accorded a pride of place in the scheme of things.
Dr. Rafiu therefore, enjoined health workers to ensure that, the environment of their various hospitals and health centres are kept clean always as we all know that health is wealth. In her address, the Permanent Secretary, Hospitals Management Board, Pharm. Omolara Ajayi urged the workers to be alive to their responsibilities in their various places of work as government would not tolerate any act capable of sabotaging the efforts at the state government to ensure good health for the people of the state. Speaking further, the Permanent Secretary said lateness to work will not be tolerated whatsoever.  She then implored all health workers to always resume to their duty post on time.
Places visited included State Hospital Ilesa, General Hospital Ijebu-Jesa, Comprehensive Health Centre Ikeji-Ile and State Hospital, Ipetu-Jesa, among others.
OSUN NEWS