AKINLEYE CONGRATULATES FATAI DIEKOLA ON BIRTHDAY, SAYS HE IS POLITICAL JUGGERNAUT AT 65

By Sunday Oguntuyi, Osogbo

A chieftain of People’s Democratic Party, PDP in Osun state, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye has joined other well wishers in congratulating one of the leader of the party in the state, Alhaji Fatai Diekola popularly known as ‘Jagunaso’ on the occasion of his 65th birthday anniversary, just as he described him as a political Juggernaut in Osun politics.

Akinleye stated this in a congratulatory message issued and personally signed copies of which made available with the newsmen in Osogbo on Sunday.

According to him, “Jagunaso” has always been a rallying point of Osun politics, of which his contributions cannot be quantified.

He said, the ‘political Juggernaut’ has been a lover of human development ever since he joined politics, adding that, the well experienced politician has been in fore-front of Osun politics decades ago.

The erstwhile chairman of Ede North local government therefore prayed God for more celebrations in good health and happiness for the celebrant.

‘”I, on behalf of my family and friends congratulate my leader and political mentor, Alhaji Fatai Diekola, ‘Jagunaso’ on the occasion of your birthday celebration, I fervently pray to God to continue showering you with long life in good health, as you are celebrating this year, you will live to celebrate many more in the land of the living. Congratulations and Happy Birthday sir”, he said.

OSUN AT 30 : AKEREDOLU, AKANDE, OYINLOLA, AKALA, ALARIFIN, GBENGA DANIEL, SUNDAY DARE, OTHERS, GRACE ANNIVERSARY AWARDS

… STATE BUILDING, COLLECTIVE ENTERPRISE – OYETOLA

Prominent Nigerians from all walks of life, on Thursday, converged on Osogbo, the Osun State capital, to felicitate with the government and people of Osun, as the State concluded its 30th anniversary celebration with awards presentation to distinguished citizens.

The event had in attendance former and sitting governors across Nigeria, including: Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ogun State Governor, Dr. Dapo Abiodun who were represented; former Governors of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; former Oyo State Governor, Otunba Alao Akala; Former Oyo State Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Alake; first class traditional rulers, including the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi who was represented; Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Alfred Achebe, among other dignitaries.

This is even as the Governor of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, charged citizens to pull their collective strength to work, irrespective of their political differences and sentiments, for a greater tomorrow, saying that state-building is a collective enterprise.

Recall that the State had earlier announced that the Banquet and Awards ceremony would be the grand of the series of activities lined up to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the creation of Osun, where 28 distinguished and prominent citizens of the State would be honoured.

Describing the event as symbolic, Oyetola, who ensured a minute silence was held in honour of the first Civilian Governor of the State, the late Isiaka Adeleke, said it was deserving to pay tributes to the illustrious men and women who have held sway as leaders of the people.

He said: “We are here today because you all provided direction and showed distinct leadership in a manner that has earned our State its deserved recognition and reputation over the years. We are grateful to you all.

“This banquet and awards is designed to recognise and celebrate our distinguished citizens and friends of the State whose phenomenal contributions in the various fields of endeavour have made Osun proud and have helped to build the Osun of our founding fathers’ dream.

“They are eminent individuals whose contributions and legacies have inspired our people, especially our youths, to believe in our dear State and continue to fly its flag high.

“Twenty-eight persons have received awards in four categories at this event as follows: 11 recipients of Lifetime Achievement Award, 10 recipients of Osun Distinguished Citizen Award, 2 recipients of Legacy Award, while 5 persons got the Osun Merit Award.

“Knowing how blessed we are with the gift of highly-illustrious and accomplished men in all facets of life, we have resolved to continue to honour the best of us. This, we believe, will motivate our teeming youths to aspire high and achieve greater heights.

“On behalf of the government and the good People of Osun, I thank our awardees for their monumental contributions to our dear State, the nation and the world, and for leading lives that inspire us and our posterity to build a greater Osun.

“State building is a collective enterprise. Therefore, we all must, more than ever, pull our collective strength to work irrespective of our political differences and sentiments, for a greater tomorrow.

“We must consider it an urgent task to galvanise our diverse strengths, goodwill and resources to chart a pathway that delivers the Osun of our dreams. That is the least we owe ourselves and the generations coming behind us. We cannot afford to fail.

“I call on all to rise and let us build a better Osun that is reflective of our true potential as the cradle of humanity.”

Governor Oyetola also urged citizens to continue to collaborate with the government to achieve sustainable development promised and already being delivered.

He continued: “Let us drink and toast to our collective success and the avowed resolve of our administration to build a solid structure for trans-generational development in Osun.

“The journey to building a stronger and more prosperous Osun continues with greater resolve and hope from here. I invite you all to come on board”, he added.

Also speaking at the event, the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, commended the government of Osun on the awards, describing it as a welcome development because of its potential to ignite high hopes and hunger for diligence and excellence in the youths.

The honourees, under the Osun Lifetime Achievement Award, included: Chief Bisi Akande (former Governor, Osun State), Pastor Enoch Adeboye (General Overseer, RCCG worldwide), Sheikh Abdur’rasheed Hadiyatulla (President, Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria), and General Ipoola Alani Akinrinnade, rtd. (former Chief of Army Staff, Nigeria from October 1979 to April 1980, and then Chief of Defence Staff until 1981 during the Nigerian Second Republic).

Others in the lifetime achievement category are: Asiwaju Hammed Omidiran, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, Prince Tunde Ponle, Professor Olu Aina, Chief Akinwande Akinola, Engr. Joanah Olu Maduka, and Chief Dr. Benjamin Adigun.

The State, under the Legacy Award category, also recognised Dr. Folorunsho Alakija (Chancellor, Osun State University and dynamic philanthropist), and the late Madam Susanne Wenger (a culture and tourism icon).

The Osun Merit Award honourees included Emeritus Prof. Ademola Oyejide, Chief Nike Okundaye, Professor Oye Gureje, Professor Isaac Adewole, and Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN.

The Osun Distinguished Citizens Award honourees included Pastor Matthew Asimolowo, Alagba Yemi Elebubon, Brigadier General Leo Segun Ajiborisha (retired), Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, Asiwaju Khamis Olatunde Badmus, Prince Lawal Obelawo, Chief Moses Inaolaji Aboaba, Mr. Adewale Adeyemo, Mr. Kola Adeniji and Mr. Mike Awoyinfa.

Chief Bisi Akande, in appreciating the honours done past leaders, commended the government of Osun for recognising the services and labours of the former governors.

He observed that the journey into the position of power was filled with the good and the bad as the past governors have experienced series of challenges while in power such as labour unrest and difficulties in payment of salaries of workers with the state’s meager resources.

He congratulated and commended past governors for meeting these challenges despite the meager resources that accrued to them from Abuja and called on the people of the state to continue to offer the necessary support to the Administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in order to take osun to an enviable height.

“I congratulate my colleagues for having served the State and I congratulate the people of the State for having reached this height. I pray Osun will continue to grow from strength to strength and I pray all the past leaders will never have reasons to regret the services they have rendered to the State”, Akande said.

One of the high points of the event was the decoration of the former Military Administrators and Governors of the State since its creation in 1991 by the incumbent, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

Governor Oyetola was in turn decorated by former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

OSUN PRESENTS 2020 AUDITED ACCOUNTS

… OYETOLA’S ADMINISTRATION COMMITTED TO ACCOUNTABILITY, OPENNESS, PROBITY – AUDITOR-GENERAL

… AS STATE IGR SKYROCKETS TO N19.6b

The Government of the State of Osun on Tuesday presented the audited financial accounts of the State for the 2020 fiscal year.

The audited financial reports were made public as part of efforts to keep the citizens abreast of the financial status of the State, showcase prudence in the management of the available resources
and, by extension, strengthen the existing public trust and confidence that have been the hallmarks of the Administration.

The audited accounts as presented revealed the astronomical improvement in the State Internally Generated Revenue from 2018 to 2020 as a total sum of N13,805,843,339.25 was generated in 2018; N17,720,122,360.44 in 2019 and N19,642,333,010.68 in 2020 respectively.

This is even as the Auditor-General of the State, Mr. Folorunso Adesina, lauded the high sense of commitment of the Governor Adegboyega Oyetola-led Administration to ensure accountability, transparency and probity in the management of the State’s resources.

Recall that the 2019 audited account was presented earlier this year due to the adverse effects of the protracted Coronavirus pandemic that has been ravaging the universe.

The summary of the Audited Financial Statements as presented puts the Total Revenue (inflows) at N99,048,740,967.00 and Total Recurrent and Capital Expenditure (outflows) at N86,470,726,806.86 respectively.

The Net Balance on Total Revenue and Total Expenditure was N12,578,014,160.14 and Opening Balance as at January 1st, 2020 was N10,356,616,311.14 while the Total Closing Balance as at December 31st, 2020 was N22,934,627,471.28 respectively.

Analysis of Recurrent Expenditure indicates that Personnel Expenditure has N28,748,672,359.37 and Recurrent Expenditure has N17,928,291,392.63.

Also, analysis of Capital Expenditure indicates that Administrative Sector has N5,392,638,753.82; Economic has N27,896,438,968.24; Law and Justice has N58,309,514.17 and Social has N6,416,375,818.63 respectively.

While reeling out the audited reports of the finances of the State for the year 2020 at the Audit Forum held at Leisure Spring Hotel, Osogbo, Adesina said Public Finance Management (PFM) reform under the leadership of Governor Oyetola, has got a boost by becoming one of the pioneer States to assist and implement Audit Act in Nigeria, a feat the Federal Government is yet to attain.

He said the presentation of the 2020 fiscal account would make Osun to consolidate on its pacesetter status among the comity of states in the country and further build public trust and confidence in governance.

Adesina who highlighted the sterling performance of the State so far, particularly within the Audit Year under review, said it was generally discovered that Government executed people-oriented programmes as prudence was put in the forefront towards good governance.

According to him, economic and social sector took about 86.22% of the Total Capital Expenditure which was responsible for government’s ability to build, rehabilitate, revitalise and deliver for public use over 300 Primary Healthcare Centres as at the time of the report.

“Audit visitation to location of the health centres and health equipment supplied, including consumables was confirmation of this government priority for the well-being of the masses.

“Also on infrastructure, the Office through the monitoring team inspected roads construction embarked upon and completed by the State such as Moro-Yakoyo-Ipetumodu-Asipa road; Ada-Igbajo road; Overlay of Oke-Gada-Army Baracks road, Ede; Ereja roundabout-Eregun-Isaare-Oke-Oye road, Ilesa; Akindeko-Awosuru-Alekuwodo road; various rural electrification projects spread across the State among others, and it was discovered that best available standards were used in the various constructions, thereby making available to the masses, good and solid infrastructure which have impacts positively on the lives of the people and have helped to transform the socioeconomic status of the State.

“Audit also visited some renovated schools and the educational materials supplied like desks, chairs, books, shelves among others were inspected across the State and it was discovered that their amenities were effective and efficient for the target masses,” Adesina explained.

Giving the financial position of the State as at December 31st, 2020, Adesina said, Total Asset was N153,895,719,326.64; Total Liabilities was N90,720,513,278.69 and Net/Equity was put at N63,175,206,047.95.

On budget performance, the Auditor-General said Goverment had performed credibly on its revenue generation efforts, most especially on IGR as reported in the comparison of revenue between previous years.

“The accounts of the State Government of Osun for the year ended 31st December, 2020 have been audited by me in accordance with the provision of Section 125 Subsection 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“I have certified the individual accounts ( statement of cash flow, statement of financial performance, statement of financial position, statement of change in assets/equity, statement of comparison between budget and actual notes to the accounts) as correct object to clarified observations.

“In fulfilling the provisions of the extant requirements, my office within the financial year under review, carried out Financial Audit in accordance with professional standards and regulations to determine whether the accounts have been satisfactorily and faithfully kept through audit trail of transactions.

“We equally carried out Appropriation Audit to ensure that funds are expended as appropriated by the State House of Assembly as well as Compliance Audit to ensure that laid-down rules, regulations and procedures are being observed in tendering, supplying, contracting and storekeeping with a view to ensure strict adherence to the provisions of the Acts of Parliament.

“As the watchdog of public finances, we monitored all government projects and all forms of disbursement to ensure that all officers carried out their duties in a transparent way and in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations.

“Projects and programmes executed were satisfactory in consideration of funds employed and financial statement 1-5 and related schedules give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the State Government of Osun at 31st December, 2020,” he added.

Earlier, Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Owoeye lauded the Administration of Governor Oyetola for running an all inclusive and participatory government.

Owoeye who was represented by the Chairman House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Gbenga Ogunkanmi reaffirmed the House’s commitment to continue to ensure check and balances in the management of the State in general and public treasury in particular.

In his remarks, the Head of Service, Dr. Olowogboyega Oyebade applauded the financial prowess of the Administration of Governor Oyetola to maintain and sustain the economy of the State despite the daunting challenges.

Oyebade who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Human Resources and Capacity Building, Mr. Leye Aina, described the public presentation of the Audited Accounts as an indication to the fact that Oyetola’s administration was open to all.

“It shows the Governor means business, it shows he knows what he is doing. It takes someone who is honest, transparent and accountable to be able to sustain this. For us to be able to maintain and sustain this also shows that the Governor is serious about the finances of the State. It shows he is a thorough leader.

“This is a way of telling the public that the government is open to criticism. It shows that the government is ready to show the book of accounts to public as probity, accountability, transparency and honesty are prioritised. This shows that government has nothing to hide and that it has no skeleton in the cupboard,” Oyebade added.

The Audit Forum had in attendance members of the Civil Society Organizations; Stakeholders, Heads of Non-Governmental Organizations; top government functionaries, professional bodies, artisans among others. Earlier, Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Owoeye lauded the Administration of Governor Oyetola for running an all inclusive and participatory government.

Owoeye who was represented by the Chairman House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Gbenga Ogunkanmi reaffirmed the House’s commitment to continue to ensure check and balances in the management of the State in general and public treasury in particular.

In his remarks, the Head of Service, Dr. Olowogboyega Oyebade applauded the financial prowess of the Administration of Governor Oyetola to maintain and sustain the economy of the State despite the daunting challenges.

Oyebade who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Human Resources and Capacity Building, Mr. Leye Aina, described the public presentation of the Audited Accounts as an indication to the fact that Oyetola’s administration was open to all.

“It shows the Governor means business, it shows he knows what he is doing. It takes someone who is honest, transparent and accountable to be able to sustain this. For us to be able to maintain and sustain this also shows that the Governor is serious about the finances of the State. It shows he is a thorough leader.

“This is a way of telling the public that the government is open to criticism. It shows that the government is ready to show the book of accounts to public as probity, accountability, transparency and honesty are prioritised. This shows that government has nothing to hide and that it has no skeleton in the cupboard,” Oyebade added.

The Audit Forum had in attendance members of the Civil Society Organizations; Stakeholders, Heads of Non-Governmental Organizations; top government functionaries, professional bodies, artisans among others.

OYETOLA CONGRATULATES LAGOS DEP. GOV., HAMZAT, AWOMOLO, SAN, ON THEIR BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARIES

Governor of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola has congratulated the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, on the occasion of his birthday anniversary.

The Governor has also felicitated the first Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Osun, Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, on the occasion of his birthday, describing him as a foremost patriotic Osun indigene, who is passionate about the growth and development of the State.

Oyetola in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, said he joined families, friends, associates and the people of Lagos and Osun respectively, to celebrate the Lagos Deputy Governor, whom he described as an astute technocrat, administrator and politician of note; and Awomolo, whom he applauded for his long years of sacrifice and service to Osun and humanity.

He lauded Hamzat’s contributions to governance and development of Lagos through the different capacities he has served the State.

Governor Oyetola also appreciated Dr Hamzat Oyetola congratulates Lagos Dep. Gov., Hamzat, Awomolo, SAN on their birthday anniversaries

Governor of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola has congratulated the deputy governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat on the occasion of his birthday anniversary.

Similarly, he has also felicitated the former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Osun, Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, on the occasion of his birthday, describing him as a foremost patriotic Osun indigene, who is passionate about the growth and development of the State.

Oyetola in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, said he joined families, friends, associates and the people of Lagos and Osun respectively, to celebrate the Lagos deputy governor, whom he described as an astute technocrat, administrator and politician of note and Awomolo, whom he applauded for his long years of sacrifice and service to Osun and humanity.

He lauded Hamzat’s contributions to governance and development of Lagos through the different capacities he has served the State.

Governor Oyetola also appreciated Dr. Hamzat for being a loyal and dependable partner of Governor Babajide SanwoOlu in the quest to develop Lagos State and deliver dividends of democracy to Lagosians.

“On behalf of my family, Government and the good people of Osun, I heartily felicitate my friend and brother, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, on the occasion of his birthday anniversary.

“It is my prayer that Allah will grant you longer life and increase you in sound health and wisdom to serve the people of Lagos, Nigeria and humanity at large. Happy birthday, brother,” the governor said.

To Awomolo, Oyetola said “I value your moral support and wise counsel as we set out to build the Osun of our dream which all of us will be proud of.

“ On behalf of my family, government and the good people of Osun, I heartily felicitate my namesake and egbon, Adegboyega Awomolo on the occasion of his birthday anniversary.

“ I pray God Almighty to grant you longer life and to continue to strengthen you for greater service to Osun and humanity.”

BISHOP OYEJOLA APPOINTS NEW DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION FOR OSOGBO DIOCESE

The Catholic Bishop of Osogbo Diocese, Most Revd. John Akin Oyejola has appointed Fr Anthony Omodunbi as the Head of Communication Directorate of the Diocese.
Fr. Omodunbi succeeds Fr. Francis Kunle Idowu as the Director.

This was contained in a statement released by the immediate past Director which was obtained by Nigerian Platform at the weekend

As the Director of Social Communications, he will be the Chairman of the Editorial Board of the Diocesan Newspaper, “The Katolink Newspaper”. He will also coordinate the Social Communications in the Diocese as the Spokesperson of the Diocese and Chaplain of the Catholic Media Practitioners.

It is also his responsibility to liaise and relate with the Secular Media on behalf of the Prelate and the Diocese.

Rev Fr Anthony Olumuyiwa Omodunbi is a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, Nigeria. He was ordained on July 25th, 2009 by Most Rev Gabriel Leke Abegunrin.

Since his ordination he worked as the Assistant Cathedral administrator (2009-2010), parish priest of St Paul Ikirun (2010-2012), St Anthony Aagba (2016-2017) and St Michael Irojo Ilesa (2020 til date).

He also served as the Diocesan youth chaplain (2010-2016), the Diocesan pastoral secretary (2012-2014) and the Diocesan Secretary during the Sede Vacante (2014-2016).

Fr Anthony had his seminary formation at the prestigious Seminary of All Saints, Uhiele- Ekpoma, Edo State, where he bagged his Barchelors degree in Philosophy and Theology from University of Benin, Benin City and Urbaniana University in Rome respectively.

He also had his Licentiate (STL) in Sacred Liturgy from St Patrick Pontifical College, Maynooth, Ireland.

Since his completion of Litugical studies in Maynooth, Fr Anthony serves as a member of the Diocesan liturgical Committee and a member of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Committee for Liturgy and Pastoral Activities.

Meanwhile, the Editor-in-Chief of Editorial Board of the Diocese, Oloye Tope Abiola has lauded the appointment of the priest, saying it is a round peg in a round hole.

He described Fr. Omodunbi as an intellectual personality who has the wherewithal to coordinate and administer the Directorate.

While appreciating the immediate past Director, Fr. Kunle Idowu for his great contributions to the upliftment of the Social Communications Apostolate, Abiola promised the unflinching support of the Editorial Board and the entire Communicators in the Diocese for the new Director.

He thanked the Diocesan Prelate for appointing such an erudite, agile, and eloquent priest for the Directorate.

He prayed for a successful tenure of the Ile-Ife born priest.

BAMIDELE, OBOKUN EAST LCDA CHAIRMAN CELEBRATES SENATOR IYIOLA OMISORE ON HIS BIRTHDAY; DESCRIBES HIM AS A POLITICAL JUGGERNAUT

By Sunday Oguntuyi, Osogbo

The Caretaker Chairman for Obokun East Local Council Development Area, Hon. Bello Saliu Bamidele has joined other well wishers in rejoicing with the former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore on the occasion of his 64th birthday anniversary, describing him as a political Juggernaut of our time.

Bamidele, in a congratulatory message issued in Osogbo on Wednesday, eulogised the doggedness of the former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the area of community development, through which according to him, Omisore has transformed Ife/Ijesa Senatorial District where he served as a two-term Senator for 8 years.

He described senator Omisore as a grassroot politician and a lover of his people whose priority remains how to make people happy .

As a lover of democracy, Bamidele attested to the steadfastness of Senator Iyiola Omisore and his investment in promoting democracy and good governance through sharing of wisdom and experience with his political associates.

He congratulated the celebrant, praying to God to grant him long life and prosperity, in good and sound health.

“On behalf of the good people of Obokun East LCDA, I joined your family, friends, political associates and well wishers to congratulate you on the special day of yours. I fervently prayed to God to shower His blessings on you as you journey to another milestone. CONGRATULATIONS AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIR.

‘WE’RE DETERMINED TO REPOSITION OSUN BASIC EDUCATION SYSTEM – SUBEB CHAIR

The Executive Chairman, Osun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hon. Israel Ajibola Famurewa, has restated the commitment of the Governor Adegboyega Oyetola-led administration to reposition the basic education system in the State.

Famurewa stated this on Monday when he led some officials of the board and the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, All Progressives Congress (APC) News Online, Dr. Tom Ohikere on an inspection tour of some school infrastructural projects undertaken by the board.

He said since inception, the present administration has always paid adequate attention to things that would give astronomical development to education sector in the State, expecially the basic education system.

Famurewa who was accompanied by the Board’s Commissioner, Hon. Moshood Adekunle Oluawo, Executive Secretary, Mr. Adeoye Bakare and other officials of the Board, added that the government had ensured a facelift of infrastructural and academic development.

According to him, several classrooms had been constructed, renovated and rehabilitated as the case may be to advance the quality of teaching and learning in all the public schools across the State.

Some of the schools visited were; Ataoja School of Science; Anthony Udofia Primary School both in Osogbo; Ijesa Muslim Grammar School, Ilesa;
St. Philip’s Primary School, Ile-Ife;
St. Stephen’s Grammar School, Modakeke; Urban Day Grammar School Ile-Ife; Oogi Community Grammar School; Adejuwon Government middle School, Owode-Ede.

Speaking with newsmen after the inspection, Dr. Tom Ohikere lauded the huge investment of Governor Oyetola on education sector in the State, describing Osun as one of the leading light in the promotion of education in the country.

He also commended the Governor for prioritising education and giving the sector the prime place as the bedrock of socioeconomic development of the State, saying that ‘Osun has become a reference point in basic education system in Nigeria.’

Ohikere said further: “We are going round the country particularly the All Progressives Congress (APC) ruling States to take stock of development particularly in the area of basic education sector. We are in Osun State today which is the first State to be visited in the Southwest. We have been to Northwest and Northeast.

“This tour is a collaboration between the Universal Basic Education Commission and the All Progressives Congress (APC) News Online to take stock of basic educational development in the APC controlled States.

“From what I have seen so far in terms of the State’s prompt intervention on education, Osun has become a reference point in basic education system in Nigeria. This is so because of the quality of job done and still doing as well as the policies environment to raise the bar of education sector in the State.

“As you can see, we have the Chairman SUBEB and his team going round with us, this didn’t happen in other States. If you look it from where we started in Osogbo, the kind of projects we saw are first of its kind in the country. We have not seen them anywhere. We only saw something related to that in Nasarawa State and it is about ICT Centre.

“What we saw here are so massive and we are impressed that the State has been driving their projects with systematical approach to basic education. We have been to Osun Central and we have just finished with Osun East Senatorial District and we are at Osun West.

“Part of what we have come here to do is to look at the learning environment, learning space, teaching and learning facilities, teachers’ welfare, teachers’ training and retraining. In the course of this tour, we have met with the pupils and the teachers and it is good to tell you that Osun teachers are very happy.

“We are equally happy that the State has been doing excellently well as reflected in its performance index. We have found out that the State is second in Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) just as its pupils took first the the general contest.

“These are the bases we are here for. Investment on education can only be measured by the outcome. The outcome so far is wonderful and I believe it will be like this in all the States.

“My advice for the citizens is to know that the development on education is a collective responsibility. We expect the community to take full and maximum advantage of the facilities provided by the government.”

CHURCH DEDICATION : OSUN NUJ LG INFORMATION CHAPEL CONGRATULATES REV. MOTHER ESTHER AJAYI

The Local Government Information Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State Council has felicitated with Reverend Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi, on the opening and dedication of ‘The Love of Christ Generation Church Cherubim and Seraphim’, held on September 5 in Lagos.

In a congratulatory message signed by the Chapel’s Chairman, Dr Adedapo Owolabi, obtained by Nigerian Platform at the weekend in Osogbo, it described the edifice, located at the Lagos Island, put in place by its Matron as a significant feat in Christiandom.

Recall that eminent Nigerians, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Supreme Head of the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church, Prophet Dr. Solomon Adegboyega Alao and others had gathered for the dedication of The Love of Christ Generation Church Cherubim and Seraphim, where the General Overseer, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye delivered a sermon.

The Chapel expressed happiness that its Matron is doing well in furtherance of her unquantifiable commitment to the Almighty God and humanity in general.

According to the message “we are overwhelmed with joy as a Union to congratulate you on the successful completion of Love of Christ Cathedral project and the eventual opening of the spiritual edifice for use on Sunday 5th September, 2021”.

“We are indeed proud of you as a person and of course this remarkable feat of yours in the Christendom”.”The building of this edifice has undoubtedly further proved your unquantified and immeasurable love for the Lord God your creator and humanity”.

“Mama, we have neither silver nor gold to offer you but we earnestly pray God to continually enlarge your coasts and give you more unction to function in His vineyard. And with long life will He satisfy you ,and show you His salvation”.

Nigerian Platform reliably gathered that the entire building, which boasts of modern designs and state-of-the-art facilities, has an auditorium with 7000 seats as well as a gallery that can contain 3000 adults.

It also has two separate lifts, central air condition and an in-built conveyor system.