Oyetola

By Ismaeel Uthman

Governor of the State of Osun, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has said that the state has all it takes to prosper, just as he reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to reclaim missed opportunities and set the state on the path of sustainable prosperity and development.

Oyetola, who on Tuesday spoke at a Virtual Public Lecture organised by the Ministry of Regional Integration and Special Duties on the commemoration of the 29th anniversary of the state’s creation, said the greatest potential of the State of Osun is its people and the resources that lie under its soils.

He said his administration would spare no effort to unbundle the potentials of the state across all sectors, particularly agriculture, tourism and mining.

Oyetola said: “As an administration, we believe that our state has all it takes to prosper and that the greatest potential of the State of Osun is its people and the resources that lie under its soils.

“At a perilous time like this, there is a need to look inward to tap on our strength and potentials in Agriculture, Tourism and Mining, which, without doubt, are our areas of comparative advantage.”

He noted that the state government under his watch had developed workable and achievable roadmap that would help drive its people-oriented policies to enhance growth and development of the state.

Oyetola, who reeled out some of the achievements of his administration in the last one and half years, said the government had successfully consolidated on the past strides and recorded huge success in its efforts to stimulate the economy of the state and utilise her socio-economic potentials.

Speaking on the theme of the lecture, “Unbundling Osun Potentials Towards Prosperity In Agriculture, Tourism and Mining”, Oyetola noted that “As a responsible government which inherited a fragile economy and faced with COVID-19 dilemma but is not given to excuses, we have gone back to the drawing board to creatively design an unusual method to respond to the challenges in order to deliver better life to the people.

“From the experience of the nation with oil, unbundling Osun potentials towards prosperity in its areas of comparative advantage goes beyond resource abundance.

“We shall need to approach our potentials as business and adopt an amalgam of appropriate strategy, efficient and competent personnel and employment of due process in the management of our resources to avoid resource curse.”

…as BUA, SEC donate 3 ambulance buses, 150 thermometers to Osun

The Governor of the State of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Wednesday, reiterated the administration’s commitment to eliminate the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic ravaging the State.

He said no effort would be spared to extinct the ‘virulent enemy’ and give hope and the good life to the people of the State.

Oyetola made this commitment when BUA Foundation donated three ambulance buses with 50,000 facemasks, and the Nigeria Stock Exchange Commission (SEC) donated 150 thermometers respectively to support Osun Government in the fight against the pandemic.

Governor Oyetola spoke at separate occasions while receiving the three ambulance buses and 150 thermometers from the two corporate organisations, the BUA Foundation and the Nigeria Stock Exchange Commission (SEC), at Governor’s office, Abere, Osogbo.

Oyetola who reeled out the prompt and proactive interventions of the Administration to curtail the virus since its outbreak in the State, expressed confidence in the way the State has been managing the exponential spread of the virus in the country.

He said the State had recorded huge success in its proactive measures to contain the pandemic as huge resources had been consistently and promptly deployed to wage war against the deadly virus.

“Our government is one of the frontline States that have waged a worthy war against the novel COVID-19 in the nation through the adoption of proactive and creative measures.

“We have deployed huge scarce resources to the fight against the virus and the result is glaring for all to see.

“Coronavirus emerged from the blues to become the number one enemy of the Development Agenda of our Administration, which is our pact for delivering prosperity and development to our people.

“We are resolved to spare no effort to extinct this virulent enemy and give hope and the good life to our people”, Oyetola said.

The Governor commended the leadership of the two donor organisations — the BUA foundation and the Nigeria Stock Exchange Commission — for the good gestures and hands of fellowship extended to the State.

He implored the leadership of corporate organisations, stakeholders and well-meaning citizens to key into the good gestures.

“It is on this note that I would like to appeal to more corporate organisations, well-meaning citizens and friends of government to join our team of supporters for optimum outcomes in the interest of the people. I appeal to all well- meaning citizens and friends of the state to donate relevant equipment to our schools for the health and safety of our leaders of tomorrow.

“I thank the donors for identifying with our State at these challenging times and for travelling down to Osun to make these donations.

“Let me enjoin the relevant officials to ensure the judicious use of the ambulance buses, especially in the area of maintenance, in the interest of the effective and efficient management of Coronavirus pandemic in the State,” Oyetola added.

In his remarks, the Chairman, BUA Group, Mr. Abdulsamad Rabiu, commended the proactive steps taken by the Administration of Governor Oyetola to curtail the spread of the virus.

He also lauded the State government for taking the bull by the horns in the fight against COVID-19 and other health-related challenges in the State.

Rabiu who was represented by the Communications Director/Group Head Corporate Communications, Mr Otega Ogra, attributed the kind gesture extended to Osun by the organisation to the commitment of the Administration of Governor Oyetola to eliminating the virus and building a Coronavirus- free State.

“We are here to make some contributions to the State of Osun in terms of three ambulances and 100,000 facemasks to support the the State in its fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.

“The Chairman of the company has said that he would really support in the fight against the pandemic and this donation is a testimony to the commitment that your Administration had demonstrated to end the menace.

“We have seen what you are doing sir. Despite the fact that Osun was one of the first hit States, the management of the pandemic by the government of Osun has been really commendable, and it is in view of this that our Chairman has said that we should support your government to eliminate the virus.

“We are sure that the contributions would be put to good use by the state and we are ready to continue to support, partner and collaborate with the state.

“We commend your government for setting up Osun Investment Promotion Agency. From the private sector point of view, it shows that Osun is ready for economic revolution”, he added.

Also, the leader of the delegation of the Nigeria Stock Exchange Capital Market Support Committee on COVID-19, Mr Ariyo Olusekun, applauded the State government for being proactive in the management of the pandemic.

Olusekun said the decision to donate thermometers was in view of the State government’s commitment to stamping out the scourge from the State.

“We are here to support the State in its efforts to end the pandemic that has been ravaging the nation. We believe that the scourge is not a thing government can fight alone; that is why we set up the COVID-19 committee to provide a support.

“We are donating thermometers as part of efforts to support the State government in its commitment to contain the virus, most especially at a time that the government has announced school resumption for outgoing pupils”, he said.

Those in attendance are: the Deputy Governor, Mr Benedict Alabi; Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Charles ‘Diji Akinola; the Deputy Chief of Staff, Prince Abdullahi Binuyo; the Head of Service, Dr. Festus Olowogboyega Oyebade; the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu; and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Phar. Siji Olamiju, among others.