The Investment drive of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to overseas countries in recent times, have continued to yield the much desired results as an Italian Company, Mano Investment and Properties, based in Milan has mobilized to the state to commence the final spadework for the establishment of a palm-oil processing factory in the State of Osun.
Officials of the Italian Company who were in Nigeria during the week made this disclosure during a meeting with Senior Political and Management functionaries of the States Ministry of Environment and Sanitation and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security at the New Secretariat Complex, Gbongan road.
Head of the Italian Firm’s delegation to the meeting, Dr. Les Beaumont, who is also the Italian firm’s Project Coordinator, informed the Senior State functionaries that, himself together with other officials of the company will be in the state for two weeks to undertake the necessary feasibility studies and other arrangements for submission to their parent company in Italy for actual commencement of work at the project site in Ile-Ife, before the end of the on-going raining season.
Dr. Beaumont also informed the meeting that based on the preliminary reports earlier communicated to the parent company in Italy, the project financier of the Oil Processing Firm being targeted for the State of Osun, will be meeting in November to consider the report to be written on the project for final release of money for the immediate take-off of the project before the year runs out.
Representative of the Italian based firm, who is also the Managing Director, Venture Alliance Offshore Partners Nig. Ltd., Mr. David Famoriyo, also informed the meeting that, the Italian firm has various projects in Ghana, Port Harcourt and Abeokuta in specific agricultural and non-agricultural commodity products.
In their separate responses at the meeting, the State’s Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Prof. Olubukola Oyawoye and the Special Adviser to Governor on Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Festus Agunbiade on behalf of the State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, assured the Italian firm of the State Government’s maximum cooperation that will be enable the firm commence work quickly in the state, and provide employment to the state’s able-bodied citizens.
Also present at the meeting were Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Sanitation, Mr. Dayo Olaluwoye, Directors and Staff of both the Ministry of Environment and Sanitation and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security respectively.
OSUN DEFENDER

The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola spoke recently at the public presentation of a book, Work in Progress, by the Osun Development Agenda (ODA) at the Centre for Technology Management of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife.
The governor said there was no historical evidence that other races were superior to blacks. He said his administration plans to improve the future of the people through quality education.
Aregbesola said: “The priority of our government is on elementary education, which is the most important aspect of human life. If the elementary education is weak, there is no education at all”.
“Apart from the provision of infrastructure in schools, we offer free school uniforms and distribute tablets of knowledge (Opon Imo). We have also increased bursary payment and grants for primary and secondary schools.
“Our best intervention in education is the Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme, through which we give the pupils delicious meals. We met 180,000 pupils in public schools in 2010 and now we have over 350,000 pupils.
The convener, Kehinde Bamigbetan, said the book was published to review and document the economic, social and political transformation of Osun in the last two and a half years, which were brought about by the Aregbesola administration’s Six Integral Action Plan.
Chairman of the occasion and Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Bisi Akande, who was represented by Wale Oshun, said the evidence of development in Osun was physical.
(culled from THE NATION)

The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has described the death of former Governor of Ondo, Dr. Olusegun Kokumo Agagu, as unfortunate, sudden and sad.
In a statement by the Director of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the governor said that Agagu’s death  was a big loss to both his home state, Ondo, and the nation.
Aregbesola said the former governor had made his mark as a schorlar before venturing into politics.
According to him, Agagu also displayed knowledge, versatility and ingenuity in the art and dynamics of politics.
According to Aregbesola: “He was a lecturer, one time Minister of Aviation and then Governor of Ondo State. There is no gainsaying the fact that Agagu had contributed his quota to the nation’s development.
“Yet I say it with all sense of modesty that the late Dr. Agagu came, saw, and left fulfilled. Doubtless, he made his mark and left his footprint on the sand of history as a leader of men, who also impacted positively on his people, state and country at large.
“On behalf of myself and the people of the State of Osun State, I offer our condolences to the entire family (immediate and extended) of Dr. Olusegun Agagu, the Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and people of Ondo State. We pray that Almighty God repose his soul in paradise.”

 
 
 
 
 
Officers of the National Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, were in Osogbo, the State Capital for the assessment tour of  both complete and on-going projects of the Government of the State of Osun at the weekend.
Pictures below.

Vice President, Alumni Association of National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, Dr. Garba Terengi; President, Major General Lawrence Onoja and Managing Director, Omoluabi Garment Factory, Mrs Folake Oyemade, during the association’s tour of the State Government’s complete and on-going projects, at Omoluabi Garment Factory, Abere, Osogbo, State of Osun weekend

President, Alumni Association of the National Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, Major General Lawrence Onoja, charting with a stylist of the Omoluabi Garment Factory, Osogbo, State of Osun capital, during the assessment tour of the complete and on-going projects of the State of Osun Government by National Policy and Strategic Studies officers, at the weekend

From left, Assistant Chief of Staff to State of Osun Governor, Barrister Jimoh Akano; President, Alumni Association of the National Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, Major General Lawrence Onoja; Secretray General, Comrade Isa Aremu and Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Wale Adedoyin, at Saint Micheal Elementary School, Ode-Omu, during the assessment tour of the complete and on-going projects of the State of Osun Government by National Policy and Strategic Studies officers, at the weekend

 
The Government of Osun invites subscription to its “Osun Sukuk Company Plc” N10 billion Ijara (Lease) due 2020 further to Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) approval.
In March 2013, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)  approved new rules allowing firms to issue Islamic bonds. The Book Building opened on Thursday September 12, 2013 and closes on Wednesday September 25, 2013.
The planned 7-year paper, sources report, forms part of a N60 billion debt raising programme of the state which started last year. Such Funds raised would be used to finance the construction of education projects.  The Government of the State of Osun is targeting local pension funds and international investors for subscription to the bond.
Local credit rating agency Agusto & Co had assigned  an ‘A’ rating to the bond note, which will be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

The Government of the State of Osun understands the need for people to know their identity. This shows where you are coming from and your rich heritage. It gives citizens a sense of value, lift their social psyche and motivates them to be patriotic and conduct themselves in a manner expected of worthy citizens
The state was branded and given a new identity. This includes a coat of arms, state flag and anthem.

The Coat of Arms

The two elephants in the Coat of Arms symbolises strength, service and humility. The brown colour emphasises the unity of our skin and the soil. A clear testimony that we own the earth. The cocoa tree symbolises agriculture and the natural resources of the land. The Y on the shield represents River Niger and Benue which symbolise the link between the State of Osun and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The lion stands for Yoruba nobility, dignity and courage while its cushion of ferns represents the traditional lair of an African Lion and the richness of our land.The two symbols of the Chief’s sword (Ida) and The Mace embody the spirit and purpose of Osun. The Sword is the symbol of the Obas while the Mace is the symbol of the Legislative Arm of Government and the power of the common people as expressed by their elected representative.
The Ori Olokun stands for the common origin of the Yoruba and their dexterity in technology, while the garland surrounding it symbolises chivalry and triumph. The Timber represents the vegetation as a rain forest zone. The Indigo colour (Aro) of the upper part of the shield symbolises the common Adire wear in Yorubaland while the Ruby Red colour (Alaari) of the lower part of the shield signifies nobility.
The Motto; Liberty & Service shows this are guaranteed for the people by the government while Justice is moral rightness based on fairness and equity to all irrespective of their status, gender or religion.

The Flag

The seven cowries represent the seven grandsons of Olofin Oduduwa. Their military valour, diplomatic dexterity and trade mastery created wealth and resulted in their expansive kingdom. The Brown Colour represents the colour of the earth and tone of the skin.
The Ori Olokun stands for the common origin of the Yoruba and their dexterity in technology. The Colour Band which is the Pan-African flag consists of official colours of the African race: the colour red represents the blood bond among Africans.
The colour black depicts the existence of the black race; the colour green denotes the abundance of wealth on the continent of Africa; The gold depicts the abundant mineral resources of Africa.

The Anthem

To listen to how the anthem is sung and to read more about the State of Osun , visit www.osun.gov.ng

The Deputy Governor of the State of Osun, Mrs. Grace Titlayo Laoye-Tomori, continues to urge women to stand up for change and be front runners in implementing same.
She stated this in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, at the 2nd National Women Summit, with the theme, “Women as Pioneers of Change”, organised by the Oyo State Officials’ Wives Association led by wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi.
Tomori charged women to continue to push for change in the nation’s current political structure and be active participants in the political trend.
“For me, the role of women begins in the collective resolve to build together the social foundation upon which the modern political participation of the society will be based”, she said.
“Our foremost task as women is to identify the disabling factors in our present social condition of living, and move to remedy such situations. We need to launch and relaunch repeated assaults on socio-cultural inhibitions, norms and values that have held the female gender down from time immemorial”.

The Urban Renewal Project continues to be a front row implementation agenda for the government of the State of Osun.
The Commissioner for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Arc. Muyiwa Ige who is in Tokyo to meet with the partners under the auspices of the collaboration of the State of Osun with JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) on Comprehensive City Planning handed the Flag of the State of Osun to the Tokyo colleagues symbolizing the growth and exposure of the State to urban development and expansion.
JICA has for many years been making  full use of Japan’s experience and technologies in working with international society to address the various globalization-related issues developing countries face in a comprehensive manner. This initiative has informed the partnership with the State of Osun in the implementation of its O-Renewal project.
Find pictures from Tokyo below…
 

CAPTION: Arc. Olumuyiwa Ige presenting the flags of the State of Osun to Mr. Manabu MIKAMI, Chief Land Readjustment, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and holding the flag to the right is Mr. Yuji TANAKA, Chief Urban Redevelopment – Tokyo Metropolitan Government as others looked on

CAPTION: Arc. Olumuyiwa Ige with Mr. Fumihiro ABE of Bureau of Construction, Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Built to improve learning among secondary school students in the State of Osun and also to further prepare them for external and internal examinations, OPON IMO (tablets) are already being distributed to the students ’free-of-charge. Photos Below

Do you have questions for the Executive Governor of the State of Osun?
Will you want to share your ideas on the development and growth of the State?
Have you sought ways to write to him directly and get a response?
Then here is your chance.
The newly improved website of the State of Osun has a feature that enables you do this without hassles. Simply visit the “Meet the Ogbeni’ Section on the Homepage, Click on the link, select what sector(s) your comments are focused on and get writing; he is happy to read from you and  you will get your response within the shortest possible time.
We continually strive for Open Governance and we ask you to be a part of this. Take your chance, Be Heard!
www.osun.gov.ng