In order to boost commercial agriculture in the State of Osun through advance technology, the State Produce Board (OPB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke.
The deal was sealed at the Conference Hall of the institution on Tuesday between  the management of Osun Produce Board led by the Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO, Dr Yemi Adegoke and Osun State College of Technology Governing Council led by the Council Chairman, Professor Layi Fagbenle.
Speaking during the event, the Executive Vice-Chairman of the board, Dr Yemi Adegoke hinted that the signing of the MoU was in line with the vision of the present Government led by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to boost agricultural production and improve the income for  all  stakeholders in the sector.
Dr Adegoke explained that to achieve the government’s target and vision , it is therefore important to move  away from over 3000 years primitive and subsistence farming method which requires the use of hoes and cutlasses only,  to Mechanised and Commercial farming method which is the only alternative to change the poor condition of farmers and consumers.
He maintained that OSCOTECH, Esa Oke and all other state-owned tertiary institutions are blessed with both human and material resources needed to improve farming method, urging the institutions to establish Commercial Farms, Technology, Research and Demonstration Farms and engage in production of Herbs.
He noted that this will make them a leading light capable of competing with other institutions around the World.
He promised that the Produce Board and Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security will give the institutions all necessary technical support needed to execute the content in the MoU, in order to achieve the target result within a limited period.
In his brief remarks, the College’s Council Chairman, Professor Layi Fagbenle acknowledged that the vision of the government of the State of Osun is a good one and expressed optimism that it will come to reality.
Prof Fagbenle stressed that Nigeria and West Africa sub-region are blessed with fertile agricultural land, good weather and human materials.
He therefore promised that the institution will cue-in and make the vision a reality.
Also speaking, the Acting Rector, Dr Samson Adegoke who described the signing of MoU as a good sign of good thing for the institution, said it is prepared for the task ahead, especially now that it has a department of Agricultural Engineering.

Two significant events took place in the State of Osun this week. Both of them indicates a forward thrust to lay strong foundations in the state. The initiatives are interlocking and in this way a synergy is being created here into a critical mass.
The first initiative is the signing by the Osun Produce Board (OPB) of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke in order to boost commercial agriculture in the state of Osun through advance Technology. As the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Osun produce board, Dr Yemi Adegoke pointed out during the signing, “… the MOU is in line with the vision of the present government led by Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola to boost agricultural production and improve the income for all that are involved in the agriculture value chain”.
Very well stated by Dr Adegoke, for it is absolutely critical in the process of modernisation leading to industrialization that there must be an upliftment of the process from subsistence to commercial farming. This is the only way to revitalise a stagnant rural economy and uplift the living standards of farmers. Involving the Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke is also very important. For the transition to commercial farming must be focused on technology and research which the institution is eminently suited to provide. The synergy will be decisive.
The modernisation of Agriculture will certainly be decisive for the state to meet the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) target of N10 billion monthly proposed by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Modernizing agriculture means that the State of Osun will be operating on the framework of the State of Iowa In the United States. The comparison is important. Iowa is a very successful economic example. It does not have the[minerial] resource base of much larger Texas, the technology industries of California or New York’s turbo-charged financial services industries.
Nevertheless, Iowa is a sterling success story. The state has leveraged its highly developed agriculture through technology, research and cutting edge commodities exchange mechanisms to provide very high living standards for its citizens. Osun must look at the Iowa model as well as the Cooperative model of The Netherlands. It is astonishing that the Netherlands with less than a third of the landmass of our own Niger state, consistently exports over $100 billion worth of Semi-processed and processed agricultural commodities a year. For Osun this is the way to go.
Ogbeni is absolutely correct to point the way forward. Osun must build on the framework of taxation as the way forward to sustainable development. In his words –”So we must henceforth let the people of Osun know that if Lagos could earn N41.7 billion as IGR every month, then it will unthinkable and irresponsible for Osun not to strive to make N4.1billion every month.
“That is what we need. It is the least we can work on. So by 2028 if Osun must be modern, we must have capacity to generate N10 billion monthly.
“So, the communiqué of this workshop must develop the capacity to support the state in its quest for development in practical term that will make Osun one of the best, economically viable in Nigeria”, Aregbesola told the gathering.
He added, “The reason for this summit is on how Osun will be in 2028. We must through this summit, acquire capacity to be able to fashion out ways of improving our revenue base because one thing we cannot deny is the economy fact that in 10 years to come, there will be no economic value for crude oil.
“We must also be conscious of the future population explosion in whatever economy we are planning by educating the people against the effects of reckless procreation because if we failed to take the bull by the horn, the present population in the country would have risen to 200million with similar effect on each state of the federation in 10 years time.
“Thus, we must aggressively pursue local production on our own to overcome unemployment and the consequences of it, otherwise, we will still be facing challenges”.
This is the incontrovertible roadmap for the future. The political will as well as the robust resolve is clearly there. What will be vital for the future of another generation is to ensure the continuity of this laudable objective by electing a progressive government on the 22nd September, 2018 to continue this framework. All hands must be on deck to achieve this.

The Executive Secretary, Egbedore South Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr Kola Ajao has reiterated the commitment of the council’s management team to the development of grassroot sport among the youths in the council area.
He gave the assurance at the grand finale of the youth football competition tagged Kola Ajao Youth Soccer Championship organised by Egbedore South LCDA, at the Ido-Osun High School playing ground recently between Fehinti Football Club and Estate Boys.
According to a statement by the Information Officer of the council, Mrs Iyabo Adeniran, Ajao, who described sports as a unifying factor, said the gains in participating in sport competition are numerous and should be taken advantage of.
He said his administration believes in catching them young syndrome by identifying talents among youths and assisting them to develop their talents in the sport industry.
Commending the efforts of the organisers of the competition for putting their wealth, vast experience, time and energy to develop sports at the grassroots, he said the efforts would inculcate the spirit of sportsmanship in the youths.
The council boss saluted the efforts and courage of the participating teams from the preliminary to the final and therefore promised to organise other field events to foster unity.
He also encouraged the youths to take part in sport competitions beyond the localties to expand their talents.
The Council Manager, Alhaji Badiru Kolapo appreciated the performance of the participating teams and encouraged them to endeavour to develop their talents so that they can get to international level.
Meanwhile, the Estate Boys won the match with a one goal via a converted penalty.
Present at the occasion of the football match were the Olojudo of Ido-Osun, Oba Adedapo Aderemi; political functionaries and members of the community.

The Speaker of the state parliament of Osun, Honourable Najeem Salaam has disclosed that the present House of Assembly would strive to bequeath a good legacy that would surpass it tenure.
 
 
 
He stated this on Monday while speaking at the annual inter-religious service prayer organised by the House of Assembly to usher in the New Year at the Assembly Complex in the State capital.
Salaam appreciated the lawmakers and staffers of the House of Assembly for their support and steadfastness in the past year and urged them to always be committed.
He thanked members and the entire workers for their cooperation and tolerance for years.
In his speech titled: “Year of multiplication blessing”; the lawmaker stressed on the need to sacrifice for the state, urging his colleagues to strive towards leaving a good legacy that would outlive individual lawmakers.
While charging them on the need for unity and cooperation towards enhancing better legislation, he advises the politicians to let the progress of the state be their watchword in all activities.
While disclosing that internet facilities will soon be installed in the Assembly to aid parliamentary proceedings, he charged staff members to maintain discipline and be dedicated to their work for the progress of the state.
In their separate sermons, the Chief Imam of the Assembly Mosque, Sheik Abudulfatai Afolabi and the Chapel’s Chaplin, Pastor Muyiwa Ayeni urged the lawmakers and staff to fear God utmostly in their dealings in government businesses and in their personal dealings.
Honourable Akinloye Ajibola, Bosun Oyintiloye and Akintunde Adegboye prayed for peace in the State of Osun House Assembly, Osun and Nigeria respectively.
The occasion was also used to present Awards to distinguished staff member of the House of Assembly and the House of Assembly Service Commission for 2017.
In his closing remarks, the leader of the parliament, Hon. Timothy Owoeye appreciated all honourable members and staff for their positive attitude to work and for success of the entire Assembly.

The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) has reiterated its stance on the conduct of local government election earlier slated for January 27,2018, in the face of a pending litigation.
The OSIEC’ s Chairman, Mr Segun Oladitan asserted that the decision of the commission to go ahead with the exercise was hinged on the premise that the litigation does not in anyway affect the process of the contest.
It would be recalled that OSIEC, at a press conference late last year had announced its resolve and plan to conduct the councils’ poll on Saturday, January 27, 2018.
It was against the backdrop that a human right activist, Kanmi Ajibola and some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) approached the court, to declare the action as unconstitutional and illegal, arguing that the propose parliamentary system at the local government level is in conflict with electoral law.
However,  at a stakeholders meeting organized by the commission in Osogbo, the state capital, the OSIEC Chairman further opined that  the court injunction, which supposedly sought to halt the process would not prevent  the commission from conducting the poll as earlier announced.
Olaitan who faulted the process through which the injunction was served said, January 27 was sacrosanct.
He said, “when the date for the conduct of local government election was announced, the opposition party approached the court, seeking the conciliation of the process but instead of serving  the commission the notice of injunction in Osogbo, they brought it to liaison office, Abuja, which according to him does not fall under the jurisdiction”.
According to him, ” the local governments election was last held in 2007 and the forthcoming  election would take place on Jan. 27 , despite the court injunction.
“The method at which the injunction was served was questionable and the commission position is simple.
” The injunction served at liaison office in abuja would not bind the commission. We have not submitted our self to the jurisdiction of the federal high court”, he resorted.
While giving the breakdown of the election, Olaitan enunciated that out 389 wards in the state,  only  125 wards have more than one person contesting, while 264 wards have only one candidate contesting without opponent.
He explained that 18 political parties out of the 28 that registered would be contesting  in the  3, 018 polling units in the state.
Oladitan sought for the cooperation of the commission , security agencies and political parties to make the contest a success.
Olaitan who called on members of political parties to conduct themselves in a lawful manner in order to ensure itch free polls announced that,  there would be no vehicular movement between 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Police (CP) in Osun, Mr Folahanmi Adeoye, enjoined all political parties not to take laws into their hands , adding that election is not a do or die affair.
Adeoye noted that  security agencies would not relent in their efforts to ensure hith-free exercise.
He called on relevant stakeholders to desist from any act capable of destabilizing the election.
Present at the stakeholders meeting are the security heads in the state, political parties, OSIEC staff , among others.

The Speaker of the State of Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam has called on indigenes of communities in the state of Osun to always rally round their origin to endear development to the rural areas.
He stated this at the Masifa-Ile Day celebration held at the Community Grammar School in the town.
 

 
He disclosed that the development of ancient communities is a collective responsibility of all the indigenes of such community, saying government alone cannot take charge of developing every settlements in the state.
Salaam disclosed that celebrating a day in the name of a community offers a platform for the sons and daughters of such community to meet and discuss issues relating to the development of the community and its people.
He admonished the affluent indigenes of different communities in the state to always rally round and participate in issues capable of bringing development to their respective communities.
Similarly, the former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the State, Oluomo Sunday Akere stated the need for indigenes of every community to get involved in the process of building the rural areas, saying it is no longer tenable to rely on government for development of all the nooks and crannies of the state.
He said the Yoruba tradition harps on communal effort towards developing the various communities prior to the advent of colonialism and sought a return to the system in the face of the reality that government cannot provide all the need of its people.
Akere charged the teeming populace in the state to always cooperate with any sitting governor in order for development to take root in their various communities, stressing that development can only be achieved in peaceful atmosphere.
The highlight of the event is the various family compounds paying homage to the ruler of the town and praying for his long reign.