Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has reiterated the commitment of his administration to develop he state.
Speaking at the Trade, Investment and Culture Conference held in Osogbo, Aregbesola said his administration’s desire for development would be backed with action.
He explained that the administration had committed huge human and material resources to providing the enabling environment for business in last two and half years,
He pointed out that it was his visit to the United States in March this year that brought partners, who have come from the African and Caribbean Business Council (ACBC) of Philadelphia, the Christian Evangelical Economic Development, Inc. (CEED) of Pittsburgh, and the WURA Arts Services & Productions, LLC (WURA) of New York City.
The governor noted, “In our development drive, we have focused mainly on four key areas. These are culture and tourism, agriculture, information technology, and solid minerals.
“The State of Osun is indisputably a custodian of the cultural heritage of the Yoruba people, who are mainly domiciled in and originated from South-West Nigeria. Ile-Ife, which is here in the state and just about 30 minute drive from this podium, is the cradle of Yoruba culture and civilisation,” the governor told investors and others at the gathering.
He also added that Osun occupies a central place in Nigeria’s cultural tourism map, stressing that besides Ife, there are numerous other centres of cultural and tourism significance across the state.
The governor also stressed that there are more than 60 tourism sites in the state and that the Osun Grove is already globally renowned as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Aregbesola on agriculture said, “Our goal, therefore, is to provide food for the South West and especially capture a sizable chunk of the N3 billion daily food market in Lagos. By a stroke of fortune, our natural endowment also includes solid minerals, especially gold.
“We have gold deposits in commercial quantity in many parts of the state that are waiting to be fully exploited. It is our goal to develop this in partnership with willing and capable partners.” the governor stated.
DAILY INDEPENDENCE

A socio-cultural organisation, the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), yesterday in Ikenne-Remo, the country home of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, passed a vote of confidence on the entire South-West governors for their effort at maintaining peace and security in the region.
The meeting, which was chaired by the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo, also noted that the region has been spared the spate of crisis and kidnappings that have become the lot of other regions of the country.
In a communiqué at the end of the meeting, read by YUF National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Kunle Olajide, the forum observed that the region has witnessed “peace and stability” in the last two years and that the governors manning the states should be applauded for it.
In her goodwill message, HID charged politicians of Yoruba race not to allow personal interest override the collective progress and unity of Yorubaland while pursuing their legitimate ambitions.
CULLED FROM GUARDIAN

REALISING that Osun State is the centre port of  cultural–tourism vibes  in Nigeria , the government of  Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola has, since assumption of power, been steadfastly pursuing policies geared at tapping the potentialities of this natural blessing. This is not for dancing, merry making and festivities alone, but for socio-economic emancipation, wealth mobilisation, empowerment, revenue  and employment generation. Governor Aregbesola must have, in his own’ weird’ way, embarked on series of researches on the peculiarity of the socio- cultural aspects of tourism in the state and arrived at the best ways of tapping into the tangible and intangible cultural tourism assets of the state for the benefit of his people and Nigeria at large.
He must have realised through the study, his interaction with the people, the numerous tourism sites in the state and his international exposure that Osun and its people had not been  having a fair share of the goodies of tourism due to the complacency and lackadaisical posture of the previous administrations in the state which thought that Osun Osogbo celebration was the only  cultural and tourism asset which needed to be spotlighted and hyped; the failure to enhance and network other tourism sites which abound in the state with Osun Grove; the inability to galvanise the core  cultural tourism stakeholders in the state; the traditional religion worshippers, cultural artisans, artists, hospitality and transport operators,  into  potent  economic change agents and the marked absence of  deliberate well planned and honed sensitisation and awareness creation activities  for the stakeholders to see their importance in the scheme things.
Governor Aregbesola must have also realised the uniqueness of Osun socio- cultural tourism setting, knowing that, for the state to reap bountifully from the cultural blessings, the third leg of the religious tripod, the African Traditional Religion, must not just be reinforced but be accorded its proper recognition, respect, reference and  its practitioners enlightened to bring out the best in them.
And Governor Aregbesola has  never allowed the criticism being churned out to distract his attention in tapping the traditional religion for the overall benefit of the state and the nation.
It is in furtherance of this vision and with the belief that cultural– tourism promotion should be taken beyond mere jamboree, razzmatazz, festivities, dancing to empowerment and sustainable economic of the state that Governor  Aregbesola conceived the idea of a trade, investment and culture conference where stakeholders, investors, experts in  global commerce and intercontinental cultural exchange will meet minds for greater partnership which will enrich the lives of the people.
CULLED FROM TRIBUNE

Alaafin of Oyo, Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III has
commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for his selfless efforts and
determinations in propagating and showcasing Yoruba cultural values to
the world.
Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, gave the commendation in his palace at the
recently concluded year 2013 World Sango Festival.
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who was represented at the occasion by the
Commissioner for Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Hon. Sikiru
Ayedun, emphasized the commitment of his administration to facilitate
unity among the Yoruba states with a view to propagating
socio-cultural values of Yorubas.
Ogbeni Aregbesola stated that the recently concluded World Children
Day and a meeting of over five hundred obas at Osogbo, the well
attended Osun Osogbo Festival, Isese Day and development of tourist
sites in the state among others are part of his achievements in
developing cultural identities of Yorubas.
He said his administration has made tremendous efforts in reaching
out to Yorubas in the diaspora, especially North America, Cuba,
Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Benin among others, with a
view to romancing them to freely visit their root which is the Yoruba
land.
He therefore called Yoruba at home to always feel proud of their
culture and promote it through the way they dress, talk, and exhibit
moral standards for which Yorubas are known.
The cultural performance, by the State of Osun performing troupe
added colour to the festival during Osun Day segment of the programme
which Hon. Ayedun and the representative of Trinidad and Tobago
ambassador could not resist as they danced to the tunes of historical
and cultural music.
The height of the performance was the Sango Dance performed by
Lukuman Ayodeji, the acclaimed Sango of Africa to the admiration of
all guests, especially the Yorubas in the diaspora.
Dr. Paula Gomes a cultural ambassador thus adjudged the performance
as the best ever since the beginning of the 10-day Sango Festival.
OSUN DEFENDER