News
COVID-19 Palliative: Osun Begins CACOVID Rice Distribution
Osun Government has on Thursday commenced the immediate distribution of the rice component donated by Coalition Against Covid-19, CACOVID to the State.
The distribution followed the delivery of the much expected 40,332 of 10kg bags of rice component of CACOVID palliatives to cushion the adverse effects of Coronavirus pandemic.
This is just as the State Officer of CACOVID monitoring and evaluation team commended the State government for the process and prompt distribution of the item.
The State government had addressed press conference on Monday disclosing its readiness to commence the distribution of the rice component of the CACOVID palliatives on receipt.
The Osun Coordinator, CACOVID Monitoring and Evaluation Team, Mr. Ademola Adebisi, lauded the State government for adopting a strategic distribution process that captures every segment of the society.
Adebisi noted that the State government had distinguished itself and demonstrated high sense of transparency and accountability in its resolve to ensure that the food items get to the targeted beneficiaries across the State.
“I am extremely impressed with what I have seen here. I have spoken with the Commissioner in charge of this and I have seen some of the beneficiaries of this palliative items.
“I have looked through the way the palliatives are being distributed and I must confess that I am pleased with the template of the distribution which takes care of every vulnerable group in the State.
“I have seen the representatives of the local governments in the State, and as a matter of fact, the whole thing is going on smoothly as expected. We have also seen members of the informal sector; Muslim and Christian leaders; leadership of the Civil Society Organisations; vulnerable groups; members of the National Youths Council of Nigeria; community leaders, among others who have come to obtain the rice for their people.
“The onward distribution is highly impressive as they make sure that everybody is considered. So, I can say authoritatively that the distribution is going on well and everybody is involved”, he added.
Responding to the question that the State deliberately hoarded the looted CACOVID palliatives during the Endsars protest, Adebisi said Osun government acted in line with the CACOVID directive to wait for the flag-off of the distribution of the palliative items.
Adebisi who noted that no benefitting State has control over the distribution of the palliatives as at the time the first batch was supplied to the States, said it was unfortunate that the items were looted by miscreants and misinformed members of the public.
He vindicated the Osun government over the looting, just as he noted that the onward distribution of the rice component upon the delivery would go a long way to avert possible recurrence of the dastardly act occasioned by the Endsars protest.
Adebisi assured of CACOVID’s commitment to supporting Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable people with different life-supporting interventions, as the nation begins to experience the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Dr. Bode Olaonipekun, said the State was determined to ensure adequate distribution of the rice across the State.
He said the State would follow to the letter the statistics of the vulnerable in the State which had been the guideline for meeting their critical needs.
“We are here receiving the rice component of the CACOVID palliatives, which is the expected part of the CACOVID food and relief materials that were looted at the cocoa processing warehouse at Ede.
“We are receiving 40,332 10kg bags of rice meant for different vulnerable groups in the State and we have adopted a strategy to ensure onward distribution.
“There is no going to be any form of warehousing as the rice will be distributed as it arrives. As you can see, we have commenced the distribution of some that we have received and this will continue until we receive all.
“We have already designed the template for the distribution and those that are collecting for today are already here and they are taking the items turn by turn. We have about 12 to 13 groups in each of the local governments, and the items will be distributed accordingly”, Olaonipekun stated.
Commending the distribution process, the Public Relations Officer, Osun Chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Comrade Ajala Adetunji, lauded the state government for adopting a transparent process in the distribution exercise.
Adetunji who expressed satisfaction on the shares of the youth from the rice, enjoined government to continue to display transparency and accountability in all it does.
“What I have seen so far has been very transparent as this can be attested to from what we have seen in the distribution process”, he added
The United States Government Exchange Alumni Association has presented fifty thousand naira grant to twenty selected indigent women in Osun State to support their nano businesses.
The presentation, tagged ‘Business capital Support’, was done on Friday by the State Deputy Governor, Kola Adewusi at the US Corridor within the Osun State University Teaching Hospital in Osogbo.
A 2-day entrepreneurship training was earlier this week, organized for the 20 selected indigent women by the US Government Alumni Association in Osogbo with the support of SMEDAN.
At the presentation of the cash grant to the women, the State coordinator of US Government Alumni Association, Dr. Femi Adefila said, the programme was concieved empower women in nano business, to promote and support their businesses and build a viable economy at the grassroots.
He noted that the beneficiaries were selected on merit, adding that they were selected through a phone in interview with Rave FM, where they indicated the type business they were into and the kind of support they need to boast their business.
Adefila said “On Rave Fm, there’s a programme called “karakata”, it was from this programme, that the women called in and asked questions about their businesses and the struggles they are going through.
”So after much survey and findings, we were able to select 20 women out of 100, and we decided to empower them through the US Government Exchange Alumni Association“
Addressing the beneficiaries, the State Deputy Governor tasked them to manage the grant judiciously
Adewusi lauded the Association for organizing the empowerment and training programmes for the women.
He expressed conviction that more people would be lifted out of poverty with the initiative.
Adewusi said, “First and foremost, I’d like to commend the conveners for supporting these women in the State, empowering these women is this trying times, it’s a commendable effort.
” I also want to congratulate the women for being part of this, I implore you to make judicious use of these money given to you, support your business and not give away these funds. When you invest in your business, it grows and you can use it to support your family”, he stated.
News
Reviving Nigeria’s Economy: Ooni Advocates Use Of Local Products, Urges Leaders To Show Example
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has resonated the need for leaders across board to embrace the use of local products.
He said the sure way to grow the nation’s economy is for all to cultivate habit of using more of local contents, urging leaders at various levels to show example.
Ooni Ogunwusi stated these on Thursday in his palace in Ile-Ife where he received two vehicles and three motorbikes from one of the indigenous vehicle manufacturing companies in Nigeria on commemoration of his 8th years on the throne.
Oba Ogunwusi called on political leaders to desist from promoting foreign commodities, adding that Nigerian lawmakers should make it mandatory for anyone having any business with the parliament to wear and make use of indigenous products.
The monarch charged President Bola Tinubu, governors and federal lawmakers to include locally made and assembled vehicles in their fleet.
He said, “The earlier we know we cannot continue to kill our own, the better for us in this country. I took it upon myself to support and rally support for Innoson Motors and other local products because this is part of ways to boost our economy. Now that we have a company that produces vehicles, our governors should ensure establishment of companies that deal with manufacturing of components of vehicles such as car keys, windscreen, mirror among others.
“Why are we always benchmarking our economy on dollar? I want to appeal to our leaders that enough of promoting foreign commodities. Enough of benchmarking everything with dollar. Let us encourage local production and products. How many of what they (leaders) eat and wear are manufactured in Nigeria? Indigenous products from human, materials and human capital development should be prioritised.
“I will include Innoson vehicles in my own fleet and let our leaders support so that we can address youth unemployment. Our leaders should not sign any contract if they don’t have local touch.
“National Assembly should promulgate a law that everybody coming to NASS should have indigenous production. Start grading yourself. If you are wearing ten things, seven must be made in Nigeria. Let it be our policy. If we do that everything will be better. Let our leaders stop deceiving us in this country. National Assembly should start making laws that are impactful. We pray we don’t have a backlash of frustrated youths in this country.”
…as Ilobu farmers face alleged attacks, alert government to nip situation in the bud
Barely eight weeks after a peace resolution was signed between the two warring communities and curfew lifted on the areas, the Ifon/Ilobu crisis seemed to be brewing again.
Some farmers of Ilobu extraction on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest in the town against what they described as incessant attacks on them on their farms by some members of Ifon community.
The protest, they said, was staged to register and to condemn incessant attack and harassment by their aggressors on their farmland located in Oyo State.
The protesters called on the state government to make concrete effort to ensure permanent solution to the crisis between the two communities, adding that they had been left with their fate after the signing of peace in October 6th, this year.
The protesting famers have their farmlands where they alleged to have been threatened in villages including; Aba Agana Amoo, Abebi, Ologele, Olosho, Ojeyemi, Idiroko, Bara, Ojeyemi, Toolu, Wale, Ikimo, all within Oyo State.
They carried placards with various inscriptions such as; We call for justice, Arrest Eesa and Jide Akinyooye, We farm on oyo land not Ifon Osun among others, chanting songs to demonstrated their grievances.
Some of the famers, Bashiru Adegbenro, Wakili Olawoyin and Jimoh Adeyinka, said the perpetrators they came to attack them on the 4th of October on their farmland in Oyo state.
They said their farms, houses were burnt and destroyed in some instances, while some farm produces were being carted away by their aggresors.
Earlier on Wednesday, at a press conference, the PRO, Ilobu Asake Development Union, ODU, Tairu Babatunde had on behalf of the Union reiterated the town’s commitment to peaceful coexistence with all its neighbours.
Babatunde decried any sinister moves in disrespect of the peace deal between the two communities by any elements.
He said “It is, however, disheartening and shocking that despite this olive branch extended by the people of Ilobu to our neighbors, most particularly, the people of Ifon-Osun, what we receive is more attacks, dehumanization, destruction of properties and harassment of our people. This is very sad and it’s the only reason we have invited you here today. The world must know. Ilobu-Asake Development Union is an umbrella body for all sons and daughters of Ilobu and we owe it a duty to protect their interest.
“I want to tell you that since the ceasefire was declared, our people who are plying their trades in villages such as Oloso, Idi-Iriko, Owode and several other villages in Oyo State have not been allowed to witness peace. It has been attacks over attacks.
“Harassment and torture. We believe this must stop. Several farmlands invaded by people of Ifon-Osun whose name will be mentioned by victims that are here today. We have also submitted petition to relevant agencies and the government.
The PRO called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the attacks on Ilobu farmers.
He said “We want to advise the State government that peace building is a process and not an action, we want them to continue engagement as no engagement has been held since October 6th when the peace deal was signed.
“We also want the agents of the government, particularly, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, Adekunle Omoyele to stop acting like an agent of Ifon people. The recent arrest of tipper drivers in Ilobu which was coordinated by him without recourse to Ilobu Divisional Police who have been at the center of managing this crisis, necessitated this call.”
Recall that, few months ago when lives and property were lost during the crisis between the two communities, the State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke imposed dusk to dawn curfew on both Irepodun and Orolu local government areas to ensure that the crisis did not degenerate.
The Governor, on the 6th of October facilitated the signing of peace accord between the communities and alap lifted the curfew on the two local government areas.
-
Fashion6 years agoThese ’90s fashion trends are making a comeback in 2017
-
Entertainment6 years ago
The final 6 ‘Game of Thrones’ episodes might feel like a full season
-
Fashion6 years ago
According to Dior Couture, this taboo fashion accessory is back
-
Sports6 years ago
Phillies’ Aaron Altherr makes mind-boggling barehanded play
-
Entertainment6 years ago
The old and New Edition cast comes together to perform
-
Entertainment6 years ago
Disney’s live-action Aladdin finally finds its stars
-
Sports6 years ago
Steph Curry finally got the contract he deserves from the Warriors
-
Fashion6 years ago
Model Jocelyn Chew’s Instagram is the best vacation you’ve ever had