As reported by a German Newspaper…
Visitors from Nigeria and a team of international and informational guests joined agricultural students who want to continue their education in theory and practical at the State Institute Idener.
Foreign guests seeking information on agriculture were shown a picture of modern methods by the State Institute Idener. However, the launch of the project was a premiere support system and is also a challenge at the same time. Birgit Gamperle, head of Management at the State Institute for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture says that it has been well-known beyond the country’s borders that the facility has been housing students from Nigeria for the first time, for four weeks.
The goal is clear: “We want to get fit” says Gamperle, who prepared the one-month stay for the young guests from the South-Western State of Osun, in his own words carefully.
Internships in Companies in Saxony-Anhalt
However, this does not stop the learning time of 20 Africans, all of whom are studying Agricultural-Economics to gain insights into agriculture in Saxony-Anhalt, not only in the next four, but twelve weeks. Thereafter, Idener – an internship in companies of the state follows, in which the acquired knowledge is applied.
Co-operation with the West African state should not be limited to the current time, informed Idens Head of Department, Dr. Manfred Weber. Yesterday, the students (18 – 44 years of age) were welcomed together with Birgit Gamperle. “We have tried to create a challenging and varied program for them” said Weber as he turned to the guests who have already completed a German course in their home, but not sacrificing an interpreter. If the lessons prove to be promising, which is the wish of the Nigerian state, the cooperation should be continued. Because the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola , campaigned with Saxony -Anhalt’s Minister for this form of training and was met with open ears.
Familiarizing themselves with modern technology
“The agriculture here and that in Nigeria cannot be compared with each other” said Gamperle. For that reason, the hurdles of the future teaching are not just small. What is reasonable? What is not? Both animal and plant production are not forgotten. Agriculture is the main industry in the State of Osun, where a variety of crops are grown including potatoes, corn and cocoa. The milk production is attributed as an equally important role. On the surfaces of Idener State Institute, students would learn, among other things, how they can use the modern technology in order to give a boost to the agriculture in their country.
“We want them to have a basis for more activities to take home” said Birgit Gamperle, but hopes for one thing: an active participation of the students who may also appreciate an interesting program with various tour companies.
VOLKSSTIMME
He spoke at the weekend during the 12th Walk-to-Live programme at Ijebu-Jesha, heaquarters of Oriade Local Government.
Aregbesola said: “The activities of vandals have affected the nation’s economy and destroyed social amenities. These people are bent on destroying the nation with their illegal activities. We must act as our own protectors, so we must be vigilant and protect these amenities.”
Addressing a crowd after a six-kilometre walk from Ilo-Ijesa to the Urban Day Grammar School, Ijebu-Jesa, Aregbesola said the programme was not a political campaign, but a “constant reminder” to the people to take care of their health.
Reiterating his administration’s commitment to promoting healthy living, he said: “Our government is concerned about the health of our people and we must always educate ourselves on the essence of physical fitness. Exercise is the best way to protect ourselves against diseases. Regular exercise keeps the body fit and make us live a healthy life in a clean environment.”
Former Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Senator Olorunibe Mamora, who participated in the Walk, said the large turn out showed the people’s support for the government.
THE NATION
I congratulate Nigerians on the 53rd anniversary of our nation’s independence. But as we celebrate, we must also take time to reflect on the state of the nation. The Nigerian project is a bold experiment in nation-building. It is an experiment that has proved to be a challenging undertaking. But, for me, building Nigeria is an experiment that is well worth the attempt.
At independence, on this day in 1960, Nigeria was a country full of high hopes, and good prospects, with its diverse peoples filled with aspirations. But somewhere along the line, we got it fundamentally wrong, with the consequences that, today, 53 years on, we are still struggling to get the basics right. The country is faced with tough difficulties and mortal dangers on multiple fronts. Our efforts at nation-building are being affronted by manifold crises of under-development – bad governance; poor planning; industrial collapse; decay of basic infrastructure; socio-economic backwardness; political instability; insecurity; widespread poverty; social, ethnic and religious tension; high incidence of crime and criminality; and terrorism among many other woes.
These are undeniably serious setbacks to our development march; but they do not amount to any permanent incapacity for us not to move forward. Indeed, setbacks are necessary but temporary impediments along the path to progress. Therefore, I am at one with American entrepreneur, Les Brown, who counselled that: ‘Anytime you suffer a setback or disappointment. Put your head down and plow ahead’. Hence, I remain convinced that the Nigerian project is a viable one. And I am optimistic that we may yet get it right as a country; and convert our much vaunted great potentials into actual benefits for our people. All we need is sound leadership and good governance.
Indeed, our story on the independence path has not been doom and gloom only; it is also strewn with bright patches and shades of greatness. We have had sporting glories, a Nobel Prize in literature, representation in the top universities in the world and a Nigerian got in the Forbes 100 top list. For the most part, we groan so much at the cup being three quarter empty that we forgot it’s also one quarter full.
As someone in leadership position, I set my sight firmly on the promises the future holds and the opportunities that our great country can offer. My aspirations are for Nigeria to be able to overcome its development challenges, and to become one of the top 10 economies in the world in the shortest time possible. But we need to work towards achieving these goals. As a matter of urgency, we must shift our economic paradigm from sole dependence on oil towards productive diversification. Agriculture is a viable alternative here. We must develop our agriculture towards achieving food security. We must give primacy to food production as a strategic national imperative, for it is a sure basis for sustainable economic development.
Indeed, pursuing food security as a strategic value goes beyond merely feeding the people. Food security is a core pillar of national security. No nation can have genuine national security without food security. Therefore, if we make food security the driving force of our agricultural development, the accompanying spin-offs it will generate can only add greater value to our overall economic development efforts.
My conviction about agriculture as a viable solution to our unemployment problem lay in the fact that, an agricultural economy that is grounded in food production cannot fail. People can give up luxury items if occasion demands it. But for as long as we remain human, we will eat; food is a biological necessity! Luxury item are a matter of choice. People for instance can very easily forgo chocolate; but it would be hard to imagine them forgoing staple food like rice or potato. Food security is an essential condition for national security.
Related to this is the need to gainfully and meaningfully engage our youths by creating jobs and employment opportunities. Our present chronic youth unemployment situation is a potential source of social explosion. There is profound wisdom in productively engaging our youths. Young people are some of society’s greatest assets; but they can also be a major source of its problem. In Nigeria, youths constitute the bulk of our productive population, and that bulk is overwhelmingly unemployed! In other words, we have a potentially advantageous youth bulge in our population, which could also be turned into a bug by prolonged lack of employment.
Young people are energetic, talented, innovative, aspirational, and daring. These are good qualities for economic enterprise. We only need to be creative to harness them for the rapid socio-economic transformation of our country. Again, agriculture presents enormous possibilities in this regard. Our huge population offers immense opportunities as a market, and for massive job creation, that can absorb our teeming unemployed youths, and help in eradicating poverty.
Another area of great promise is information and communications technology. ICT also offers enormous possibilities for creating jobs and for meaningfully engaging our youths. After all, ICT is a field that is not only a product of innovation, it is driven by human creativity. Innovation and creativity are an area of strength for young people. They will have their imagination taxed and their minds energised. It can help focus the vibrant energies of our youths on positive development. In addition, it is a fertile area of almost infinite possibilities where the only limitation is the human imagination. Again, all we need do is to get our acts together; think and organise so that we can make the most of the opportunities available to us.
Essential to modern life and any economic endeavour is power, but this is an area in which the nation has been badly struggling. The circa 4,000mw the nation produces is a huge joke. This, when the economy is in full throttle, cannot even serve the Ikeja business district. Admittedly there have been great efforts at addressing the problem but they have amounted to little. This is the time to discard the old approach and tackle the problem of power squarely. We must be jolted by the realisation that without sufficient electric power, all other efforts will come to nought.
I am not trying to make light of the formidable challenges involved in making a success of the Nigerian project; my point is that the difficulties are not an excuse for failure. In fact, they are a compelling reason for us to try to overcome them. I am an unflinching believer in the assertion of George Bernard Shaw that ‘[t]he only real failure in life is the failure to try’. It is in our utmost interest not to fail to try. Success is only born of trying, and I am in no doubt at all that if we genuinely keep trying, we shall surely overcome.
October 1st of every year offers us the opportunity to review the journey of nationhood and to come to the awareness that just as we have the prospect of greatness, so also are we faced with the grim possibility of tipping over the brink; the probability of outcomes now depends on the choices that we make. It is my fervent hope and prayer, however, that we will always make the right choices and realise our greatest potential.
Once again, I congratulate us all and wish us happy independence celebrations
Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, on Saturday, said the need to complete capital projects embarked on by his administration informed his interest for a second term in office.
He contended that “ It was imperative to ensure that there was no break in the infrastructural turnaround and massive transformation of the state through roads construction and other developmental programmes”.
Aregbesola made this known at Ijebu-jesa, Oriade Local Government Area of the State, during the 12th edition of “Osun Walk-To-Live programme.
Addressing a mammoth crowd that trooped out to participate in the trekking exercise from Ilesa to Ijebu-jesa, he asserted that “We crave for the support and your outing to excel in the next year election. All those that want to cause crisis in state, God would not allow them, so that we can complete all the initiated projects”.
While praying for peace and God’s favour during the 2014 governorship poll, Aregbesola said “God should contain the activities of desperate politicians planning to disrupt the election through violence”.
Said he, “Today’s walk to live is not a political campaign. Healthy living is crucial to human existence. This is how we can raise the awareness of our people to the importance of healthy living. Major cause of diseases is lack of exercise. Let us take cleanliness very serious. Our environment and residences should be clean to sustain a healthy society”, he said.
TRIBUNE
The Governor of the State of Osun,Rauf Aregbesola, has called on the people of the state to be more vigilant and promptly report vandalisation of public utilities to security agencies whenever they suspect such dastardly act.
Aregbesola said this will help protect government property wherever they are situated..
Aregbesola made this call at Oriade local government area of the state at this month’s edition of Osun Walk To Liven where he also called on the people of the state to cultivate the habit of general cleanliness.
This month’s edition was carnival-like as usual, accompanied with drumming and singing by the participants from all works of life from within local government area.
To ensure that the exercise was peaceful as ever before, security agencies ranging from, police, civil defence, the army, road safety corpse among others were on hand to provide the needed security.
Beginning from Ilo-Ijesa, the six-kilometre road work took the mammoth crowd led by Governor Rauf Aregbesola through the area to Ijebu-Jesa and ended at Obande Grammar school, in the same town.
Addressing a mammoth crowd, Aregbesola, who noted that the event was not a political campaign, said the purpose was to constantly remind the people that they must take utmost care of their health so as to live long.
“The activities of vandals has no doubt affected the economy of the nation and well as destroyed social amenities.
“These are people who are hell bent on destroying the nation with their illegal activities.
“We must act as our own protectors. So we must be vigilant and protect these amenities.
“Besides, as usual, this government is also concerned about the health of our people and we must always educate ourselves on the essence of regular physical fitness exercise is best form of protecting oneself against diseases
“Not only that, regular exercise helps keep the body fit and make us live a healthy life in a clean environment,” Aregbesola said.
He also reiterated his government commitment to ensuring and promoting healthy living among the people of the state, saying, those who are taking part in the exercise will always have good experience to share in terms of body fitness.
A former Senator from Lagos state, Olorunibe Mamora, who took part in the exercise described the Walk to Live as one which all and sundry must engage in to help themselves live long.
While recognising the turn out of the people of the areas, Senator Olorunibe Mamora said that it is a reassurance that the people are in support of the government of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
Speaking on Thursday through his Special Adviser on Millennium Development Goals(MDGs), Honourable Abdullahi Binuyo, Governor Aregbesola who declared that the state government has completed the statistical evaluation of the beneficiary of the government gesture maintained that empowerment programme is part of his administration effort to improve the social well being of the people of the state.
To this end, according to Binuyo, the arrangement is another policy of the present administration to improve the welfare of its people under the programme to be called “O’Widow” where the women who have lost their husbands in the state would be catered for by the present administration in the State.
Binuyo who doubles as the Chairman of the public presentation of a socio- volunteer group seeking the re-election bid of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in 2014, ‘De Raufs’, further noted that the Osun state under the leadership of Aregbesola has been able to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through its people oriented policies.
While pointing out that the initiative is the first of its kind in the country, Binuyo also lauded the state government programmes on the establishment of garment factory that is geared towards producing 5,000 garments in a day with the provision of 3,000 jobs to the people of the State.
He therefore said that Governor Aregbesola has turned the state to construction site through his massive road construction across the length and breadth of the State.
According to him, there is no major road in the state that has not been touched or rehabilitated and programmes like O’meals, O’schools, O’Uniform ,O’YES, O’REAP among others have put the state ahead of others in the federation in terms of developmental projects.
ORANMIYAN
Primary Schools in the South-west geopolitical zone in the country may soon switch to the use of Yoruba language, their mother tongue, as the language of instruction.
The decision to consider the use of the language was part of the outcome of a meeting on Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) held by South-West governors in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Thursday night.
Speaking on behalf of the Governors, Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, said a region-wide education summit would soon be hosted by Osun State to look at a mechanism that would allow the region come up with a common curriculum for basic education.
The curriculum, according to Fayemi, would place emphasis on the use of Yoruba as a language of instruction in basic schools across the region. It would be recalled that the National Policy on Education (1976) had recommended that the mother tongue of pupils should be the language of instruction at the elementary education level.
Fayemi had at a forum in Akure a few weeks ago held that researches have also proven that pupils can learn faster when taught in their first language.
Speaking further on the outcome of the meeting, the governor said the region was planning “an alternative economic framework that would make knowledge economy, which the region is known for, serve as bulwark against the emerging reduction in the resource-based economy that the country currently runs.”
He added: “We are being futuristic here. What happens to us when oil no longer flows or when oil sells for one dollar? Where would the resources come from? How do we harness the energy of our people, their creativity and innovation as scholars.”
LEADERSHIP
Osun River goddess worshipers and their African hair styles at the just concluded Osun Osogbo festival.
FOR MORE PICTURES VISITS SAHARA REPORTERS
Leaders in the nation have been called upon to always fulfil their electoral promises when voted in power.
This was the kernel of the sermon of the Chief Imam of Osogbo Sheikh Mustapha Ajisafe at a special Juma’at prayer marking 22 years of the creation of the State of Osun.
Sheikh Ajisafe said the period of time a leader spends in office is immaterial rather what is relevant are his achievements in such office.
The cleric,who is also the President of the League of Imams and Alfas in South-West, Edo and Delta States, averred that Aregbesola stands out among leaders, who promise and their promises will come to pass.
He said Aregbesola had promised during his election campaign that he would turn around the fortune of the state and develop ti like never before.
This promise, Ajisafe said, is gradually coming to pass with the developmental achievement of Aregbesola’s administration.
“The cause of some of the nation’s problems is lack of trus in the leaders by their people.
“Our leaders, when they seek office, would make promises upon promises. But when they get to office they won’t fulfil the promises.
“In the case of Aregbesola, however, he is a man of his words. He promised that if elected, he would develop the state and it around for the better.
“Today, he his fulfilling the promises. People of this state can testify to the developmental programmes, policies and physical development going on across the state.
“The amount of time a leader spends in office is irrelevant. What is important is his achievement while in office and how he uses his office to affect the lives of the people positively,” Ajisafe said.
In his response, the Governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola, commended the people of the state for their unflinching support of his administration.
He tasked them to be law abiding, peace-loving and to continue to support government for the success of its people-oriented policies and programmes.
Meanwhile, traditional rulers of the Ijesha South Traditional Council also commended the Governor for what they called the sterling performance.
I am happy to gather with you today for the inauguration of the State of Osun Market Women Board. Today’s event is necessary for the purpose of organisation for which we do not yet have an alternative. No human society can function without organisation, not to mention a government that sees to the wellbeing of society. Consequently, governing boards are part of the machinery of government. It is against this background that we are this day inaugurating the Market Women Board in the State of Osun.
This Board is an important one because it deals with a crucial part of our system –the market and its critical human upholder, the women. Markets are an important component of trade and commerce, and so are market women. It would be difficult to imagine the idea and functioning of the market without considering the women, especially in our part of the world. The womenfolk are vital sustainers of the market here; any long-term inhabitant of the State of Osun can easily notice this fact. In the history of Yoruba land, women have long been associated with market and marketing activities. Indeed, trading and marketing activities have been a key factor in the phenomenon of urbanisation for which Yoruba people have been noted from ancient times; but we must always remember that our women have been, and still are, a significant –if not the most significant – part of these activities.
However, the importance of market is not restricted to the people of old. Trade and commerce, as a matter of fact, has in modern times acquired far greater significance than ancient people could ever have contemplated. Trade and commerce are now a vital part of the economy of any country. And there can be no economic growth and material prosperity without the market. To be sure, the whole concept of industrial capitalism is centred on the idea of the market. Hence, in today’s world market is of the essence! The notion of economic growth, development and material prosperity is predicated on the fact that the goods that are produced must be sold, for which market is a requirement.
This is no less true with regard to our own situation. Trade and commerce are also central to our development drive in the State of Osun. All our policies and programmes are connected in one way or another with market and marketing activities. A good instance is our Osun Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Programme (O’REAP), which right from its conception, to planning and execution is linked to the lucrative daily food market in Lagos. It is indeed for this purpose that the ultra-modern regional market at Dagbolu is being constructed. It is also the major reason behind our partnership with the Nigeria Railway Corporation to revitalise the railway transport from Osogbo to Lagos, which has since been in full operation. Our ultimate aim, as I have said elsewhere, is to ‘create a produce and commodity market for goods produced, both locally and imported, in Osun where people would buy at the price they buy in Lagos which in our belief would promote commercial activities and peoples’ income within the shortest time.
This further explains why trade and commerce are also a core component of our Six-Point Integral Action Plan. This is because we are fully aware that trade and commerce are an important way of economically empowering our people, as reflected in the emphasis we place on entrepreneurial training for women and youths. It is also the reason behind our effort at reorganising our marketing activities in the state by building befitting modern markets across our towns and cities. We want to ensure that these important commercial activities are properly structured, taken off the streets, and conducted in appropriate locations that are specially built for them.
For our effort to succeed, it is necessary to get our women involved and carry them along. The establishment and inauguration of a Market Women Board is a statement of the importance we place on our market women in the state. It is our belief that through the Board, the required smooth working relation and liaison would be facilitated between policy makers, the implementers and the beneficiaries, as well as other stakeholders. This will help maximise the benefits that the State of Osun and its good people can derive from their market and marketing activities.
I will also admonish our market leaders to take cognizance of development in the concept of ‘market’. The old definition of market as a geographical location for buying and selling has become antiquated. New thinking now suggests that a market needs not be confined to a geographical location. In an ever shrinking global village, exchange of goods and services is done continents apart with the laptops and mobile phones. People now buy goods (pay for and receive them) without leaving the comfort of their bedroom. This is an unstoppable wave that is rolling on the world for which our country and state cannot avoid. We need to get fully into it before it takes our market out of our hand.
I thank you all for encouraging presence.
Osun a dara!