Otunba (Mrs.) Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, MPA, BA, P.G.D.E, is the Deputy Governor of the State of Osun and the Honourable Commissioner for Education otherwise known as “Ipinle Omoluabi.” She was born in Osogbo to the Amon Oyeyemi Laoye family.  Her early education includes St. Catherine Girls Grammar School, Owo and Victory College, Ikare.
Upon completion of her secondary education, she attended University of Lagos and obtained a Bachelor of Arts Hons in History in 1973. As an avid learner, Otunba acquired two additional post-graduate degrees a P.G.D.E. in 1978 and Masters in Public Administration in 1984. On completion of the compulsory National Youth Service Scheme, the Federal Ministry of Education employed Otunba Titi Laoye Tomori as an Education Officer in 1974. Overall, she spent six years at the Federal Ministry of Education (1974-1980).
In 1980, she began a career as an administrator at the University of Lagos where she was appointed an Assistant Registrar. She rose to occupy the post of Principal Assistant Registrar by the time she left the University in 1989. She has served in various capacities at the university such as Faculty Officer at the Faculties of Education and Sciences, Establishment Officer and later the University Admissions Officer. Her professional career also includes senior level positions with companies such as Coopers & Lybrand International, PFM Consulting Limited, Industrial and General Insurance Plc, as well as her own consulting company Quints Management Consultants. During the same period, Otunba was also appointed to the Board of International Health Management Services Limited, a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) as an Executive Director, Finance and Administration.
In recognition of her wealth of experience at the public and private sectors, she was unanimously considered as the Deputy Governorship candidate to Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola in 2007.  The mandate freely given by the good people of the State of Osun in April 2007 was validated through a Court of Appeal Judgment on Friday, November 26, 2010. Otunba Laoye Tomori has positively impacted the State as the Deputy Governor and achieved great works as the Honourable Commissioner for Education. As a result, she has received accolades such as The Most Innovative Education Commissioner Award for the South West Zone organized by President’s School Debates Nigeria, an agency of the Federal Ministry of Education. She is also the recipient of the West African Gender Dialogue in Conjunction with West African Institute for Leadership and Governance, Most Outstanding Female Deputy Governor of the Year 2012.
She is married and blessed with four children.
For more on the State of Osun Executive Council, visit www.osun.gov.ng
 

Pictures from the unveiling ceremony of the Mascot for Obafemi Awolowo University 2013 Nigeria University Game (NUGA) by the Governor in his office on Monday 9th September 2013.
 

From left, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Professor Craig Obafemi; Deputy vice Chancellor (Administration) Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Professor Omolayo Ajayi and Vice Chancellor, Professor Bamitale Omole, at the unveiling ceremony of the Mascot for OAU 2013 Nigeria University Game by the governor in his office, Abere, Osogbo

From left, Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; OAU 2013 Nigeria University Game Mascot and Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Professor Bamitale Omole, at the unveiling ceremony of the Mascot for OAU 2013 Nigeria University Game by the governor in his office, Abere, Osogbo, State of Osun on Monday 09-09-2013

The State of Osun has launched a new radio station called ‘Odidere FM’ on 96.3 modulated frequency. The new station is an arm of the Reality Radio-Vision Service (RRS) in Iwo.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Sunday Akere, in a statement said the Radio Station which was commissioned four months ago by the State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, started operation on September 2nd, 2013.
Akere disclosed that the immediate transmission of the new station after its commissioning was delayed because the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Abuja needed to carry out a final inspection of installed equipments before giving a final approval for commencement of the radio station’s full operations.
He called on the people of the State of Osun, particularly the Iwo Federal Constituency and Osun West Senatorial district to patronize and listen to the radio station to make it achieve the objectives of its establishment.
(culled from WORLDSTAGE NEWS)

The Osun State Commissioner for Finance, Economic Planning and Budget, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, has debunked the claim  of the governorship aspirant of the Unity Party of Nigeria, Mr. Segun Akinwusi, that the state’s finances were  in a precarious situation due to over-borrowing by the current government administration.
Bolorunduro, in a statement  in Osogbo on Monday,  said that Osun  was more solvent than most states in the country.
Akinwusi, a former Head of Service in the state, had claimed that the Aregbesola administration borrowed N350bn since 2010 but had not done anything meaningful with  the  sum.
Although, Bolorunduro did not state how much debt the state was owing, he said its  finances were being well managed. He added that a  report released by the Fiscal Responsibility Commission did not list Osun as one of the states with heavy debt profile.
Bolorunduro said, “Mr. Akinwusi’s claim that the state had borrowed about N350bn since November 2010 is not different from the opposition party’s usual false alarm about the state’s debt portfolio. “Aside from the fact that there are statutory bodies in the country where such information pertaining to state’s level of exposure can be verified, such as the Debt Management Office, and Fiscal Responsibility Commission, it is also worth mentioning that such statement and claim are malicious, unfounded and amusing.
“After all, Osun is not in the list of states reported to have excessive or frightening loan portfolios. Going by the report, states’ average figure for “debt to revenue” is 36.36 per cent , and Osun’s index is far below the states’ average.
“To further corroborate this position, reference can be made to the full report of the DMO , which was recently circularised to all the states  of the federation. The report indicates the states’ average to be 42.34 per cent , while Osun’s figure is 14.68 per cent, indicating that Osun is more solvent than most states in the country.
(culled from The Punch)

“Things alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the better by design.” 
Meaning… that if we don’t choose to change things for the better, they will naturally tend to get worse. Thus a ‘stitch in time will save 9’ and that is the summary of the vision that we see at work in the State of Osun and do take this moment to applaud the NEW DAWN.
Every investment in the physical and social infrastructure is an advance for sustainable development. This is why serious governments at every stage of economic history find the money to put into infrastructural development.The key here is the deferment of immediate gratification which is essential. For this reason it is very commendable that the state of Osun with its paltry allocation from the centre can invest so much in infrastructure particularly roads.
The multiplier effect entailed in Aregbesola’s road building program is clear. For example, there is not much sense in trying to modernize the food production chain without a concomitant increase in infrastructural upgrade. Without roads in good shape agricultural development will continue to stagnate, even regress. Good roads will facilitate an increase for example in production. Instinctively no farmer is going to increase production without insurance of timely produce evacuation among many other reasons and benefits.
Osun of course is now a massive road construction site. With a proven engineer who was once an acclaimed infrastructure czar in Lagos state at the helm of affairs this is not too surprising. What is nevertheless welcome is the sheer determination, the gusto with which this is being done? The current investment in the roads network will also facilitate and also increase the interest shown by both local and foreign investors. Like the farm sector, the investor needs a good road network. This will of course help with his own input and output. Raw materials for example have to be moved in from the rail line by road. Subsequently the finished product becomes more competitive in pricing due to the availability of a good network of roads.
The government’s grit and focus in the area of road development is worthy of commendation. More than any other factor, it is preparing Osun for the next decisive phase, which is of real and sustainable developments by advancing the infrastructure of the state to help the prospects of even generations to come.
A lot has been said by the People, the Press, the Critics and even the Government about the urban renewal exercise ongoing in the State of Osun;  day by day we become more convinced that the people will appreciate this investment better when the ruins become a beautiful story…a worthy scenery. The Osun of our dreams.

Chairman, Board of Directors, Osun Water Corporation, Mr Saibu Fadare,  has said that the State Government would provide potable water to the people of the state.
Fadare said in Osogbo, at the weekend, that the government would also ensure that all equipment for the installation of water would be properly maintained.
He said that arrangements were in place to commence the repair of all damaged water pipes across the state.
“Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said that he would not relent in his efforts at providing potable water for the people,’’ Fadare said.
He urged workers of the water corporation to imbibe the culture of maintenance so that the water equipment would function effectively.
Fadare said that he had just completed inspection visits to Ora-Igbomina mini-water scheme in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the State, as well as Eko-Ende and Okuku mini-water schemes, both in Odo-Otin Local Government Area.
He advised workers to work hard and cooperate with the government to ensure regular provision of water within a short time.
(culled from NIGERIAN TRIBUNE)

Until three years ago, Koleosho Saidat Biola, an English graduate from Lagos State University, was not different from an average lady on the streets of Osogbo , Osun State. She was one of the millions of unemployed youths scattered across the country. According to her, she was just roaming the streets in search of a job before she was absorbed into the Osun State Empowerment Youths Scheme, O’YES. O’YES is an empowerment programme of the State of Osun focused mainly on empowering the youths.
“I am from Ede North Local Government. I graduated from Lagos State University. I studied English. I graduated in 2009 but there was no job. I was just roaming the streets looking for job all around. It was the O’YES programme that made one to be earning something today. The O’YES programme is usually in the morning such that once you are done, you had time to do some other private things of your own. So, once I leave the O’YES programme, I still go to some houses to teach.
Meanwhile, the N10,000 that I was being given every month, I was saving it. I didn’t touch it. I was contented with the little I was collecting from the private home teaching I was also doing. After a year of saving, I built a container worth of N60,000. To put everything in order with the container, I spent N100,000. And by the time I was ready for business proper, I committed another N100,000 to it . That was how I started my own business. I can boast of buying anything for my children now. The worth of this business now is about N200,000. As we speak, I have 250 litres of kerosene in my tank”, she said.
Ibrahim Jamiu is a photographer and now into ICT. As a matter of fact, he felt photography had nothing to do with ICT. “It never occurred to me that ICT could actually improve the level of quality of my job”. Now he knows better. “I am grateful to the Governor for this empowerment. The programme has even made me to be more virtuous. It is O’YES that taught me ICT. I didn’t know anything about computers. Now I have two laptops with which I am doing my work now. I was a photographer before I got into the O’YES programme and with the ICT knowledge, I can manipulate the system to improve on my photographic knowledge”.
Miss Alayande Yetunde is another of the lucky graduates. According to her,” The programme has really empowered a lot of people. The lazy ones have changed their perspective about life. I was an NCE holder but there was no job. So when I learnt about the O’YES programme, I collected the form and here I am. My savings from the programme enabled me to start a little business on my own. Where could I have got the money if not for O’YES?”
For Olagunju Olatunji Obafemi, O’YES made him what he is now. He presently runs a small shoe business. “I was doing nothing even though I love writing. I enrolled in the scheme and learnt the art of shoe making. At the end of the training, I was given money but initially when I was given the monthly N10,000, I was thinking it was not enough, but I decided to start buying shoe materials with the money as it came little by little to set up my own.
“Ordinarily some would say the money was nothing, but if you are focused, the money can sufficiently help you out of poverty. I was saving N5,000 from the N10,000 we were being given and that was how I was able to save to be able to start the shoe business. Each of the palm slippers costs N1,500, N2,000 but since I just started, what I do now is give customers discount on each one purchased”.
Enibukun Oyewole , the commandant of the youths scheme, said the mission is to give the youths hope, show them how to fish rather than giving them fish; and then set them ready for the future. “In many areas of our lives in the country now, there is money to make for example in agriculture but, above all, is the attribute of Omoluabi, the virtuous one, somebody who believes in hard work, who knows that the only medicine to poverty is hard work, that we preach. These are the things this scheme sets out to do under the guidance of our able governor, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola”.
According to Oyewole, the activities of the graduates are already being felt in and around the cities. “So far so good, it has been a rewarding scheme, especially for the contributions of these youths in helping the communities in all areas they can. They help in the area of sanitation, they are responsible for the cleanliness you find in the state etc.
“The lawns you see on the roads, the cadets trim and keep them clean all the time. You may not be aware of what they are doing in the area of public works. They are into tertiary roads and rural roads maintenance. If you drive through Osun State, you will see O’ Ambulance vehicles which are strategically parked for evacuation of distressed persons like accident victims, women in labour, anybody in distress generally”.
What the programme is doing, according to him, is in fulfillment of the promise made by Aregbesola while campaigning to be Governor. “During his campaign in 2005, our governor promised and entered into a pact that, in his 100 days in office, he was going to empower 20,000 youths. The definition of the youths did not just end with indigenes, it includes responsible residents (Yoruba and non-Yoruba alike) of Osun State who are paying their taxes. It is a scheme for attitudinal change.
In November, 2010, His Excellency gathered us and said the covenant he entered with the people of Osun must be realized. I can say the programme is the flagship of the programmes of the government. I can say from the day it was inaugurated in 2011 till February 2013, we took 20,000 intakes. We are now taking another batch. You may ask, how did we come about the 20,000? In 2011, over 250,000 applied. The second one which is 2013, over 150,000 youths applied and we took 20,000. We have been at it now for over two years.
We have had many success stories. We are done with the initial intake, that is the batch 2011-2013, we have rotated them and they have passed out and there are exit programmes in which many of them are employed in various government service, some of them are empowered as entrepreneurs”
(adapted from VANGUARD)

The Government of the State of Osun’s Beautification Project continues at top speed as part of the Urban Renewal Programme . These pictures from Alekuwodo, Osogbo tell the story of ongoing work as at today Sunday 08/09/13

 

 

Authorities of the Osun State Polytechnics, Iree, recently stepped up efforts at curbing incidence of cultism and violence in the institution. STEPHEN GBADAMOSI, who witnessed a rally organised to sensitise the students to the menace, reports.
CULTISM is one of the vices militating against qualitative education in Nigeria, particularly at the tertiary level. Thus, when the management of any institution takes the fight against the menace directly to the students, then, it would appear that stakeholders are taking the problem seriously.
This is what happened to be the case at a recent anti-cultism and go against violence campaign organized by the management of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, recently. Students of the polytechnic, their teachers, parents and experts on security had gathered at the multipurpose hall of the institution as early as 10.00 a.m. for an epoch-making event.
Members of the school’s cultural troupe had been sending the students present on a frenzied ecstasy and applause as they doled out tunes on anti-violence themes. Not less than 90 per cent of the youths spotted specially designed vests that had inscriptions campaigning against cultism and violence on campus, while many carried banners and placards that announced their resolve not to allow the menace to rear its ugly head on the campus again.
Though the atmosphere appeared charged, with whispers here and there that some of the members of the secret cults might be marking students taking active part in the campaign against them, the students were undaunted, as they jubilantly danced around the hall and other parts of the campus, clad in their vests or banners with which they wrapped themselves.
Not quite long after, the rector of the polytechnic, Dr Jacob Agboola, arrived the venue, in company with dignitaries that had been invited to talk to the students on subjects ranging from the social, economic and legal implications of engaging in cultism to repercussions of engaging in violence on campus. With him were the institution’s Deputy Rector, Dr Femi Ademiluyi; the Acting Bursar, Mr Femi Okediya; Dean of Student Affairs, Alhaji Adebisi; as well as the guest lecturer at the occasion, pastor (Mrs) Opedun, an Ondo State-based expert on cultism renunciation campaign.
Alhaji Adebisi, who opened the session with a speech, while explaining the rationale behind the programme, noted that the fact that cultists operated in secrecy was enough to put off any student whose purpose on campus was to make something out of his or her life.
“In the past few weeks, crime has grown on campus. That is why the present management took some steps. In the last four or five weeks, we have arrested eight cult members and handed them over to the police authorities. We are also collaborating with community leaders and vigilance groups. This is apart from the fact that the institution has hired private security operatives.
“Among the steps we have taken to curb crimes and violence on the campus is the ban that we placed on sale of alcohol on campus. We are also doing sensitisation programmes so that our students will recognise the evil in cultism. This is one of such programme. What we are saying is that the current management of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree has zero tolerance for cultism,” he said.
The rector, Dr Agboola, while addressing the students, said members of the management team of the institution, being parents themselves, saw it as their responsibility to ensure the safety of the students while on campus.
“The management of this institution knows that it is its responsibility and duty to ensure students’ safety.
“About a time in 1994, there used to be upsurge in the activities of cultists. Since then, we have stepped up effort to stem the tide; we have been arresting them. But suddenly, about two years ago, we discovered that they have been regrouping and planning to make their presence known again. We have decided that whatever it takes, we will stamp out cultism in this institution. We will not allow anybody to terminate your life abruptly; we will not allow darkness to take over here. The law of Nigeria does not permit cultism on any institution’s campus; it is a crime,” the rector warned.
Pastor (Mrs) Opedun, while delivering her lecture in from of the mammoth crowd, noted that recently, 11,000 cultists renounced it in Bayelsa State, adding that it was not impossible to leave the illegal gangs. She quoted copiously from the Bible, verses that are against the menace of cultism, while explaining to the students how cultism could destroy their lives and make the real dream of their parents sending them to school to come to futility.
A security expert, Mr Akin Adeyi, who also addressed the crowd of students explained that it was only students who lacked security and confidence themselves that usually joined cult groups, adding that this was why it was always difficult for them to come out and renounce it in public, even when they were no longer having it good in the fold.
He said the though the occasion was not one to apportion blames, it was evident that government, institutions, parents and all other stakeholders had one portion or the other to share in the blame over how cultism had eaten into the fabric of the nation’s educational sector.
The security expert went to enumerate steps to be taken by stakeholders to rescue the sector from the evil of cultism.
Thereafter, hundreds of the students took part in a procession round the campus, campaigning against cultism and displaying various placards with inscriptions that bore their messages
 
(culled from NIGERIAN TRIBUNE)

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Osun State says it has recorded a positive turn out on the directive by the commission for motorists to change their vehicle number plates to new ones on or before September 30.
Speaking in Osogbo on Friday, Osun State Sector Commander, Imoh Etuk said the commission recorded an increased turnout of applicants for the new number plates as the deadline draws nearer.
He said motorists that had changed from the old number plates and those that are applying afresh for the new number plates have increased tremendously between the months of July and August.
He said the state record showed that 232 motorists applied for the new number plates in August alone against 24 in the month of July and that 134 also changed to the new number plates in August against 67 in July.
He also added that 527 motorcyclists applied for new number plates in August against 83 applicants in July.
He said these figures were indicators that the public enlightenment and rallies carried out by the command on the need for motorists to change to the new number plates were yielding positive results.
He warned motorists that are yet to comply with the directive of the commission to do so or risk arrest from October 1.