About 60 new sites vulnerable to erosion among other ecological threats have been identified in Oyo state, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Isaac Ishola has disclosed.

Ishola made disclosure on Monday at the instance of the visit by the Ecological fund office, Abuja, to the state to assess ecological problem sites.

Speaking at Eleekara Academy, Ibadan, which one of the problem sites visited, Ishola said the visit was in line with the request by the state for continued federal government intervention in addressing ecological problems.

Beyond the 60 fresh sites, he noted that state government had also sought federal government’s intervention in some other problematic sites.

Speaking on observations from the assessment, leader of the Ecological fund team, Mr Lawrence Ojabo decried poor maintenance of existing structures, dumping of refuse in drainages and blockage of waterways.

He bemoaned that Nigerians continued to create problems for themselves by failing to take heed to environmental sanitation rules.

He said collaboration between federal, state and local communities was the FG’s strategy in resolving ecological problems.

“Some of these problems are our own creations. If you clog the water ways, you create problems and there would be devastation because water will find its own level. If you dump refuse on water ways, drainages, you create problems and this is a major problem in our environment. This is not helpful to the government, community and individuals.”

“Government does not have enough resources to re-do projects that were done before. Due to lack of maintenance, you see a lot of structures giving way. So the federal government is trying to ensure that federal, state and local government work together to address ecological problems.”

The ecological fund team which toured various ecological problematic sites in Ibadan, on Monday, will visit other parts of Oyo state by Thursday.

https://www.google.com.ng/amp/tribuneonlineng.com/oyo-identifies-60-new-erosion-prone-sites-seeks-fgs-intervention/%3famp_markup=1

A total of 183 poor residents of Oyo State are beneficiaries of a monthly stipend of N7,500 under the World Bank Assisted Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operation (YESSO), facilitated by the Federal Government.

The poor youths identified by community stakeholders across 12 local government areas in the state have been incorporated into a one year programme driven by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

Coordinator, State Operation Coordinating Unit (SOCU), Mrs Laide Lasisi, who disclosed this, added that the intervention programme will see the beneficiaries acquire demand-driven skills in Clothing and Textile, Agriculture, Information and Communication Technology, Building, Mechanical Craft and Electrical Installation.

Speaking at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Skills for Jobs Component for YESSO, at State Secretariat, Ibadan, on Thursday, Lasisi said unserious beneficiaries will be kicked out.

She noted that the beneficiaries were deployed to the private sector to enable them get first hand experience.

Noting that 33,134 persons had indicated interest in participating in the programme, she assured that other phases soon to commence will accommodate residents across other local government areas in the state.

South West Zonal Director, NDE, Mrs Safar Adeola who represented Director General, NDE, Dr Nasiru Ladan, remarked that the YESSO programme aimed at reducing poverty and enhancing industrialisation.

She assured that the federal government was committed to regular payment of stipends, adding that it had established advanced vocational skills centres across the country.

State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Abayomi Oke admonished the beneficiaries to optimise the skills being gathered to be self-reliant and highly sought in the labour market.

He said the state government would provide starter packs for beneficiaries to begin their businesses after internship.

He enjoined the private sector to staff interns found employable after their internship.

Also, Commissioner for Finance and Budget, Mr Bimbo Adekanmbi, represented by Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr David Olatunde, harped on the importance of empowering the youth towards ensuring a virile and strong economy.

Adekanmbi noted the lasting relevance of skills acquisition to last a lifetime.

Representatives of the Organised Private Sector, Ibadan Chamber of Commerce, Tradesmen and Artisans Associations attended the event.

The YESSO programme is designed to enable trainees make the most of actual opportunities in local labour markets, institutional capacity building and public-private partnerships.

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has said that the country’s development and progress is being impeded by unbridled culture of impunity and flagrant disobedience to the rule of law and order.

The governor said this during the inauguration of the chairmen and members of the newly-constituted Judicial Service Commission, Local Government Service Commission and State Pension Board, at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Ibadan, on Friday.

Until the citizens decide to wean themselves from these negative tendencies, the governor said that the country might continue to lag behind in all the metrics of socio-economic development.

Reminding the new appointees that they were chosen based on their track record of achievements, integrity and patriotism; the governor enjoined them to consider themselves as strategic partners in his quest to transform the state.

Ajimobi said, “Go and check countries that work well. You will see that they are countries where citizens obey the rule of law; where all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to the extant law that is fairly applied and enforced and where there are no short cuts.

“Any country where impunity reigns nothing works and that is a major factor impeding the development and progress of this country. Here we disobey the law flagrantly and when we are brought to justice we start to blackmail our leaders.

“Instead of engaging in soul searching, we blackmail and abuse our leaders as being wicked, too rigid. We cannot continue this way and expect to progress. Even God created hell and heaven for a purpose. If you keep to His commandments you go to heaven and when you go against them you go to hell.”

Ajimobi urged the new appointees to bring their wealth of experience to bear by rewriting the history of the board and commissions to which they were appointed to serve in order to justify the confidence reposed in them individually and collectively.

The governor urged the appointees to key into his vision on security, social and physical infrastructure, education, agriculture and industrialization, which he called the five carefully thought out pyramid of development that formed the policy thrust of his administration.

Ajimobi said, “You are coming on board as strategic partners to our administration in our quest to transform our dear state. We are confident that you will make a remarkable change in the history of the board and commissions where you are to serve.

“We are in competition with other states for investors and investments. That is why our pyramid of developments begins with the restoration of peace, before provision of social and physical infrastructure. Investors will only take their money to peaceful states; where the environment is also aesthetically pleasing for business.

“Our people expect that we should take Oyo State from its current level to its former position of ‘firsts’ in economy, infrastructure and social services. This informs our restoration, transformation and repositioning agenda. I, therefore, enjoin you to play your part in all these.”

Responding on behalf of others, the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Muntar Abimbola, who was inaugurated as the chairman of the JSC, said that the new appointees would not let the governor down by doing their best.

The CJ said that they were aware of the onerous task before them and would not spare any effort towards making a remarkable difference on their beats.

Abimbola said, “You have given us this opportunity among other eminently qualified citizens of this state. In the words of Archimedes of Syracuse, you have given us a place to stand and we shall move the world.

“We will use this rare opportunity to reposition our board and commissions. I want to specifically promise that together with my colleagues, we will reposition the judiciary to attain the pacesetter cognomen that Oyo State is known for.”

The LGSC is to be headed by Chief George Akintola as full-time chairman; while Apostle Samson Aderounmu will serve as full-time chairman of State Pension Board. A pro-democracy activist and Convener, Voters Assembly, Mr. Mashood Erubami, will also serve on the SPB as a full-time member.

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Oyo State Chapter, has commended Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the state for the payment of two months, April and May 2017, pensions to pensioners in the state.

The NUP in an August 8, 2017 letter to the Governor, titled: Letter of Appreciation to ‘Baba Ibeji’ (father of twins) and signed by its Chairman, Pa Gbadegesin Akande and Secretary, Comrade Olusegun Abatan explained that in view of what is happening to pensioners in other States of the Federation, the union appreciated the kind disposition of the governor.

According to the letter, the pensioners stated “on behalf of Oyo State Pensioners, we, offer our profound appreciation to you on the payment of the two months of April and May 2017 pensions to Oyo State Pensioners. In view of what is happening to pensioners in other States of the Federation, we really appreciate your kind disposition.”

The NUP commended the governor for the appropriateness of the setting up of the Community Relations Department, saying that the members of the department will no doubt be the eyes as well as the ears of the government and would give the true picture of the happenings in the polity.

“We commend you for this sagacious decision. The Committee, in her interface with our Union, called for a joint meeting of all the three forums of Chairmen and Women, who are the main representatives of Pensioners of the Union,” the union stressed.

The union said that they are not in opposition with the government whose leadership was conferred with the “Best Pensioner-friendly Governor in the history of Oyo State, describing the Nigeria Union of Pensioners as a non-political, non-religious organization that cannot be in opposition to the government.
The NUP said, “This statement is important to debunk insinuations in some quarters that the NUP does not love this government. Now that the financial situation in respect of income to government is improving, we pray that the governor will be empowered to not only pay another “Ibeji”(two months) but “Ibeta” ( three months) and clear all arrears of gratuities and pensions.

“While we appreciate you on behalf of State Pensioners, we appeal to your Excellency to extend this kind gesture to retired Primary School Teachers and Local Government retirees by also granting them two months Paris refund and fashion out template to vacate the state’s indebtedness to these teachers and Local Government Pensioners. We also await the intervention of N1b promised to kickstart the gratuities of these people which had not been paid since 2008,” the NUP added.

To prevent flooding, the Oyo State government will embark on mass‎ demolition of over 1,000 illegal structures blocking waterways and causing flood across the state.

Making this disclosure was the ‎Chief of Staff to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Dr. Gbade Ojo, who spoke yesterday at the monthly seminar of the Nigeria Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) in Ibadan, the state capital.

The NISER project report, with the theme: Socio-Economic Implications of Urban Renewal Programmes in Southwest Nigeria: The Case of Ogun, Osun and Oyo states, was presented by a Senior Research Fellow of the institute’s Social and Governance Policy Research Department, Dr. Abubakar Oladeji.

Oladeji advised that residents be enlightened on urban renewal as well as enforcement of legislation on environmental sanitation.

Ojo said the government identified over 1,000 illegal structures blocking waterways across the state.

The governor’s aide informed the gathering that the government decided to remove them in the next few weeks to avert flooding.

He said: “Government will remove the structures. Those qualified for compensation will be compensated. But I can state categorically here that a mass demolition is coming.

“In the same vein, road expansion is also coming across the state. The government will, however, continue to step up the sensitisation and mobilisation of the public on the adverse effects of flooding with a view to checkmating the ugly trend.

“The state government is much more determined than ever before to enforce the urban renewal programmes with its current recruitment of able-bodied environmental enforcement officials. We can only advise and appeal to the public to be more prudent in their refuse disposal and environmental management.”

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved 14 programmes for the commencement of academic activities of the Technical University (Tech-U), Ibadan.

This approval clears the way for the institution to proceed with the admission of students beginning from the 2017/2018 academic session.

A five-member resource-evaluation team of the NUC, led by Dr G. B. Kumo, had visited the University mid last month to assess its human and material resource readiness before take-off.

Tech-U is the first technical university in Nigeria and West and Central Africa. In a release made available to the press by the media office of the University, it was stated that the approved courses are to be run in the seven departments and two faculties the University is taking off with.

The two faculties are Faculties of Natural Sciences and Engineering and Technology. The release showed that the courses given full accreditation by the NUC include Microbiology, Industrial Chemistry, Physics with Electronics, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Cyber Security, Mathematics, and Statistics. Others include Agricultural Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Food Science and Technology, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, and Petroleum Engineering.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ayobami Salami, expressed delight with the approval, noting that the University would operate in a way that ensures that higher education live up to its highest potential to ennoble the human spirit and advance human societyAccording to him, “The Technical University is a unique institution that is committed to training its students to create tomorrow today by giving them access to a broad range of knowledge that allows them to develop the capacity to innovate. Through unwavering commitment to the time-honoured principles of impactful innovation, first-rate research collaborations, exceptional services, unalloyed integrity, and unyielding quest for excellence, we seek to develop hands and minds that will meaningfully improve the human condition in Nigeria and beyond.

“As a technical university, we have an abiding obligation to efficiently and responsibly use theoretical and practical knowledge of science, technology, and engineering in engaging societal problems, while maintaining a culture of entrepreneurship anchored on quality programmes that are responsive and financially suitable and sustainable. It is in that connection that we provide entrepreneurial and vocational trainings to all students.”

Part of the uniqueness of the University, according to the release, is that, regardless of their areas of study, all students will undergo trainings in two vocational programmes in which they will be certified before graduation.

Students will also be required to sign in for French Language and undergo immersion as a prerequisite for graduation. Additionally, they are to learn one other Nigerian language apart from their mother tongue.

The release enjoined applicants, parents and guardians to visit the University website for information on application procedure.

Oyo State Health Endowment Fund - Bank accounts for Donation released!

In a bid to ensure adequate fund for the newly launched N50b Oyo State Health Care Endowment Fund, five (5) bank accounts designated for receiving donations have been made known by Oyo State ministry of health.

In a release by the Health Commissioner, Dr Azeez Adeduntan stated that the accounts are being made known to the public to facilitate direct funding for the health care projects, aimed at transforming the healthcare sector and to establish health centres among others planned in the scheme.

Potential donors can deposit sums into any of the designated bank accounts listed as follows:

Oyo State Health Care Endowment Fund account numbers;

The donation activity is for a period of 2 years ending APRIL 2019.

First Bank

Account Number---2032335729

Access Bank--------Account Number-- -0737782040

Heritage Bank-----Account Number---5900006333

UBA-----------------Account Number----1020497940

Fidelity Bank------Account Number----5030080814

Members of the public are enjoined to support the initiative aimed at turning around the much needed transformation of health sector and towards improving health centres across Oyo State.

The health commissioner, while thanking every one who has been in support of the initiative also seeks participations from larger public and help to disseminate this widely for potential donors.

Oyo State Healthcare Endowment was flagged off by the state Governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi on 3rd August, 2017 at the International Conference Center of the University Of Ibadan under the chairmanship of Professor Emeritus Oladipo Akinkugbe.

"The endowment fund is to take health care delivery system in Oyo state to the next level with a view to making the state the hub of health care delivery system." stated Dr Adeduntan.

"I thank you all on behalf of the people and government of Oyo State.

Yours

Dr.ADEDUNTAN

Hon. Commissioner for HEALTH

OYO STATE."

Announcer: Honourable Commissioner for Health,

Oyo State.

*Please for immediate release and wider publications. Thank you.

LAUTECH GOVERNING COUNCIL PLEDGES TO RESTORE PEACE
BY QUICKSILVER

The newly constituted Governing Council of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, has reportedly pledged to restore normalcy in the institution.

The Chairman of the council, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, made the pledge at an inaugural meeting held on Saturday at the institution’s main campus in Ogbomoso, NAN reports.

The institution co-owned by Oyo and Osun States has been engulfed in crisis over issues bordering on irregular subvention and unpaid salaries.

The owner states had on July 25 inaugurated a new council for the institution led by Afolabi.



Other members are Lai Olurode, Olamide Adedokun, Abiodun Owonikoko, Isiaka Olagoke, Tise Adenipekun, and Bade Adesina.

The new council pledged its readiness to return the once best state university in the country to its glorious past.

Afolabi, at an interactive session held with workers’ unions, urged stakeholders to rededicate themselves to the upliftment of the institution.

He urged them to shun all divisive tendencies that had brought the institution to its present comatose stage.



Afolabi stated that the council had officially appointed Messrs KPMG to carry out the audit of the institution so that academic activities could commence in earnest.

Earlier, the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi, had called on the new council to do all within its power to ensure that normalcy returned to the institution.

The monarch, who received the council members in his palace, also expressed confidence in the administrative capability of the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin.

According to Oyewunmi, Gbadegesin is focused and committed to the welfare of workers and wellbeing of the university.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi has inaugurated Ibadan-born Deputy Governor‎ of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Oloye Adebayo Adelabu as chairman of the Oyo State Security Trust Fund.

Adelabu, who is one of the grandsons of late +- Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu aka Penkelemesi, was inaugurated alongside other members at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan.

AJUMOSE AGRICULTURE - DO YOU KNOW: #DoYouKnow

▪That the current global market value (gmv) of Cashew and its value chain is extremely high and outwits even crude oil; and that while Nigeria has the best cashew nuts in the World, #Oyo State has the best in the country. This is why the biggest Cashew Nut processing factory is being set up in Oyo State at the moment.

▪ That 84% [23, 901 sq.km] of the total land area of Oyo state [28,453sq.km] is arable land.

▪ That there are 9 organised farm settlements across our heavily agrarian Oyo state, with a total of 22 dams pulling a capacity of 11,413,00m3 and 126ha irrigable land.

▪That these 22 dams provide water all year round, ensuring the possibility of dry season farming.

▪That Oyo is going digital with agriculture with the "Know Your Farmer" (KYF) initiative; where location, farmer details, commodity, and the size of farm of each farmer can be accessed at a the click of a button.

▪That there's a new land policy to ease access to farmland to new and existing farmers, with a view to expand agricultural production within the state.

▪That Oyo state has leveraged extensively on having the highest number of functional Agricultural Research Institutes (5), by securing constant transfer of knowledge to further aid our agricultural drive.

▪ That rice will soon be produced in hugely commercial quantity in Oyo state off from the MoU signed with the Dangote Group.

▪That the biggest rice processing facility in Nigeria will be here in Oyo state, as this Dangote’s 16-hectare Integrated Rice Mill will require paddy from a minimum of '20000 Hectare' cultivated land.

▪That this will be a very viable project because of the rich Rice belt in the Oke-Ogun area, as the superior soil quality therein, infers that our rice is set to be of top quality in yield and taste!

▪That this Dangote Rice Outgrowership Scheme under the Oyo State Agric Initiative will empower thousands of smallholder rice farmers and consequently bring Oyo State to the frontier of rice production in Nigeria.

▪ That there is the construction of first-class, first-of-its-kind and fully-mechanized 10,000 metric ton agricultural storage silos in the senatorial districts of Oyo state for the storage of our cash crops and grains. The one situated in Awe will be commissioned soon.

▪ That we launched the Oyo State Pacesetter Farm (Integrated Farming model - Shonghai model) to complement our desire to be the foodbasket of the Southwest.

▪ That 458 members of Nigeria cassava growers association were empowered with N280,000 each.

▪ That 850 farmers were empowered with N250,000 in the feedwell vegetable planting program.

▪ That there are 18 Large Farms and Agribusiness setups across the state [12 Cassava, 4 Poultry, 1 Aquaculture and 1 Livestock]

Well, now you know!

#AsiwajuNiWa
#AjumoseAgriculture

As we are set to witness the inuguration of the Oyo State Security Trust Fund and relaunch of "operation burst" tomorrow,it quite timely to celebrate another insightful Money the incumbent government to secure us all even better.
In a drive build modern Oyo State and make it just secure,but,even smartly secure, the Ajimobi led administration commissioned the SAFE CITY PROJECT some weeks ago.
This #SafeCityProject will we see to the installation of the CCTV CAMERAS linked to control centre at Strategic locations in Oyo state, to further complement the efforts of the existent security apparatus that has kept the state relativly safe so far.
........and that's another unprecedented FIRST!
#Asiwajuniwa
#AjumoseSecurity
#MoneyOyoState

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state today launched the first-of-its-kind Healthcare Endowment Fund worth N50 Billion naira, aimed at taking healthcare delivery in the state to the next level.

The event held today at the University of Ibadan Conference Hall, and the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan, declared the drive behind the endowment fund as the need to make healthcare delivery much more affordable and accessible to Oyo State indigenes.

This laudable and reasonably ambitious Fifty (50) Billion Naira Healthcare Endowment Fund by the Ajimobi-led government proves that Oyo State possesses everything it takes to become the Medical Hub in Nigeria and in Africa.
delivery in Oyo state as it seeks to annex the involvement of the private sector and individuals in the promotion and funding of health care delivery.

Expectedly, a noble programme like this will receive support from far and wide, and impressively so, the donations are already streaming in.

Ajimobi assures of prudent management of endowment fund

…Says Health insurance is compulsory

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State disclosed that the recently introduced health insurance scheme is compulsory for all residents of the state, assuring that funds realized from the N50bn endowment will be judiciously utilized and well accounted for in line with the administration’s tradition of prudence, transparency and accountability.

The governor said that the N650 month subscription fee for the health insurance will be deducted from the salaries of workers in the state, stressing that the workers of state’s contractors will also be mandated to subscribe to the scheme.

Governor Ajimobi made these disclosures on Thursday at the official launch of the N50 billion HealthCare Endowment Fund, which attracted donations and pledges from International organisations, private sectors, government functionaries, traditional rulers and eminent personalities, for the restoration and transformation of government hospitals and health centres in the state held at the International Conference Centre, UI, Ibadan

He said “the recently introduced Health Care Insurance Scheme is a move in this direction. Our target is the active participation of all and sundry in the development, management and funding of Health Care Services. While I heartily appreciate the high level of subscription already recorded, I wish to enjoin all those who are yet to register to go forth now to enjoin the benefits.”

The governor explained that there are growing examples in Nigeria where private sector involvement in healthcare delivery is helping in no small measure to complement Government’s efforts in the provision of efficient and sustainable healthcare services, noting that as individuals and corporate bodies, everyone should give back to the system part of what the system has given to us.

Governor Ajimobi stated that private sector involvement in healthcare dates back to 1883 when compulsory sickness insurance was introduced in Germany for some categories of workers. Pointing out that this marked the establishment of the first model of mandatory healthcare insurance in the Western world.

According to him, “Our administration has also realized the fact that we cannot fund the health sector alone without the active support of, and assistance from, the private sector and corporate bodies. We must, therefore, do all within our capacity to promote and achieve healthy living in our State.

“The endowment fund will no doubt, take care of most of the issues which have arisen from the dearth of fund owing to the dwindling resources of Government. I therefore charge you all to join us in our avowed commitment to revolutionize the health sector for enhanced service delivery as our administration has identified and treated health as one of the cardinal sectors,” he added.

Governor Ajimobi, who charged everybody to take the issue of their health seriously with regular check-ups, stated that the government has constituted a Board of Trustees consisting of eminent personalities and people of high moral standing to manage the fund, saying “let me assure you all that the Fund we are endowing today will be judiciously utilized and well accounted for in line with our administration’s tradition of prudence, transparency and accountability. As such, you are all assured of prudent application of the fund.”

In his address, the Chief Launcher at the Endowment Fund, Dr Paul Abolo said that health should not a humanitarian issue nor philanthropic, stating that it should be seen as the responsibilities of all to provide quality health care delivery.

The State Commissioner for Health, promised that the fund realized from the endowment fund will be used for equip the state hospitals, assuring that the Primary Health Centre in the state will be upgraded to international standard in the next 6months.

In his own speech, the Consultant on the endowment fund and Managing Director of HealthCare Communications noted that the concept of an endowment fund is international, stating that 30/40% of investment in Health comes from high networth individuals.

Oyo launches rebranded Joint Patro Friday, inaugurates Security Trust Board





The Oyo State Government has disclosed that its re-branded joint patrol team, Operation Burst, will be re-launched on Friday to stem the menace of criminal activities in some areas of the state, noting that 20 vans will be distributed to the security outfit to aid their effectiveness and efficiency.



The Government also said that the reconstituted board of trustees of its security trust fund, Oyo State Security Trust Fund (OYSSTF), will be inaugurated on Friday.



The government also disclosed that its re-branded joint patrol team, Operation Burst, will be re-launched to stem the menace of criminal activities in some areas of the state, noting that 20 vans will be distributed to the security outfit to aid their effectiveness and efficiency.



The Executive Secretary of the OYSSTF, Mr. Femi Oyedipe said on Monday that the board to be inaugurated by Governor Abiola Ajimobi at the Executive Chambers is headed by the Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu.



Oyedipe said other members of the board are Dr Adesola Adeduntan, Engr. Femi Odumabo, Dr Falil Abina, Chief Kola Daisi, Mr Vickram Gursahaney and Dr Azeez Adeduntan, the state Commissioner for Health.



He said that the Operation Burst, which comprises of all the security outfits in the State, is expected to complement the efforts of the police in curbing crimes, adding that the officers of the joint patrol team have been mandated to operate in line with the best practices and in accordance with tenets of their security outfits.



The OYSSTF scribe sated that there will be restriction of vehicular movements at the venue of the re-launch of operation, Idi Arere area of the state, explaining that Mapo to Idi Arere and Bode to Idi Arere will be blocked while those coming from Popoyemoja and Kudeti should find alternative routes between the hours of 8am and 1pm.



He said “We want to passionately appeal to the people State to bear with us as there will be no road at the venue of the re-launch at Idi Arere. The governor has directed that the programme should be held at the crisis prone area, hence our decision to pick Idi Arere. Roads around the area will be blocked and we enjoin our people to make use of the alternative routes.



“The rebranded operation burst will complement the efforts of other security outfits in the state to curb crime. Our foundation for development is peace and security and we are not ready to negate our responsibilities to protect lives and properties,” Oyedipe stressed.



--

'Toye Arulogun
Hon Commissioner,
Min.of Info., Culture & Tourism,
Oyo State Government

Eminent Nigerians have continued to pay condolence visit the Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State over the death of his mother, Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi this afternoon‎ visited the governor at the Government House, Osogbo.

He met the leaders of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Ajimobi calls for Diaspora, Africa cooperationCULTURE & TOURISM BY QUICKSILVER
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has called on Africans in Diaspora, especially in the Caribbeans, to connect with Africa for cooperation and development in various spheres of human endeavour in a win – win relationship highlighting Trade, Culture, Spiritual pilgrimage and Tourism as the key areas of collaboration.

Governor Ajimobi said this in his address titled Africa and Its Diaspora: Beyond Cultural Cooperation and Intellectual Dialogues delivered at the Emancipation Festival Forum on Africa and Its Diaspora which was held at Maraval, Trinidad & Tobago on Monday, noting that his administration is willing to offer the necessary incentives that will make every piece of investment in the state worthwhile and profitable.

He stated that the state had established a $2 billion, 4,000-hectares Free Trade Zone (Oyo FTZ) to kick start industrial revolution with positive response from over 157 international companies and some of them have started the construction of multi million dollar industries, explaining that to complement this effort, the state is building an industrial park with a capacity to hold a thousand industries.

The governor, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, observed that what African governments needed to do is to invite the participation of Africans in Diaspora in the process of developing the continent, explaining that the present administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari has shown great will in tackling corruption and improving the infrastructural base of the country.


Jamaican Ace cricketer with many world records, Mr. Brian Lara, Former Head of Ecowas, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Trinidad and Tobago Minister for Trade and Industry, Senator the Hon. Paula Gopee-Scoon, Chair, Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago, Baba Khafra Kambon and the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun at the Emancipation Festival Forum on Africa and Its Diaspora which was held at Maraval, Trinidad & Tobago on Monday. PIC: Mininfo
He pointed out that efforts have also been put into place to deepen democracy through institutional empowerments, stating that significant gains have been made in the fight against corruption and infrastructural modernization.

According to Ajimobi, “We recognize that it may take time and enormous financial capital to develop Africa to the level the West has attained, and that is why we are calling on you to lend a hand. We encourage you to visit Nigeria, and particularly Oyo State. We need you to see what we are doing and the potentials we have, and then think through how your resources, your expertise, and your knowledge can benefit us.

“We need investment in heavy and light manufacturing to create jobs for our mass of unemployed youths. We request your partnership in developing our agricultural and agro allied sectors and our vast cultural industry. As a government, we are willing to offer the necessary incentives that will make every piece of investment worthwhile and profitable.

“Africa clamours for more of the religious visits to our cultural sites due to their capacity to boost the promising tourist trade. We encourage continuous intellectual dialogues between Africa and its Diaspora to strengthen existing ties. But beyond all these, we seek the resolute involvement of the Diaspora in efforts to banish hunger, sickness, and homelessness from our own world through direct investments,” Governor Ajimobi stressed.

The governor expatiated that the present administration in Oyo State is creating an industrial and technology hub that will serve the entire West Africa sub-region in no distant future, saying that the government’s different initiatives are part of a strategic development plan meant to create new jobs and improve the infrastructural base of the state.

He noted that there are structures in Oyo state that are currently associated with the Diaspora, highlighting the Yoruba Language Centre at the University of Ibadan, the Ifa Heritage School, Oyo, the Ofungunda Ifa Learning Centre at Oyo, and the newly established Ifa Heritage University also at Oyo as examples of institutions that people of African descent visit on regular basis to build their capacities in Yoruba language and cultural heritage.



Governor Ajimobi said, “Over the years we have also been developing measures to improve on the existing cultural relationship that our state had established with Diaspora communities, especially those in South America and the Caribbeans. For instance, we are currently working with the Brazilian Embassy in Nigeria to develop Oyo State into a tourism hub for Brazilians and other Diasporians, as we are not oblivious of the spiritual ties that practitioners of Candomble or the Orisha Religion maintain with ancestral homes like Oyo and Ile-Ife among other Yoruba towns.

“We are also preoccupied with developing Sango and Oranyan festivals in Oyo into international events, even as we seek private sector involvement in building hotels and other infrastructure that will support leisure and enhance the tourism potentials of other sites of cultural and spiritual importance,” he added.

It is no longer news that many firsts have been recorded by the Oyo State Governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi. The governor was the first to win a second ticket, first civilian governor to construct a flyover, first governor to pay 13th month salary for workers three times consecutively, the first governor to introduce free transportation for workers and students, amongst others.

Another first recently recorded by the governor is the introduction of Health Insurance, the first of its kind by any state government in the country. The governor launched the Oyo State Health Insurance on May 25th, 2017.

The Oyo State Health Insurance scheme (OYSHIS) is another milestone in the history of health sector in the State. The Scheme, which is an affordable and accessible health benefit plan for all citizens of the State, was signed into law by Governor Ajimobi on 1st December, 2016. This scheme is expected to define and enforce the minimum standard of health care that should be available to every citizen of the State without the need for payment at the point of accessing care when in health strikes.

Also, it is to assure quality of health care, regulation of standards, choice and the enthronement of the care seeker as king in the health care delivery system. The Agency also regulates care providers (in-conjunction with other regulations) that are accredited to provide service under the Scheme.

Health Insurance is a system of advance financing of health expenditure through contributions, premiums or taxes paid into a common pool to pay for all or part of health services specified by a policy or plan.
It is of interest to note that the OYSHIS cost of enrolment is a paltry sum of N200 for registration and the monthly premium is N650 for the standard plan while pregnant women and children under the age of 5 would access it free of charge with government bearing the payable premium.

The affordability, accessibility and quality health care the scheme will offer make it imperative for all and sundry to key into it. Policies/programmes of government need the support of all to succeed. In essence, the success of the health insurance in Oyo State is for all the citizens to participate and be part of it.

Also, while commending the governor for this initiative that is expected to benefit all cadres of people in the society, I join hands with him to appeal to the handlers of this scheme to put in their best to ensure its success and become a model for other state governments.
Cosmas ‘Lekan Oni
Secretariat, Ibadan.

The Oyo State Government has said that the reconstituted board of trustees of its security trust fund, Oyo State Security Trust Fund (OYSSTF), will be inaugurated on Friday.

The Government also disclosed that its re-branded joint patrol team, Operation Burst, will be re-launched to stem the menace of criminal activities in some areas of the state, noting that 20 vans will be distributed to the security outfit to aid their effectiveness and efficiency.

The Executive Secretary of the OYSSTF, Mr. Femi Oyedipe said on Monday that the board to be inaugurated by Governor Abiola Ajimobi at the Executive Chambers is headed by the Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu.

Oyedipe said other members of the board are Dr Adesola Adeduntan, Engr. Femi Odumabo, Dr Falil Abina, Chief Kola Daisi, Mr Vickram Gursahaney and Dr Azeez Adeduntan, the state Commissioner for Health.

He said that the Operation Burst, which comprises of all the security outfits in the State, is expected to complement the efforts of the police in curbing crimes, adding that the officers of the joint patrol team have been mandated to operate in line with the best practices and in accordance with tenets of their security outfits.

The OYSSTF scribe sated that there will be restriction of vehicular movements at the venue of the re-launch of operation, Idi Arere area of the state, explaining that Mapo to Idi Arere and Bode to Idi Arere will be blocked while those coming from Popoyemoja and Kudeti should find alternative routes between the hours of 8am and 1pm.

He said “We want to passionately appeal to the people State to bear with us as there will be no road at the venue of the re-launch at Idi Arere. The governor has directed that the programme should be held at the crisis prone area, hence our decision to pick Idi Arere. Roads around the area will be blocked and we enjoin our people to make use of the alternative routes.

“The rebranded operation burst will complement the efforts of other security outfits in the state to curb crime. Our foundation for development is peace and security and we are not ready to negate our responsibilities to protect lives and properties,” Oyedipe stressed.

Oyo targets more than 50 percent exclusive Breastfeeding rate for children 0-6 months


The Oyo state government has expressed its commitment to achieve more than 50% exclusive Breastfeeding by nursing mothers by the end of year 2017, saying that series of sensitization activities will be done to commemorate the 2017 World Breastfeeding week in the state.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Azeez Adeduntan said the 50%, which is in line with the provision of the National Strategic plan on Nutrition, will be achieved base on the concerted efforts by the Oyo State Government to sensitise Nursing mothers on the importance of Breastfeeding.

According to him “a sensitization programme to enlighten Nursing Mothers on the benefits of Breastfeeding will hold at the Oni and Sons hospital on Wednesday 2nd of August, 2017, Adeoyo hospital Yemetu on Friday 4th of August 2017 while the sensitization train will move to Atiba and Oyo West on Monday 7th of August, 2017.

Dr Azeez Adeduntan stated these at the weekend in Ibadan while speaking on the forthcoming 2017 World Breastfeeding week, a global celebration to promote children from ages 0-6 months to be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, regretting that number of pregnant women lost their babies ignorantly through the use of unapproved herbal concoction. Predominantly giving their children Water

He explained that the exclusive Breastfeeding in the first six months of life and the introduction of complementary diet till the first two years of life, play a vital role in the development of a child adding “Breast milk is a complete diet given to women by God and any baby that feeds on it will not likely get sick.

The Commissioner noted that less than 30 percent of the Mothers in the State engaged in the exclusive Breastfeeding while over 70 per cent do not practice exclusive Breast feeding for their new born babies in the first six months of life.

He however advised Mothers in the state to embrace the practice of exclusive breastfeeding, saying that this will serve as a defense for babies against any diseases and such child will be mentally sound and grow well.

--

'Toye Arulogun
Hon Commissioner,
Min.of Info., Culture & Tourism,
Oyo State Government

Ajimobi Calls For Diaspora, Africa Cooperation

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has called on Africans in Diaspora especially in the Caribbeans to connect with Africa for cooperation and development in various spheres of human endeavour in a win — win relationship highlighting Trade, Culture, Spiritual pilgrimage and Tourism as the key areas of collaboration.
Governor Ajimobi said this in his address titled Africa and Its Diaspora: Beyond Cultural Cooperation and Intellectual Dialogues delivered at the Emancipation Festival Forum on Africa and Its Diaspora which was held at Maraval, Trinidad & Tobago on Monday, noting that his administration is willing to offer the necessary incentives that will make every piece of investment in the state worthwhile and profitable.
He stated that the state had established a $2 billion, 4,000-hectares Free Trade Zone (Oyo FTZ) to kick start industrial revolution with positive response from over 157 international companies and some of them have started the construction of multi million dollar industries, explaining that to complement this effort, the state is building an industrial park with a capacity to hold a thousand industries.

The governor, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, observed that what African governments needed to do is to invite the participation of Africans in Diaspora in the process of developing the continent, explaining that the present administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari has shown great will in tackling corruption and improving the infrastructural base of the country.
He pointed out that efforts have also been put into place to deepen democracy through institutional empowerments, stating that significant gains have been made in the fight against corruption and infrastructural modernization.
According to Ajimobi, “We recognize that it may take time and enormous financial capital to develop Africa to the level the West has attained, and that is why we are calling on you to lend a hand. We encourage you to visit Nigeria, and particularly Oyo State. We need you to see what we are doing and the potentials we have, and then think through how your resources, your expertise, and your knowledge can benefit us.

“We need investment in heavy and light manufacturing to create jobs for our mass of unemployed youths. We request your partnership in developing our agricultural and agro allied sectors and our vast cultural industry. As a government, we are willing to offer the necessary incentives that will make every piece of investment worthwhile and profitable.
“Africa clamours for more of the religious visits to our cultural sites due to their capacity to boost the promising tourist trade. We encourage continuous intellectual dialogues between Africa and its Diaspora to strengthen existing ties. But beyond all these, we seek the resolute involvement of the Diaspora in efforts to banish hunger, sickness, and homelessness from our own world through direct investments,” Governor Ajimobi stressed.
The governor expatiated that the present administration in Oyo State is creating an industrial and technology hub that will serve the entire West Africa sub-region in no distant future, saying that the government’s different initiatives are part of a strategic development plan meant to create new jobs and improve the infrastructural base of the state.
He noted that there are structures in Oyo state that are currently associated with the Diaspora, highlighting the Yoruba Language Centre at the University of Ibadan, the Ifa Heritage School, Oyo, the Ofungunda Ifa Learning Centre at Oyo, and the newly established Ifa Heritage University also at Oyo as examples of institutions that people of African descent visit on regular basis to build their capacities in Yoruba language and cultural heritage.
Governor Ajimobi said, “Over the years we have also been developing measures to improve on the existing cultural relationship that our state had established with Diaspora communities, especially those in South America and the Caribbeans. For instance, we are currently working with the Brazilian Embassy in Nigeria to develop Oyo State into a tourism hub for Brazilians and other Diasporians, as we are not oblivious of the spiritual ties that practitioners of Candomble or the Orisha Religion maintain with ancestral homes like Oyo and Ile-Ife among other Yoruba towns.
“We are also preoccupied with developing Sango and Oranyan festivals in Oyo into international events, even as we seek private sector involvement in building hotels and other infrastructure that will support leisure and enhance the tourism potentials of other sites of cultural and spiritual importance,” he added

Oyo State Government has said that the reconstituted board of trustees of its security trust fund, Oyo State Security Trust Fund (OYSSTF), will be inaugurated on Friday.

The government also disclosed that its re-branded joint patrol team, Operation Burst, will be re-launched to stem the menace of criminal activities in some areas of the state, noting that 20 vans will be distributed to the security outfit to aid their effectiveness and efficiency.

The Executive Secretary of the OYSSTF, Mr. Femi Oyedipe in a statememt made available to Insideoyo.com on Monday said that the board is to be inaugurated by Governor Abiola Ajimobi at the Executive Chambers is headed by the Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu.

Oyedipe said other members of the board are Dr Adesola Adeduntan, Engr. Femi Odumabo, Dr Falil Abina, Chief Kola Daisi, Mr Vickram Gursahaney and Dr Azeez Adeduntan, the state Commissioner for Health.

He said that the Operation Burst, which comprises of all the security outfits in the State, is expected to complement the efforts of the police in curbing crimes, adding that the officers of the joint patrol team have been mandated to operate in line with the best practices and in accordance with tenets of their security outfits.

The OYSSTF scribe sated that there will be restriction of vehicular movements at the venue of the re-launch of operation, Idi Arere area of the state, explaining that Mapo to Idi Arere and Bode to Idi Arere will be blocked while those coming from Popoyemoja and Kudeti should find alternative routes between the hours of 8am and 1pm.

He said “We want to passionately appeal to the people State to bear with us as there will be no road at the venue of the re-launch at Idi Arere.

The governor has directed that the programme should be held at the crisis prone area, hence our decision to pick Idi Arere. Roads around the area will be blocked and we enjoin our people to make use of the alternative routes.

“The rebranded operation burst will complement the efforts of other security outfits in the state to curb crime. Our foundation for development is peace and security and we are not ready to negate our responsibilities to protect lives and properties.