Osun Defender PDF Version For August 18, 2017

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Commendations Trail UNIOSUN Medical Students’ Return From Ukraine P

C Osun PDP

Factions Set For Showdown P

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Realities And Truth Untold -

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•State of Osun Government-sponsored Medical Students to Karazin National University, Ukraine on their return home after the completion of their medical training, as captured at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

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Realities And Truth Untold Condemnations have continued to trail the refusal ignored the lives of independent of the State wondered why the of Osun’s control. management and the of the management and labour unions of the Ladoke students.

Some of the students unions would be Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), It has been in Ogbomosho to allow the forensic auditing of the contention that the and staffers of the preventing the audit of university’s account, as some stakeholders have university should be able institution, who spoke the university’s account, attributed the main reason behind the continuous to finance itself without with this medium under saying that the action was condition of suspicious. strike in the university to the failure to allow proper subventions from the the “It is now clear that the auditing. owner states, considering anonymity wondered The auditing has been identified as the lasting the number of students why such exercise would management and we the members, solution that can be administered to the incessant and the fees being be frustrated by the staff particularly the union and the current seeming-not-to-end industrial action charged. Comparisons labour unions.

A lecturer in the leaders are the ones have been made with by the workers of the labour unions had institution. skeleton in their UNIOSUN, another state Faculty of Engineering preventing the end to the Technology prolonged strike in The labour unions of cupboard and they have University completely and the institution were reported to have frustrated the Accounting Firm, KPMG which was engaged by the two owner states, Osun and Oyo to audit the finances of the university, as part of the recommendations by the Chief Wole Olanipekun visitation panel. Series of drama and threat have thereafter trailed and frustrated this effort to get the institution back on its feet.

The Olanipekun-led panel had found out that the LAUTECH accounts were audited last in 2012, •Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); his deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (4th left); Viceand a sum of N400 Chancellor, Osun State University, Prof. Labo Popoola (flanking the governor right); Commissioner for Informamillion was in question tion and Strategy, Lani Baderinwa (2nd left); his Finance counterpart, Mr. Bola Oyebanji and parents of the sponthen, just as it revealed sored medical Students to Karazin National University, Ukraine by the State Government, on the students’ return, at that the university runs the Government House, Osogbo.

97 different accounts, in spite of the Treasury Single Account policy that has since been in vogue as recommended revenue accruable to the workers did not want to

By Ismaeel Uthman and adopted by the state from the Federal join the Contributory The Governor of the State of Osun, Rauf government.

Pension Scheme, a lot of Federal government since Aregbesola has called on the Federal government 2015. “It started with a drop them exited the service at to assist state governments across the country in It was also revealed of about N600 million the same time, thereby state that the TETFUND and raising bonds to pay the gratuities of state and it later jumped making Needs Assessment Funds pensioners who voluntarily retired in 2012 from the toN1bn. If we could not governments to have service to avoid the Contributory Pension Scheme. gratuity running into billions of meet up with their huge Saying that the state courtesy visit at the state gratuity in 2012, how responsibilities upon naira have been given to LAUTECH without government is not secretariat on Monday. could we do it in 2013 or them. “I believe the Federal commensurate research insensitive to the plight Aregbesola noted that 2014 when it was getting of pensioners in the state, the state has been tougher? Or is it going to government can assist output to show for it. he explained that the the state governments in Besides the alleged struggling and managing be now when there is still is to pay salaries and a lot of instability in the raising bonds which will prevention of the government be paid back with ease. auditing firm to carry out incapacitated to pay the pensions because of the crude oil market? the audit, the joint labour pensioners gratuity continuous decline of the Aregbesola said the With the bonds, the state which is about N5bn. unions of the institution nation’s economy as a call for the FG’s governments can pay the Aregbesola spoke result of the instability in intervention in the gratuities of these had filed a suit before an Oyo State High Court to while playing host to the the crude oil market. payment of gratuity for pensioners, thereby stop the exercise, a Executive Secretary of “As at the time they the state pensioners injecting money into the the Pension Transitional situation that had were leaving, the state through provision of economy and boost the continued to raise A r r a n g e m e n t was already struggling to bonds is imperative economy in return. “I believe we must do suspicion that the Directorate, Mrs Sharon pay salaries as a result of because state management and the Ikiazor who paid him a the sharp drop in the governments in the all we can to ease the sufferings of the people country are under serious and this is a good avenue financial burdens.

According to to inject money into the Aregbesola, the bonds system. I urge the Federal was going and I told him which will be paid back government to assist in

By Yusuff Oketola I was waiting for a bus to by the state government easing the burden of the A 42 years-old suspect, Babatunde Isaac has told a Osogbo. with ease will go a long states concerning this “After he left, the police way in relieving the issue because I believe Magistrate Court in Osogbo that police framed him arrived and they accused states of financial burden, they have the capacity to for robbery.

However, the suspect me of robbery and before The suspect disclosed denied the ownership of I could respond, I was hit ensure prompt payment do it�.

Speaking earlier, the this under cross that bag, telling the court with the butt of a gun and to pensioners and as well examination by the Police that he was arrested with I woke up in the police boost the nation’s Executive Secretary of Prosecutor, ASP Wilson a nylon bag which cell. economy, as money will the Pension Transitional A r r a n g e m e n t Mireti at the resumed contained his clothes and The suspect who be in circulation. hearing of his trial before a loaf of bread, alleging claimed to be a tailor told The Governor Directorate, Mrs Sharon the court. that the bag has already the court that he was disclosed that a lot of Ikiazor stated that the Isaac has been arraigned been swapped by the forced to append his states across the directorate is in the state for the continuous before the court on two police. signature on the statement federation who have count charges of robbery In his words, “I was before the court without joined the Contributory pension verification and illegal possession of returning from Ilorin, reading its content to his Pension Scheme are exercise of federal dangerous weapons.

Kwara state, where I went hearing by the police. finding it difficult to pensioners.

The prosecutor has to check my children who “We are here to carry He also denied offset the accumulated previously called four are staying with my knowing any of the huge gratuity of out the usual verification witnesses, who testified mother because their prosecution witnesses pensioners as a result of exercise of federal that the suspect intended mother was late. The car before the court. the mass exodus from the pensioners and we are to commit robbery and that gave me a lift drop with the The matter was service because they did satisfied that he was the owner of a me on the express road adjourned till 28th of not want to join the new hospitality we have bag (an exhibit) before the before I was accused by a August for further received�, she said. pension regime. court. man who inquire where I hearing.

He said, “Many of the

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Calls For FG’s Intervention

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LAUTECH. Why are we then blaming the government for what we are guilty of? “The issue of the nationwide strike by ASUU is another discussion, but as for the LAUTECH, if indeed we are sincere about what we are saying, why are we preventing what the government is claiming will bring an end to the prolong strike?

Also, a student in the department of Architecture, who also spoke anonymously, appealed to the labour unions and management of the institution to take the interest of the student as a priority. “We can blame the government, fine, but the blame now is of the unions and the management who have been resisting the audit of the account. What are they hiding? “The governments of the two states have proffered solution to this crisis. Let us give them that opportunity. It is after they have carried out the audit and nothing is forthcoming that we can be blaming the government’, he stressed.

However, the governments of the two states have continuously called on parents, students and other stakeholders to prevail and plead with the unions to stop frustrating sincere steps of owner governments to get LAUTECH back on track, saying they are not happy and comfortable with the prolonged strike that has kept the Nigeria’s future leaders at home.

That I formerly known as OMIWALE WALE, now wish to be known and addressed as O M I W A L E OLAWALE GANIYU. All former documents remains valid. ACCESS Bank and general public should take note of this.

That I formerly known as ADELEKE SAKIRAT, now wish to be known and addressed as KOLAPO DUPE SAKIRAT. All former documents remains valid. FIRST Bank and general public should take note of this.

That the name on BVN, GBENJO ADENIKE ABIODUN is the same person as ADEWALE ADEYINKA VICTORIA. I now wish to be known and addressed as ADEWALE ADEYINKA VICTORIA. All former documents remains valid. GT Bank and general public should take note of this.

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Osun PDP Factions Set For Showdown the national completely and the result gubernatorial election.

Alhaji Suhaib Oyedokun that

By Kehinde Ayantunji may not be in the interest “What is glaring is that among others belonged.” convention of the party The two factions of the People’s Democratic Party of the party.”

“My fear is also that dissolved the executives it is the gubernatorial (PDP) in the State of Osun are now set for “I will rather advise ambition that is causing if Adagunodo camp council after months of showdown in the battle for the soul of the party in the party that to finally leadership crisis and if defeats Omisore camp, it leadership tussle that has the coming congress as directed by the National get rid of the crisis, the Omisore camp win the will not be a tea party partitioned the party Convention of the party. best option is to congress which I doubt, game considering the secretariats in the state.

Adagunodo are The third proposal harmonise the state it will not give room for weight of Omisore in the PDP at its National Convention presided according to the party executives; with the concession for the party; the best thing is currently operating in over by its National leader is to appoint PDP expected arrangement Adagunodo camp where consensus but it appeares Biket area while Faforijin of Trustee from the caretaker, we big wigs like Adejare belated because the two are operating from the Caretaker Chairman, Board Senator Hammed members to be chair by a are going to manage the Bello, Francis Fadahunsi, camps have made up former party secretariat Makarfi last week serving Governor from crisis till next year that Kayode Oduoye, Erelu their minds”. in Onward, Gbondan dissolved the Osun, the party or serving we are going to have Olusola Obada and It would be recalled road.

Lagos, Ogun and senator from the party Adamawa States without any members Working Committees of from the state.

But in anticipation of the party as a result of the crisis that emanated from the caretaker members to their various congresses. be appointed possibly Contrary to the this weekend, the two have expectation of the factions national leadership of the commenced moblisation for the congress after party that elective consensus congress may rejecting permanently resolve the arrangement from the leadership tussle in the ward to the state level.

It was gathered that state, the reality on ground suggests battle the two factions have till finish and winner agreed on elective convention (option A4) takes all.

The contending and ready to sign a pact leaders, Hon Soji of no concession after the Adagunodo and Dr Bayo congress.

The two factions are Faforijin led-factions have relocated to Abuja seriously deploying arsenals to win the next •State of Osun Deputy Governor, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori (3rd right); Chief Yemi Elebuibon (3rd left); Dr Yemi mounting pressure on the national leadership of the congress by all means, a Akintunde (Yemkem) (left); Aare Latosa of Ibadan land, Chief Adegboyega Mabinuori (2nd left); wives of Chief party at the Wadata Plaza development that some Elebuibon, Ekundayo (2nd right) and Oyelola (right), during the Book Launching to mark the 70th birthday of for the appointment of chieftains of the party Elebuibon at Heritage Hotel, Osogbo, recently. favourable caretaker described as capable of spelling doom for the committee members.

An highly placed party in the state if not source at the South West properly managed.

A former Local countenance of the The source stated that Secretariat of the party

By Sola Jacobs monarch, it might be nobody had ever heard confirmed to our reporter Government Chairman There have been twist and turns on the alleged of the party, Alhaji Rasak difficult to resolve the or settled rancor with that the caretaker members directed by the Ibraheem told Osun divorce saga between the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan purported differences Kabiyesi and his queens, the Ogunwusi and his wife, Olori Wuraola Zainab, as between them. convention would be Defender that as he is peaceful and appointed from outside incoming congress may the monarch has debunked the claims that their 17 But contrary to the loving. to ensure transparency generate more crisis than month-old marriage has crashed. reports, an Ife High Chief The high chief queried before with the “winner and fair play.

It went viral on husband, some hinted who spoke with OSUN that matters of marriage all” ambition of According to the takes the marriage DEFENDER in the and relationship are Soji Adagunodo and Tuesday, how the that source who was a former Hon Bayo Faforijin led marriage purportedly originally started on a palace, debunked the private affairs and even if member of the state Dr shaky note, as they claims that the marriage there crashed.

While some are minor executive committee, the factions. hardly knew each other had hit the rock.

He said “The two disagreements between party national leadership factions are preparing for reports attributed the in detail before getting The chief who spoke couples, it is not a matter has ruled out the the convention as if they crash in the marriage to anonymously claimed to be settled on social possibility of appointing are embarking on the allegation of infidelity married.

Some reports even that it is sacrilegious to media or pages of the state leadership revolution where one leveled against the wife within, having class must crush the other of the monarch by his concluded that by the make a matter of privacy newspaper. involving the monarch a He said, “The stool of established that majority public issue, said that it Oba, as a custodian of of the leaders have was all a tissue of lies.

Yoruba culture is pitched tents with the He revealed that Olori polygamous in nature two camps.

The source said “there Wuraola is not the only and as custodian of the are three proposals queen of the revered Yoruba values and before Makarfi, that the monarch, as she had culture, a revered Adegbenbo Seyi advised two factions should seniors, who are in the monarch, cannot be

By Israel Afolabi the cocoa farmers to nominate members for make use of the chemical palace but live quiet lives forced to be monogamist. the caretaker committee State of Osun Cocoa Board has flagged-off the and return the money to and they are doing well in “All the queens of Ooni and appointed a distribution of subsidised agro-chemicals to cocoa their fields of are at home and Kabiyesi chairman outside the farmers in the state, with a view to increasing their the board at appropriate endeavours. did not divorce or put time for others to benefit state who may be crops.

According to him, the away any of them. as well. perceived not to be The source therefore He added that it is a most senior is a business Flagging-off the beneficiaries to make use disposed to any of the distribution of the of agro-chemicals to good step from the tycoon while another advised the public to factions”.

Olori Omolara is into disregard the rumour, as their government to help “Another proposal chemical at the Cocoa increase farmers in the state for property and estate such issue did not arise as before the party Board room, State production. management as well. speculated. leadership is the Secretariat, Abere on He said, “We received better yield.

Chairman of Cocoa constitution of even Tuesday, the Chairman, different requests from number members of Five Osun Produce Board farmers association in the Association of Nigeria to Seven, drawn from the (OPD) in the state, Dr state concerning agro- (CAN) in the state, Elder The death has been confirmed of the Salu of two camps and appoint a Yemi Adegoke said the chemicals to boast their Andrew Ojo, promised Chairman who should be gesture was part of the cocoa seed and we went that the farmers would Edun-abon, Oba Elijah Omoloye Oyelade the highest political office g o v e r n m e n t ahead to make provision make use of the agro- Agunbiade. holder in the state which interventions to ensure for these chemicals worth chemicals well, as he Announcing the death University Teaching by implication referring better yield for cocoa N1.3million. lauded the cocoa board of the monarch in a Hospital (OAUTH) Ileto Senator Ademola and the state government statement, the Executive Ife after a brief illness. farmers in the state.

“Our commitment is to Adeleke” He said, his remains According to him, the ensure that you, as cocoa on the gesture which he Secretary, Ife North-West The proponent of the described as very Local Council has been deposited at the Adeleke agenda believed intervention came after farmers have all it require important one.

Development Area, Mr morgue of the that the two camps requests were received to succeed in farming in He urged the cocoa worked for Adeleke from farmers in the state Osun and Nigeria at farmers to pay for the Bangbe Olabisi, said the University’s teaching monarch joined his hospital, while the burial large”. during the last Senatorial on the need to assist them subsidised agroAlso, the Project chemicals in time to help ancestors on Sunday, rites and ceremony bye-election and he in the area of agroshould ordinarily be chemicals to boost their Manager, Tree Crop government to generate 4th of August, 2017 at the would be announced at a Obafemi Awolowo later date. expected to be fair to all. cocoa seeds, urging the Programme (TCP), Mr income as well.

Confusion Over Ooni’s Alleged Divorce Saga

Cocoa Board Distributes Subsidised Agro-Chemicals To Farmers

Salu Of Edun-Abon Dies

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Early in the week, the university teachers union - the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, embarked on an indefinite strike over the implementation of the 2009 agreement it signed with the federal government. Like a sticky sore that won't just heal, the union alleged that the federal government was not only in breach of the agreement, but that its efforts to get it back to the negotiating table on the outstanding issues, continues to be met with a brick wall.

Among the thorny issues are, payment of fractions or in some cases, non-payment of salaries and earned allowances of its members; non-release of the operational licenses of National Universities Pensions Management Commission (NUPEMCO); non-implementation of provisions of 2014 Pensions Reform Act with respect to retired professors and their salaries, removal of universities staff schools from funding by federal government and the nonimplementation of the universities needs assessment report.

It is unfortunate that the implementation of the agreement signed in 2009 continues to be problematic to the extent that it has now constituted a source of instability to the university system. If we expected the resolution of matters through the follow up Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2013 under which a number of the contending issues were thoroughly addressed, the latest development has shown how tragically mistaken we are. A key part of the agreement is the annual release of N200 billion for the revitalization of the universities to be kept with the CBN and managed by a central monitoring committee.

Another is the payment of outstanding balance

ASUU Strike of academic earned allowance. All of these, ASUU alleges, continues to be observed in the breach.

ASUU is right to insist that the agreement, duly negotiated and signed be respected. This is even more so when the central issues involved are, by general agreement, considered as not only vital to halting the rot, but ensuring the restoration of the university system. That the federal government will refuse to accede to the entreaties of ASUU leadership to dialogue on the issues, thus culminating in the current strike, is inexplicable.

As it is, we are confronted with a problem with multiple parts. It starts with the bad faith with which the government would enter into an agreement without meaning to implement them; it extends to the general decadence of the bureaucracy which ensures that the noblest intentions of government are easily subverted, not excluding the monster of corruption which ensures that nothing works. The biggest problem however is the poor shape of the economy which continues to shrink in the absence of any meaningful capacity for self-renewal.

Much as we understand that the cash implications of the agreement could come across as daunting, this is hardly sufficient for the government not to engage the union. Aside availing the government the opportunity to lay all the cards on the table, there is a fair chance that the parties could work out amicable and pragmatic solution without disrupting the system.

Finally, we must admit that some elements in the agreements may need to be modified or altered

Back From Ukraine

Out of the State of Osun, there is often a lot of positive new development with due acknowledgement to the Roman Emperor Pleiny.

A good instance here is the enthrallment with which the news of the return of 35 out of the 85 medical students who were sponsored to Ukraine University for the completion of their studies by Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration has been received from within and outside of the state.

Expectedly, kudos has been given by the beneficiaries, their parents and sincere wellwishers.

They returned home after graduating from the V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine as certified medical doctors.

About 15 of the medical students stayed back in Ukraine for further pursuit.

It would be recalled that 50 of the 85 UNIOSUN students recently graduated and were inducted as qualified medical doctors after passing the 2017 KROK 2 Ukraine National

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this initiative has left an indelible imprint not only in his history but that of the state and the students.

Medical Exams, in June this year.

The UNIOSUN students were sent to Ukraine by the Aregbesola administration to complete their medical studies in Ukraine in 2013 as a result of non-availability of teaching hospital for their clinical studies, as it is one of the required facilities for training as a qualified medical practitioner.

We have to put this tremendous advance into context. This commendable exercise took place during a time of excruciatingly difficult fiscal conditions. Ogbeni Aregbesola and his

Need To Be Cautious On Reaction To Issues The acting president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo travelled to Ethiopia recently on a mission and while in that country, some people in the society at that time were calling on the Senate President Bukola Saraki to act as president.

This kind of agitation, so to say, did not in any way represent what should be the case in nascent democratic process.

The question arising from this baseless agitation is, why are such people calling on the

senate president to act since they knew that Professor Osinbajo will return to the country within few days?

One may dare to say

that this kind of call was callous and unrealistic, and those nursing that kind of ambition should have a rethink and bury

their heads in shame.

Nigeria stands on united we stand, and divided we fall, hence, it is imperative to caution ourselves on how we

react to such delicate issues that can cause disharmony.

Though, late but it is important to reiterate this

fact, as such scenario might repeat itself in the course of national service soon.

The truth is that the activities of the Acting President is guided by the law of our country and what is required is prayers for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari and success of Osinbajo within the period in acting capacity.

•HON. FEMI OLOWE, I1esa, State of Osun.

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which the government would enter into an agreement without meaning to implement them; it extends to the general decadence of the bureaucracy which ensures that the noblest intentions of government are easily subverted, not excluding the monster of corruption which ensures that nothing works. in the light of current exigencies. For instance, those aspects of the agreements that ASUU insists must be binding on the state governments would seem at this time, quite frankly unrealistic. This is even more so when the states were neither invited to the table nor were part of the final agreements signed with the federal government.

Be that as it may, the 2009 agreement deserves to be taken seriously. Warts and all, it remains an important plank towards the restoration of our universities. While we urge both parties to have an open mind, care should equally be taken to ensure that the strike does not become unduly protracted.

In the mean time, we commend the OAU and Unilorin chapters of ASUU for their exhibition of care and thoughtfulness by refusing to disrupt the examinations schedule as a result of the strike.

They have set a very edifying standard for the future. administration frankly had every sensible reason not to have initiated it in the first place, but owing to his rational thought as a Governor and a father, he deem it fit as the best thing to do which he did.

And now for this reason, this initiative has left an indelible imprint not only in his history but that of the state and the students.

Producing more doctors will help to improve the health sector. For these reasons this newspaper cannot but commend the administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola for its vigour in implementing a vital element of the social contract.

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MAGAZINE FRIDAY AUGUST 18 - THURSDAY AUGUST 24, 2017

Osun Osogbo Grove has been recognised as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), having gained popularity within and outside Nigeria. Noted for its rich cultural, economic and religious values, Osun Osogbo festival is annually celebrated by the people of Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun and the world at large. SHINA ABUBAKAR traces the background of the festival and its place in history.

Centuries ago when the founding several other personalities. The gods for the year and further bath his fathers of Osogbo were reaching a treaty remarkable events that precede the corpus before celebrating the new year with the water goddess over the rightful visitation to the river are given adequate message. This usually happen in the owners of the land space within the Osun attention and discussed to familiarise all absence of the monarch who is represented by the King’s Hands and groove, little did they know that centuries with what the celebration involves.

Chiefs in the palace. Prior to the The Odun-Ifa Oba after, the treaty would eventually become For initiates, Osun-Osogbo festival is celebration, afterwards, his wives would an annual rite which would be embraced by the entire Yoruba race thus, leading heralded with the celebration of the go to the compound bearing calabash to the adoption of the space by the United corpus of the Ataoja, where priest would with kolanuts for divinity and later dance Nations as a world heritage site, thereby embarked on the clearance of Ifa Shrine back to the palace, escorted by the priest launching the host community, Osogbo after which the Araba Awo would lead the with a view to conveying the gods’ into universal map and attracting tourists other Ifa Priest to the monarch’s messages to the palace. The Araba would annually. compound to embark on divination for later lead the priests back to the palace The treaty over space between the him, bring the divine messages of the in the night for other rituals to keep the human and mermaid brokered peace and laid the foundation for the annual Osun Osogbo festival, as most of the agreement reached then include; helping the women to be fertile, making readily available the scarce water that was making the populace to suffer and helping protect the community from any aggressive invasion. The people in return dedicated a period to celebrate the peaceful coexistence between man and mermaid.

In the early times, the celebration is just a mere ritual revolving around two individuals, the Ataoja of Osogbo, who was a beneficiary of the treaty and the virgin-maiden, who bears the calabash to and from the shrine.

However, many of the tourists or visitors only understand the festival to be a one day event which is the visit to the river, but the festival is a one month event which covers, spiritual, traditional and cultural activities.

Besides, a deep involvement in the festival further showed that it did not just revolved around two individuals, but the stakeholders include many compounds and •The Osun Calabash bearer (middle), being guided to the grove.

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the human and mermaid brokered peace and laid the foundation for the annual Osun Osogbo festival

monarch cleanse for the approaching festival.

This singular celebration which is preceded by the Ilagbe is a major event celebrated by all Ifa priests in Osogbo and it is made obvious by the Aso-ebi that is usually chosen to celebrate the event.

Once this commences, in the mind of all initiate, the Osun Osogbo is fast approaching and the Araba becomes busy hosting priests for different propitiation for the development of the town. One conspicuous fact is that the destiny of Osogbo is always tied to the Ataojas going by the various traditional rites that priests embarked upon for the royal father.

This celebration is followed by the Osun devotee procession all clad in white attires moving round major markets within the palace vicinity with the approval of the monarch. This is a means of hosting other devotees from within and outside the state that would remain in the shrine throughout the duration of the festival.

Iwopopo Another major event that precedes the grand finale of the international festival is the Iwopopo, a procession that can be likened to the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, symbolised by holding palm frond during the procession.

In the case of the festival, the Ataoja temporarily relocates his palace to the Gbaemu ruling house. All the ruling houses come over to pay homage to him, ditto, the chiefs and some of the high ranking traditional compound in the town. Here, the Ataoja is the cynosure of all eyes with other princes celebrating with him singing and dancing. The route of the procession is the main route into the major town square in the olden days and it remain the traditional route for the procession while the Gbaemu was the main entrance into the square as it existed. The Iwopopo is the

•Continued on page 6

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MAGAZINE

FRIDAY AUGUST 18 - THURSDAY AUGUST 24, 2017

Celebration Of Treaty Between Man And Goddess

time of ritual to cleanse the path for those coming for the festival to ensure safe entry and return to their various destinations. For the host community, the safety of devotees, tourists and visitors is paramount, hence, there popular belief about Osogbo being a female land and it as such shows great concern to the welfarism of her inhabitants.

Atupa Olojumerindinlogun This literarily means 16-point lamp which saved the great hunter Olutimehin from demons and the belief among the Osun worshippers is that it has the power to wade off evil spirit. The ornament, according to historian is aged 642 years and in the custody of a particular compound called Oluwin. The night is a sort of a festival encompassing all sort of activities, it brings together adherents, •Devotees peforming rites at the Osun grove. admirers, tourist and lovers of tradition within the same square celebrating in style and glamour. From the moment the lamp is lit around 8pm, it ushers-in hustling and bustling within and around the palace square. While those outside the palace basked in the euphoria of the festivities, those inside the palace, particularly around the lamp are busy with religious rite singing prayerful verse to seek protection over the town and its inhabitants: Ko gun maja Ko gun maja L’oroki Irawo sa sa ogun oja L’orun Ayan ki ko ogun jalu Irawo sa sa ogun oja L’orun Alamu ki ko ogun jalu Irawo sa sa ogun oja L’orun Ewure ki ko ogun Jale Irawo sa sa ogun oja L’orun Another particular prayerful song popular for the night goes thus: Iku maya lo Arun Maya lo Ofo Maya lo Igbin O ma nile olojo ya Ati ki lo fun e ma wo ile yi wa •Lighting of the 16-point lamp.

Ninu Igbo lo ma esi n sun o visitor would know Osun is actually in a While these songs are going on, the monarch, his wives and chiefs dance festival mood, while her devotees sit round the lamp three times and return to round the deity offering prayers for those the palace after which the Osun devotees in need and in some cases receive come out to dance round the lamp like offerings from those who sought to the monarch did before the virgin redeem their pledges. This spot could be calabash bearer in company of her maids likened to a mosque or church where take their turn going through the same clerics and worshipers meet and discuss routine. The same routine is repeated spiritualism, but the difference is in mode later in the night at about 11pm and in of commuting with the Supreme Being, the early hours of the second day at about because for the Osun devotees, it is all 2am. After every round, other people also about drumming and dancing.

The Procession to the Groove dance round the lamp while the priests Like every religion rite, this is the keep vigil on the lamp all through the climax as every traditional religion day. devotees converged on the Ataoja’s Another busy spot is the Osun deity abode within the palace, the deity is palace square for procession to the Osun dressed in white, red and gold coloured Groove, where the treaty was made and garments such that even a first time the first settlement where the people of

•Osun devotees during their procession to the grove.

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is the major actor of the event, she does not only lead the procession, she is also one of the symbols of the celebration.

Osogbo first lived before moving out to a new space for the sake of the mermaid and family.

The procession is a mere celebration of the treaty; the main religion rite is performed on the eve of the finale between three major actors; the Ataoja, the Arugba and the Aworo Osun. The Ataoja goes to the shrine to pray for the peace of Osogbo and its inhabitant and the Arugba joins him there to perform certain rituals on him including cleansing him for the festival. While the Monarch and the maiden virgin return to the palace, the Aworo Osun, who is also a custodian of the shrine heads to the site and the two emissaries must not meet each other either at the shrine or along the route. The Aworo is also to perform certain rites at the shrine before dawn.

The Arugba is the major actor of the event, she does not only lead the procession, she is also the symbol of the celebration. Even in the absence of a monarch, the Arugba still leads the procession but without her, no procession can take place, hence, priority is attached to her person. Her appearance, even from a distance spun the indigenes, tourists, devotees into prayer points, seeking improvement from the previous year’s condition, protection for the new year and also wading off evil from the town and seeking its progress. This is the routine at every major point she reaches. While she leads the procession in company of her predecessor, the Ataoja’s convoy followed closely, but throughout the journey to the groove, she is the major focus and a symbol of the gods and an agent who conveys their request for onward delivery to the gods.

At the groove, she retires to the Osun shrine, where she converse with the gods throughout the duration of all the celebrations that takes place at the square, where the Ataoja receive homage from the other royal houses, the chiefs, the women group, the youth group and other important traditional authorities. International

organisations, delegation of the Federal government as well as other tiers of government are always also represented.

After the ceremony at the shrine, the Arugba, Ataoja and other entourage follow the same routine on their return to the palace with the people receiving blessing on foregangers the return of the Arugba and her entourage. She heads straight for the Osun House inside the palace and in the midst of her sighting the sacrifice is taking off her head and she relax ahead of the task in another five days, but the Ataoja changes his attire and head straight to the mosque for the weekly Jumat prayer.

While many of the tourists, visitor and some devotees might have return to their abode, five days later, the Arugba and other Osun devotees head back to the Osun Shrine to return the harvest of the year and redeem the pledge made by many adherents to the goddess.

Propitiations taken to the goddess is poured into the river and prayers are offered for the progress of the town, inhabitant and humanity in general.

However, over the years, the economic value that the festival had brought to Osogbo and Osun State in general could not be overemphasised, as traders, particularly those dealing in traditional materials like bead, food stuff, clothing materials, as well as transportation and hospitality have always bank on the opportunity of the festival to make their sales.

The Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun has, during a Stakeholders Presentation Forum organised as part of the programmes to herald the activities of 2017 Osun Osogbo festival, reiterated the significance of the festival to the development of economy in the state, charging government and traditional rulers to partner on rejuvenating, developing and promoting Yoruba culture, heritage and traditions.

This, he said, would not only assist government to develop economy through tourism that Osun Festival represents, but also entrenched the Yoruba cultural value in the younger generation, saying, the disappearance of Yoruba moral and ethical values have contributed a lot to the underdevelopment in the land.

“Though, it is rather, not interesting that we are fast losing track of our culture and heritage. And if we should jettison our culture and focus on the borrowed one, we will never see anything good in what belongs to us. Many youths do not know our culture again. They now promote foreign culture as a result of our negligence, this we must not allow.

Our culture is our culture, irrespective of western religious affiliation and influences.

“I hereby challenge other custodian of culture to emulate a programme like Osun Osogbo festival to propel the rejuvenation, development and promotion of our culture, tradition and heritage, which are so rich and highly enviable.”

The usual notable event that had heralded the 2017 Osun Osogbo festival such as, the Iwopopo,(Street Procession), Atupa Olojumerindinlogun (lighting of the 16 Points lamp), Iboriade (assemblage of all the crowns of the past Ataojas for blessing) have been done according to the festival rites. This year’s Osun Osogbo festival grand finale will hold on Friday, August 18, 2017.

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FRIDAY AUGUST 18 - THURSDAY AUGUST 24, 2017

Ife East Management Team Takes Up Orphan's Medical Expenses The Caretaker Management Committee of Ife East Adesope who has been teacher, Mrs Adewoyin Local Government Council Area of the State of taking the sole Sadiat who relayed the Osun has taken up the medical treatment expenses responsibility of caring story to the council’s of a 10 year-old Orphan and Basic 4 pupil of the for the boy alongside her management team said, L.A Elementary School Ijio, Ile-Ife, Adeleke own children in spite of the boy’s kindTomiwa who has been diagnosed with Left Spastic her lean source of heartedness and Hemiplegia. appreciative nature on income. assistance The statement hinted every Hemiplegia is a kind of the mercy of a family Cerebral Palsy with member, Mrs Yemisi that Tomiwa’s class rendered to him by any intellectual impairment and flexion deformity of the left hand and ankle.

A statement by the Information Officer of the council, Olawoye Olufemi said the discovery of the boy was made during the distribution of school uniforms to the public schools in Ife East Local Government when the Executive Secretary, Adeyeni Olubusola and his management team were informed that Tomiwa had lost his mother at birth and the father died five years after.

The sad event, according to the •Hon. Adeyeni presenting cash to Tomiwa to kick off his treatment. He was assisted by statement left Tomiwa at his class teacher, Mrs Adewoyin.

Council Boss Tasks Health Workers

necessary The Executive Secretary, Atakumosa West Central Reacting to complaints out Local Council Development Area (LCDA), on the bad state of some renovations within the ambit of available Honourable Adedeji Adeboye has charged health of the health facilities, he workers in the council area to be up and doing, assured that he would resources of the Local dutiful and responsive in discharging their duties. personally go round for Council Development Adeboye gave this delivery to the citizenry on-the-spot assessment Area. with a view to carrying charge while speaking at in the local council. a meeting he held with the medical staffers from all the maternity centres in the council. economy and IGR At the meeting which improves more held at the Palace Square developmental projects The Executive Secretary, Ayedaade Local will be carried out”. of Adimula of Ifewara, the Council boss said Government, Mr Bashir Oduwole has reiterated the In company of the health workers must see commitment of his administration to the welfarism council boss to the themselves as different of his people, saying that all is now set for prompt RATCON office were from other council delivery of dividends of democracy to the people. members of the caretaker workers by being According to a Governor Rauf committee, the council diligent, as they are statement by the Aregbesola the more, manager, HODs among employed to save lives.

Information Officer of the saying,” as soon as the others.

“You are different council, Oduwole stated from other council this during his official workers. You were visit to the RATCON employed to save lives Construction Company Community development activities have been and must therefore be handling the dutiful, responsive and dualisation project of described as catalyst to rural transformation and national development. must always be at your Gbongan-Akoda road. duty posts”, he tasked The observation was where the stakeholders In line with his the health workers. commitment, during the made by the Executive were charged to support Adeboye also urged visit, the council boss Secretary, Isokan South the administration them to always be then solicited the support Local Council towards bringing f r i e n d l y , of the construction Development Area, development to the a c c o m m o d a t i n g , company to partner with Ikoyi-Osun, Hon. grassroots. compassionate, caring the council by filling all Oyelami Wasiu at a Oyelami who noted and jovial with patients potholes along the roads meetings with various that come for treatment in Gbongan with loosen stakeholders, including that it is not possible with to allay their fears and asphalt to make the road the Olukoyi-in-Councils, the current economic thereby brightening their within the town a bit B a a l e - i n - C o u n c i l s , situation of the country chances of overcoming motorable.

C o m m u n i t y for government alone to meet all the needs of its their health challenges.

He said that the step D e v e l o p m e n t “As health workers, becomes more Associations, Artisans, citizenry said, there is nurses in particular, it is imperative, as many of Social Clubs, Religious need for residents of a general belief that you the roads within leaders, Market men and Ikoyi and its environs to are harsh and hostile in Gbongan town have women, Members of engage in self-help your interactions with become dilapidated.

NURTW and Road project as a way of patients”.

Workers improving the socioThe Executive Transport The Council boss who Secretary Okada economic development however, Association, later appreciated their appealed to the people of Riders, Individual and of the council.

Urging the efforts and contributions the council to remain groups on how to to the health care calm and be patient, as increase the Internally stakeholders to carry delivery system of the efforts are in top gear Generated Revenue for their civic duties by council area however towards providing a the LCDA. paying their taxes, dues promised continued solution to the roads.

A statement by the and other levies, he said, technical and logistic Oduwole then Principal Information this is a major way support to the Primary appreciated the support Officer of the council, through which the Health Care Department of Ayedaade people and Ademola Aminu said the council could harness to enable the health charged them to continue meeting held at the resources for the workers improve on the to support the palace of Olukoyi of Ikoyi development of the quality of their service administration of land, Oba Yisau Bamitale various communities.

Citizens Assured Delivery Of Dividends Of Democracy At The Grassroots

teacher have encouraged almost all the teachers in the school to want to assist him whenever the need arises.

On hearing the sad story of the orphan, the statement added that the council boss subsequently swung into action by presenting Tomiwa’s case before the management team where it was agreed upon that an urgent step should be taken to save the teen’s deteriorating health

condition.

Tomiwa’s teacher who noted that his treatment has since commenced at the Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife on the bill of the council, noted that there has been t r e m e n d o u s improvement on his health condition, saying, for proper treatment, Tomiwa would be attending three clinics, Physiotherapy, Neuron and Operational therapy.

Ife North-West LCDA Rolls Out Forms For Interest-free Loan The management team of Ife North-West Local Council Development Area, Edunabon, under the leadership of the Executive Secretary, Bangbe Olabisi has commenced the distribution of forms for interest-free loan to youths and women who are residents within the council area.

A statement by the promised unalloyed Information Officer of the support of the council Council, Adediji staffers in the Kamorudeen said the achievements of its goals. prospective beneficiaries The Coordinator of the of the loan would be programme, Mr Ojesola petty traders and Akinwale and his craftsmen, with a view to counterpart in the boosting their businesses. assignment, Maruf, who Flagging off the is the Director of Social distribution of the form, Information the council boss, and according to the Department said the statement, reiterated his form would be sold for commitment to the well- N1,000.

They said the aim of being of the people, saying the intention was attaching cost to the form to productively engage was to test the extent of the youths and women in seriousness of the prospective beneficiaries the council area.

The Council Manager, and commit them to Mrs Elisabeth mutual agreements of Olanrewaju who monthly payments, with commended the a view to ensuring that caretaker management others also benefit from team for the gesture, the programme.

Council Boss Tasks Communities On Self-help Projects Advising the stakeholders to be patronising Anajere Market in Ikoyi, every five days and visit the LCDA Secretariat for registration of streets, clubs/associations, Certificate of lands from the town planning department among

others. He said that this would also boost the IGR of the council.

Oyelami then urged the stakeholders to let peace and tranquility reign in their ·domain, saying, this is the only prerequisites for true community development projects.

That I formerly known as ADEDIJI ADEBOWALE JACOB, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEDEJI ADEWOLE JOSHUA. All former documents remains valid.

General public should take note of this.

That I formerly known as ADEDIJI HAIRAT ABIOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as AJANI HAIRAT ABIOLA. All former documents remains valid.

SKYE Bank PLC and general public should take note of this.

OYENIYI IGE HAMMED, OYENIYI IGE SAMSON is the same person as OYENIYI HAMME IGE. I now wish to be known and addressed as OYENIYI IGE HAMMED. All former documents remains valid.

FIRST Bank and general public should take note of this.

That I formerly known as ABDULHAMID F A T I M O H ADEBIMPE, now wish to be known and addressed as IBRAHIM F A T I M A T ADEBIMPE. All former documents remains valid.

General public should take note of this.

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FRIDAY AUGUST 18 - THURSDAY A

Oyintiloye Empowers 759 Farmers, Senior Citizens

•Chairman, Osun House of Assembly Committee on Information and Strategy representing Obokun State Constituency, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye (2nd left) presenting farm inputs to Chairman, Ibokun Majiyagbe Farmers, Omiwole Samson (2nd right) assisted by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Adelani Baderinwa (right) and Chief Executive Officer, Osun State Signage, Hoarding and Advertisement Agency, Mrs Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo.

•Celebrant, Pa Adewumi and wives taking a group photograph with their Children.

•Oyintiloye addressing the beneficiaries during his empowerment programme.

A member of the Osun State House of Assembly, representing Obokun State Constituency, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye has distributed farm inputs and other empowerment materials to farmers and some other residents of his constituency.

About 125 farmers, 65 widows, 83 senior citizens and 486 vulnerable individuals benefited from the empowerment initiatives.

Some of the materials distributed were herbicides, cutlasses, farm sprayers, as well as cash gifts and clothes to widows and elderly women amongst several others.

Oyintiloye said the distribution of the materials was part of his gesture to give back to the society and empower his constituents, particularly in the agricultural sector.

He said, the idea behind the distribution of the farm inputs was in line with the government decision to encourage agriculture, saying, “my constituency is made up of agrarian

communities and 75 per cent of the residents are farmers”.

“This distribution is as a result of baseline studies of the needs of the people in my constituency, materials are not just being distributed, they were chosen after due consultation, which reiterated my belief that the appropriate empowerment materials for my people are agricultural inputs”.

“I am convinced that these materials, with the various supports from the state government would assist farmers in this constituency to increase their yields”, he said.

Oyintiloye then hinted that though, the economy is faced with challenges, but he has resolved to continue to make impacts in the lives of the people in line with the mandate given to him.

He then assured those that are yet to benefit from the gesture not to be discouraged, saying that he would soon roll out similar empowerment programmes for them.

•Pa. Adewumi, his wives Mrs Felicia (left) and Mrs Victoria (right) cutting the birth•A cross section o day cake.

By Kehinde Ayantunji Psalm Chapter 90 verse 12 says, "So, teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom".

This manifested recently in the life of Pa David Bamidele Adewumi who thank to God Almighty for sparing him for 80 years and prayed God continue to spare him in good health.

Pa. Adewumi celebrated his 80th birthday with his wives, Chief (Mrs) Felicia and Chief (Mrs) Victoria, children, family members and friends at the Aquarium Event Centre in Ile-Ife, State of Osun recently.

Pa. Adewumi was born on 30th July, 1937 into the family of Catechist and Mrs Theophilus

Graduation Ceremony Of Latola Model College, Ofatedo

OUR SOCIAL REGISTER IS OPEN FOR YOUR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES TO BE MADE PUBLIC Spaces are available for your anniversaries such as weddings, house-warming and chieftaincy title ceremonies among other for your take. To take advantage of this, you can reach out to Murtala, 08023280935, Kazeem 08062207954 and Nike on 07032594744 Let the public know what you are doing.

•Comrade Oluwakayode Arojojoye (JP) (left); his wife, Mrs Foluke (right); the Graduant, Arojojoye Jesutofunmi (2nd right) and Jesutomisin Arojojoye in a group photograph during the the graduation ceremony of Jesutofunmi held at Latola Model College, Ofatedo recently.

UGUST 18 - THURSDAY AUGUST 24, 2017

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lected Public Primary Schools, At Ataoja High School, Osogbo, State Of Osun, On Monday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•(L-R) SUBEB Chairman in Osun, Prince Felix Awofisayo; Commissioner for Education in Osun, Honourable Wasiu Omotunde; Representative of Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Aminat Mohammed and Executive Secretary National Lottery, Engineer Habu Gumel.

hildren.

•A cross section of guests at the event.

Adeyemo Adewumi. He began his primary education in Ibadan between 1934 and 1953. He left standard VI at the age of 16 and was employed as a teacher.

Chairman of occasion, said he had known the celebrant for 57 years, saying Adewumi has always been known to be a good man, a good example to the people, just as he thank

God for his life.

Mrs Remi Ajibewa, nee Adewumi one of his daughters during an interview with journalists said, "My father is a good father and confidant.

Pa Adewumi is happily married to two wives and fondly regards himself as deliberate polygamist as opposed to accidental one.

The Agboola’s Visit To Late Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola’s Family

•(L-R) Alhaja Temilade Agboola; Her Husband, Alhaji Ganiyu Agboola; Mrs Amodatu Oladeji Nee Aregbesola; Alhaja Safiatu Olowoopejobori, Mama’s Sister and Administrative Manager of Osun Defender Newspaper, Murtala Agboola during the condolence visit to late Alhaja Aregbesola’s family in Ilesa recently.

•A cross section of Students at the event.

NLTF Donates Sports Equipment To Osun Schools

By Israel Afolabi The National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) has on Tuesday distributed sporting equipment to public schools in the State of Osun.

52 schools across 24 Local Government benefitted from the first phase of the presentation, held at Ataoja Government High School, Osogbo.

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Lottery Trust Fund, Engineer Habu Ahmed Gumel who described NLTF as a stronger pillar for sporting activities in the country, said the gesture was aimed at encouraging sports in schools.

Noting that the Trust Fund has been supporting various sporting activities across the country since its establishment years ago, he said, the NLTF collaborate with relevant Agencies to implement any project approved by the president on recommendation of the Board of Trustees.

In her welcome address, the Zonal Coordinator of the NLTF, South-West, Hadjia Hajara Buari urged the beneficiaries to make use of all the sporting equipment properly.

According to her, “we are witnessing the official presentation of wide range world class sporting equipment in different areas of sport namely: Sprinting, Volleyball, Basketball, Football, Handball, Table-

Tennis, Judo, Badminton and Taekwondo to selected public primary schools across the state of Osun”.

She also said that the essence of this intervention is to promote grassroots sports development in the country with the specific objectives of enhancing the capacity of the nation to grow.

She added that the involvement of children of primary schools in sporting activities would improve the Nation’s future performance in sports at all levels by harnessing the potentials of young talents and nurturing their transition to world class athletes.

However, in his reaction, the Executive Secretary, Osun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prince Felix Awofisayo lauded the National Lottery Trust Fund for the gesture to public schools in the state, saying, “52 schools across 24 local government are benefitting from first phase of the presentation, and others will follow in due course”.

He also said that this sporting equipment will uplift and promote sport development in the state and Nigeria as whole.

He urged the agency not to stop the good work in schools in other to catch them young.

In his goodwill message, the Commissioner for Education in the state, Mr Omotunde Kola-Young appreciated NLTF for their contributions to sporting activities among students of public schools in Osun.

FRIDAY AUGUST 18 - THURSDAY AUGUST 24, 2017

NEWS

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Aregbesola’s Gift To Africa

By Inwalomhe Donald Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s bold and brilliant initiative has changed the face of education and particularly school construction in Africa, considering the massive structures that have been put in place by his administration. It is on this basis that I want to appeal to the National Universities Commission (NUC) to grant University provisional license to Osun Steel Structure High Schools in Ilesa, Iwo and Osogbo that can last for more than 100 years, so as to expand access to, and improve quality of higher education in Nigeria, as well as create room for effective mentoring and qualitative growth. This is because these schools are capable of meeting the standard of full University operations.

Ilesa, Osogbo and Iwo High Schools have the required standards to operate as Universities in Nigeria.

There is nowhere in Africa that you can find steel structure high schools like the types in Ilesa, Iwo and Osogbo. I challenge anybody to prove me wrong.

None of the 12 Federal Universities established in February 2011 by the Federal Government of Nigeria can boast of such structure. Ondo and Edo States have three state-owned universities each and based on what Governor Aregbesola has done, NUC should please grant license to Osun State to operate more state Universities.

Ilesa, Osogbo and Iwo steel structure constructed from Sukuk fund are good examples of schools that have changed the face of schools in Africa. The schools are with 216 classrooms, 3 ICT halls, 18 laboratories and others, with the capacity to bear heavy loads in tension and compression, high resiliency and performance under harsh and difficult conditions.

Osun Steel High schools can be shaped by many processes, ranging from standard rolled sections to custom castings and digitally generated components. The schools are wide, the buildings’ cladding highlight their durability, technical capabilities and aesthetic versatility. There is no Nigerian University, Polytechnic or College of Education that can boast of steel structure building like the ones we have in Osun. The state is the first to build such schools in Africa. They contain 216 classrooms that have the capacity to accommodate more than 9,000 students.

With Ilesa, Osogbo and Iwo steel structure Sukuk High schools, it has clearly shown that Aregbesola’s government is committed to changing the face of education, and turns it to a model in Osun, Nigeria, Africa and the entire world.

The Osun modern education policies and school reclassification policies are second to none, as the model schools are well equipped with state-of-the-arts facilities that are incomparable not only in Nigeria or Africa but in the world.

A great lesson is that the schools can be easily modified during the life cycle of a building to accommodate changing occupant requirements. As the most recycled material in the world, steel is an environmentally sound building material choice. Today, structural steel is 97 per cent recycled with the primary source being automobiles. Architects praise the natural beauty of Osun steel schools and are excited about exposing them in the design of their structures to emphasise grace, slenderness and strength, and in their building envelopes, to enhance environmental

performance and aesthetic character.

President Muhammadu Buhari last year described the newly completed steel structure Osogbo Government High School built by the Aregbesola administration as an educational legacy that must be emulated by other states of the federation. Buhari noted that the 3,000-capacity steel complex with 72 classrooms, each capable of sitting 49 pupils, is in line with his administration and party’s education policy. He held that his government has been doing all it could to assist the state governments to realise their developmental plans irrespective of their political parties.

President Buhari said his government will cooperate with other state governments to make education costeffective and accessible to other youth in the country. According to him, the example of the cost effectiveness will be exemplified by this new school, which is capable of graduating 1,000 students in a year. He averred that the school would have produced 50,000 well-trained students, who will form the fulcrum of the society in the next 50 years.

The lesson is that the story of steel structure schools building in Osun State is the first in sub Sahara Africa. It is important to note that the schools have many advantages, such as large span, low demand of base structure, Seismic and wind resistance, fast to build and easy to maintain and so on. The walls

of the buildings are also flexible, as you can choose colored steel plate or EPS/ PU/XPS sandwich panel as your wall system. The products can be packed in one package, and it is easy to upload, download and stack in the site.

Osun State, the first in Sub Sahara Africa has perfectly combined the traditional steel structure building with light steel building, hence, laying foundation for steel structure schools in sub Sahara Africa. This combination is used as multi-story high schools of 72 classrooms each and several departmental offices etc.

Built from steel, the schools took some years to build instead of the two years required for a more conventional structure. Many tonnes of steel were used to build the site. Unemployed workers from the township were employed on the projects, with between 60 and 80 on site each day. The steel structure can be produced in kit form, allowing quick and easy assembly. All the three schools were built using light weight steel and Arval panels with a view to promoting the use of steel in domestic buildings.

The prototype building at Ilesa, Osogbo and Iwo are not only that make extensive use of steel in the different building components but also proves that steel can be used cost effectively and aesthetically.

The lesson is that Governor Aregbesola has demonstrated that the

three steel structure Schools are excellent examples of what can be achieved with steel in the construction environment and my wish is that it will ensure an iron-clad future for the students of Osun State.

Osun State steel structure high schools facilities in Ilesa, Iwo and Osogbo • 216 Classrooms for more than 9,000 students • Laboratories • Nutrition centre with a kitchen and storeroom • Workshops • ICT centres with computers rooms and libraries • Administrative building: meeting rooms, offices for the principal and two vice principals, staffroom, reception, kitchen, toilets • Caretaker’s house (two bedrooms, kitchen/lounge, bathroom) • Toilet and washroom facilities and the sports fields The other schools built with Sukuk fund are: Wole Soyinka High School, Ejigbo; Ataoja High School, Osogbo; Fakunle Unity High School, Osogbo; Oduduwa High School, Ile Ife; Ila High School, Ila-Orangun; Adventist High School, Ede; Iwo, Akinorun High School, Ikirun and Ayedaade High School, Ikire. What is unique about Osun State High Schools is that each of them has the capacity to take off as a state university.

Aregbesola Urges LAUTECH Lecturers To Resume Work Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has urged striking lecturers of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) to suspend their strike and return to work in the interest of the students of the institution.

According to Aregbesola, the plight of the students whose precious time is being wasted as a result of the protracted strike of the lecturers should be considered, lamenting that the industrial action is jeopardizing their future.

Aregbesola stated this at a reception held in honour of the Medical Students of Osun state University who returned from Ukraine where they were sent by the state government to further their studies in medicine.

The Governor maintained that it was not for anybody to have the notion that the two owner state governors, Aregbesola and Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State were insensitive towards the situation of LAUTECH, stressing that the reality is that the two states was incapacitated financially meeting the demands of the lecturers as there is no

way can give what you don’t have.

He added that it is unfortunate that while civil servants in the upper cadre of the civil service have agreed to be collecting a fraction of their salaries, the lecturers of LAUTECH have refused to make sacrifice and pretending not to understand the financial situation of the two states.

Aregbesola said, “I am using this medium to appeal to the striking lecturers of LAUTECH to please return to work in the interest of the students whose future are being jeopardized.

“I urge them to reason along the same line of thought of the two owner states for a solution to be quickly found in solving the problem.

“If the higher cadre of the civil service in Osun can agree to be collecting a fraction of their salaries because of the harsh economic condition government has found itself, I see no reason why the LAUTECH lecturers can’t reason with government”.

Aregbesola wondered why the Osun state University with fewer numbers of students could manage itself within its Internally Generated Revenue and LAUTECH with more students population could not.

He noted that a proper audit of the LAUTECH accounts is sacrosanct as part of the solution to the crisis rocking the school.

“If UNIOSUN with fewer numbers of students than LAUTECH could run successfully within its internally generated revenue, I see no reason why LAUTECH with more students population can not run itself.

“We want this problem to be over so that our children can return to school and pursue their academic carrier.

“I appeal to the lecturers to return to class while a proper audit of the school will be done so as to unravel the real problem of the school and then, we can correct it”, Aregbesola stressed.

In his remarks, Rev. Victor Fakolade who spoke on behalf of the parents of the medical doctors appreciated Aregbesola for the sponsorship of their children, describing it as an indelible project in their lives and families.

Fakolade described Aregbesola as a detribalized Governor and not a religious bigot, maintaining that the Governor is fair to all religions in the state.

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FRIDAY AUGUST 18 - THURSDAY AUGUST 24, 2017

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Controversies Trail FEDPOFFA’s Plan To Demolish Campus Business Ventures

By Sikiru Obarayese

F E D P O F F A Management wants to cheat us”.

“Most of these shops are owned by students, that’s what we use to sponsor ourselves.”

Another business owner, Mr. Qoyum also said, “all these shops were built by individuals, not the school management; we pay the owners and still pay Poly Consult”.

A student from the Faculty of Engineering frowned at the management’s decision, lamenting that the damages being caused the students due to the

Controversies have been trailing the decision of the management, Federal Polytechnic Offa, on the order for immediate evacuation of business ventures, minimarts in the main market point of the campus.

The security men on A student, who campus, claim to be operates a computer acting on the order given business venture, Mr. by management, who Solomon, asserted that he ordered the shutdown of paid a N12,000 to the business activities Poly Consult and around the school’s back security came to last gate, popularly known as week Friday and told Abuja area, one of the them to vacate the area. major business point on Quoting him, “This is campus. what I’m using to It was gathered that on sponsor myself. This is Monday, 14th of August, inhuman and it is not School security agents done anywhere; were everywhere to monitor and close any shop opened for business, a situation that propelled the shop owners to stage a protest to the Director of Students Affairs Office, after which some shops were reopened for business.

Investigation revealed that the shop owners also matched to the Rector’s Office at the Main Campus to show their grievances, and the Rector gave them two weeks ultimatum to evacuate from the area.

However, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the polytechnic, Mr. Mustapha Nurudeen said, though they were not privy to the actual •One of the affected shops reason the management made such decision, but it was the thinking of the management that the shop owners harbour

By Kabir Adejumo criminals in their shops.

According to The academic Staff Union of the University him, ”closing down of the shops is a proposed (ASUU), Obafemi Awolowo University Branch, Ile action and the school -Ife in their unusual and unprecedented manner management is keeping it shunned the ongoing nationwide strike of the union in view. As a chief which commenced on Monday. congress on how the security, I admit that ASUU, OAU during there has not been any the weekend at the union national leadership of the time that we informed congress resolved not to union woul feel if the university branch the school management join the ongoing refused to join, but that the shop owners are nationwide strike superior and majority harbouring criminals in According to the position overwhelmed their shops.” leadership of the union, it He said that the shops was shelved to allow such argument and owners sometimes assist students of the university supported shunning the the security officer to to write their first strike.

It was learnt that the carry out their jobs semester examination for union members reflected effectively on campus.

2016/2017 session on the prolonged ”I could recall scheduled to hold calendar sometimes ago, one between 14th of August academic person named Kayode and 2nd of September, was macheted and it was 2017. one of the shop owners Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, that called security to ASUU OAU Caretaker interfere in the matter. If Chairman who spoke not for that act, the boy with our reporter in a might have been killed. telephone conversation During the Osun said “we have decided in Defender Campus the congress that we R e v i e w ’ s i n t e r v i e w s won’t join the strike. Our with some shop owners, students need to write it was gathered that on their exam and larger Monday, 7th of percentage of our A u g u s t , P o l y members has decided not Consult sealed all the to join the strike”. shops in the area, A source at the requesting that they congress told our should pay for Poly reporter that the union Consult due which is members engaged in •Ogunbodede, New OAU N12,000. serious argument at the VC

closure of the Abuja gate were enormous.

“It is difficult for student to move 120 degree to the only gate which is opened”.

Another student, Olaleye Afeez, a Mass Communication student said, it is not possible to dismantle shops in the school premises.

In his word, the shops render good services to students, saying, they could easily be contacted hastily at time of needs.

They now pleaded with the management to consider them and change its decision.

OAU Worker Arrested For Account Forgery, Gets Bail

By Kabir Adejumo An employee of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in Osun State, Mutiu Adedokun, who is standing trial for allegedly forging the Postgraduate College’s statement of account to cover up an alleged N221,000 fraud, has been released on bail by a Magistrate Court sitting in Ile-Ife. The court granted Bukola Olanrewaju, with Adedokun the bail of a promise to help him pay N200,000 and one surety his school fees. ”The accused collected in like sum.

Presiding Magistrate, the N221,000 from and Mrs Risikat Olayemi said, Olanrewaju the surety must swear to converted the money to his own.” an affidavit of means and According to him, the be resident within the accused also forged the court’s jurisdiction. university’s postgraduate In addition, the surety must be a civil servant of college’s statement of not less than Grade Level account to perpetrate the fraud.

05.

The offences, he noted, Adedokun, 36, is facing a three count charge of contravened sections 383, fraud, stealing and 390 (9), 419, 465 and 467 of the Criminal Code, forgery.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Laws of Osun.

The accused pleaded Sgt. Sunday Osanyintuyi, told the court that the not guilty and his lawyer, Oluwafunso accused committed the Mr. offences between April Adedokun, urged the 28, 2015 and January 1, court to grant him bail on liberal terms, promising 2016 at the OAU. Osanyintuyi alleged he will not jump bail.

The case was that the accused collected N221,000 from the adjourned till September complainant, Capt. 27 for hearing.

Why OAU ASUU Shunned Nationwide Strike during the last session during the battle between the workerss union and the management over the appointment of the Vice Chancellor.

It was however resolved that the university chapter may join the strike if not call off after the completion of the first semester examination.

Meanwhile there are indication that the strike my end today. The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu,

on Wednesday assured Nigerians that the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), may end in two days.

In an interview with Journalists, the Minister stated that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has a policy of engaging unions, including ASUU. “I hope and believe that this would end in the next two days. We have a policy of engaging the

unions, including ASUU and I think now we are very serious.

“This is the first time in two years that ASUU is declaring a strike,” Adamu said.

Adamu also held a closed-door meeting with the leader of the Federal G o v e r n m e n t Renegotiation Team, Dr. B. O Babalakin (SAN).

Babalakin had in January, inaugurated the 16-member team to renegotiate the 2009 agreement.

LASU Sandwich Degree Programme Takes Off In Ilesa

By Sunday Obalodu The Sandwich Degree programme of Lagos State University (LASU) of the Osun State College of Education, Ilesa Centre is fully on ground to train intending students to attain greater feat in pursuance of their educational goal.

The Director of the According to the LASU sandwich Degree Sandwich Degree programme, Dr Omotayo programme Director, Akanmu made the students from the declaration while neighbouring states like speaking to newsmen at Ondo, Ekiti and Oyo and the college premises. would be He disclosed that the others into the matriculation of new admitted Degree students for their sandwich programme would come programme.

The LASU Degree up before the end of Programme, according to August 2017.

him, has human resources and facilities while there is large lecture room for the students.

He then stressed that student having NCE/ND from polytechnic would be spending four years, while those having SSCE/NECO will spend five years.

Dr Akanmu then hinted that the College Management under the Acting Provost, Mrs A.A. Adeyeye had led a team to Lagos to sign an M.O.U on logistics needed to make the work less burdensome.

FRIDAY AUGUST 18 - THURSDAY AUGUST 24, 2017

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NEWS

FRIDAY AUGUST 18 - THURSDAY AUGUST 24, 2017

Commendations Trail UNIOSUN Medical Students’ Return From Ukraine

By Ismaeel Uthman The return of 35 of the 85 medical students of the Osun State University who were sent to Ukraine University for medical studies by Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration has continued to attract commendations from the beneficiaries, their parents and unbiased wellwishers.

They returned home after outstanding score of 95.6% graduating from the V.N. in KROK 2 Exams.

Karazin Kharkiv National Receiving the young University, Kharkov, doctors at the Government Ukraine and certified as House, Osogbo on Sunday, medical doctors.

Aregbesola welcomed them About 15 of the medical and urged them to let their students stayed back in skills, knowledge and Ukraine for future pursuit. education speak for them.

It would be recalled that Aregbesola explained 50 of the 85 UNIOSUN that sending the students to students recently graduated Ukraine was not about and were inducted as nationalism but about qualified medical doctors justice and fairness, stating after passing the 2017 that the students were KROK 2 Ukraine National admitted for medicine and Medical Exams June this it behoved the university year. and government to fulfill The UNIOSUN students their obligations. were sent to Ukraine by the He said: “We had A r e g b e s o l a ’ s advertised the medical administration to complete course and admitted the their medical studies in students, it is the obligation Ukraine in 2013 as a result of the government to see the of non-availability of students through the teaching hospital for their program. Human being will clinical studies in only succeed when he furtherance of their studies upholds justice and here. fairness. So, what informed One of the medical our decision on these students, Miss Latifat students is justice and Abiola Oyeleye was fairness. declared the overall best The Governor urged the medical student of the young doctors to be Karazin Kharkiv National professional, humane and University as well as the godly in discharging their 2017 overall best students in duties in hospitals and the university with an everywhere they find

themselves.

He implored the newly graduated medical doctors to maintain the virtues which made them excel in Ukraine, encouraging them to always put their patients first in discharging of their duties.

The governor said, “We are celebrating with you today, but it will be good of you if you stick to those virtues that made you successful in Ukraine by being compassionate towards your patients at all times.

“We are proud of you on your achievements and I believe you have just started, you must strive to reach the peak of profession as medical doctors. You should be compassionate towards your patients at all times.”

The Deputy Governor of the State, Mrs Grace TitiLaoye Tomori and the Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Engr. Remi Omowaiye who were involved in the process of getting the students complete their clinical training, said the students were stranded as a resort of non-availability of the teaching hospital.

They explained that no university in Nigeria was ready to accept the students for clinical training because they could not go out of the stipulated number of

•The newly-graduated Medical Doctors from Ukraine rejoicing on their return to Osogbo at the Osun Governmnet House. medical students.

V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, according to the Deputy Governor and Omowaiye, was the best university for the state government to send the UNIOSUN students to, as it was the only university that was ready to take the students with reasonable, affordable financial and logistics demands.

In their remarks, the students attributed their academic success to Aregbesola’s commitment to promoting functional education and concern on their plights when they were stranded in UNIOSUN. They promised to embark on service to humanity and give back to the community, particularly Osun state in appreciation

Beauty Of Traditional Hairstyles And Accessories

of their free medical studies.

Oyeleye, the overall best students said: “I am one of the beneficiaries of Aregbesola’s gesture, I am one of the 85 medical students sponsored by his administration to one of the best universities in the world.

“We have studied and graduated. We thank God that today, we have been made medical doctors through the support of Osun Government. It is a dream come true for me and my family.

“Osun Government has made history through this, Governor Aregbesola has done excellently well in our lives to attain this giant feat in academic because if not for him, we might not be celebrated like this today.”

Another beneficiary, Dr. Oluwasayo Motunrayo

said, “I will forever be grateful to Aregbesola for making our dreams come to pass. He has done well to ensure that we did not fail in meeting up with our medical career in life.”

Ezekoye Maria, an indigene of Anambra state, who is part of the medical students, said: “We had lost hope when there was no teaching hospital to proceed to for our medical studies at UNIOSUN, we were all stranded.

“But Governor Aregbesola restored our hope, he made us realise our dreams by sending us to one of the best universities in Ukraine for medical studies free of charge. Today, we are certified medical doctors.

We are all proud of Osun government.

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Osogbo, the capital of the State of Osun, is an ancient Yoruba speaking city in Nigeria. It is sometimes called Iluaro (City of Tie and Dye). This traditional industry is one of the major industries o f Osogbo.

A number of other industries, notably textile, foam making and pencils began to rise after independence, and Osogbo was subsequently made a major industrial development centre by the Government of Nigeria during the 1970s.

Osogbo is the venue for the annual Osun Osogbo festival along the river Osun which takes place precisely August of every year and draws tens of thousands of believers and tourists from both inside and

outside the country. The festival is centered on the sacred groove of the river goddess Osun.

During t h i s festival, there are precisely only two m a j o r hairstyles to be done by the Iya Osun and h e r delegates, as these hairstyles are said to be the two major hairstyles of the Osun goddess. During an interview with Mrs Osundara O y a w a l e Asiwaju, the Iya Oya of Osun State, she stated that the two major hairstyles of this festival are Shuku and Adimo-eyin and that all other hairstyles seen during the festival are just for fashion. She also brought to our knowledge that the only male that compulsorily makes his hair

WITH

is ‘Sango’ (God of TEMITOPE thunder) and that for AKINYELE every other person is voluntarily.

She said, the use of cowries and colours worn only by the Ifa priest. There is also the Kele all sorts of beads isn’t Sango which is used just for fashion but

by Sango alone and also symbolises it consists of red that the hair and white is made for colors. Also, the deities there is the (orisa). use of the Also, “ O p a there Itele” by a r e the king different alone. kinds of M r s beads Oyawale u s e d a l s o during revealed that t h e the use of festival, white beads are each having for fashion alone their specific as most of them do names and to be not imply anything. worn by specific individuals. Some are to be worn on the wrist, ankle, neck, head etc. The use of beads helps to symbolize the followers/children of the deity and some of these beads include “Ide Ifa”, consisting of green and brown

FRIDAY AUGUST 18 - THURSDAY AUGUST 24, 2017

PROFILE

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Omoluabi Education Service Takes Charge Of School Management In Osun The African Management Services Company (AMSCO), a pan-African organisation that provides integrated human capital development solutions to private and public sectors across subSaharan Africa has seconded Mr. Edwin Robert Post - a Technical Expert – as CEO of Omoluabi Education Services Ltd. Omoluabi Education Services Limited (OESL) is a social impact project, an education management company set up by the government of the State of Osun to manage a new set of world class High Schools. – 11 in number constructed by the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Mr. Post is from Netherlands and has over 30 years’ experience in the areas of Management, Agriculture and Education Consulting, Policy Development, Curriculum Design, Training of Trainers and Institutional Development & Organisational Strengthening in the Private - and Education Sectors He has a Masters in Educational Management from the University of Amsterdam and is an experienced trainer/adviser with extensive leadership and management skills and rich exposure to team building and creating ‘togetherness’ in order to achieve objectives. He is skilled in leading Independent Team Transformations and functioning frequently as a Shadow Manager or as a Coach to create or build “one winning team” out of independent teams in order to meet top line and bottom line objectives.

He has hands-on experience in designing curriculum by successfully working out tailor-made training programs in conjunction with other stakeholders who are often from many different cultural backgrounds. He is skilled in implementing and executing successful strategies, leading to effective operational excellence and improved work ethics, culture and performance.

His Proven ability to interact effectively with people of diverse nationalities and to work in multi-cultural set-ups gives him the leverage needed to train and establish the winning team needed to run Omoluabi Education Services. Mr. Post is expected to function as the CEO of Omoluabi Education Services Limited (OESL). He will lead a team of local staff in managing the schools, instilling quality controls, standardising and harmonising policies across the schools and introduce international best practice teaching/learning tools that will produce confident, matriculate-able students who are first-class scholars and models of good character, innovation and competence. He will also train and impact knowledge on the local team of experts he will be working with.The vision is to run the High schools sustainably, as world class schools with limited role from the government.

BACKGROUND When Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, assumed office as Governor in November, 2010, the education sector in the state was gravely diseased and required urgent attention to amend.

Osun, was miles behind other states in the South Western geo-political zone in the percentage of secondary school pupils that recorded credit passes in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. In addition, less than three per cent of secondary school leavers met university admission requirements. After consulting with various stakeholders in education through its education summit, the State Government of Osun ‘adopted an education policy that is deliberate, bold, comprehensive and holistic in its response to a scandalous education rot’.

It took step towards improving the quality of Secondary School Education in the state by operationalising eleven

•Edwin Robert Post

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coordinate the running of the World Class High Schools to produce the students that can match and be better off of their counterparts at national and international level.

(11) World Class High Schools across the state. These colleges have a three thousand (3,000) student capacity each and have been established to promote all-round development of its students into first class scholars and cultural icons, through functional and character building education that delivers virtuous, confident, productive, problem solving, critical and creative thinking, collaborative, entrepreneurial and responsible citizens. Four (4) of the Model Colleges are now operational while the other nine (9) are at various stages of completion.

OMOLUABI EDUCATION SERVICES LIMITED (OESL) As part of its new educational policy regarding the running of the Model High Schools, the State Government of Osun floated the Omoluabi Education Services Limited (OESL) to manage and supervise the eleven (11) Model High Schools being built across the state. The Mission of OESL is to coordinate the running of the World Class High Schools to produce the students that can match and be better off of their counterparts at national and international level.

The African Management Services Company (AMSCO), a pan-African organisation that provides integrated human capital development solutions to private and public sectors across subSaharan Africa which was engaged has seconded Mr. Edwin Robert Post - a Technical Expert – as CEO of Omoluabi Education Services Ltd with the vision to run the High schools sustainably, as world class schools with limited role from the government.

Government role in OESL is to be limited to its membership of the Board.

Being a wholly owned company of the State government, OESL shall be subject to the parastatal monitoring unit of the Governor’s office. The primary responsibilities of OESL would be to

coordinate, harmonise, supervise and regulate the activities of the model schools. The OESL would also be responsible for translating the State Government’s vision expressed in its Omoluabi Philosophy on Education and its Education Policy, into specific, measurable objectives. OESL will oversee the development and execution of the Model Schools Strategic plan and Budget to achieve the objectives of world class education in State of Osun.

At the helm of affairs would be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Post from Netherlands and has over 30 years’ experience in the areas of Management, Agriculture and Education Consulting, Policy Development, Curriculum Design, Training of Trainers and Institutional Development & Organisational Strengthening in the Private - and Education Sectors He has a Masters in Educational Management from the University of Amsterdam and is an experienced trainer/adviser with extensive leadership and management skills and rich exposure to team building and creating ‘togetherness’ in order to achieve objectives. He is skilled in leading Independent Team Transformations and functioning frequently as a Shadow Manager or as a Coach to create or build “one winning team” out of independent teams in order to meet top line and bottom line objectives.

He has hands-on experience in designing curriculum by successfully working out tailor-made training programs in conjunction with other stakeholders who are often from many different cultural backgrounds. He is skilled in implementing and executing successful strategies, leading to effective operational excellence and improved work ethics, culture and performance.

His proven ability to interact effectively with people of diverse nationalities and to work in multi-cultural set-ups gives him the leverage needed to train and establish the winning team needed to run the OESL. He will lead a team of local staff in managing the schools, instilling quality controls, standardising and harmonising policies across the schools and introduce international best practice teaching/learning tools. He will also train and impact knowledge on the local team of experts he will be working with.

JOB DESCRIPTION Mr Post’s general job description would be: · Reporting to the Board of Directors · Making high-level decisions about policy and strategy · Keeping the Board of Directors informed about policy issues · Providing executive leadership across the organisation · Ensuring that the School Administrators comply with Service Level Agreements · Allocating resources to the company’s priorities areas · Acting as the primary spokesperson for the organisation. · Developing the organisations culture and vision · Recruitment and Placement of staff members · Attraction and recruitment of both private fee-paying students and Government scholars into the schools · Aggressive revenue mobilisation to support government budget · Maintenance and sustenance of infrastructure · Developing strategies for engaging parents to share the vision of grooming world class champions Specific Job Description · To build the Operating Model, objectives, and performance-criteria for OESL and come up with a roadmap covering the initial setup period of establishment and at full roll out · The Operating Model would include detailed organogram and staff placement at the initial set up period of establishment and at full roll out · To develop a simple operating manual that would show the setup of the company and how the company would be run in a cost effective manner · Provide a realistic budget and financial plan for the company in different phases in a manner that would allow easy funding by the state government, stakeholders and development partners In addition, the CEO will · Coordinate Model High schools in the State of Osun to produce confident, matriculate-able students · Assist in the development of a curriculum plan for the model schools that can accommodate both state and federal curriculum · Standardise the manual for operations, structure and staffing for Model High Schools in the State of Osun · Develop an appraisal plan for Model High School teachers highlighting their career paths · Standardise students’ manual which deals with the behaviour and appearance of students across Model Schools . · Develop a training plan for the teachers across the Model High School detailing types of training and frequency · Standardise the plan for the selection of teachers and students for the Model High Schools Develop a disciplinary manual for the Model High Schools, highlighting disciplinary procedures and punishment.

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No Confirmed Cases Of Lassa Fever In ìíîï ðñ Osun

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ÌÍÎ ÏÐÑÌÍ ÒÓÏÌ ÔÐÏÐÌÎÕ ÖÎ×ÏÐÌÎ ÐØ ØÐÙÎÚÐÛ ÜÝÞßàY AUGUST 18 - THURSDAY AUGUST 24, 2017 OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.com

Aregbesola And The Storm Within At the entrance of the governor’s office on a windy Tuesday morning, I saw a motley crowd of men and women cheering the convoy of the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as he snaked through the highway into his office.

On the other side of the divide, a group of pensioners jeered. Many had thought he would be intimidated by the rowdy scene.

On the other side of the divide, another set of people raised their clench fists in revolutionary salute to the governor, paving the way for him to wade through.

For one thing, for the past few months, the governor has been under severe criticisms from his political foes. Given the circumstances of how he won his reelection two years ago, the opposition seems to wait constantly on the edge, exploring every dissent voice for electoral prospect. The governor is accused of not paying salaries for months and of not lifting the state significantly beyond how he met it. This is just one shred of a complex story.

His critics have an equal camp of fanatical supporters. At Ikire on a Saturday afternoon, I met a little girl, lurch green, innocent and raw. She is barely 9. The girl in her little age sees Aregbesola as some sort of god. “He is my hero,” he told me point blank. His senior siblings speak with the same irreversible conviction. The parents of the children have a rich political background, their own parents having been active members of the defunct Action Group, (AG) led by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Two portraits of the State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola that hung on the wall of the pony apartment of this family speaks a lot. They are some of the fanatical supporters of the state governor, and they are many, with fury and passion.

“I won’t deceive you. We have never had it so good in Osun. Forget about the propaganda. Visit the local governments in the state. You will have a completely different story,” Akanni, the father told me as we settled for dinner that day.

He said propaganda and outright lies have become major tools in Nigerian politics. “When falsehood becomes a recurring decimal, it becomes the odd truth”, he enthused. Perhaps, only a tour of Osun can tell the full story, which I had the opportunity of embarking upon, courtesy of a regional professional body.

Akanni’s little child, the girl, said she was ashamed of going to her former school until the government brought honour by building a school of world class.

For me, and from what I saw in Osun, the schools built by the State governor amazed me. I have travelled to virtually all the states in Nigeria. I do not know of any state government that has built such schools of European standards. Prior these initiatives, some of the pupils I met in rural communities told me, as it is the standard

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you. We have never had it so good in Osun.

Forget about the propaganda. Visit the local governments in the state. You will have a completely different story

across Nigeria, the public primary schools were left open. Rodents and reptiles had a field day and on weekends, the schools were converted to high society parties or in some astonishing cases, armed robbers used the classrooms as hotbeds of nefarious activities. The effort has seen Osun state building no fewer than 25 secondary and primary schools with enrolment of new pupils hitting a landmark. To many keen observers, his intervention is worldshattering. Osun has built scores of such model schools across the state accommodating between 900 to 1000 students. 50 middle schools were being built for primary 5-6 and junior secondary school (JSS 1 – 111) in the age bracket of 10 – 14 years. O’meals reaches 254,000 pupils representing about 10 times the number of pupils in some states across the country.

This has also provided succor to 3,000 caterers in local communities. The project has been endorsed by international organizations like the UK-based partnership for child development (PCD).

The daily allowance of school pupil is N250.

Comparatively, in Bornu state, it is five naira. Interestingly, the school enrolment increased by 25 percent due to the fresh initiatives.

But apart from the standard educational infrastructure, no one can dismiss the uniqueness of the tablet of knowledgeOpon Imon, distributed to the pupils, the first of its kind in the history of the state.

But critics appear to deliberately ignore the green light. The tablet of knowledge is a learning tool that has revolutionalised education in the state. There are three major content categories: Textbooks, tutorials and

practice questions. The State has committed 150,000 tablets to senior secondary students across state schools, the highest in any community of the same population size in West Africa. The tablets have Android 4.0pc Tablet, a dictionary, Bible, Koran and tips on health. Though the impact is being felt now, the real consequences will be in the years to come, as the pupils go to higher schools.

It is either Osun has not done enough to trumpet her flute or the voices are simply drowned by deaf ears. It appears the state has seen an orchestrated propaganda being unleashed on it first by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on one hand and internal rivals on the other. One cannot deny the impact of dissidents within the All Progressives Congress, (APC). To me, I think the mistake of this group of people is their failure to realize that you cannot pull down a house under which you live just because of the assumption that you dislike a co-tenant.

A top official of the state civil service told me the state has trained and employed 3,007 food vendors each with a uniform provided by the state. This drew the financial support from banks to the tune of N124.5million given to 123 cooperative groups of food vendors.

The state also partnered with the World Bank, French Development Agency and the Federal Project Management unit to build 500km of rural roads. Osun is one of the four states that qualified for the project based on standard assessment by the international group. The efforts in the area of roads to me are commendable, considering the milestones recorded with the Gbongan-Akoda Road apart from the 500 kilometers of roads across the state.

Nothing is as puzzling as the figuremade available by the Commissioner for

Information, Mr. Baderinwa debunking the claim that Osun is owing workers in the range of six months or above.

Osun has come under severe criticisms on the alleged non-payment of workers’ salaries.

The fact is that the state receives 2.536 billion for instance, from January to May this year, yet it has a profile of 1.7 billion as workers’ salary every month.

How does the state cope with these meager resources? Yet, out of this allocation, the state government has paid till date 65 percent of the workforce, that is, workers on levels 7 downwards. This means that all workers on levels seven and below have been paid till date. Levels 8 to 10 constantly receive 75 percent of gross payment, constituting another 25% of the workforce being paid regularly and as at when due. These figures were corroborated by the state Commissioner for Information.

Those that have been receiving 50 percent are workers on level 12 and above.

On the average, there are fewer states in Nigeria that have performed better than Osun in terms of workers’ salaries. That is the truth. But there is a major technical challenge, which all the state governors have lived with including Osun. For instance, 25 percent of the workers in Osun State gulp 52% of the resources available.

It is natural to expect the state to have hurdles difficult to surmount. If Osun wishes to remove this burden, the best solution is to redeploy many of the civil servants to the Ministry of Agric.

Unfortunately, good policies may raise the stake of electoral threats, which pose immense danger to the system, the reason why many state governments continue to retain parasitic clay-footed public servants.

But how did Osun lose the last Senatorial election to the PDP? Did that indicate a decline of Aregbesola’e profile? His critics say the defeat marked a bitter turning point in this downward slide. But a single election may not be enough to draw final conclusion. There are many factors that led to Senator Ademola Adeleke’s victory. First is his family’s political tree. His father was a Unity Party of Nigeria, (UPN) federal lawmaker in1979. His sibling, the late Isiaka Adeleke was a governor and a senator. I do not subscribe to the ideal that Ademola Adeleke left the APC because of imposition.

From findings, he was not actually a registered member of APC. I was informed he crossed over to PDP and emerged as a Senator even though he was not a member of PDP until some six hours before the primary that produced him, when he joined the party. It is obvious that Osun people need to redefine their own image. Osun people need to tell their own stories. The people need to counter the gory images being unleashed in the media backed by assumptions rather than facts and sound logic. It is time for the state to break the mirror and perspective of adversaries in a country where propaganda is chief and performance no longer count in electoral contest. However, it may be futile looking at what states have achieved or not, when the real development of the Nigerian society can only come through a radical restructuring of Nigeria to the extent that the parasitic Federal Government will have its wings cut into pieces and the people and their communities will be free from the agonizing ring of recycled anomie occasioned by the garrison structure of the Nigerian state.

Adeoye is a multiple award-winning journalist.

•Adeoye writes from Lagos

OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun.

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