Government of the State of Osun and International Brewery Plc, Ilesa, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Governor Rauf Aregbesola calling on the management of the company to consider backward integration to it’s production of beverages and drinks.
Aregbesola, who gave the advice at the Governor’s Exco Chamber in Osogbo on Wednesday, said backward integration would assist farmers grow raw materials for the company.
The governor also urged the brewery to help in the area of capacity building for the state manpower.
Aregbesola disclosed that 10 years before his assumption of office as governor he and his team conducted a study to know the critical needs of the people of the state, saying poverty, hunger and unemployment were top on the list.
He said, “So during our campaign, we promised to work on their needs which we had already known through the survey. Since we came into power, we have been waging a war to banish poverty, hunger, unemployment. That is why education is among our cardinal programmes so as to get our people educated and informed.
“We realize that no society can help itself without education. And as well some of our programmes promote healthy living so that we can raise the level of our productivity.”
The governor promised to support the company because of the multiplier effect of its operation on the economy of the state.
He said: “We are looking at economic activity that has potential to galvanize the economy of the state. And before we sought for mandate, we did a thorough study of the state environment and came out with Six Integral Action Plan as the major objective of our administration. Thus, waging war on poverty, banishment of hunger and unemployment, among others. Beyond these three monsters, we make commitment to functional education and promotion of healthy living while a critical factor in modern life is guarantee of peace and security.”
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, explained that the essence of signing the MoU was to industrialize the state.
He said that rather than going around the globe looking for investors, the Aregbesola administration had commissioned the Growth Investment and Development Limited to look internally for industrial captains to assist the state.
Bolorunduro disclosed that it was the company that identified five investment models that snowballed into the MoU.
He assured that the state government would assist the company to acquire land, take care of resettlement cost, title and other encumbrances.
He also said that if the company increases production, employment would rise to over 15,000 people, saying that the immediate plan of the company was to increase production from 1 million hectolitres to 3 million hectolitres.
He said the state government was assisting the company so that it would not be lured away by neighbouring states.
The Chief Operating Officer of IBL Plc, Mr. Carlos Gomez, disclosed that the company’s presence in Osun State meant that it has some social responsibility to the people.
Also, the company chairman, Otunba Michael Daramola, disclosed that the brewery’s expansion would run for about four years, but lamented that loan interest rate was killing.
WORLDSTAGE

Photos from the signing of Memorandum of understanding between the Government of Osun and International Breweries at the Governor’s office, Abere via Osogbo, the State of Osun on Wednesday 20-11-2013

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) watches Chief
Operating Officer, International Breweries plc Ilesa (IBPLC), Mr
Carlos Gomez, as he signs his own part during the signing of
Memorandum of understanding between the Government of Osun and the Company. With them are, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice,
Mr. Adewale Afolabi (4th left); Chairman IBPLC, Otunba Michael
Daramola (2nd left) and others. On Wednesday 20-11-2013

From left, Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori;
Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Chairman International Breweries plc
Ilesa (IBPLC), Otunba Michael Daramola; Chief Operating Officer
(IBPLC), Mr Carlos Gomez; Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji
Moshood Adeoti and others, after the signing of Memorandum of
understanding between the Government of Osun and the Company at
Governor’s office, Abere via Osogbo, the State of Osun on Wednesday
20-11-2013

From left, Chairman International Breweries plc Ilesa (IBPLC), Otunba
Michael Daramola; Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Chief Operating
Officer (IBPLC), Mr Carlos Gomez and others, after the signing of Memorandum of understanding between the Government of Osun and the Company at Governor’s office, Abere via Osogbo, the State of Osun on
Wednesday 20-11-2013

Mr Oladepo Amudah, the Special Adviser to Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Works, on Thursday in Osogbo said the state government could terminate the Ikirun township road contract.
Amudah handed down the threat while briefing members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents Chapel at a programme tagged “News-Point’’ and organised by the chapel.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the contract was awarded to Hajaig Nigeria Ltd.
“The contract is to be terminated because Hajaig has performed poorly, having failed to deliver the project as planned in the terms of agreement.
“The contract was inherited from the immediate past administration, yet the contractor has not completed work three years after Gov. Aregbesola assumed office,’’ he said.
The governor’s aide, however, assured the people of Ikirun in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state that the contract would be re-awarded two weeks after termination.
“This will enhance its speedy completion,’’ he said.
The Special Adviser said further that most of the roads under construction in the state had been finally re-scheduled to be completed in January 2014 due to the rains.
Amudah said some of the road contracts were being executed on the basis of government/contractor partnership, whereby the contractors were involved in the financing of the projects.
“This understanding is as a result of the confidence the contractors have in the leadership of the governor, even as re-payment to them would last between four and eight years,” he said.
The governor’s aide said the state government was working hard to boost its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which had gone up from N300 million to N1.6 billion monthly.
He expressed the hope that improved infrastructure, such as the Freedom Park at Aje and Ayegbaju markets, being put in place by government would further shoot up the accruable revenue.
ELOTTV

Federal Civil Servants have been enjoined to keep abreast of the various reforms being carried out by the Federal Government in their various Ministries in order to key into it for optimum performance.
The Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Ezekiel Oyeyomi stated this at a one day Interactive Session with staff of Federal establishments in the State of Osun.
Oyeyomi who highlighted some of the developmental programmes carried out by the Federal Government to make life more meaningful for the people urged the civil servants to reciprocate the gesture by being loyal to their employer.
While calling on them to joining  hands with the federal government in the fight against corruption, he promised to take all the complaints raised to their various ministries, departments and agencies for prompt action.
In his address of welcome, Secretary, Head of Federal Governments parastatals in the state, Mr Jide Asagodogbo said the event has nothing to do with politics but an avenue to meet minds with the representative from the Federal Civil Service.
Participants like Mr. Oye Subuloye from the National Orientation Agency and Mr Falode Olumuyiwa from the National Health Insurance Scheme  described the programme as timely and interesting.
Representatives of ninety-two Federal establishments in the state attended the programme.
BIOREPORTS

Governor Rauf Aregbesola has promised students in the state public schools that they will soon get school buses to ease transportation in line with the school reform agenda of his administration.
The governor gave his word at the 5th edition of ‘Gbangbadekun’, a town hall meeting programme held at Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Council. The event was witnessed by a mammoth crowd made up of students market men and women, farmers, traditional rulers.
The remarkable thing about the programme held on Tuesday at the Akinorun Grammar School Playing Field was the students of secondary Schools in the constituency who trooped out en masse to express their appreciation to the governor over what they described as landmark development in the education sector of the state.
A cross section of the students gave kudos to Aregbesola for the on-going education reforms and reclassification aimed at securing their future.
The traditional rulers praised Aregbesola for his numerous achievements in the last thre years, just as they unanimously assured him of their support to continue beyond 2014.
Governor Rauf Aregbesola in his response charged all sectors of the community to take advantage of the various innovations in the state, by subscribing to the various projects of the state and key into it saying that the purpose of the gathering is to let the governed have their say in governance.
While thanking the people of Ikirun and other communities that made the Ifelodun/Odo Otin Federal Constituency for the love shown him and their warm reception, Aregbesola assured that all the requests and observations of all residents of the constituency who spoke at the event has been noted and will be taken care of.
On how to actualize the good plans of his administration in terms of developmental programmes in the State, the governor appealed to the people of the state especially private organizations to pay their tax as means of contribution to the rebuilding process of the state government.
Aregbesola who said Federal allocation being received from the Federal Government recently was not encouraging noted that his administration now generates 1.6 billion naira monthly as against the 300 million naira his administration met.
According to him, his target is to increase the State’s internally generated revenue to five million naira monthly which he said would reduce dependence on Federal allocation.
He disclosed that buses that would convey public schools students across the state would be released before the end of the month, and also pledged to pay bursary of the state’s indigenes who are in higher institutions across the country.
Aregbesola threatened to cancel the contract of any contractor working on road project in the area who fails to hasten his work in the next one week.
The governor said he would not rest on his oars on finding ways to to promote communal peace among the various communities in the state, while assuring the people that efforts are on to make sure that violence engendered by boundary and land disputes become a thing of the past in the state.
The event which was attended by members of the state’s executive council also afforded people of the area including traditional rulers to express their minds.
BIOREPORTS

Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the management of International Breweries in Ilesa aimed at expanding the company’s activities.
Aregbesola, while signing the MoU in Osogbo, said that the MoU would boost the operations of the company in the state.
He promised that the state government would create enabling environment for willing investors from within and outside to industrialise the state.
“Our administration has taken different steps to turn around the fortunes of the state economically which I considered as a giant step.
“ We thank the management of International Breweries Plc for selecting the state for the investment over all other states of the federation,’’ he said.

“The collaboration of the IB Plc will help to create about 150,000 direct and indirect jobs in the state.’’
The Chairman of the company, Mr Michael Daramola, commended the efforts of Aregbesola to transform the state industrially.
Daramola said that this informed the decision of the company to expand its scope of operations in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aregbesola signed the MoU on behalf of the state government, while Daramola signed on behalf of the company.
BUSINESSNEWS

Rural dwellers in Osun State  have been advised to maintain hygienic and healthy living by drinking potable water always, do away with open defecation and wash their hands with soap and water before eating.
Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, stated this while receiving a team of the European Union Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme (EU-WSSSRP), who were on a monitoring mission of some EU projects in the state.
Represented by his deputy, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, Governor Aregbesola expressed his pleasure to have team in the state at this time when his administration was working relentlessly to open up accessible roads in the rural areas for easy transportation of farm produce from rural to urban centres so as to make life conducive to all and sundry.
While appreciating  EU for its efforts in bettering the lot of Africans, he implored the team to improve on their impact in the state through the provision of toilet facilities, potable water, good laboratory equipment and sensitisation on the importance of hand washing.
In his response, leader of the delegation, Mr Uiaus Sautsch, commended the state government for the creation of the Ministry of Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs together with the prompt payment of its counterpart funding for EU-Unicef programmes in the state.
He assured that EU was poised at assisting more communities in the state, saying Odo-Otin and Ayedaade local government areas of the state had been selected to benefit from the provision of water and sanitation projects, coupled with Hilux vehicle, which had been donated to each of the council.
The team later carried out an inspection work to sites of some completed boreholes with a pledge for new ones and fixed N3 million for EU projects in Olokuku’s palace, Ekoosin and Igbaye communities all in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the state.
TRIBUNE

No fewer than 320 accident victims are being rescued on monthly basis by the government of the State of Osun through the O Ambulance scheme.
The General Manager of the O Ambulance Scheme, Dr Akinloye Adeleke disclosed this on Tuesday in Osogbo at the opening ceremony of a two -day capacity building workshop  organised by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with a United Kingdom South-East Coast Ambulance Service.
According to  Dr Adeleke, who described the O Ambulance scheme as a laudable initiative of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the service has greatly reduced loss of lives on the roads, as accident victims are being given first aid treatment by the O’Ambulance paramedics.
Dr Adeleke stated that the essence of the workshop is to further train the O Ambulance paramedics, who are drawn from the Osun Youths Empowerment Scheme (OYES) on effective accident rescue and emergency treatment.
He stressed that the workshop is aimed at developing the skills and efficiency of the paramedics, saying; “their efficiency is very important because they are dealing with lives.’
Dr Adeleke said about 400 paramedics are currently working in the O Ambulance service, while 92 of them, who are the first batch, are participating in the two -day workshop.
With the training, Dr Adeleke said the paramedics are expected to perform better, more confident and efficient.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Mrs Temitope Ilori said the workshop was to further enhance the output and service delivery of the O Ambulance paramedics.
Dr Ilori explained that the workshop is very important as there is need to continuously train and re-train the paramedics for better performance.
She said the purpose of the O Ambulance scheme is to enable the road users to feel safe on the highways.
According to her: “The O Ambulance scheme was launched in February and the OYES paramedics were trained to rescue accident victims and give them first aid treatment.
“We need to continue the training. We believe that continuous training will further enhance their service delivery hence we are collaborating with trainers from the ambulance service in the UK to organize the workshop. We also consulted surgeons and medical doctors from Nigeria for the training.
“The State government of Osun is committed to the reduction  of accidents on the highways in osun and save  lives as part of the cardinal plan of the governor.
“ The participants are expected to improve on their service delivery after the training. The government is also empowering the participants with the training, as the workshop will enhance job opportunity.”
Delivering a lecture on Organogram and Operational Strategy of an Effective Ambulance Service, a medical practitioner from the United Kingdom South-East Coast Ambulance Service, Mr Malcolm Finn, commended Governor Aregbesola for establishing the O Ambulance.
Finn described the scheme as an initiative of a governor that cares for the well being of his people. He however, urged the government to make the O Ambulance service a career for the paramedics, instead of being Ad-Hoc staff.
OSUNNEWS

Femi Ifaturoti LL.B (HONS) B.L, FCIArb is the Director General of Bureau of Social Services (BOSS) and also a Special Adviser to the Executive Council, State of Osun,He is a graduate of University of Ife (1979) and was called to the Bar in 1980. He started his  law practice in the chambers of H O Davies, QC and has litigation experience covering nearly all facets of the law for a period of at least 30 years. Ifaturoti is also a fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitration.
His post-graduation professional trainings include Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Mediation Skills Training (MST) organized by ADR Centre with NCMG & NIPC a World Bank Sponsored project (August 20 – 24, 2009), Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) UK Mediator Skills Training (June, 2005), NCMG ADR Pre-certification course – practical skills in Negotiation, Mediation and Arbitration CEDR (April, 2005), Solicitors Law Seminar and Exhibition (Law Society of England) at “The Barbican” (June, 1989).
He was one of the Nigerian delegates to the 7-Day International Seminar on SOCIAL POLICIES FOR DEVELOPMENT in Brasilia, Brazil August 2012. He also attended a two-week intensive training in MONITORING AND EVALUATION FOR RESULTS under the auspices of IMA International, Institute of Development Studies and University of Sussex at Brighton  England in June 2013.
He is a Member of Panel of Neutrals at the Lagos Multi-door Courthouse and a faculty member of NCMG/Bond University Australia Negotiation Centre Lagos Negotiation College Ikoyi.
He was in the Legal Team of the Election Petition of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Governor, State of Osun up to Appellate Court. He has been a member, Editorial Board of Osun Defender since inception and is also Chairman, Implementing Committee Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES).
He is a member of several Professional and Civil Society Associations including Negotiation and Conflict Management Group (NCMG), International Bar Association, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), International Bar Association (IBA) and New Culture Group – an NGO dedicated to good governance, leadership, accountability and social justice.
For more on BOSS, please visit www.o-boss.org

Constant and effective training of school administrators has been described as a major prerequisite towards attaining efficient and effective service delivery in the education sector, the deputy governor of the State of Osun, Mrs Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, has said.
Mrs Laoye-Tomori stated this in Osogbo, while declaring open a three-day workshop organised for school leaders and administrators in the State.
The deputy governor, who is also the state Commissioner for Education, said the present administration in the state places high premium on training and re-training of its work force with a view to imparting them with knowledge and skills needed to bring out the best in them.
She noted that the state government was aiming to achieve rapid transformation in the state’s education sector through the distribution of Opon-Imo, O-Meal and construction of state of the art high, middle and elementary schools.
While noting that constant training of school administrators and heads would have multiplier  and positive effects on the students in public schools, Mrs Laoye-Tomori charged teachers and other stakeholders in the educational sector to explore the opportunities of the workshop to shore up their knowledge and potentials.
In his  remark, the Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Education, Mr Lawrence Oyeniran, said leadership and management training was an essential tool in the development of the education sector.
He said the training was targeted  at assisting school managers to clearly identify their roles as administrators and help them to improve on quality of teaching, learning and service delivery in school environment.
In her remark, the Chief Executive Officer and founder of the International Centre for Leadership and Entrepreneur Development, Dr  Olajumoke Familoni, whose organisation handled the training workshop, said the training will enhance the knowledge of teachers in handling school affairs which will lead to students’ learning improvement.
According to her, 128 school leaders, six Zonal Inspectors, 31 Local Inspectors, 13 Principals, 13 Vice Principals and 65 Heads of Department from 13 selected schools will participate in the three-day workshop.
TRIBUNE